The countdown to our registration deadline for the Summer Blitz, our next 30-day fitness challenge, is ON, and now people are asking themselves an important question: Is tracking macros right for me? Here are a few scenarios that make tracking macros a wise decision.
what’s tracking macros again?
Tracking macros simply means you’ll calculate the grams of protein, carbs and fats you consume on a daily basis. And no worries if you’re bad at math – there’s an app for this. When you track macros, you ideally use a food scale and some kind of measuring device (cups, spoons, you get the idea), and then you input everything into your app. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s not overly difficult. It does take a little time to track everything, but it amounts to a few minutes out of your day.
is tracking macros right for Me?
Here are a few scenarios where tracking macros is a smart move.
- You don’t know what “enough protein” means. And you really aren’t alone. Most people don’t have the foggiest notion of how much protein they should be eating in a given day – and that goes for how many carbs and fats, too. When you put numbers to these macros, it can be a real game changer.
- You’re trying to lose those “last five/ten/fifteen pounds.” If you’ve hit a plateau with your fitness goals, your nutrition is the likely culprit. If your waist measurement refuses to budge, no matter how you up your fitness frequency, taking a hard, honest look at your macros will be telling. Oh, you’re downing 300 grams of carbs on the daily? That’s your problem. Your protein intake is limited to an egg in the morning, deli meat at lunch and a burger or chicken sandwich for dinner? Mmmhmm.
- You think you eat healthfully, but you still struggle with your weight. One of the most common reactions to tracking macros is shock. You think you eat well, but looking at the numbers will makes things very clear, very quickly. If you’re committing to your fitness, as so many of us do, it’s critical to understand that nutrition plays an even bigger role. It’s worth paying as much attention to what you eat as you do to how you train.
One caveat – changes take time. Tracking macros is beneficial in that it helps you understand what you’re truly consuming, it allows for flexibility in your diet, and it teaches you how to nourish yourself properly. But it’s also a process. Are you up for measuring your foods, making little adjustments to your meals as necessary, eating every few hours, and taking the time to dutifully log it all in your handy app? If that sounds like way too much work, maybe it is. Know thyself, and maybe opt for another way of dialing nutrition if you’re sure this is too daunting a task for you.
On the other hand, you can do anything for thirty days – the duration of the Summer Blitz – and you just may surprise yourself. Try tracking macros for just three days, and see how it goes.
If you’re new to Freestyle Fitness, our 30-day challenges include unlimited fitness classes, a chance to earn a free month of classes if you hit 24 in 30 days, a meal guide, target macros, access to our nutritionist via text, phone and Facebook, a locked challenge page on Facebook, and a weekly email. It’s an awesome way to prioritize your fitness goals, and it’s totally doable – 30 days is an ideal length of time to start making serious progress.
Join the challenge for $175, or find a friend to sign up with you and you’ll both save $25. Members pay just $50.
All challengers must be registered and paid by July 1, and the fun starts at 9:30 am on Saturday, July 8, with a nutrition seminar at 9:30 on Saturday, July 15. Call 746-3888 between 3-7 pm Monday through Friday to register or sign up here and get on board with this macro tracking thing. You’ll be so glad you did.