Are you counting macros? It can be confusing for many people to fully grasp how to accurately count their macros. You may have many questions about the right way to do this or think that it is too hard for you to do it daily.
It can be made easy and you shouldn’t give up that easy. Dr. Peter Hinz in Franklin, TN is a chiropractor in the area that is very intuned with his nutrition. He believes there are many health benefits along with physical aspects that can be achieved with a healthy diet.
What Are Macros?
First things first, you should know what macros stands for, it stands for macronutrients. It is a little more involved than just counting your carbs or calories alone. This is a general count of a few things combined. You are going to consider your proteins, carbs, and fats to equal out your macros.
Dr. Peter Hinz in Franklin, TN is very conscious about living a healthy lifestyle. It is very important that our bodies are healthy and in the best shape possible. Not only to be healthy but also to help us feel the best that we can.
How To Calculate Your Macros
It can look very complicated to figure out your macros, but once you get the hang of it, you shouldn’t have any trouble. Don’t worry if it becomes too hard to add, divide, multiply, or whatever else it tells you to do. There are plenty of apps and charts that you can just enter your numbers into and it will tell you where your macros need to be.
- Decipher the calorie count that you need to stay within. It is going to vary from person to person. You can use a variety of different apps or calculations to figure out what yours should be. It factors in a few different things, such as your weight, age, goals, and exercise schedule.
- Then you are going to plan out the ratio percentage of each category of carbs, proteins, and fats that you want to consume each day.
- This is where your math comes in. You are going to multiply those percentages with your daily intake of calories. Then divide that number by the grams per calorie.
What Are The Recommended Percentages Of Macros?
Everyone’s body is different and what it requires is going to vary. There are recommended percentages that are considered healthy for your body to stick within. You have to decide if that is what feels right for you though. All bodies are not created equal and some may require some different ratios than others.
The federal dietary recommendations for a person to follow are as followed:
- 20-35% FATS
- 45-60% CARBS
- All Remaining Percentages Should Be Protein
Many believe that the carb count is high, but our bodies and the brain need carbs to be healthy. If you are following a balanced diet, the carbs will average out. There are many dietary trends that go around varying these numbers, and as long as you are balancing everything out, it should be okay. As mentioned above, everyone’s body is different and some variations of these percentages may need to be made.
Foods That Are High In Macros
Dr. Peter Hinz in Franklin, TN likes to keep a balanced diet and track the number of macronutrients that he consumes. There are many foods that are higher in macros and should be consumed in smaller quantities but can help you to meet your protein intake. Some of those are:
- Chickpeas
- Quinoa
- Black Beans
- Green Peas
- Lentils
- Cereal
- Buckwheat
- Protein Pasta
Can I Eat Whatever I Want Within My Macros?
This is something that is going to be dependent on each individual and their nutrition needs. Dr. Peter Hinz in Franklin, TN is very passionate about keeping a healthy lifestyle to fit into his daily life. How you choose to stay within your macros is up to you.
Many will choose to eat whatever they like as long as they can stay within their macro counts. The best way to live a healthy lifestyle is to try and keep your food intake as healthy as possible. Filling your body with empty carbs, fats, and proteins will not help it to feel its best. Fresh produce, healthy fats, and complex carbs will help you to feel your best and accomplish your fitness goals.
Best Foods To Eat While Counting Macros
Foods that meet all the categories of your macro counting are best to eat. Ones that have a good balance of carbs, fats, and protein. You shouldn’t be slacking in your choices, be a little picky, and make the right choices for your health. Some good choices to help you stay within your macro goals when snacking are:
- Yogurt With Some Added Fresh Fruit
- A Tablespoon of Peanut Butter With Fresh Apples, Celery, or Another Fresh Fruit/Veggie
- Cottage Cheese Topped With A Fresh Fruit or Two
- Nuts Are A Good Option For On The Go
How to Meal Plan
When you are following any sort of diet or nutrition plan, it is always best to meal plan. This sets you up for success and helps you have a strict guide to follow. If you don’t have readily available foods in your home, you are going to fail most of the time. The best things to do is make a list of meals for the weak and snacks, go grocery shopping, and stick to it.
Go ahead and prep some of your meals ahead to make it easier for you on the day of. You can have snacks and easy go-to lunches already in individual containers in the fridge. You are more likely to stick with something if you are prepared. The easier you make counting your macros the better you will do with it.
Are you suffering from back pain, sports injury, or an accident? Did you know Chiropractic can possibly help treat these injuries?
Get in touch with Dr. Peter Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic today for a FREE consultation.
