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    How long before you stop "just counting" and start looking at macros.

    Posts: 564 Member
    edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
    I've been using MFP for almost a month and I have learned a lot from the community, including "just start tracking and worry about macros later".

    Ok, sure...when is later?

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    • Posts: 6,212 Member
      If that's the advice you got, then you were listening to the wrong people.

      Counting calories and watching macros are not mutually exclusive. You should be doing both at the same time.
    • Posts: 6,652 Member
      edited June 2015
      Other than protein, which I emphasized from the beginning, it was probably six months or so before I started tracking the others.

      I don't have the app I was using handy, but I think that was after I got out of Obese II, Obese, and was into "just" overweight BMI.

      If you're comfortable with tracking calories and you know what you want to target for macros, later is probably now.
    • Posts: 17,456 Member
      When you get interested in it and think "I wonder what the feck this macros malarkey is all about"

      That's when

    • Posts: 6,652 Member
      ceoverturf wrote: »
      If that's the advice you got, then you were listening to the wrong people.

      Counting calories and watching macros are not mutually exclusive. You should be doing both at the same time.
      They aren't mutually exclusive, but that doesn't necessarily mean every user needs to jump into tracking both right away.

    • Posts: 22,505 Member
      If you feel comfortable with eating within your calories and the idea of possibly needing to adjust what you eat to hit your macros doesn't freak you out, then start looking at macros. :)
    • Posts: 2,255 Member
      I use my macros as a guideline. I never hit them exactly. If I am within a few percentage points for all of them, I'm good.
    • Posts: 17,456 Member
      I still focus on calories primarily but always cast an eye on whether I'm hitting my protein minimum...and secondarily my fat ...I'm not quite as good at hitting fat for some reason
    • Posts: 6,212 Member
      DeguelloTex wrote: »
      show previous quotes
      They aren't mutually exclusive, but that doesn't necessarily mean every user needs to jump into tracking both right away.

      Maybe not...but I still think the best advice - even for a new user - would at least to be mindful of the macro breakdown of one's diet - even if not specifically tracking.
    • Posts: 2,229 Member
      I'm still trying to get calorie tracking down correctly. I do pay more attention to my proteins.
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    • Posts: 8,423 Member
      TakingBackForever wrote: »
      I've been using MFP for almost a month and I have learned a lot from the community, including "just start tracking and worry about macros later".

      Ok, sure...when is later?

      Any time you want to... or never.
      I started paying more attention to things like protein early on because it helps me to feel more satisfied if I have enough.
    • Posts: 564 Member
      My protein level is what I'm most concerned about. It's always much lower than the recommended amount. I don't want the lack of protein to be detrimental to my health.
    • Posts: 131 Member
      The only macro I really look at is protein, but that's because, as a runner, I want to make sure that I get enough to repair damaged muscle tissue.
    • Posts: 25 Member
      For me, it was about a year in. When I first started MFP consistently losing weight was the only goal. I did that, lost 30 lbs the first year, no exercise just calorie counting. Now I try to keep to high protein, high fiber as I am trying to recomp my body rather than weight loss. I'm a fan of protein but also simplicity so if you're losing/maintaning where you'd like right now then I wouldn't worry too much about small deficiencies. Just take a multi and enjoy the shrink/gain. You look young in your pic so it's not really an immediate issue. Worry more about consistency and enjoying it first.
    • Posts: 41,865 Member
      TakingBackForever wrote: »
      I've been using MFP for almost a month and I have learned a lot from the community, including "just start tracking and worry about macros later".

      Ok, sure...when is later?

      this advise is often given to noobs because calories are numero uno....they are the most important thing...and far too often, noobs put a lot of energy and effort into less important things.

      It's important to learn how to control your calorie intake first...once you've got that under control you can start really looking at your nutrition and striving for a more balanced macro-nutrient intake.

      There is no magic "when"...if you have the whole calorie thing under control...meaning you are being as accurate as possible and the weight is coming off, etc then you can start placing some focus on macro-nutrient break down. That said, IMO, far too many people are overly consumed with their macros...they are great to be aware of and they can help you balance out your nutrition...but I see far too much hand wringing over not hitting exactly X grams of this of that and it's a bit silly given that for most of us, it's not really all that important.
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