Macro vs Calorie Counting- deciding which one works best

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raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Calorie deficit is king. Question i have is, if you go over the allowed carbs for the day, but still under calories, will it matter?

macro you need to care about those things. just wondering if that is needed to be cared about so much if you are just counting calories?

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,022 Member
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    It won't matter for weight loss.

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
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    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    That^^
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
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    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    By the numbers, no it won't matter. But the reality of the situation is that it can often times be more complex than just a basic math formula.

    what do you mean?
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
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    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
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    raven56706 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?

    No.

    Haven't we had this conversation before?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,022 Member
    edited November 2018
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    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    raven56706 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?

    No.

    Haven't we had this conversation before?

    :lol: I thought the same thing. Perhaps I need more coffee.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    edited November 2018
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    raven56706 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?

    Fat loss = weight loss + sufficient protein + proper training.

    So if carbs are high but protein is still sufficient (and overall cals are correct), then you should be fine. If high carbs are preventing you from getting enough protein, then you could end up seeing less than optimal results.

    ETA:
    "Optimal results" is kind of the snipe of the health and fitness world...
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
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    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    raven56706 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?

    No.

    Haven't we had this conversation before?

    prob. haha sorry!
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
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    raven56706 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    It won't matter for weight loss.

    does it matter for fat loss?

    One day, no. Within normal limits, no.

    For some people, macros matter for satiety, so regularly eating high carbs could mean they end up eating more than planned more often. (I suspect that for most make up of diet matters more than simple percentages or grams, and not all carbs or fats or what not are equally satiating -- that's what the satiety index seems to say also.)

    Also, protein matters for fat loss vs. weight loss in that if you are too low on protein you are more likely to lose muscle rather than fat. That is much more of a risk for people who are already lean or who are not doing any strength-bearing exercise.

    Obviously carbs matter for health if one is insulin resistant or T2D, although again simple percentages are less of the issue than balancing carbs with protein and making sure you are consuming carbs with fiber.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 5,948 Member
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    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    At it's most basic, weight loss is just a numbers game. So in that sense, cals are all that matter.

    But, things like macros and meal timing and food choices can play a big role in your ability to stick to a calorie goal (deficit). For example... some people find that a higher carb intake makes their cravings worse, which makes it harder for them to hit their calorie goal consistently. So in that sense, higher carb intake could be problematic, even if, on any given day, the numbers are still in their favor.

    Ultimately, weight loss comes down to -
    (a) getting the numbers in your favor (i.e. calorie deficit), and...
    (b) figuring out what practices, approaches, habits, tricks, etc help make it easiest FOR YOU to keep those numbers in your favor.

    Bravo!!!

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