Does it matter where your macro's come from?

Options
ghosthackexe
ghosthackexe Posts: 181 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey, been wanting to post a question somewhat like this for awhile since there are many different opinions. Basically does it matter where your macro's come from? for example eating 2,000 calories in a day of food that is described as unhealthy (fast food, chips, ect) vs 2,000 calories of food that is described as healthy. Both foods fit into your calories and macros, but will one really produce better weight lose results than the other? would love to get everyones take on this.
«1

Replies

  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member
    Options
    Hey, been wanting to post a question somewhat like this for awhile since there are many different opinions. Basically does it matter where your macro's come from? for example eating 2,000 calories in a day of food that is described as unhealthy (fast food, chips, ect) vs 2,000 calories of food that is described as healthy. Both foods fit into your calories and macros, but will one really produce better weight lose results than the other? would love to get everyones take on this.

    No, no you wouldn't want everyone's take on this, not really. I'm going over to this hole to cover my head until this blows over.

    Don't say I didn't warn you.
  • 5stringjeff
    5stringjeff Posts: 790 Member
    Options
    Does it matter strictly as far as losing weight is concerned? No.

    Does it matter as far as your overall health and fitness is concerned. Probably.
  • JoJo__Fit
    JoJo__Fit Posts: 258 Member
    Options
    Aye, SMH here we goooooo!!!!!

    Well why would you want to consume all your macros on fast food?

    I personally like to eat foods that are nutritional dense :) & I like my ice cream fix.

    As long as I hit my macros and can eat a lot of food and have my daily fix of a couple of cookies or ice cream, I'm good! I also perform better at the gym when I balance it out. If I were to consume nothing but junk I would feel crappy. Not worth it.

    So if you like the feeling of being sluggish then by all means knock yourself out!
  • shadowofender
    shadowofender Posts: 786 Member
    Options
    Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    I just laughed outloud this really awkward sound and my coworkers think I have issues now. Thanks.
  • NataBost
    NataBost Posts: 418 Member
    Options
    Oh good, I got here early.

    If you hit your macros you're good. Period. That's what counts.

    "Oh but if all you're eating is junk what about blah blah blah..."

    I don't know anyone who can hit their protein, carb, and fat recommendations and their calorie goal eating just Big Macs. Do you? Of course not. It's not possible. So please just ignore everyone saying "if all you eat is garbage rant rant rant"

    If It Fits Your Macros. That means it has to fit your macros. Ain't gonna do that just eating cookies.

    Your body recognizes calories, protein, carbs, fat, etc. It doesn't say "Oh this cheeseburger was made at a restaurant, I don't like it as much as a cheeseburger made at home." It breaks it down and eliminates waste. Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    Hit your macros and you're good to go. Period.

    YUP. I was too slow on the draw. What this smart guy says.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Options
    Oh good, I got here early.

    If you hit your macros you're good. Period. That's what counts.

    "Oh but if all you're eating is junk what about blah blah blah..."

    I don't know anyone who can hit their protein, carb, and fat recommendations and their calorie goal eating just Big Macs. Do you? Of course not. It's not possible. So please just ignore everyone saying "if all you eat is garbage rant rant rant"

    If It Fits Your Macros. That means it has to fit your macros. Ain't gonna do that just eating cookies.

    Your body recognizes calories, protein, carbs, fat, etc. It doesn't say "Oh this cheeseburger was made at a restaurant, I don't like it as much as a cheeseburger made at home." It breaks it down and eliminates waste. Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    Hit your macros and you're good to go. Period.

    Can we /end thread here?
  • Jim_Barteck
    Jim_Barteck Posts: 274 Member
    Options
    The only thing I will say is this: It's going to be very difficult to meet your macros (protein, fat, carbs, etc.) on a 2,000 calorie diet if you're just eating "junk food."

    However, if you can manage it, then more power to you.

    ETA: I didn't see Brett's post, so basically: Yeah, what he said....
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Options
    Does it matter strictly as far as losing weight is concerned? No.

    Does it matter as far as your overall health and fitness is concerned. Probably.

    This - But I can't imagine being able to hit my macros without some "healthy" food in there somewhere. The fat would just be sky high.
  • vdchlubiski
    vdchlubiski Posts: 1 Member
    Options
    Ironic timing. I have been researching this topic for the last week and cannot find any consensus or scientific data (Warning: I am an engineer and data junkie). I just changed my macronutrient allocation from Leigh Peele's recommendation (46/22/33 P/F/C by weight) to MyFitnessPal's suggested allocation (24/16/60). I couldn't consumer as much protein and as few carbs as Leigh recommended. It seemed overboard from what I have learned, but I have no data to support though. USDA recommends: 18/29/53.

    So I have to agree with 5stringjeff. Ratio matters less than total and quality.
  • DanielCathers
    DanielCathers Posts: 53 Member
    Options
    Oh good, I got here early.

    If you hit your macros you're good. Period. That's what counts.

    "Oh but if all you're eating is junk what about blah blah blah..."

    I don't know anyone who can hit their protein, carb, and fat recommendations and their calorie goal eating just Big Macs. Do you? Of course not. It's not possible. So please just ignore everyone saying "if all you eat is garbage rant rant rant"

    If It Fits Your Macros. That means it has to fit your macros. Ain't gonna do that just eating cookies.

    Your body recognizes calories, protein, carbs, fat, etc. It doesn't say "Oh this cheeseburger was made at a restaurant, I don't like it as much as a cheeseburger made at home." It breaks it down and eliminates waste. Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    Hit your macros and you're good to go. Period.

    If you fit your macros, you are simply sticking to the diet you planned. The question then becomes, "What macro goals are you going to set?"
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    Options
    Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    I just laughed outloud this really awkward sound and my coworkers think I have issues now. Thanks.
    :love: :love: :love:
  • mathmatt
    mathmatt Posts: 58 Member
    Options
    Oh good, I got here early.

    If you hit your macros you're good. Period. That's what counts.

    "Oh but if all you're eating is junk what about blah blah blah..."

    I don't know anyone who can hit their protein, carb, and fat recommendations and their calorie goal eating just Big Macs. Do you? Of course not. It's not possible. So please just ignore everyone saying "if all you eat is garbage rant rant rant"

    If It Fits Your Macros. That means it has to fit your macros. Ain't gonna do that just eating cookies.

    Your body recognizes calories, protein, carbs, fat, etc. It doesn't say "Oh this cheeseburger was made at a restaurant, I don't like it as much as a cheeseburger made at home." It breaks it down and eliminates waste. Your body is not watching Dr. Oz reruns.

    Hit your macros and you're good to go. Period.

    Ok, I'll be the first to slightly disagree. If all you're concerned with is weight loss yes, I completely agree with if it fits your macros. For overall health, I could not disagree more. The biggest example I'm going to throw out there is Trans-fatty acids/hydrogenated oils. The CDC even says that Trans fat consumption leads to increased LDL levels in the blood contributing to coronary heart disease. http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/fat/transfat.html
  • ghosthackexe
    ghosthackexe Posts: 181 Member
    Options
    would like to go ahead and thank everyone who replied its nice to have multiple opinions on this matter
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 5,948 Member
    Options
    If you filled your diet with the former I think you would run into some trouble actually hitting your macros. IMO, variety is your best friend... have a little bit of both.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    Options
    Hit your macros and you're good to go. Period.

    Agreed, like 99%.

    Don't forget your food is made up of more than just straight protein/fat/carbs, though. You actually probably could hit your macros on nothing but fast food chicken sandwiches (I feel like I probably could). But you'd almost certainly be missing a whole slew of things that are really good for you - various types of fats (no, saturated fat isn't nearly as bad as the rep it's been given, but that doesn't mean that the fats found in stuff like olive oil and almonds and such aren't just as good for you as they've always been touted to be), fiber, a good chunk of vitamins and minerals and such...so, yeah, for weight loss, hit your macros, done. I can agree with that. But if you want to improve/maintain your overall health and keep your body running in tip-top shape, you probably should put a little more effort into things than that. Like, a vegetable every once in awhile or something. :wink:
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Options
    Brett pretty much nailed it. Play around with your food diary for a bit and see how your day ends up and what realistically fits. It's likely not going to be fast food, chips, sodas and sweets all in the same day, unless you have an incredibly high calorie goal.
  • theEffingPanda
    theEffingPanda Posts: 17
    Options
    Does it matter strictly as far as losing weight is concerned? No.

    Does it matter as far as your overall health and fitness is concerned. Probably.

    YES.
  • losingforgood120
    losingforgood120 Posts: 94
    Options
    For weight loss? Doesn't seem to. There are other health concerns where it would matter more. I started a group about diet and acne recently. There's some evidence that getting your carbs from low glycemic level foods, and eating more omega 3 fats and eating less dairy protein can lessen acne severity. There's many other health examples where it matters where your macros are coming from... Not weight loss.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Options
    Depends how you set your macros. :laugh:

    but seriously:


    You can eat a healthy balanced diet, a sorta balanced diet, or an unhealthy unbalanced diet. You ultimately decide. If you "fit your macros" and have a 40/30/30 split sure, you're likely to eat something healthy. Are you automatically eating healthfully by hitting those targets, no. Not at all. You could easily hit your macros without eating any leafy green vegetables, for example.

Categories