Tracking macros or intuitive eating? This is a big debate.

You are probably wondering what each of those are, let me tell you! Macros are the 3 main macronutrients our body needs, which are carbohydrates, protein, and fats. When tracking macros, each day you have a certain amount of each of the macros you try to eat. You can find a calculator right here: macro calculator.

Intuitive eating is when you eat when you are hungry. When doing this, you don’t track anything you eat. Now, which one works for you?

Tracking Macros:

Positives:

1. You Are Preparing For Something: Most bodybuilders and bikini competitors count macros to prepare for an upcoming event. Whether you are looking to look extra great for an upcoming wedding or photoshoot, tracking macros can help take you to the next level. If you aren’t seeing any changes in your body in a while, take a glance at your macros. Maybe your carbs are too high, or your protein is too low. Fixing the issues could lead to more fat loss and greater results.
2. Understanding Food Intake: When counting macros you are paying attention to what is going into your body. This can help you see the changes you needed to reach your desired results. You also start to see the nutrients in your favorite foods, which could make you make better food decisions.
3. Science Shows It Works: Science and tons and tons of success stories show that tracking macros works. When done correctly goals are easier to reach.

Negatives:

1. Causes Stress: If you are tracking macros, you are constantly worrying if you are going to hit your macros or not. It can take a while, as well. Weighing all your food and tracking the food before you take a bite, can be too stressful for some. Especially, eating foods that you did not make.
2. Eating Disorders: As someone becomes more and more focused on weighing and measuring all their food, it could become an issue. Becoming overly concerned with counting macros and being perfect can lead to eating disorders.
3. Quantity Over Quality: By tracking macros, sometimes the amount of food is the bigger focus, versus the actual quality of the food. Someone might eat food just to meet their macros for the day, even if it is complete junk.

Intuitive Eating:

Positive:

1. Not Having To Measure: Unlike counting macros, eating intuitively doesn’t involve precise measurement of your food. This can be a huge time saver, and can reduce stress. Instead of measuring out your food, you would eat until you are full.
2. Pay Attention To What You’re Eating: When eating intuitively you pay attention to what foods you are eating. Hopefully, you are trying to make health conscious decisions.
3. You Pay More Attention To Hunger: Instead of eating to meet your macros, eat only when you’re hungry. This will help you eat less unneeded food. Make sure you’re actually hungry, not bored or stressed!

Negatives:

1. Eat When Not Hungry: Tracking macros gives you a cut off point each day, intuitive eating does not. That can cause people to eat when they aren’t actually hungry.
2. Little Accountability: If you eat too much or too little, you aren’t held accountable for it. Tracking macros gives you a goal, intuitive eating doesn’t have concrete nutrition goals.
3. Can Cause Weight Gain: Intuitive eating can cause weight gain, because you don’t know exactly how much you are putting into your body. You could easily be eating too much without even knowing.