Here at Mommy Convos, our intention is to help inspire healthier, happier homes. In an effort to stay true to our purpose I wanted to write a bit on eating. I remember my roommate once said to me, you have to make the inevitable great. If my memory serves me correctly she was referencing having a nice mattress and pillow (since sleeping every night is inevitable), however the same theory applies to food. We will inevitably be eating multiple times on a day to day basis. Why not make it great! Well… how!? Here are two keys that will help you fuel your body for optimal fat loss, as well as overall energy and health. You ready, here they are, macronutrients and micronutrients. Whether you are completely familiar with these terms or brand new, here’s a quick rundown of what they mean and how to really utilize them correctly.
Macronutrients are the three sources of calories, namely fat, protein and carbohydrate. Society and culture seem to villainize one or more of these macronutrients in an ongoing basis, it’s either fat or carbs that are the enemy for some reason, when in reality that’s simply not true! Fat provides us with 9 calories per gram, while protein and carbohydrates provide us with 4 calories per gram. So while calories do have their place, and counting them is not a bad thing per say, it’s much more important to count your macros if your goal is muscle gain or fat loss. I recently discovered macro counting and the hashtag #iifym (if it fits your macros) and I’ll tell you what, I’ve never been as strong as I am now, not even before I had babies.
Micronutrients on the other hand, are the vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, vitamins C, D and K that, when consumed in adequate amounts help all of our bodies systems to work properly and optimally. Get the appropriate amounts of macros and micros and, voila! You will look and feel better than ever and you will see fat start to melt away! I’ll be honest and say I’ve always been pretty health conscious and tried to eat nutrient dense foods, but it wasn’t until recently that I started tracking my macros that I have seen a huge difference in my lifting capacity, my overall muscle tone and my body fat percentage. I tracked for one month and lost 3% body fat!
So, are you interested in tracking your macros (also known as flexible dieting)?? Here are some great resources to help you get on your way. Katy Hearn Fit has a free macro calculator that will help you figure out exactly how much protein fat and carbs you need on a daily basis. Another calculator is the IIFYM calculator. This one requires an email address to get results, but is accurate and free. You can always opt out of the emails after you’ve received the information you need. Once you know your numbers you can track them using: My Fitness Pal, an app you can download for free, (with upgrades available for cost) or My Macros, an app that is 2.99$. I prefer to use My Macros, because it’s more specifically for macro tracking, whereas My Fitness Pal is a bit more broad.
The fun thing about tracking your macros for me is that instead of saying you have to eliminate certain foods or avoid things you enjoy eating, you just make it fit your macros and don’t ever have to compromise your results. It’s a little bit like playing tetris with your food, if you will. For example, if I know I want to have brownies and ice cream, I save some fats and carbs for that to make it fit, leaving me feeling in control and not deprived. No one wants to feel controlled or restricted by some diet, this gives you the freedom! I mentioned in my last fitness post, @cleansimpleeats, a favorite of mine who offers meal plans for great prices with macro counts for all meals and snacks included! Not only are her meal plans macro friendly, but they are loaded with micronutrients as they are full of nutrient dense fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. NOT to mention her recipes are delicious! Be sure to check out our instagram for a meal plan giveaway from her! Well there you have it!
I’d love to hear any questions and successes! Now get out there and sweat and eat and sweat some more!
Carpe Diem!
Krissy
Lol i was just talking to my work out group this morning and one of the girls was talking about how much she loves i heart macros! I love that thought “making the inevitable great!”