Should You Track your Calories/ Macros?

Firstly, what are macros? Well there are three main macronutrients – carbohydrates, protein and fats. Tracking your macros involves setting yourself a specific goal for these three macronutrients and trying to consume a certain number of grams of each one per day depending on what your goals are. This is done through weighing and measuring your food and logging it using an app such as MyFitnessPal.

Back to the question in general, every individual is different, so this question isn’t a simple Yes or No answer.

Personally, I don’t think it is necessary. When I started my fitness journey I ate as I always have which was a healthy balanced diet and was seeing results as I had increased my training and what type of training I was doing. In 2018 I started tracking macros and as much as I have learnt a lot about food it did mess with me a bit. I can have a obsessive mentality when it comes to things like tracking your food or workouts and I knew this yet I decided to track. I did become very obsessive as would never want to see my calories over a certain number. Personally I think it takes so much away from enjoyment of food when you look at it the way I do. Every food is labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’ a ‘carb’ ‘fat or ‘protein’, it just completely changes your outlook on food and can be damaging. Also when to comes to stop tracking this is hard work as you’re so stuck in a way. Tracking macros can allow people to exert a level of control over their diet which can lead to destruction and deprivation and ultimately poor eating habits and disordered behaviour surrounding food. Like it did for myself.

On the other hand, when you have more of a chilled attitude it can be useful to give you an indicator of what you’re eating and learning good habits as well as portion control. Tracking macros allows you to be very specific with your nutrition. It is a particularly great approach for individuals such as athletes, bodybuilders and bikini competitors who have very precise goals. These individuals need to ensure that they have complete control over everything that they consume and so this approach allows them to do that.

In conclusion I wouldn’t recommend racking macros unless you have very particular goals and it is necessary for a competition etc. Ultimately it is personal preference whether you think that this technique is one which you would like to use. However, If you do I would say make sure you have spoken to someone who have calculated you macros properly, as many online calculators give you a low number and no one should be eating 1200 calories! Also take breaks; be sure to spend time eating intuitively and learning to listen to your body, to ensure that you don’t become dependent on tracking.

Louise xx