What is a “Macro”?

Conversations with potential new client….

Ray, “Are you tracking macros?”

Client, “Um…Uh…I don’t know what a macro is…”

Ray, “Oh.”

Sometimes I forget that not everyone lives in the world that I live in.  I need to get better at not assuming every knows the basics. Macro-nutrients aka macros, in simplest terms is what gives us energy and builds our bodies.

Carbohydrates: A fast energy source used when being chased by a grizzly bear.  Examples of what a carb is….Fruit, bread, pasta, rice,potatoes, candy, soda, Gatorade, juice, sugar, cereal, oatmeal, and anything whole grain is still a carb.

One of the biggest statements I hear as a Health Coach is “I eat very little or no carbs all the time.”   I always follow up by asking what these people eat for breakfast to which they often reply with something like:  “A bowl of oatmeal, blueberries and some juice.”  I pause at this point to break it to this person that they are, in fact, eating a very high carb breakfast regardless of whether this person considers these carb sources to be “good” and not “bad” carbs. However, there is no such thing as good/bad when it comes to carbohydrates..  A carb is a carb is a carb folks.

Fat: Slow energy source used when you are strolling leisurely through an open meadow with no bears in sight.  Examples of what a fat is includes butter, egg yolks, avocado, nuts, seeds, oils, animal fats (fat on asteak), cheese, mayo, heavy cream, etc.

Protein: The building blocks of a majority of the cells in your body; your body stores protein as your muscles.   Examples of protein sources include eggs, beef, chicken, turkey, cheese, whey (shakes), fish, tofu, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.  My experience has shown most people aren’t eating near;y enough protein on a consistent basis.

I know this was a quick overview and very basic but we need to be on the same page before we can take things more in-depth.