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What are macros? And how do you hit them without complicating it

Updated: Nov 30, 2022

"Hitting those macros" is such a common expression in gym culture it seems criminal to ask, "excuse me, what are macros?" Here, I'll simplify the macros for you and tell you how to ensure you're getting these three food groups into your diet without going to the extra effort of using a macronutrient counter and weighing your food each meal.


The last thing you want to do before you've established solid habits is to obsess over the tiny details that don't matter (yet). So, I'm going to keep this super simple. Macros or macronutrients are three sources of energy that your body burns to do everything from digesting your food to helping you get through a long run. They are:

  • Carbohydrates

  • Fats

  • Proteins

And your body breaks them down in that order. You never want to burn your protein because that means you're breaking down your muscle. To keep your body weight within healthy guidelines, it's best practice to minimize fat and build muscle. For this to happen, we need enough carbs and fats in our bellies to ensure we aren't breaking down proteins and losing muscle. I'm going to break down each macronutrient for you briefly, then explain how to ensure you're getting just the right amount of each food group without using complex apps and weighing your food.