Macros are driving me insane!

EdwardMH2 · December 2016

Trying to keep Macros at 50% protein, 30% fat, and 20% cabs and NEVER get close always blow out carbs and fat. Any suggestions or even a set menu to dial this in?

cwolfman13 · December 2016

50% protein is likely overkill...like by a lot. Maybe try 40/30/30. Even then, you're going to have to focus your meals and snacks around it...i.e. you're going to have to plan...

Any more than 1 gram per Lb of LBM is overkill and you're just making expensive glucose.

lady_ghost · December 2016

EdwardMH2 wrote: »

Trying to keep Macros at 50% protein, 30% fat, and 20% cabs and NEVER get close always blow out carbs and fat. Any suggestions or even a set menu to dial this in?

I've ate at those macros it's sooooo hard to reach it but the results were amazing. I was so lean.

lady_ghost · December 2016

EdwardMH2 wrote: »

Trying to keep Macros at 50% protein, 30% fat, and 20% cabs and NEVER get close always blow out carbs and fat. Any suggestions or even a set menu to dial this in?

Pro 40 fat 35 carb 25. Try that combo it's more manageable and will still give good results.

livingleanlivingclean · December 2016

No matter what the split, start by planning your meals with the macro you struggle with - add your protein first, get it close to your goal, then put the other components in to suit whatever the meal is.

trigden1991 · December 2016

Macros really don't matter. Calories are the most important thing.

sgt1372 · December 2016

trigden1991 wrote: »

Macros really don't matter. Calories are the most important thing.

Cals matter but so do macros.

A high protein diet is important for LBM & strength development in combo w/progressive lifting, helps increase fat loss and reduce LBM loss and can help w/weight loss by making you feel fuller and use more energy to digest.

See: https://www.muscleforlife.com/high-protein-diet/

My experience is proof of this because I've been on a high protein diet - - 40P/40C/20F - - for over 6 months and have lost 36# (196 down to 160) and have gotten stronger while lifting progressively heavier weights and have gained LBM and lost BF at a cal deficit during 2 different time periods w/in the past 6 months as measured by DXA and Hydrostatic Testing.

Nuff said.

amusedmonkey · December 2016

sgt1372 wrote: »

trigden1991 wrote: »

Macros really don't matter. Calories are the most important thing.

Cals matter but so do macros.

A high protein diet is important for LBM & strength development in combo w/progressive lifting, helps increase fat loss and reduce LBM loss and can help w/weight loss by making you feel fuller and use more energy to digest.

See: https://www.muscleforlife.com/high-protein-diet/

My experience is proof of this because I've been on a high protein diet - - 40P/40C/20F - - for over 6 months and have lost 36# (196 down to 160) and have gotten stronger whilw lifting progressively heavier weights and have gained LBM and lost BF at a cal deficit during 2 different time periods w/in the past 6 months as measured by DXA and Hydrostatic Testing.

Nuff said.

Not under eating protein is one thing, wanting to consume more protein than is necessary to the point where you are struggling to hit the limit is another. OP is likely attempting a 200+ gram intake, which has diminishing returns. for muscle building and comparable results could be achieved with less.

sgt1372 · December 2016

EdwardMH2 wrote: »

Trying to keep Macros at 50% protein, 30% fat, and 20% cabs and NEVER get close always blow out carbs and fat. Any suggestions or even a set menu to dial this in?

As noted above, I've been on a 40P/40C/20F diet. The actual intake as measured on MFP was 35P/39C/26F and averaged 181g Protein, 205g Carbs and 60g Fat. About 1/2 of my total diet in protein comes from powder, drinks and/or bars.

Based on my experience, I'd say that a goal of 50% protein may be too high and that you should try to shoot for 35-40% instead.

That should be enough for your fat loss and/or muscular gain objectives and will be easier to achieve. However, even so, you will have a hard time comsuming that much protein w/o using protein supplements.

You should also use MFP (as I do) to estimate how different foods will affect your cal and macro counts BEFORE each meal so that you can adjust each meal as necessary to achieve your cal and macro goals.

Good luck!

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

That's a LOT of protein... I'm all for high protein because that's the most effective for getting lean, but 50% of calories coming from protein seems a bit high. How many grams a day does that end up being for you?

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

trigden1991 wrote: »

Macros really don't matter. Calories are the most important thing.

While yes calories are the most important thing, I would definitely not say macros don't matter. What if someone's macros were 10% P, 85% C, 5% F? Sure, they would lose weight if they were in a deficit but they would also lose a lot of muscle, keep most of their fat, and probably get hormone disruption and vitamin deficiencies from so little fat intake. Macros matter to muscles, hormones, digestion, health, and body composition.

jemhh · December 2016

I suggest aiming at gram goals for protein and fat rather than percentages. You'll read varying opinions on good protein goals. I prefer .8-1 gram per pound of bodyweight. For fat .4 grams per pound of bodyweight is a good starting point for many people. Those are minimums so you can aim to reach those and then beyond that the rest of your calories can come from carbs or more protein or more fat.

Regardless of how you calculate your macros, if you want to reach them you'll need to plan ahead a bit. It doesn't have to be a week ahead of time but even pausing before a meal to log what is being served and deciding on an appropriate portion size will help.

Best of luck to you!

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

jemhh wrote: »

I suggest aiming at gram goals for protein and fat rather than percentages. You'll read varying opinions on good protein goals. I prefer .8-1 gram per pound of bodyweight. For fat .4 grams per pound of bodyweight is a good starting point for many people. Those are minimums so you can aim to reach those and then beyond that the rest of your calories can come from carbs or more protein or more fat.

Regardless of how you calculate your macros, if you want to reach them you'll need to plan ahead a bit. It doesn't have to be a week ahead of time but even pausing before a meal to log what is being served and deciding on an appropriate portion size will help.

Best of luck to you!

Use your goal weight to calculate though, or the ideal weight for your height and gender. If very overweight that can skew macros a lot. Like a 250 pound 5'4" woman does NOT need 250 grams of protein per day.

rybo · December 2016

There's no need to eat that much protein, especially if you are finding it difficult. Most people eat more than they need to, it's not a bad thing by any means, but that doesn't mean it's mandatory for everyone.

EdwardMH2 · March 2018

I see so many diet suggestions that I get confused on what I should be doing Keto/Paleo little to no carbs, others say high protein more exercise, others... etc... My main activities are Walking and Pickleball, I can not afford a Gym membership but I do have a Total Gym at home.

xxerniexx · March 2018

if your low on protein but high on other macros try liquid egg whites, when cooked with Pam they are 100% protein

ZoneFive · March 2018

Walking and pickleball are just fine, and there must be a lot of online programs that utilize a Total Gym.

As for macros -- start with the default here on MFP. Eat the calorie level MFP recommends, use the default macro split, log everything, and try that for four weeks. Then tweak as needed. You don't have to get it perfect the first time around.

CarvedTones · March 2018

I am just starting maintenance and bringing my calories goal up. I stepped it up a little a few weeks ago and right away it made me wonder about the macros and %. Do I need more protein because I am not trying to lose weight now? Actually, I still want to lose a little more very slowly just for more wiggle room in staying under my max, but that doesn't really matter. My point is that there are really some raw numbers you can use that are how much you really need. I need about 60g of protein unless I start bulking, then I need more. Does it really matter what macros I get as extras beyond my basic needs? Not very much. I want fiber like whole grains to keep my LDL down, so I get my carbs in. I get more sugar than MFP like because I eat a lot of fruit. That really isn't a problem.

malibu927 · March 2018

xxerniexx wrote: »

if your low on protein but high on other macros try liquid egg whites, when cooked with Pam they are 100% protein

Pam, just like any other cooking sprays and oils, is 100% fat

Wynterbourne · March 2018

xxerniexx wrote: »

if your low on protein but high on other macros try liquid egg whites, when cooked with Pam they are 100% protein

Yeah, Pam is oil in an aerosol can. All being in an aerosol can does is allow you to dispense a smaller amount evenly. It doesn't magically make it no longer fat.

Fizzypopization · March 2018

Carbs are healthy and you need them. For most people at least 150g of carbs should be consumed and up to 275g can be. Veggies are good. Cut back on protein and increase carb (just make it good carbs veggies and fruits). There is a reason you are struggling to meet that goal we don't need a lot of protein to run effectively. Most women can get their entire protein amount in a day from a single chicken breast and men a breast and a half so unless you have a reason to be on a low carb diet like an actual medical conditon this seems to be your issue.

Macros are driving me insane!

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