Understanding the Real Reasons Behind Macro Tracking

Macro tracking develops tools you can take forward and use without quantifying your intake.

If you're on the, "macro tracking isn't for me" train then our guess is that you're using it with the wrong approach.

If you're trying to be meticulous, weighing and logging every last gram of food with the belief that the sole purpose of doing so is to make physical change you’re right - macro tracking probably isn’t for you.

Stepping back and understanding that tracking your macros is supposed to impact your behavior is worthy of your time and energy.

It’s not supposed to be a means to an end. Tracking macros is a valuable learning tool, when used correctly.

The Big Idea

AIM uses macro tracking with our clients as an education tool. If you’re under the impression that the only goal of macro tracking is to produce physical results, please keep reading.

People who use macro tracking as a means to an end (only for physical results), tend to not retain the results they get.

Macro Tracking is a tool for educating about nutrition. Like bacon is not a protein source, it’s a fat source. And the salad you’re eating at the restaurant probably has more calories in it than the sandwich.

Macro Tracking is about learning your tendencies like you tend to eat like a bird during the day and consume 75% of your calories after 5:30pm. Or if you open a bottle of wine, you have a hard time only having one glass, but you can stick to one beer no problem.

Macro Tracking is about building habits for meal planning, like you routinely pack a protein forward lunch for work now and you look forward to your single serving ice cream bar after dinner.

Macro Tracking is to improve your decision making for the real world. Like you’re going to add the lean protein and veggies to your plate first before you get a smaller serving of the high-calorie food at your friend’s barbecue. You can also choose to eat a lower carb, higher protein meal at lunch because you know you’re going to have pizza at dinner with the family.

Macro Tracking is to help you determine intuition. You can learn to instinctively choose the ham and eggs breakfast over the cinnamon roll pancakes on the menu and there’s always a quality protein source at your meals.

As coaches, it’s important to understand that our role is to help you use macro tracking appropriately. It’s best used as a proactive planning tool and we’ll make sure you’re using it that way.