Macros has become the buzz word in fitness nutrition, but what are macros?

Keep hearing people in the gym talking about counting macros? Rather than simply nodding along, pretending to understand let us help you get to grips with the diet that so many fitness fans rely on to reach their weight goals faster.

WHAT ARE MACROS?

Put simply, macros is the shortening of the word ‘macronutrients’ which refers to the protein, fat and carbs in your food.

The idea behind counting your macros is ensuring that you get the right balance of these foods depending on your activity. By doing this your body will be at its most efficient, burning fat and building muscle at the right time.

It’s all about fuelling your body in the right way for what you’re doing. This means you have to get specific.

CARBS

Carbs are a key source of energy and will be used by the body to power you through a workout as glucose (found in all carbs) is the most accessible source of energy. This is why they are especially important for endurance athletes.

Good sources of carbs include sweet potato, grains like brown rice and bulgar wheat, bananas (although these are also full of natural sugars) and porridge (although this also contains useful proteins too).

FAT

The fundamental role of fat is to keep you full and satisfied, although there are also positive effects on your cholesterol from eating 'good fats'.

Good sources of healthy fat include avocado, olive oil, hard cheeses, and eggs (although again this is also full of protein).

PROTEIN

Protein is essential for building and repairing muscle. If you're aiming to tone up and take those abs from firm to defined you'll doubtless see your portions of these macros go up.

Good sources of protein include red and white meats, and vegetarian options like beans and legumes, lentils and eggs.

As you may have noticed, there are foods that may be a good source of more than one macronutrient - that's because whole natural foods are complex. If you want to start counting you need to remember that 30g of meat isn't 30g of protein.

To find out the right ratio for you and how to get started, read our beginner’s guide to counting your macros.