Happy Friday Everyone! To go along with my #FitnessFriday post, I thought I would share my thoughts and progress on macro tracking. For those that maybe aren't as familiar, Macro Tracking is the process of logging and tracking what macronutrients (i.e. carbs, proteins, fat) as well as micronutrients (i.e. fiber, sugar, sodium, etc) you eat throughout the day.
You might be wondering is this necessary and why would anyone do it? As for being a necessity, it really just depends on what you respond best to for your own personal fitness journey. For myself, I find that I stay much more consistent with a healthy diet (not actual dieting - just my daily eating) if I aim to achieve a certain calorie + macro balance. It almost becomes a puzzle/game to see what fits into my daily targets. It also is a great way to log if any foods make you not feel so stellar. By logging macros, you can more easily see if a certain meal/snack/etc made you not feel so great later in the day or the next day. It also helps you learn what you eat that makes you feel stellar and like you are ready to take over the world.
If you've decided that you want to start tracking, your next thought might be where do I even start? I highly recommend speaking with a Dietician or working with a Nutritionist and/or Trainer to figure out the right fit for you. Michelle Spearman (Michelle Spearman Nutrition) is a Dietician based in South Carolina that offers counseling from the comfort of your own home. Sometimes services like this can even be covered by your insurance which is a huge plus! Michelle offers her clients one-on-one counseling to ensure nutrition needs are being met.
There are also a ton of fitness + nutrition guides out there. These can also be a great option if you are looking for workout recommendations too. You should always consult with your doctor prior to changing anything in your workout + diet routine, though! I am currently doing a program with Memories Over Macros. It does involve a more flexible outline to healthy eating via macro targets + daily workouts 6 days a week. This has been a great option for me during these crazy times. You can also check out my transformation from the first part of the program here.
Lastly, you might wonder what the best way to track is. For me, I prefer the ease of My Fitness Pal. It is web-based with an option app as well. They have a huge database of pre-programmed food. You can also easily add recipes and foods of your own to get the most accurate tracking. Other great options are just jotting it in your notes app or using a fitness journal like this one. Any of these options will ensure you are being more mindful of your food and macro choices.
I hope this was at least a little helpful to some of you! If you have any questions or callouts, drop a comment below.
Stay safe & healthy y'all!
-Madi
