MACRO TRACKING 101: HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY THROUGH NUTRITION

Understanding your diet doesn't have to be stressful. Any type of method that helps you track what you are eating only seems anxiety-inducing because it seems like your health is dominated by numbers when that is only one aspect of it. Macro tracking is all about helping you gain more of an awareness of what you are eating. You aren't just building a relationship with food but with your body. You are eating in a way that best serves your body's needs. Here are some of the benefits of macro tracking.

1. Balanced appetite and energy levels:

Macronutrients are composed of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Proteins help build muscle and repair tissue, carbs are an energy source for the muscles and brain, and fats support your hormones. Macro tracking makes sure you aren't falling below target (or exceeding) and are getting the most out of your food. If you have a lot of carbs but consistently miss important fats or are investing too much into your protein, macro tracking can help the numbers balance out. 

2. A better awareness of nutrients:

Before macro tracking, you probably couldn't identify how many grams there were in a breakfast bar or in an acai bowl, but now you've got that library of nutritional information in your brain. When you know what benefits you can reap from food groups, you start to eat more intentionally. You know what a bowl of grains can do for you and you also know what a slice of cake is going to factor out into when it comes to carb and fat intake. 

3. Staying full longer and more consistently:

If your goal is to lose weight, you can achieve a calorie deficit without it being so severe that it slows your metabolism down. With macro tracking, it is easy to hold yourself accountable and make sure you are neither overeating nor undereating. When you eat the correct portions, you will start to feel satiated.

4. Flexibility in diet:

Because macro tracking is such a personalized way to keep track of what you eat, you do not have to unnecessarily restrict yourself. Proteins can be delicious. Fats can actually be healthy, and carbohydrates are very diverse and have an array of benefits for the body. You don't have to give up certain foods you love. You just have to be more conscientious about portion sizes.

Macro tracking is not a one size fits all method. If the idea of counting and keeping track of food makes you anxious and dispirited - intuitive eating may be more ideal for you and less of a headache. However, macro tracking can be amazing if you tend to approach food blindly and not think about what is in it. Over time, this knowledge will help you gain a better relationship with your body. You know what foods your body needs, how it responds to certain foods, and what ratio of those foods will help you reach your goal. All you have to do is stick to it.

Sources:

Tiny Spoon Chef, "Macros Made Simple: How to Track, Eat, and Still Have Fun"

Precision Nutrition, "Should you track your macros?" via Emily Greffenius