Do you care about macros the same as calories?

Kales97
Kales97 Posts: 10 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have carbohydrate, protein, sodium, etc “goals”, but I never stick to them. For example, my carb goal is 125g a day or under but I ALWAYS go over & typically eat around 180-200g. Honestly, I don’t care about my macros as long as I’m in a caloric deficit. Should I care about macros as long as I’m not exceeding my calories???

Replies

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Not really. At least not at the beginning. You will eventually want to make sure that carbs are not crowding out protein or fat but you will lose weight regardless of your macros.
  • Teabythesea_
    Teabythesea_ Posts: 559 Member
    edited May 2019
    I make an effort to meet my calorie, protein, and fat goals. Carbs and everything else I dont care about. Different macro ratios dont do anything to aid in weight loss, its typically a preference based on individual goals and satiety.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    I track protein and fiber macros closely in addition to calories, and always look at fat but I ignore the rest of them, especially carbs.
  • Danp
    Danp Posts: 1,561 Member
    Never paid more than a glance at my macro split. It's just not important to me in the overall scheme of things. I'm losing weight. I'm feeling good, my health markers and test results are the bet they've ever been.

    I tend to just let them fall where they fall but looking back they seem to naturally fall into 'normal' ranges naturally. Whether that comes from some kind of self regulating thing where if I need a particular macro I'll crave foods of that type more or if it just so happens that the food I eat on a regular basis tends to cause my macros to fall that way I couldn't say.

    The only time I pay any mind is if I'm on a cycling kick and planning an extended (+2hr) ride then I might make a conscious effort to increase my carbs in the few days before and the morning of to 'fuel up'.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,242 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    I track protein and fiber macros closely in addition to calories, and always look at fat but I ignore the rest of them, especially carbs.

    Me too!
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,129 Member
    I firstly focused on calories for weight loss, this was all I looked at for the first 10 months or so.

    Then started making sure I was getting adequate protein to maintain muscle and help with recovery and then began ensuring adequate fat for satiety/vitamin absorption and fibre for satiety/digestive health. I've always kept an eye on my vitamin/mineral intake too as if I am down on Vitamin D/Magnesium/Potassium it affects my sleep and overall energy levels.

    I think as time goes on and we adjust to eating the right amount of food for weight loss/maintenance then the natural next step for a lot of people is to ensure you're getting adequate nutrition for good health.
  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    Some folks have issues with carbs when they get too high. I happen to be one of those people. I do best if my carbs are around 40% or less. For some bizarre reason if my carbs get too high I can't stop eating. That's just me and I would lose weight no matter what the macro split if I maintained my calorie level. I just feel better if I keep them lower. I don't worry about them really but I check my split if I'm having a "hungry" day.
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    I don't really no.

    over most days i try to get AT LEAST 80gram of protein and hit my fat goal (as i tend to be low on fat). but i just quickly scan those numbers here and there i don't make a big deal of them.
  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    My goal is to meet my macros, calories is secondary for me.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    My macros are very important to me. I don't track calories but sometimes I do track my protein where I log my protein only (main sources).

    In the end calories will drive weight loss or gain so you want to be mindful of that first and foremost.
  • Sunshine_And_Sand
    Sunshine_And_Sand Posts: 1,320 Member
    I don't really care about macros at all. Sometimes I look back on them out of curiosity, and I tend to hit pretty close to MFPs default macro goals with just the way I like to eat, without even trying to hit a certain goal. For now this is working for me so I'm not changing it. If it stops working, I'll look at adjusting it.
    I think some people worry about macros more than necessary...
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    I track protein and fiber macros closely in addition to calories, and always look at fat but I ignore the rest of them, especially carbs.

    Me too!

    Same with me.
  • luckywizard
    luckywizard Posts: 71 Member
    I pay attention to them simply because I have a much easier time keeping to my calorie goal with a higher fat and protein intake and a lower carb intake than is recommended. But that is me and my body, certainly from other responses that isn't true for everyone.
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    I make sure to hit calories and protein and let the rest fall where it may
  • _faedreamer
    _faedreamer Posts: 56 Member
    The only macros I really pay attention to are carbs and sugar. As a Type 2 diabetic, I need to keep those under a certain level to keep my blood glucose stable. Otherwise I pay much more attention to CICO as it pertains to losing weight.
  • sammidelvecchio
    sammidelvecchio Posts: 791 Member
    The things I focus on in order are:
    1. Calories
    2. Protein
    3. Carbs and Fiber
    4. Exercise

    Most days I am focused on calories and protein and the rest fall into place.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I do in particular Protein when i am lifting heavy. If I am not working out or rest days I focus on calories.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,162 Member
    Mostly I just look at calories. I do try to hit my protein goal and then just let fats and carbs fall where they fall. I also try to hit my fiber goal and I've been paying more attention to iron lately.
  • texasredreb
    texasredreb Posts: 541 Member
    Calories mostly. Followed by protein, fat, and carbs.
  • Phirrgus
    Phirrgus Posts: 1,894 Member
    cheryldumais wrote: »
    Some folks have issues with carbs when they get too high. I happen to be one of those people. I do best if my carbs are around 40% or less. For some bizarre reason if my carbs get too high I can't stop eating. That's just me and I would lose weight no matter what the macro split if I maintained my calorie level. I just feel better if I keep them lower. I don't worry about them really but I check my split if I'm having a "hungry" day.

    It isn't just you! :) I LOVE my carbs, but it's so easy to let that love of carbs translate into excessive calories. I do much better when I keep them in check. :)
  • Skinimalink
    Skinimalink Posts: 20 Member
    I'm diabetic so I stick to less than 20g of carb. After that, it's calories all the way. If I wasn't diabetic, I don't think I'd bother with macros.

Categories