It’s Not a Diet

Have you ever tried to lose weight by following a diet plan—focusing on certain foods by avoiding others—and had trouble sticking with it? Have you given in to your cravings by eating a forbidden food or having a “cheat day”?  Did you feel you blew it or failed, which then led you to eat all the foods your diet restricted? 

If this all sounds too familiar, you’re not alone.  Many Americans find themselves caught in a cycle of restrictive dieting followed by dysfunctional eating, sometimes for years.

Any person that has successfully lost body fat was due to the fact that the individual was in a calorie deficit over an adequate period of time.  To lose weight, you need to eat and drink fewer calories than you burn.  That’s called a calorie deficit.  If you take in more calories than you burn, then you don’t have a calories deficit and you won’t lose weight. To be successful, you must include macronutrients (“counting macros”), micronutrients, overall food quality, and adherence. 

Counting Macros

Why should you be counting “Macros”?  What is a Macronutrient or “Macro”? They are the three categories of nutrients you eat the most and provide you with most of your energy: protein, carbohydrates, and fats.  So when you are counting your Macros, you’re counting the grams of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.  Keeping track of your macros can help you make smart, healthy food choices. It’s similar to counting calories or points, but it takes the ideology one step further. 

Calories do matter when you are counting macros. Macros counting helps you understand where the calories are coming from and how they affect your body. It also helps to understand that not all calories are created equal. 

Macro counting is good because it’s not a one-size-fits-all plan.  It is commonly referred to as “flexible dieting'' because you are eating real foods without depriving your body.  There is no standard amount of Macros a person should eat.  It is different from person to person and depends on your height, weight, activity level, age and personal goals.

Counting Macros can help you lose stubborn fat, maintain lean muscle mass, and keep your body satisfied.  Macronutrients are a good place to start because every food we eat is made up of some ratio of protein, carbs and fat.  And those building blocks quite literally fuel our lives! 

If you are interested in learning more about my 1:1 Coaching program and ready to live a healthy lifestyle, please fill out the New Client Inquiry Form.  I will get back to you within 24 hours to set up your free Initial Consultation.  I want to make sure that you feel confident before pursuing your health goals with Home Quality Nutrition!