{"id":68762,"date":"2019-11-17T17:26:54","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T22:26:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emilyfieldrd.com\/?p=68762"},"modified":"2021-06-22T13:24:37","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T18:24:37","slug":"6-reasons-to-count-macros-that-go-beyond-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emilyfieldrd.com\/blog\/6-reasons-to-count-macros-that-go-beyond-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"6 reasons to count macros that go beyond weight loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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So, I am guessing you heard about counting macros for weight loss and thought to yourself, \u201cOMG, this is so great! I can eat whatever I want and STILL see results as long as I hit my prescribed macros each day.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

If you found macro tracking through this lens and somehow stumbled on my website, great! I am so glad you\u2019re here. Much of the time, \u201cmacro counting\u201d becomes synonymous with \u201cweight loss\u201d or even, \u201cfat loss\u201d \u2014 and it can absolutely help support these goals. However, counting macros can be about so much more than losing, which is why I encourage you to expand your view of all that is possible…<\/span><\/p>

Here are six ways counting macros can help you achieve your body and fitness goals (beyond losing fat!)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Get back to a healthier metabolism with reverse dieting through macro counting <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you\u2019ve been unintentionally (or intentionally) undereating for a long period of time, you might benefit from reverse dieting for metabolic health. Reverse dieting is the strategic increase of calories and macros over time to combat the metabolic adaptation (or the down regulation of metabolism) that naturally occurs as a result of dieting.<\/span><\/p>

Reverse dieting is best implemented in people who have yo-yo\u2019ed around the same weight for an extended period of time, can\u2019t seem to lose weight or body fat despite being at a low calorie intake, or are not seeing any real measurable physique improvement <\/span>despite<\/span><\/i> engaging in challenging strength training activity.<\/span><\/p>

Using a macros approach to reverse diet is a great way to track and monitor on your way up to a higher, more liveable calorie intake by minimizing body fat gain coming out of a period of undereating. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Use macro counting to fight portion distortion\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Portion distortion refers to the growing portion sizes that people have been conditioned to consider \u201cnormal.\u201d This is the result of many factors, such as the reduced relative cost of ingredients, value-sizing, the creation and availability of cheap, hyper-palatable foods, advanced production methods that make food able to travel farther, and the increasing size of cookware, plate size and utensils in the past several decades. In other words, there is a <\/span>lot<\/span><\/i> to unpack \u2014 but becoming more mindful through macro counting can make a huge difference.<\/span><\/p>

In a battle against portion distortion,\u00a0 tracking macros can give you a barometer for how much food is appropriate for <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>, personally, because the target protein, fat and carbohydrate grams are tailored to your needs. Later, you can tweak that prescription to fit your individual preference or based on how you feel, which is much more liberating than when you start a new way of eating by suddenly eliminating a whole food group.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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count macros to support athletic performance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you look forward to your one hour a day spent being physically active or you love to nurture your inner competitive side through your sport of choice \u2014 you should eat to support that!<\/span><\/p>

Tracking macros can be one way to ensure you bring energy to your workouts as well as recover appropriately and fully. Proper nutrition could be the difference between showing up to a workout feeling like a total badass or feeling completely faded. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Use macro counting to support hormones<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Manipulating macro intake can change the hormone picture. For example, someone who has blood sugar stability and\/or insulin sensitivity problems could use macro counting to build meals with<\/span> PFC balance<\/a>, limit overall carbohydrate consumption, and work to improve the overall quality of carbohydrates consumed. Coupled together, these changes could influence the blood sugar stability and insulin response.<\/span><\/p>

Similarly, hormones like cortisol, thyroid, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can get wonky for many reasons. Using a macros approach could be helpful to ensure you\u2019re eating enough:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>