Why count your macronutrients?

April 2, 2021 0 Comments

“Why can’t we eat what we want and exercise?” “Why do we have to be so strict about 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 are one of those people who care about what they are putting into their bodies, their health, their 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. These ultimately 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, and improve energy for physical and mental performance.

It is imperative that we understand the importance of the macronutrient count. Every body is different and its nutritional needs are very unique. We all process food and use nutrients differently. This is why the macronutrient count must be tailored to the metabolism of each specific individual because what works for one person may not work for another. Macronutrient counting involves consuming specific daily intakes of protein, carbohydrates, and fat each day to reach your maximum 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 carbohydrates, and around 12g of fat in each of their four meals spaced throughout the day. If you don’t count your macros, you could be taking in extra calories that your body just won’t be able to use and oxidize. Therefore, those extra calories will be stored in the fat cells. This is why I am a huge advocate for counting macronutrients. It does not matter if you are trying to gain muscle mass (build lean muscle) in the winter or to rest during the summer to go to pool parties. You must be responsible for your own macronutrients because our bodies and metabolic rates were manufactured 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 proteins, there are 20 amino acids in the body (9 essential and 11 non-essential) we produce the 9 essential amino acids through food and supplementation, and as for the 11 non-essential amino acids, we produce in our bodies by ourselves. Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue. When you exercise a group of muscles, the muscle tissue is broken down by weights, and to grow and recover, the muscles must receive 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 ingested, they are absorbed in the mouth, stomach, and intestines in a smaller unit which 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 save muscle protein. Everyone metabolizes carbohydrates differently. Some people can eat a lot of carbohydrates and stay lean and others simply cannot eat much 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 are best suited to your body and in what quantity. Try: brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc.

Fats: Fats are the most energy-dense macronutrients and provide most of their energy to many of the body’s tissues and organs. Fat is the most important macronutrient for optimizing hormonal functions (i.e., testosterone, libido, etc.). Fats are also essential for building muscle, reducing cortisol levels, providing energy, helping with hunger pangs, 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, linseed, coconut), animal meat fats, etc.

So after reading this, if you are still one of those people who cares about what they are putting into their bodies, their health, their lack of energy, and how they look in the mirror, then I hope this has given you a idea why counting your macronutrients is important. It is very important because I think it gives you the best opportunity to control your body the way you want it to be. This gives you a chance to find out what your body likes / dislikes, if you are a high carb or low carb person, or maybe you are in the middle. This gives you a chance to see if your body stores fat well. This also gives you the opportunity to eat pretty much anything you want, as long as you include it in your daily macronutrient amounts. But keep in mind, this is not for everyone and would not be ideal for someone who is lazy to count their numbers day after day. This is an opportunity for you to transition your life from a mediocre lifestyle to a dynamic lifestyle! A chance 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, feel good about, and get results. Why put junk food in our body that is 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 macronutrient counting. Peace !!!

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