Macro vs just calorie counting

Macro counting or calorie counting while paying attention to nutrition arrive at about the same place.

Each macronutrient has a characteristic calorie level: Protein & carbs 4 calories per gram, fats 9 calories per gram, alcohol (sort of a pseudo-macro) 7 calories per gram. Count the macros, you come out close to a particular calorie total.

On the flip side, if you count calories but pay attention to nutrition, that's likely to involve hitting certain macronutrient goals as an aspect of getting good nutrition. Sometimes people only pay attention to protein, finding that they hit fat minimums without worrying much about it; carbohydrates are not an "essential nutrient" in the technical sense so carb levels are less of a concern unless someone needs to limit them for health reasons (such as being diabetic), or prefers to limit them for other reasons (such as appetite). (An "essential nutrient" in the technical sense is something our bodies can't manufacture out of any other nutrient, and can't get along without. More or less, our bodies can manufacture carbohydrates out of protein or fats if necessary.)

So, counting calories while hitting certain macro goals ends up very similar to macro counting.

Either way, someone concerned about nutrition would probably want to at least spot check fiber intake, maybe some micronutrients that are more common to be short on.

I started out with 80 pounds to lose. I logged all my food. As time went on I was losing weight and started getting more interested in nutrition. That's when I began to try to hit my macros.

Weight loss is about calories, but nutrition is important and so is satiety. In early days I really focused on getting enough protein - that's the one macro that is a little more difficult for me to hit naturally/intuitively. Then I worked on fiber. Those two were important for me to monitor otherwise I can tend to not eat enough vegetables and protein and eat way too much of other stuff.

Old habits die hard.

Now, 14 years later I'm pretty spot-on with my nutrition on most days. It's a process.

lisaj5227 wrote: »

Who sees better results or does it matter?

The question doesn't specify "results" for what. The popular tendency is to assume "weight loss", but (unlike the mirror or my pants size) weight doesn't say if it's a beer gut or giant manly biceps and thighs. I lost most unwanted body fat over about a year starting 2019, with little math or fuss or MFP. Signed on here last summer with a goal of more methodical exercise and nutrition, specifically for the easy macro tracking recommended in a fitness podcast - no interest in scale weight - I'd say it's whatever works best for what an individual is trying to do.

IMHO it comes down to calories. Personally I saw better results when I kept my calories within range AND stuck to higher quality foods; e.g., a big salad full of veggies and lean protein w/good carbs & some fat seemed to be better for me than the same number of calories in something like a sandwich and chips. I look at the macros but don't pay that much attention to them. OTOH I do pay attention to nutrients %'s