FIND YOUR MACROS: OCTOBER NUTRITION SERIES

September 17, 2019

Pittsburgh Fitness Project

We are excited to be conducting an October Nutrition Series about Macronutrients, or Macros. Why we have chosen this particular topic? What are Macros, and why are they important? How do we calculate individual requirements for each of them, along with their ratios as part of our daily calorie intake?

The human body and all of its impressive mechanisms are pretty complex and require a variety of nutrients to function well. Macronutrients refer to the three basic components of every diet — carbohydrates, protein, and fat. As the word “Macro” or large implies, the body needs these nutrients in larger quantities.

WHY A MACRO SERIES?

OK, so why a Macro Series? Think about it . . . today we are bombarded with fitness and food information. Ads for diets and meal replacements or other nutrition-related products are everywhere. Some may throw around the term Macros, and many guarantee amazing short term results or must-have benefits. When it comes to nutrition, however, regardless of whatever health, fitness or performance goals we have, everything starts in the simplest, largest, most basic forms.

WHY ARE MACROS IMPORTANT?

When we understand Macros and the best foods of each component along with our individual needs, then we can have better health. For example, one of the main problems with traditional dieting is that calorie counting doesn’t take into account what we’re eating. Macros can be a key player here, helping us quantify how much we eat as well as what we eat. Thinking about Macros instead of calories may help us develop a healthier, more well-rounded way of eating.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN!

Almost every food has a combination of macronutrients, but the difference lies in their composition. Throughout the series, we will delve into a different Macro each week, what they are, their key functions and importance, the best food sources, and how to calculate our individual needs for each of them. Food and its macronutrient composition can influence how hungry we feel and our metabolic rates, too: 100 calories of broccoli and 100 calories of cookies may contain the same amount of energy, but they affect our bodies and food choices much differently. We will include plenty of time in each weekly session for questions and open discussion!