Calories vs Marcos

You hear about people counting calories, macros, following IIFYM, etc.....do you personally only focus on counting calories or do you focus on counting calories AND your macros? Which way has helped you more?

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unknown

Track:
Calories for weight loss.
Macros for body composition.
Micros/Nutrition for health.

unknown

I track calories for weight loss/maintenance and macros/micros for health and fitness.

Helped me more in what sense?

calorie deficit for weight loss...

unknown

I focus mainly on calories, but I do make sure I hit my protein macro for the day. I don't worry about fat and carbs as much. It's been working so far...have lost over 80 pounds.

unknown

When I first started, I just counted protein and calories. Now, I'm tracking macros, which makes things a little trickier, but the calories still add up the same way.

Overall, I think just looking at calories helped me more and got me into a position where I can worry more about the details.

unknown

Calories are my priority. I get as close to my macro goals as I can without going over calories.

unknown

Just calories. Lost 40lbs so far. I keep an eye on protein though since I'm lifting.

unknown

I try to eat a balanced diet but only track calories.

unknown

If you're losing it should be all about Calories In vs Calories Out. Don't worry too much about the macros.

unknown

I do both, but I count macros pretty casually--just aim to get minimum protein and be in the ballpark and to understand what's going on in any particular day.

I think focusing on macros helps make it easier for many to maintain a calorie deficit (or even maintenance) in a satisfying way, and is also important if you have goals like maintaining or gaining muscle (although you won't gain muscle in a deficit). For me, how I balance my macros tends to make a difference as to how satisfied I feel with my overall diet--I have found by paying attention that having a decent amount of protein and some fat in each of my meals (or snacks) tends to make me more satisfied and that I tend to crave more carbs when I'm working out a lot.

unknown

jacksonpt wrote: »

Track:
Calories for weight loss.
Macros for body composition.
Micros/Nutrition for health.

Can you explain, or point me to an article I can read, about what macros mean for body comp?

unknown

Calories and protein are my focus. I would say fat as well but I don't really have to watch that one as I easily hit the minimum most days.

unknown

knt217 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

Track:
Calories for weight loss.
Macros for body composition.
Micros/Nutrition for health.

Can you explain, or point me to an article I can read, about what macros mean for body comp?

The cliff notes of the cliff notes is that a calorie deficit leads to weight loss, but within that weight loss, macros and exercise can have a meaningful impact on what that weight is made up of. Since most people actually want fat loss, macros are worth paying attention to.

The vids in the first post of this thread are pretty basic, but it's a solid intro.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10135631/mike-israetel-renaissance-periodization