MACROS help please!!

ninja_in_pyjamas
ninja_in_pyjamas Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello

I'm so confused here... I was looking up macros for weight loss in general and I saw that most sites state that to lose fat it is best to have high protein, fats, then low carbs and I totally understand.. e.g. 20% calories coming from carbs. (this isn't for gaining mass, just fat loss)

Okay so basically I recorded my food intake and found that I usually DO NOT eat simple/complex carbs (carbs maybe twice a week), cos I eat mainly proteins and fats.

HOWEVER I also noticed that my vegetable/fruit intake (2-3 servings of fruit, the rest are veges), are about 40-50% of my total intake. I eat a lot of veges because I juice them sometimes.
Therefore my intake of carbs is actually higher than protein.
I'm just wondering if theres a difference between vegetable carbs and starchy/grainy ones. Or is it just CARBS

Thanks!!

Replies

  • TheStephil
    TheStephil Posts: 858 Member
    I would suggest 40% carbs, 30% fat and 30% protein. That usually works as a good baseline for people to start off with.

    This link is very helpful in explaining everything.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    ETA: When looking at macros, it shouldn't matter where the carbs are coming from. A carb is a carb.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Yes. Lower the carbs. Add some fat like avocados, nuts, olive or coconut oil, . . . . salmon, . .
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I would lower your carbs a bit and add fat as well. Protein is very important when exercising 0.8 g per pound is usually recommended.
  • cajuntank
    cajuntank Posts: 924 Member
    Hello

    I'm so confused here... I was looking up macros for weight loss in general and I saw that most sites state that to lose fat it is best to have high protein, fats, then low carbs and I totally understand.. e.g. 20% calories coming from carbs. (this isn't for gaining mass, just fat loss)

    Okay so basically I recorded my food intake and found that I usually DO NOT eat simple/complex carbs (carbs maybe twice a week), cos I eat mainly proteins and fats.

    HOWEVER I also noticed that my vegetable/fruit intake (2-3 servings of fruit, the rest are veges), are about 40-50% of my total intake. I eat a lot of veges because I juice them sometimes.
    Therefore my intake of carbs is actually higher than protein.
    I'm just wondering if theres a difference between vegetable carbs and starchy/grainy ones. Or is it just CARBS

    Thanks!!

    Just a clarification though as this gets majorly confused and miss-communicated. Your question is from a weightloss perspective, so the only thing that really matters is calories in vs calories out. The make up of those calories from a macronutrient perspective is moot. So for example, if you need to eat 1500 calories a day to lose weight and you eat 1500 calories worth of broccoli, or 1500 calories worth of pizza...at the end of the day, you ate 1500 calories and you will lose weight. Now the makeup of those calories (macronutrients) come into play in regards to body composition and health (there was a link provided by @TheStephil that will give you a baseline to get started).
  • mgermo
    mgermo Posts: 11 Member
    All calories are equal but some are more equal than others ie sugar is black sheep of the family.
    And macros are so yesterday. 0.8g/lbs protein, 0.4g/lbs fats and the rest of the calories distributed as you wish.
  • cajuntank
    cajuntank Posts: 924 Member
    All calories are equal but some are more equal than others ie sugar is black sheep of the family.
    And macros are so yesterday. 0.8g/lbs protein, 0.4g/lbs fats and the rest of the calories distributed as you wish.

    So what are you saying? That 2+2=4 , but sometimes, 2+2="4" :wink:
    :laugh:

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