Are Macros Really That Important

GuitarJerry · February 2014

I'm not trying to lose weight, per se. Maybe trim a bit of fat coming off a bulk, but not really trying to lose weight. I mean, not in the sense that people mean when they say that. I'm fine where I am.

I typically eat my body weight in grams of protein, about half of that in fat, and the rest carbs.

But, for all this work, is it really that important? How many people in the world do this? If I just eat a healthful diet, isn't that enough? Lots of people don't track their macros, very active people, and are fine and very fit.

Does it matter?

Are there studies that support the fact that eating certain macro nutrient ratios has an impact on different aspects of fitness?

I wonder if that stuff is just for elite athletes and us normal people that work a 9 to 5 and workout 4 or 5 days a week for an hour, if it makes any difference at all.

I could do the ultimate test on myself, but I'm curious on both opinions, and research.

Thanks.

cwolfman13 · February 2014

I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter all that much so long as you're eating a balanced diet. I don't track anything anymore, but tracking my macros along with my calories initially taught me better balance in my diet. Through the process I learned that getting in a good 4-6 servings of vegetables per day and a serving of two of fruit and some whole grains and having a good protein source at every meal and eating nuts and avocados pretty much made everything work out pretty good.

Prior to tracking my macros, I was eating a ton of junky carbs and loads and loads of sugar...maybe half of the veg and fruit I should have been having and not really enough healthy fats.

I think it matters a lot more if you're really wanting to optimize hypertrophy and your physique and/or otherwise a performance athlete looking to legitimately compete...but for the average Joe/Jane, I think balanced nutrition is more important than hitting on all of your macros.

ahamm002 · February 2014

I'm not trying to lose weight, per se. Maybe trim a bit of fat coming off a bulk, but not really trying to lose weight. I mean, not in the sense that people mean when they say that. I'm fine where I am.

I typically eat my body weight in grams of protein, about half of that in fat, and the rest carbs.

But, for all this work, is it really that important? How many people in the world do this? If I just eat a healthful diet, isn't that enough? Lots of people don't track their macros, very active people, and are fine and very fit.

Does it matter?

Are there studies that support the fact that eating certain macro nutrient ratios has an impact on different aspects of fitness?

I wonder if that stuff is just for elite athletes and us normal people that work a 9 to 5 and workout 4 or 5 days a week for an hour, if it makes any difference at all.

I could do the ultimate test on myself, but I'm curious on both opinions, and research.

Thanks.

Macros are actually pretty important depending on your diet. A "typical american diet" tends to be high carb and lowish to medium protein. There is a plethora of evidence that shows muscle building will be inhibited if you don't get enough protein (approximately 1 gram per pound of lean body mass, but the exact number is controversial). This much more protein than most people would get in a typical American diet. That's the main reason tracking macro's is important. There is also a plethora of evidence that shows you will LOSE muscle while cutting if you don't get adequate protein.

It's also important to get the minimum amounts of fat in your diet, but most people don't need to track macros for that.

Lizzy622 · February 2014

Eating a healthy balanced diet is eating proper macros. It is just a different way of looking at it. With many people going vegetarian or wheat or dairy free, the old categories of meat, dairy, vegetable and grain just don't work. SO instead we look at protein, fat and carb and try to balance those.

EDesq · February 2014

I'm not trying to lose weight, per se. Maybe trim a bit of fat coming off a bulk, but not really trying to lose weight. I mean, not in the sense that people mean when they say that. I'm fine where I am.

I typically eat my body weight in grams of protein, about half of that in fat, and the rest carbs.

But, for all this work, is it really that important? How many people in the world do this? If I just eat a healthful diet, isn't that enough? Lots of people don't track their macros, very active people, and are fine and very fit.

Does it matter?

Are there studies that support the fact that eating certain macro nutrient ratios has an impact on different aspects of fitness?

I wonder if that stuff is just for elite athletes and us normal people that work a 9 to 5 and workout 4 or 5 days a week for an hour, if it makes any difference at all.

I could do the ultimate test on myself, but I'm curious on both opinions, and research.

Thanks.

NO, so called "macros" that TRY to measure "Nutrition" Do NOT work and are irrelevant for Health purposes. However, we are living in a world that eats "foods of civilization" meaning un-natural, refined and "man-made" eats (this stuff is NOT food for sustenance). So if you are eating the ready made breads, crackers, sugars, meats, cereals, drinks, bottled drinks, wheys, dairy, gluten laden grains, salt infested items...You may want to keep an eye out on those so called macros.

Be Well, Live Well

WVprankster · February 2014

I'm not trying to lose weight, per se. Maybe trim a bit of fat coming off a bulk, but not really trying to lose weight. I mean, not in the sense that people mean when they say that. I'm fine where I am.

I typically eat my body weight in grams of protein, about half of that in fat, and the rest carbs.

But, for all this work, is it really that important? How many people in the world do this? If I just eat a healthful diet, isn't that enough? Lots of people don't track their macros, very active people, and are fine and very fit.

Does it matter?

Are there studies that support the fact that eating certain macro nutrient ratios has an impact on different aspects of fitness?

I wonder if that stuff is just for elite athletes and us normal people that work a 9 to 5 and workout 4 or 5 days a week for an hour, if it makes any difference at all.

I could do the ultimate test on myself, but I'm curious on both opinions, and research.

Thanks.

NO, so called "macros" that TRY to measure "Nutrition" Do NOT work and are irrelevant for Health purposes. However, we are living in a world that eats "foods of civilization" meaning un-natural, refined and "man-made" eats (this stuff is NOT food for sustenance). So if you are eating the ready made breads, crackers, sugars, meats, cereals, drinks, bottled drinks, wheys, dairy, gluten laden grains, salt infested items...You may want to keep an eye out on those so called macros.

Be Well, Live Well

This post makes no sense. I'll try to break down the nonsense.
1. Care to elaborate on how the exact practice of measuring your macronutrient intake fails to measure your macronutrient intake?
2. Disregarding the "healthiness" (sarcasm) of the eats most f the breads sugars and sugars and stuff will keep me alive in the short- to mid-term, thereby providing the exact "sustenance" that you say they won't.
3. Unless I'm eating another MFP-er's offspring I'm unsure of how meat can be "man-made"
4. I had a salt infestation once. I laid out some traps and kept my garbage tightly lidded to keep the salt out. It's written that salt can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, so make sure that you seal any holes around your foundation with caulk, insulation, or gluten.

michael300891 · February 2014

Yes and No.

1. Energy deficit is what determines weight loss primarily, without that macros are a bit redundant.

2. Macro ratios are irrelevant. It does not matter whether you have a 20/30/50 ratio, a 5/10/85 ratio its the absolute intake that matters.

- You should get between 0.8g/kg and 1.2g/kg day of protein to ensure adequate replenishment of amino acid pools to enable protein turnover, for recovery, repair and growth as well as prevent losses in lean body mass.

- You should get around 90g fat primarily 'healthy' sources as these are important for a huge number of components of your body including cell membrane health.

- You should get adequate carbohydrate intake depending on your activity level. If you are an athlete - CHO is vital to performance, for most individuals trying to lose weight it is the least necessary macro nutrient in the diet (in large volumes)

The best applied approach for most, is to get adequate protein and fat, then fill the remainder of the gap with CHO whilst maintaining the desired energy deficit to ensure weight loss.

Doctoral Researcher in Exercise Adaptation and Metabolism:

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Are Macros Really That Important

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