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Why count your macronutrients?

“Why can’t we eat whatever we want and exercise?” “Why do we have to be so strict with our diets?” “I can’t give up certain foods!”

The truth is… Nobody says you have to do anything! It’s your body, your health, your lack of energy and your appearance. But, if you’re one of those people who cares about what they’re putting into their bodies, their health, high energy, and how they look in the mirror, then enter the world of macronutrient counting.

Macronutrients simply consist of foods that contain protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Ultimately, they provide the energy needed to maintain bodily functions at rest and during physical activity. These macronutrients maintain the structural and functional integrity of the body. These 3 macronutrients should be consumed at every meal to control hunger, stabilize blood sugar, control weight, improve body composition, energy for physical and mental performance.

It is imperative that we understand the importance of macronutrient counting. Everyone’s body is different and their nutritional needs are unique. We all process food and use nutrients differently. This is why the macronutrient count must be tailored to each specific individual’s metabolism because what works for one person may not work for another. Macronutrient counting is about consuming specific daily intakes of protein, carbohydrates, and fat every day to reach your full potential for results. An example of this would be a person who needs 200 g of protein, 300 g of carbohydrates and 50 g of fat per day. They would divide these numbers by the number of meals they eat per day. So let’s say 4 meals a day, this would mean this person needs 50g of protein, 75g of carbs, and about 12g of fat in each of their four meals spaced throughout the day. By not counting your macros, you could be eating extra calories that your body simply won’t be able to use or oxidize. Therefore, those extra calories will be stored in fat cells. That’s why I’m such a big proponent of macronutrient counting. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to gain muscle mass (put on lean muscle) in the winter or lean over during the summer to go to pool parties. You must be responsible for your own macronutrients because our bodies and metabolic rates were made differently.

Let me break down each macronutrient for you and its importance to the body.

Proteins Proteins are nutritionally essential because of their basic amino acids, which the body must have in order to synthesize its own variety of proteins and nitrogen-containing molecules that make life possible. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, there are 20 amino acids in the body (9 essential and 11 non-essential) we make all 9 essential amino acids through food and supplements and as for the 11 non-essential amino acids, we make them in our bodies for us. Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue. When you work a muscle group, the muscle tissue is broken down by the weights and in order to grow and recover, the muscles must be fed amino acids and protein. Protein should be consumed at each of your meals throughout the day, no matter what. Try: chicken, fish, lean beef, whey protein powder, etc.

Carbohydrates: When carbohydrates are eaten, they are absorbed in the mouth, stomach, and intestines into the smallest unit that is usually glucose (blood sugar). The main purpose of carbohydrates is to provide energy and fuel for the body, speed up the body’s metabolism to prevent unwanted fat storage, and spare muscle protein. Everyone metabolizes carbohydrates differently. Some people can eat a lot of carbs and stay lean and others just can’t eat a lot because after their metabolism uses a certain amount, the rest will be stored in fat cells. There are 2 different types of carbohydrates, complex and simple, and it is important to find out which types suit your body best and in what quantity. Try: brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc.

Fats: Fats are the most energy-dense macronutrient and provide most of their energy to many of the body’s tissues and organs. Fat is the most critical macronutrient for optimizing hormonal functions (ie testosterone, libido, etc.). Fats are also essential for building muscle, lowering cortisol levels, providing energy, helping with feelings of hunger, and helping the body function properly. Please, do not fall into the fitness dogma that fats are bad for you and if you consume them they will make you fat. It’s one of the most ridiculous myths out there, our bodies need fat! Try: nuts, seeds, oils (olive, flaxseed, coconut), fats from animal meats, etc.

So after reading this, if you’re still one of those people who cares about what they’re putting into their bodies, their health, lack of energy, and how they look in the mirror, then I hope this has given you some insight. why counting your macronutrients is important. It’s very important because I think it gives you the best chance to control your body the way you want it to be. This gives you the opportunity to learn what your body likes/dislikes, whether you’re a high carb person or a low carb person, or maybe somewhere in between. This gives you a chance to see how well your body stores fat. This also gives you the opportunity to eat just about anything you want, as long as you fit it into your daily macronutrient amounts. But keep in mind that this isn’t for everyone and wouldn’t be ideal for someone who is lazy counting their numbers day in and day out. This is an opportunity for you to transition your life from a mediocre lifestyle to a dynamic lifestyle! An opportunity to ditch all those junk fad diets, refined foods that make you feel like shit all day and create your own diet that you will be consistent with, enjoy doing, feel good and get results. Why put junk foods in our bodies that are not going to benefit us? Put quality macronutrients in your body so you can reap the benefits of these nutrient dense foods! Enter the wonderful world of people who count macronutrients. Peace!!!