Macros have become “the thing” recently. That’s all people talk about. And I’m continuously asked what my macros are. I want to make something clear: I don’t count macros. I don’t know how to and I don’t want to. In the past I’ve counted calories, I’ve weighed and measured my food when I did zone, and when I did those things, I was never happy. I was actually pretty unhappy. I was obsessive, I didn’t want to go out with friends and I was even more frustrated when I didn’t see my body change when I was putting SO much work into it.
I’m not saying this because I don’t think macros are helpful. I’m sure they are for lots of people. I’m saying this because I want people to know that there is freedom outside of obsessing over numbers. I don’t obsess over how much protein or carbs or fat or sugar. I don’t eat crappy food because it “fits within my macros.” I just try to balance it out. Sure, sometimes I indulge in gluten free foods like when I had a mimosa and chicken chilaquiles at brunch yesterday. But it’s all balances out by the continual smart decisions I make with my other meals. For me, it’s not about perfection or how many ounces of meat I have. It’s about eating healthy food on a regular basis and listening to what my body needs and is craving.
So if you’re still trying to find your balance, not sure where to look and you’re thinking macros since it’s the new thing right now, just know that I have found a balanced life without numbers or tracking or obsessing. Sure, it’s taken me some time and some trial and error to get there, but don’t get discouraged thinking that counting is the only way to stay in shape or reach your goals. Because I firmly believe that’s not true. Just my perspective! Working hard on a regular basis, resting, eating well, and being kind to your body WILL PAY OFF. Remember that!
Sunday – Rest day
Monday –
Every 30 sec for 10 mins: 1 Squat Clean @ 70%. All reps must have a 3 sec pause at knee. – I used 105#
Then @ 0:00 Sprint 400m For Time. MAX EFFORT!!! – I got 1:25
@ 4:00 Sprint 400m For Time. MAX EFFORT!!! – I got 1:28
** Both times recorded!
Lastly – 6 min AMRAP Of: (from CF Linchpin)
4 Lateral Burpees Over Bar
2 Power Cleans (185/135)
I honestly do not remember what I got. No idea!
Tuesday –
20 mins Moving With Purpose
– Accumulate 1 min in OH Hold (1 rep max strict press weight) – I used 90#
– 16 Double KB Front Rack Lunges (2 x 70/55) – Must go unbroken! – I used 35#KB’s
– 30 Kipp Swings on Rings Or Bar. Every 10 swings perform 1 Muscle Up or Pull Up. Hold on entire set!!! – I did pull ups
Then 10 min Partner AMRAP Of:
20 Wall Ball
Max Cal Row
* Score is total Cals per pair. One person completes 20 Wall Ball while the other rows. Once 20 wall ball have been completed partners swap.
Me and my partner got 104 calories on the rower
Wednesday – See movements here
Deadlift: 4 x 7. All sets at 75% (13 mins) with a 3 second descent – I used 165#
Then 3 Rounds For Time Of: (17 min Time Cap)
50 Double Unders
30 Toes 2 Bar
25 Cal Air Bike
20 Push Jerks (135/95)
I got 2 rounds + 87 reps using 85#
Thursday – Rest day
Friday –
10 Rounds For Time Of: (10 min Time Cap)
6 Strict HSPU
6 Strict Hollow Pull Ups
I got 7 rounds
Then 2 Rounds For Time Of: (19 min time cap)
400m Run
15 Thrusters (115/75)
– 1 min REST –
500m Row
15 Thrusters (115/75)
– 1 min REST –
I finished in 15:21 rx
Saturday –
5 rounds of:
400m run
40 air squats
20 deadlift (185/125)
I finished in 19:35 using 105#
_______________
At Home/Hotel Gym Workout:
Modified from Saturday’s workout!
5 rounds:
400m run
40 air squats
15/15 bulgarian split squats (weighted, if possible)
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So much yes for this post! It did become the latest craze at my box and is tapering off, except for the die hards and a few newbies. I was paleo for almost 3 years and even coached paleo challenges at our gym and gave it a whirl to see what all the fuss was about. So, while it does work, I went full obsessive and was miserable. On my phone constantly counting everything, having dreams about hitting my numbers and overall feeling like a failure even though I had lost weight. I stopped after a month and felt like an outsider at my own gym for a while. Getting back to my paleo ways took a few weeks … knowing that I knew what was best for my body and listening to it and what it needed reminded me that this was best for my mind and health. Eating when I wasn’t hungry was for the birds. So happy to be back to what I love …. sold the scale (I never had one before!) and gave away to food scale and deleted MFP. As long as you eat good food, there is no need to weigh or measure anything. Do what works for you as long as you’re not eating crap 😉
Amen girl! I knew I loved you for a reason lol. I have been seeing alot of ‘macro’ stuff recently but I think very similarly to you in which I don’t want to have to measure or obsess over food… clean eating most meals and kicking butt in the gym is my way to go too!
I love this so hard. For me, I do mostly what Juli talks about — eat real/unprocessed food, avoid gluten 95% of the time, have lots of protein and veggies. When I’m training for something specific I will time simple carbs like rice or GF bread mostly around my lifting workouts bc I find they give me the energy I need to push through and recover, especially on leg days (I’m a powerlifter/bodybuilder, not a CrossFitter). But if I’m not training, I try to not stress about it — food should be nourishing and fun. I’ve thought about macro counting, but while it definitely works for some — my trainer does RP — it’s not something I can do in a healthy way! Bottom line — workout, don’t eat crap, make Juli’s treats when you feel like a candy bar 😀
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS is one of the MAIN reasons I gained weight back, being so OBSESSED UGH!
You hit the nail on the head!!!! Very refreshing to read!
THANK YOU!
AAAMMMEEENNN SISTA!!! I don’t mind what my friends do to stay healthy and fit but the macros thing has seeped out of the bodybuilding world and penetrated crossfit…and you know how good crossfitters are at getting obsessed with things!! I think ‘macros’ came to the rescue for people who HATED completely eliminating all carbs/grains/etc. while trying to be strict paleo. It was way too hard for everyone to remember if sweet potatoes were okay but regular potatoes weren’t-or is it the other way around?! I’ll just eat a 12 ounce steak wrapped with bacon to play it safe…LOL! A few of my friends at my gym started ‘counting macros’ and then that’s all I heard about. I’m not saying I go on and on about the same shit either, but the macros thing was killing me because they would say they couldn’t eat half a banana before a wod because it ‘didn’t fit’ and I would be like, ‘well, your blood sugar dropping and then falling off the rig is better?’. Anyway, I once mentioned it was basically counting calories (because it literally is but it’s broken down one step further into the nutritional components (which makeup calories!) and I was corrected and told it is WAY different than counting calories….
IMO, everyone needs to relax with all of the ‘diets/lifestyles’! If you eat paleo, you won’t die of food poisoning from eating some rice with your sushi…if you count macros, you should eat if you feel like fainting even if that means you ‘go over’ for that day!! K, the End…
Hi Juli – I read all your posts and sometimes it’s amazing how you can read my mind! I have been following a program for about 8 months, where i count all my macros and I admit it worked and I leaned out, but I’m still counting everyday. I have to decline invites to go out with friends because I dont want to mess up my macros or tell my boyfriend we can’t do date night and I was just thinking this weekend, when is it ever going to end? Thank you for your post. Time for me to start re-evaluating some things and stop obsessing! 🙂
Love it! Even though I counted macros for several months, and have had various other times in life when counting helped me sort out some things with my own goals, it’s 100% NOT the only way, nor the RIGHT way for everyone! I think it’s so important for people to know that simply because I do something or you do something, that it’s never right for everyone – we’re all different in a lot of ways.
If I could high five you right now – I totally would. I’ve been seeing IIFYM all over instagram, etc. lately. I feel like it’s the bodybuilding version of weight watchers. I see people basically not eating any healthy carbs from veggies or fruit, so they can binge on oreos and arctic zero at night. I understand that some people are reaching their goals this way – but it doesn’t seem healthy to me at all! What happened to putting quality foods into your body?
Also, I calculated what my macros “should” be. It called for only 50-ish g of fat per day. I’ve eaten relatively low carb, high fat for a long time… I’m pretty sure I’m at 50g before lunchtime.
Thank you for being a positive voice for intuitive eating and balance!
I do IIFYM and you can adjust your fats vs carbs however you like. Energy balance is key. And proper amounts of protein for your goals.
I see lots of paleo eaters limiting starchy vegetables and fruit simply to become low carb and lose weight. I don’t think that is healthy either. So many healthy micro-nutrients! Balance is key.
Ahhh as everyone else, love this post! You could not be more spot on with how I feel. I have tried it all and although being super restrictive and weighing/measuring does work.. It will make ya brain go nuts! Being able to enjoy real food and life together is what it’s all about, so amen sister!
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Thank you Juli for this post! It has come at such perfect timing. I have recently stopped tracking my food because it was becoming obsessive, wasn’t realistic for me to maintain with my busy schedule, and I was getting frustrated when I wasn’t seeing changes. I realize that changes come slowly as long as you work hard and give your body what it needs, and that healthy eating should be long-term…weighing my food is not something I could see myself doing for life. Thanks again for the positive words and encouragement!