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Monday, January 16, 2017

Is Counting Macros Better Than Counting Calories?

By Russ Howe


When you are trying to lose weight, you will inevitably come across the debate of counting calories versus counting macronutrients.

It is the new trend in the fitness industry.

But does counting your macros really matter to weight loss? Or can you still bank on results so long as you lower your daily calorie intake?

Today's article will find out, and provide you with a few useful dieting tricks for good measure!



If this is your first time trying to lose weight, the word macronutrients may sound like something from a Star Trek movie. But this is simply the phrase used to describe the foods which we eat. Every food either falls under the banner of protein, fat or carbohydrates.

1. What Is Protein Used For?

Protein serves a very important purpose if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. It's responsible for new muscle growth, making it a top priority macronutrient if you have started going to the gym. But protein will also help you to retain the muscle tissue you already have, as well as curbing your hunger cravings more than either fat and carbohydrates.

Suffice to say, protein should be a mainstay in your diet and considered your macro of choice when looking for a snack throughout the day.

2. What Does Fat Do?

It's not the 1980's anymore, so don't buy into the nutrition myth that fat is bad for you. Instead, fat will play an important role in helping you to build more lean muscle and is a great way of reaping more results from your hard work in the gym because it will regulate the release of testosterone - a key player in muscle protein synthesis.

3. Why Do We Eat Carbohydrates?

It's no longer the year 2000, so you need not fear carbs like the plague. Despite the fact that the early years of the millennium were plagued with bogus science that claimed carbohydrates would lead to greater fat storage around the midsection, modern science clearly demonstrates that carbohydrates are a vital food group in a healthy diet. Further still, they provide you with your body's preferred source of energy, so cutting carbs from your diet is a bad move.

So do not fall for the old hype of carbs being bad for you, nor the myth that suggests we should never eat carbohydrates in the evening time. Both of these have been disproven by science.

So now that you know the roles played by each food group, is counting your macros enough to lead to weight loss? Or do calories still matter?

As you may have guessed, calories still rule the roost when it comes to weight loss.

Of course, it will definitely help your weight loss progress if you are eating enough protein, carbs and fats per day. But the best way to get great results is to combine this with a lower calorie intake.

Despite the fact that fitness has evolved, eating too many calories will always lead to weight gain.




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