
It is not a one-size-fits-all diet and instead is very individualized. For individuals looking to lose weight, that may require decreasing fat and/or carbohydrate intake and increasing the amount of protein. Often, if your body composition or weight isn’t moving in the direction that you are hoping for, you may benefit from reevaluating your meals and snacks and adjusting your percentages of macronutrients to better meet your needs. “The macro approach allows you to eat whatever you want as long as it fits into the macro percentages you have chosen for yourself,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook. For some people, this may provide flexibility by eliminating counting calories, but this may not work for you if you are a frequent traveler or dine out a lot and don’t know the exact makeup of your food. The difficulty in following this type of diet is that you must be able to accurately measure the components (protein, fat and carbs) of what you are eating. 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. Calculating macronutrients is a way to establish dietary patterns to maintain or improve a certain level of activity or wellness target. Their counterpart, micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals, are just as important but are needed in smaller amounts. They are the nutrients necessary for survival that are required in larger quantities to sustain your level of activity. The primary macronutrients are protein, carbohydrates and fat. The Difference Between Macros and Micronutrients.Weight loss, health and body image are complex subjects - before deciding to go on a diet, we invite you to gain a broader perspective with our exploration into the hazards of diet culture. Any symptoms of fatigue, weakness, dizziness or headaches after switching to a macro-focused diet should be discussed immediately.Ī diet may not be the wellness solution you're ultimately searching for. Targeting macros in any given diet is best done under the guidance of qualified nutrition professionals. While this diet may not be for everyone and can feel socially restrictive for some, enough people love it to warrant attention.Įditor's Note: It’s crucial to talk to your doctor about any changes you’d like to make to your long-term diet beforehand.

All foods can fit into your diet as long as they meet your individual needs. Instead of counting calories, with macros, you are counting percentages of macronutrients.

Some use this diet to maintain or increase muscle mass while losing body fat, others as a flexible tool for weight loss.

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. What do The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, Hilary Duff and Carrie Underwood have in common? They have all been linked to the macro diet.
