Remember how I told you in my last post that I was getting a macro plan to aid me in shedding some fat? Well, I’ve finally gotten my personally tailored macros thanks to Josh at Real Life Nutrition! I’m excited to share with you my thoughts on how to count your macros, including how I hit them and how to stay sane during meals out.

What are Macros?

First things first, what are macros? Macros are macronutrients for short which are composed of carbohydrates, protein and fat. There are actually a lot of free calendars online which give you a macro plan – the problem is that they are not tailored for your unique needs. I used to follow a macro plan a few years ago but never saw results from it. So when I first heard about Real Life Nutrition and how they customized macro plans based upon your lifestyle and needs, I was sold. If it means I can eat Pad Thai (like the one I made below as part of my Sunbasket delivery – if you want to try it and get $30 off, click here) then that sounds good to me!

In order for you to find out your macros, I advise you to go through a nutritionist like I did if you can afford it. Otherwise you can simply type in ‘macro calculator’ into Google to find a website that can calculate your macros according to your age, weight and goals. 

Since everyone’s needs are unique (and because I paid for it), I will not disclose my tailored macro plan. I will however let you know that it is 35% carbs, 35% protein and 30% fat. For the most part, I have found this easy enough to follow but there are days when I do struggle with reaching my protein intake and lowering my fat intake. However, I am sure it will become easier to hit my macros as closely as possible over the coming weeks as I get used to it more. And it’s going well so far despite not hitting my macros exactly – I’ve lost 2 pounds since last week 🙂

How do I actually Track my Macros?

To actually track my macros throughout the day, I use an app called Lifesum (although there are tons you can choose from). I personally think Lifesum is a really well designed and easy to use app – my only complaint is that there are not as many food choices already recorded into it’s database due to it being a newer app than most calorie/macro tracking apps. But it’s not a huge deal as it allows you to add foods into it’s database. Here’s an example of how it looks (I got this off Google – it’s not mine lol):

Source: TechEU

As you can see, it’s such an easy to use app! As you go through your day recording your food, it lets you know how many carbs, fat and protein grams you have left until you hit your macros. It also gives you suggestions for healthy recipes which is always appreciated. There’s a free version and a paid one (which I have) that gives you certain diet plans and recipes for that diet plan.

Next Week: What About When I Eat Out?

I think that’s all I want to say about macros for now so I don’t confuse you! Next week I’ll discuss how to stay on track despite eating out, going to holiday parties and alcohol (gasp, shock, horror)! It’s actually easier than you think but it does take some planning. For the meantime, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about counting macros – until next time!

Honestly yours,
Alice

Thank you for all of your support! For more Honestly Fitness, check out my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest and don’t forget to subscribe!