IS IT NECESSARY TO WATCH YOUR MACROS IN ORDER TO LOSE WEIGHT
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Why wouldn't you though, if you were on this site that is?0
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Nope, not necessary (for weight loss) imo - I don't track anything but calories0
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Not necessary.0
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To lose weight? No. To be healthy? Yes.
Not true. I remained healthy for half a century without ever tracking a macro. And for most of that time I was slim and fit as well.0 -
No it is not necessary.
But, there are benefits, and MFP tracks it automatically, so it doesn't make sense to me to NOT track it.
This ^^ . If you are going to take the time to input all your food, why not see the whole picture? I wouldn't obsess over it, but it is nice information to have.0 -
Calories = weight loss
Macros = body composition (protein), healthy body functions (fat) and energy (carbs)
This is why I just recently started paying attention.0 -
To lose weight? No. To be healthy? Yes.
^^^ this!0 -
I watch them. But I can't say as I do much about them.0
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I am concerned about my overall health so I really like being able to watch the macros, and I do adjust what I eat when I see I am low or high on a macro for the week.
I watch percentages of the three macros by the week and saturated fat specifically. I am also concerned about getting enough potassium (not specifically a macro but it's tracked), and getting too much cholesterol - at one point my blood cholesterol levels tested borderline high. I think tracking macros and other nutrients is a real service on this site.
At the same time, I do agree that if you know you are eating healthy, balanced meals, chances are your macros are going to look pretty good. But watching the macros, especially at first, helps you know what you need for balance.
Edit to add: I love the way the macros and nutrients/vitamins are listed on the Android app. There's a pie chart you can see by the day or week, and it always shows you saturated fat vs. poly and monounsaturated, as well as fiber, potassium and several vitamins. The tracking on the website isn't as good.0 -
I pay attention to them, but I don't obsess over them. I'm mindful of them, because I'm trying to eat more balanced, and it's a quick way to see if I'm achieving that. Also, if I've got calories left at the end of the day, and i feel like a snack after my walk/run, the macros will indicate which direction I should aim (would tonight be yogurt? an egg? maybe oatmeal?)
I find that they generally balance our over the course of a week though. So some days I'm over on fat and light on carbs - the next day might be the opposite.0 -
Calories = weight loss
Macros = body composition (protein), healthy body functions (fat) and energy (carbs)
Oh Sara I could not of said it better myself... I follow this to the letter... I maintain a good over caloric intake with a modest deficit to lose weight while tracking my 3 main macro's = Carbs, Proteins, and Fat's.....0 -
No it is not necessary.
But, there are benefits, and MFP tracks it automatically, so it doesn't make sense to me to NOT track it.
This.
And it is not necessary to make your title all caps to get us to answer you
QFT0 -
I used to obsess over getting enough protein, as most people do... but now I don't really keep track of any of my macros, just my calories. As I get closer to my goal weight, I might keep better track of macros for better body composition, but body recomp isn't my goal right now, it's getting all this fat off me first.0
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I try but I don't succeed all the time. Calories are the most important to me though. I've lost 35lbs and counting.0
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I feel like you're missing the bigger picture if you don't focus on Macros. You can obviously lose weight by watching calories, but isn't the overall goal to be healthy?
You would think the overall goal would be to get healthy, but apparently a lot of people here have chosen vanity as their number one reason for weightloss.
To answer the op: If all you care about is the number on the scale and pant size then calories are all that matter. If you are wanting more than weightloss macros are important and yes part of the bigger picture.0 -
No it is not necessary.
But, there are benefits, and MFP tracks it automatically, so it doesn't make sense to me to NOT track it.
This.
And it is not necessary to make your title all caps to get us to answer you
QFT
Didnt know it was all caps...but if it offended you...your fault...0 -
I make an effort to keep those in line / fulfilled, because I don't want to look "skinny".... I want to look "awesome".
There are plenty of unhealthy ways to lose weight. I want to do it the healthy way.0 -
I lost 50 lbs 2 years ago (then I had a baby, which is why i'm back to losing again) and did not worry about anything but calories.0
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I do not watch my macros, and I have lost just fine. I make a conscious effort to eat enough protein, but other than that, I don't pay too much attention. I am sure there are good reasons to watch them, but I haven't really.
same here, to the letter..the only macro I watch is protein..I lost all of my weight just watching calories and nothing else, but I am training for a marathon now and need to get the right amount of carbs and protien0 -
To lose weight? No. To be healthy? Yes.
Not true. I remained healthy for half a century without ever tracking a macro. And for most of that time I was slim and fit as well.0
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