We talk about macros here because we watch ours pretty closely. But some of you have wondered what that’s all about, so I thought I’d explain the system here.
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We’ve been leaning pretty heavily into the keto eating plan at the moment. It seems to do the best job of controlling the families blood sugar levels and helping with a weight loss plateau.
WHAT ARE MACROS?
So what the heck are macros? Macros (AKA Macronutrients) are the main nutrient categorization of our food. Simply put, they are the building blocks of our food. There are three building blocks – fats, proteins and carbs.
Counting macros simply means that you maintain a certain balance of intake where those three categories are concerned.
For those who eat Keto, macros are usually somewhere in the ballpark of 80% fats, 15% protein and 5% carbs. This can vary a bit from person to person, but that’s the general starting point for most people.
Our family personally stays in the 10% Carbs range ourselves and adapt from there.
If you don’t eat Keto, your macros can include just about any range or balance of those macros.
It’s also important to note that counting macros is not necessarily the same thing as counting carbs. Your macros will depend heavily on your overall eating plan and will adjust up or down on a daily basis if macros are not your focus. Our FREE Keto Calculator can help.
SHOULD YOU COUNT MACROS?
I think you probably already know the answer to this. Counting macros is right for you if it’s something you feel is a good fit and the doctor in your life gives you the green light.
That being said, you can count macros in any eating plan. It’s not specific to Keto or even low carb eating. You could even count macros on a vegan diet! Your percentages would look very, very different of course, but it’s really just about finding the balance of macronutrients that works best for your body. It’s a highly useful tool regardless of what eating plan you apply it to and can be especially helpful when hitting weight loss plateaus.
How to Calculate Macros?
We’ve created a FREE Keto Macro Calculator for you to help calculate your macros for whatever your goals are. Our keto macro calculator results are based on the information you provide so it’s customized for you!
CHECK OUT OUR FREE MACRO CALCULATOR
I really want to understand the best way to start keto or something to help me get my weight down.
Our keto guide is pretty useful if you are looking for something to really place it all in one spot and walk you through it. Another spot is our Low Carb 101 page.