To track or not to track, that may be the question.

You’ve heard me encourage intuitive eating. And as part of that philosophy, you may have deduced that I’m a big fan of tracking macronutrients. So, you may be wondering, what’s the deal?

Don’t these ideas contradict each other?

The short answer is, not necessarily. (I know, you wanted a yes or a no, but life ain’t always that simple.)

I have had times in my life when I believe that a macro program is the best option for me. But I also go through times when listening to my body may work best.

The truth is, there is a time and place for both. It may depend on where you are in your life (think hormones!), or what kinds of stress or other factors you currently have, or if you need more or less structure.

As I’ve gone through my own health journey over the last few years, I’ve realized that both paths suit me at different times and sometimes those paths even converge. It’s an ongoing evolution of self-inquiry and self-learning.

WAIT, WHAT IS A MACRO?

First things first. Macros, short for macronutrients, are simply the three components of energy (calories), that make up your diet: protein, carbohydrates and fats.

The ratio in which we consume our macronutrients can have a significant impact on our weight and body composition. There is much more to the picture than simply a “calories in – calories out diet.” This can quickly become an overwhelming concept to grasp and task to undertake however. A Macros coach helps take the guessing-game out of the picture by providing you with a tailored plan to support your goals, but more on that later…

WHY (AND WHEN) TO TRACK?

Tracking your macros can be a powerful tool to help give you a real understanding of your body’s needs and what kind of starting point you’re at. Without that, you may flounder and not know what is and isn’t working for you.

A macro program can offer building blocks that give structure. The amazing thing is that once you become aware of that, you can take away the tracking element and still hold onto that understanding! Then, when you notice some not-so-healthy habits you start to fall into, you know exactly where the problem may lay.

WHEN NOT TO TRACK

If you are somebody who maybe has religiously tracked in the past or continues to track, you may feel like you’re chained to that. That might be a red flag, something to pay attention to. In this case I actually recommend ‘breaking those chains’, and giving yourself a much needed break from tracking.

If you feel like some tracking app is going to tell you more about your body than you are, then you need ask yourself if that’s a problem. I always say, “We don’t need any more facts, we need more body wisdom.”

INTUITIVE EATING, MACROS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY WISDOM

When I came to intuitive eating, it was because I was addicted to diets, and tracking, and detoxes, and challenges. I had no personal internal wisdom or knowledge about how to just eat and live outside of those things.

Now I have that body wisdom, I can tap back in really quickly and know exactly where I’m at, what I need, how I’m feeling. Because when I first got started in the nutrition and diet world, obviously calorie counting and macro counting was a big piece of that. So I got curious again about the macros because I wanted to just see where I was at.

What I’ve found is that it is possible to bring some of that mindfulness and some of that women’s intuition and body intuition into what we’re eating and what we’re tracking without going overboard, without getting unhealthy.

And it absolutely is possible to marry the two and maybe even have greater success in all of those realms than we’ve ever had before!

(By the way, if you’re not sure what I mean by intuitive eating, learn more here, or check out my audio program here!)

BIODIVERSITY

A big piece is biodiversity, the idea that our bodies all react differently and may have different needs. Two people tracking and consuming the same macronutrients may have completely opposite experiences. This is where a coach comes in.

Because person A and person B have different family and health histories, different metabolism and digestion, different stress levels, different cravings and goals. Macronutrients can tell you how much protein, fat and carbohydrates you’re consuming, but intuitive eating will tell you if that’s working for you.

I can teach you how to harness both of these, both as tools and philosophies, in order to meet your physical goals while remaining mindful and sane around your diet.

My Mindful Macros program offers structure where you need it and freedom where you don’t. Don’t feel pinned down by tracking; feel the freedom that comes from understanding!

HOW TO GET STARTED…

If you’d like to learn more about working with me on a Macros plan of your own head over to the Mindful Macros Coaching page. Due to the time I spend on each plan, I take limited Macros clients per month. So if you’re *in*, get signed up and get in the queue!

Oh and you save 20% on your plan in the month of January! 

You can always email me with more questions as well.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? 

Intrigued? Listen to Katie talk all things Macros & Mindfulness on the Life Fab Life Podcast, episode 106, Marrying Macros With Mindful Eating With Katie Garces.