“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” ~Buddha
Are you serious about getting healthy? Here is the big secret—it’s the food… the balance of nutrition…. the fuel you put in your body. You can work out every day but you’ll get nowhere if your food/fuel is not balanced.
To lose weight, your body needs to be at a caloric deficit. Eat less calories than you use. It’s easy enough, right? But where you get your calories from will determine your body composition. You can eat less calories, lose weight, and yet not obtain the health and body type you desire.
It requires proper balance to build muscle and lose fat for a lean healthy body. To gain that balance, try balancing your macronutrients (also known as “macros”). Indeed, there is no need to count calories!
Macros are the nutrients your body needs in large quantities, and are comprised of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The macros each contain calories per gram. One gram of protein is four calories; one gram of carbohydrates is four calories; one gram of fat is nine calories; and for those who enjoy the occasional cocktail, one gram of alcohol is seven calories. To lose weight and get lean, a proper balance of your macros is essential.
In its simplest terms, macro counting is setting a daily goal for grams of protein, carbs, and fat. Eat whatever you want, count the macros, and as my son Anthony says, “hit your numbers.” If you’re eating as wholesome as you can, sodium should not be a worry, but keep an eye on it.
At first, macro counting can feel like too much food, but after the first two weeks, balance sets in, fuel-burning becomes more efficient, and the results will start to show. It also helps to meal prep and shop with an eye toward preparing wholesome meals.
When you count your macros, you take control of your food and your overall well-being as a result. Of course, in addition to nutrition, a balanced exercise program is key.
*Consult your physician before beginning any nutrition or exercise program.
By Michael Gullo, Esq.
