Traditional Macros
Typical macro counting goals focuses on having clear goals for all three macros; protein, fat and carbs. So, if we were to give a client a goal of hitting 2000 calories in a day with 30% protein, 30% fat and 40% carbs, then his/her macros would be: 150P/67F/200C.
This strategy works very well for people that have consistent routines, have the time to meal prep, and do not have to travel or eat at restaurants too frequently. However, there are a large group of people that don’t have those luxuries, but they still want to apply focus to their diet and track how much they are consuming.
Simplifying the Approach
In this situation, we often simplify things a little bit and simply give a protein goal, and then allow them the freedom to use different ratios of carbs and fats to hit their total calories goal. So with the example of the client above, ANY of the following would be acceptable:
- 150/100/125 = 2000 cals
- 150/80/170 = 2000 cals
- 150/52/233 = 2000 cals
Pro Tip: In reality, not even the protein really NEEDS to be that precise. As long as its somewhere close to 1 g of protein per pound of body weight we should be totally fine.
Why Does This Work?
Removing the feeling of needing to be “perfect” can often dramatically increase compliance, and make eating at restaurants much more easy to incorporate as many places add pretty substantial amounts of fats to their food to increase the hyper palatability of the food.
At the End of the Day
If you’re tracking macros to lose body fat, you will likely still need to put yourself into a calorie deficit. Combining flexible macros, along with something like the MATADOR protocol from our earlier blog post might be the right fit for you.
Not sure which protocol is the best fit for your situation? Reach out here - We have a team full of amazing, knowledgeable, and caring coaches, and we’ll get you set up with our personalized one-on-one coaching program or a self-led plan!