Carbohydrates are stored and used in two places: (1) as glycogen in your liver to maintain blood sugar, and (2) in your muscles to fuel exercise. They are your body’s first choice for fuel. What are Carbohydrates?Ĭarbs are a single sugar unit that provide short-term energy. Knowing the difference between each macronutrient can help you understand how each impacts your fitness goals. They make up the bulk of your diet and supply your energy as well as essential nutrients. The body requires macronutrients in relatively large amounts. The three macronutrients (aka, “macros”) are protein, carbohydrates, and fats. How are Macronutrients Different Than Calories? Whether you are new to weighing and measuring your food or are a seasoned tracker, you have likely asked at one point or another, “what are macros?”. Adjusting calorie balance determines if you are in a caloric deficit or surplus.Ĭounting calories can be a helpful place to start in your nutrition journey but it does not account for the type of nutrients you are consuming.Ĭalories are made of macronutrients (macros). Generally, calorie balance is achieved when you take in the same amount of calories through food and drink as you exert through daily and physical activities including organized exercise, NEAT and other metabolic processes. Your total daily calorie consumption is specific to your sex, age, activity level, genetics, and more. Simply put, calories equal energy and your body needs a certain amount of energy to sustain basic functions.Ĭounting Calories for Weight Loss or Performance Gains But, in terms of nutrition calories are a measure of the energy value of the foods and drinks we consume. Technically speaking, a calorie is defined as the amount of heat needed to increase 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. What are Calories?īefore you can understand macros, we need to talk about calories.Ĭalories fuel your body. Let’s break down each level so we can see how they all work together to help you reach your unique goals. Here is a road map you can come back to as you keep reading: To answer these questions, we need to start big and work small. So, what is the difference between calories and macros? And what are macros, anyway? Why are grams important and how are grams different from ounces? But once you learn the lingo you can more confidently reach your goals. This same language-barrier, and resulting overwhelm, can happen with nutrition too.Ĭhanges to diet and lifestyle can feel tough enough without adding the new terms. We get this question all the time and today, we’re tackling the difference between calories, macros, grams, and ounces once and for all. So, let me start by telling you that you’re NOT the only one in the dark. It can all be quite intimidating, especially when you feel like you are the only one who is in the dark. Take CrossFit for example: You not only need to learn how to perform the various movements but the abbreviations on the whiteboard (um… What is an AMSU and HSPU anyway?) can look and sound like a completely different language. Sometimes when you start something new, the lingo can be one of the biggest barriers to entry. Have these questions ever crossed your mind? Do you feel like the difference between the two (wait, FOUR!) is a little blurry? If you answered yes, you are not alone. What is the difference between calories and macros and why is counting one often more effective than the other? How do grams and ounces play into this whole thing?
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