Micros

Greenbaum123
Greenbaum123 Posts: 1 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
Which is better counting micros or counting calories?

Replies

  • zeejane03
    zeejane03 Posts: 993 Member
    edited February 2019
    What's your goal/s?

    For weight loss the only thing that matters is that you're at the correct calorie deficit for your weight loss goals.

    If you're working towards a specific health goal etc, then micros may be important for you to track, but they don't have anything to do with weigh loss.

    I'm currently experimenting with the DASH protocol so I'm paying attention to my calcium, magnesium and potassium intake. But for my weight loss goal I'm eating at a calorie deficit :)
  • mom22dogs
    mom22dogs Posts: 470 Member
    Did you mean macros? People sometimes count macros, but calories are really what you should look at for weight loss.
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    Not teasing or picking on you at all, just a question - do you mean macros? As in macronutrients (as opposed to micronutrients)?

    Calories are the biggest piece of the puzzle. if those are out of whack, your macros aren't going to fix or change anything. after you have your calorie balance dialed-in, that's when tracking individual macros can be beneficial etc...micros, though...ehhhh...if you're still trying to figure out calorie balance, worrying about your micros is really focusing on the trees and not seeing the forest.

    l8ouct9lav4l.jpg
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    JBanx256 wrote: »
    Not teasing or picking on you at all, just a question - do you mean macros? As in macronutrients (as opposed to micronutrients)?

    Calories are the biggest piece of the puzzle. if those are out of whack, your macros aren't going to fix or change anything. after you have your calorie balance dialed-in, that's when tracking individual macros can be beneficial etc...micros, though...ehhhh...if you're still trying to figure out calorie balance, worrying about your micros is really focusing on the trees and not seeing the forest.

    l8ouct9lav4l.jpg

    That is an excellent infographic and I love the "adherence" addition to the classic pyramid. Motivation will fail at some point, so you need to develop behaviors, habits, and discipline to follow through to complete a goal.

    Jeff Cavaliere has an excellent presentation on this, explaining the critical nature of understanding where you are in your fitness plan, so that you know what to prioritize.

    If you have less than ideal body fat then calories are your only concern. Macros/micros/supplements have such little impact that you won't notice this. I would add that Macros have impact satiety, but this is such a personal issue it is impossible to provide advice on this.
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