How Should I Calculate Macros for Weight Loss?
What do The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, Hilary Duff and Carrie Underwood have in common? They have all been linked to the macro diet. Bodybuilders, celebrities and extreme athletes have been known to follow the macro diet and tweak their intake of protein, fats and carbohydrates for optimal performance. Some use this diet to maintain or increase muscle mass while losing body fat, others as a flexible tool for weight loss.
Instead of counting calories, with macros, you are counting percentages of macronutrients. All foods can fit into your diet as long as they meet your individual needs. While this diet may not be for everyone and can feel socially restrictive for some, enough people love it to warrant attention.
What are macronutrients? The primary macronutrients are protein, carbohydrates and fat. They are the nutrients necessary for survival that are required in larger quantities to sustain your level of activity. Their counterpart, micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals, are just as important but are needed in smaller amounts. Calculating macronutrients is a way to establish dietary patterns to maintain or improve a certain level of activity or wellness target. It has historically been a popular diet method with weightlifters and endurance athletes who need to adjust their protein, carbohydrate and fat intake to excel at their chosen activity.
Excerpted from Good Housekeeping
