{"id":74012,"date":"2021-04-13T13:23:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T18:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emilyfieldrd.com\/?p=74012"},"modified":"2022-11-09T18:32:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T23:32:42","slug":"macros-or-calories-better-for-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emilyfieldrd.com\/blog\/macros-or-calories-better-for-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"is it better to track macros or count calories for weight loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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When it comes to weight loss, there is a distinct difference between counting macros and counting calories. The main one being that tracking macros involves counting calories, but counting calories doesn\u2019t involve counting macros.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is because macros contain calories. Protein and carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram and fats contain 9 calories per gram. So by counting macros, you’re also inherently counting calories, too. However, when counting calories, you may or may not be paying attention to calories.<\/p>\n

But, there\u2019s plenty more reasons than that to track macros over count calories – let\u2019s take a look!<\/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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THE BENEFITS OF A MACRO TRACKING APPROACH<\/h2><\/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\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Let\u2019s first start by considering all the benefits of macro tracking. A macro tracking approach offers structure and guidance regarding how much you should eat, while allowing for choice and autonomy over which foods you would like to eat. This can be a superior strategy to traditional calorie counting, or simply providing a list of \u201callowed foods\u201d or a rigid prescribed meal plan. By learning how to eat to your unique and individualized needs, gaining a basic understanding of nutrition and seeing how particular foods impact the way you feel, macro tracking can truly be a long-term approach to health and nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Tracking macros also puts you in the driver\u2019s seat of how you want to feel, look and perform. By controlling the protein, fat and carbohydrate content of your food you\u2019re giving your body gentle direction for how to function.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Put another way: If macros are like the language your body speaks, tracking macros is like using that language to give your body clear instructions.\u2063 Contrast that with counting calories, which just affects the measure of gravity against your body, i.e. your scale weight.<\/span><\/p>

Simply tracking your food (with or without regard to the amount of calories) increases awareness and influences your eating behaviors. Tracking macros does this <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> influences body weight, health markers, body composition and athletic performance. Tracking calories does not have this same impact.\u00a0<\/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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HOW MACROS AND CALORIES ARE DIFFERENT<\/h2><\/h2>\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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Calories refer to the overall energy a food contributes. Counting calories and manipulating intake influences only body weight gain, loss or maintenance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Macros refers to the composition of a food i.e. how much of that food is made up of protein, fat or carbohydrates. Manipulating macro intake influences many things such as:<\/span><\/p>