How important are macros?

Tattoos_and_Tea
Tattoos_and_Tea Posts: 529 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm curious whether people stay religiously within macros? What do you have them set at? Mine were at 35/35/30 (1300 calories) but I struggle to hit that much protein and could always do with more carbs. Does it make a difference to your weight if you stay within calories but go over on macros? Just wondering. Thanks! Sarah x

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Weight management is all about calories. But macros can influence things like recovery, muscle retention/building, satiety, etc.. I run higher protein because I am working on maintaining as much muscle as possible or even gain a little muscle during my weight loss.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    While you can lose weight as long as you are in a deficit, macros are important for health, body composition, workout performance, satiety and diet adherence/sustainability. Getting adequate protein is important for muscle building/retention, fat is important for body functions and hormones, carbs while not necessary can be important for workout performance, muscle building, happiness in some cases ;)

    My goals are muscle related so I aim for minimum 1g protein per lb bodyweight. I let the rest of my macros fall where they fall.
  • Tattoos_and_Tea
    Tattoos_and_Tea Posts: 529 Member
    Thanks! I just feel guilty when I go over on carbs and don't hit protein. Its not easy to hit protein when on a budget or havnt been shopping 😖 Found myself eating a lot of processed stuff recently to get protein in and know its not ideal.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    sazzle1983 wrote: »
    Thanks! I just feel guilty when I go over on carbs and don't hit protein. Its not easy to hit protein when on a budget or havnt been shopping 😖 Found myself eating a lot of processed stuff recently to get protein in and know its not ideal.

    Have you tried bulking chicken or chicken thigh in bulk? That, eggs and fat free greek yogurt are largely how I get my protein super high.
  • Tattoos_and_Tea
    Tattoos_and_Tea Posts: 529 Member
    Yeah I'll need to try and buy bulk I reckon. Thanks for the advice. I'll try and stick to macros 😵
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    sazzle1983 wrote: »
    Thanks! I just feel guilty when I go over on carbs and don't hit protein. Its not easy to hit protein when on a budget or havnt been shopping 😖 Found myself eating a lot of processed stuff recently to get protein in and know its not ideal.

    I hear ya. I'm doing a lot of protein powder lately.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited July 2020
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sazzle1983 wrote: »
    Thanks! I just feel guilty when I go over on carbs and don't hit protein. Its not easy to hit protein when on a budget or havnt been shopping 😖 Found myself eating a lot of processed stuff recently to get protein in and know its not ideal.

    I hear ya. I'm doing a lot of protein powder lately.

    So do I and I am not complaining 😂

    udep5riybufp.jpg
  • Tattoos_and_Tea
    Tattoos_and_Tea Posts: 529 Member
    Omg behave 🤤 what's the macros in that?! Lol
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    psuLemon wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sazzle1983 wrote: »
    Thanks! I just feel guilty when I go over on carbs and don't hit protein. Its not easy to hit protein when on a budget or havnt been shopping 😖 Found myself eating a lot of processed stuff recently to get protein in and know its not ideal.

    I hear ya. I'm doing a lot of protein powder lately.

    So do I and I am not complaining 😂
    udep5riybufp.jpg

    Shake: 272 Cal, 7g carbs, 15g fat, 25g protein
    Cookie: 79 Cal, 3g carbs, 7g fat, 3g protein

    I run a cyclical ketogenic diet mixed with some carb timing to help gym performance. Typically, my carbs are net 30-40g with protein around 145-180g and fat around 100g. I eat a shake almost every night. But my wife is baking a lot and she made me some keto peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. :smiley:

  • Tattoos_and_Tea
    Tattoos_and_Tea Posts: 529 Member
    Sounds amazing! Don't think I could go that low carb.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    sazzle1983 wrote: »
    Sounds amazing! Don't think I could go that low carb.

    Ironically, I didn't think I could either. But for the most part, it has worked really well for me to get leaner.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Oh @psuLemon that looks delish mine would have full sugar though so definitely wouldn't be keto or low calorie :D
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Oh @psuLemon that looks delish mine would have full sugar though so definitely wouldn't be keto or low calorie :D

    The nice thing about my cooking, it's pretty versatile. So instead of sweetener, you can add 5-10g of sugar and then sprinkle Oreos on top, :)
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Oh @psuLemon that looks delish mine would have full sugar though so definitely wouldn't be keto or low calorie :D

    The nice thing about my cooking, it's pretty versatile. So instead of sweetener, you can add 5-10g of sugar and then sprinkle Oreos on top, :)

    Yess I can definitely do that! Do you have the recipe not sure if you posted it in the other group or if that was something else. Your stuff looks so delish

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