Should You Count Calories & Macros? Why or Why Not?

Should you count calories and macros? YES! Why? In this simplified video I discuss why I think counting calories is and remains important throughout your entire life. Do you need to count every single calorie you eat? NO! Understanding and learning how to count your calories is just a step in the process. Knowing why you should count your calories and macros will overtime improve and keep improving your daily quality of life!

What do I use to make tracking my calories and macros easier? At the time of this post, MyFitnessPal. I’ve used this app on my phone for years with great success!

💥 Subscribe to our newsletter and get a free eBook with our top 20 recipes!

STUFF IN THIS VIDEO?
Can all be found on our website (linked above)!

👉🏻 Follow us @TheProteinChef on all platforms!

💪🏻 About The Protein Chef

Derek Howes is a personal trainer and chef with over a decade of experience in the gym and kitchen. Derek, who is also known as The Protein Chef on his blog and YouTube channel shows his viewers every week that food doesn’t need to be boring or repetitive, it’s all about balance, moderation, and having the knowledge to change things up.

[ThatOddNerd]

For me counting calories is the best thing I've ever done. (To me macros dont matter) I used to be morbidly obese. Planning for the next day is key for me. Saves money and cuts down on food waste.

[greentruckwa]

I counted my calories for about 5 years, and it consumed my life. I had used a journal, and I had used different phone apps. My weight yo-yoed like crazy. I absolutly despised counting calories with a passion. Now for the last 6 years, I've been doing portion control and I mainly focus on just eating slower. I've maintained the same weight ever since I took a more simple approac. I'm a big time stress eater, and I was morbidly obsessed when I was younger. Very much love this channel. I've been able to eat my favorite desserts again and not feel guilty for it! Great video!

[sandufrankolentina]

My Fitness Pal changed my life. Count calories, macros breakdown and a great source of healthy recipes and workouts. Happy birthday Lana

[TinkerTomUK]

It’s so easy to go over your bmr calories per day having set meals that you know the total macronutrients is very useful.

[iStacktheBacon]

Ive gotten pretty good at estimating how many calories something is, and its pretty easy to remember everything ive eaten throughout the day to make sure I stay around 1500 and not go over. Having a cheap food scale helps a lot so you can measure out servings, Ive had the same one for probably 5 years now and use it almost daily.

[fivestringpat]

Haircut is on point! Your channel was a big part of my food scale purchase.. that and my obsession with precise coffee making

[RoseLawrence]

Happy birthday Lana🎈
Happy Valentine’s Day. I hand post all of my macros because I really don’t understand the apps

[travisshaffer]

I have four meals per day. 3 of them I eat basically the same thing every day, so I know how many calories are in them, they total to 1000. For dinner, I have 1000 calories. Making a total of 2000.

I like this because I only have to actually count the calories in one meal.
Thanks.

[joechapa]

I don't "count" calories, but I use calories as a guide. LIke yesterday I ate a burger and fries for lunch that was 1200-1600 calories (listed on the menu). So for the rest of the day I tried not to eat anything b/c I already had my calories for the day. (I did end up eating an apple and some peanut butter around dinner time)

[TheBelmont]

Counting calories and macros helped me sculpt my body and put me on the accurate and sure way to the ( six-pack ). For macros, u gotta track em to experiment with your body and see how it responds . Some people respond better to high carb, some to high healthy fats. So u gotta try and that can only be by tracking macros. You also make sure that you cover your daily protein requirement for muscles maintenance at least if not building. May all of you achieve your goals ^^. Thx for the nice short video bro.

[tommyjay]

I just recently got into Counting my calories about 3 months ago using the Nutritionix app. I've never counted Calories or Macros since I've started this Journey. Recently I Thought I'd give it a shot and use more of a Flexible eating approach. It is definitely going strong and i feel alot better! Keep up the awesome videos man, makes this Flexible lifestyle ALOT more fun 👍😁💪 I am currently 174lbs (21 years old) and Loving life! Came a Long way from 315lbs.

[kingbeauregard]

For weight loss purposes, the two numbers I look at are calories and protein: calories low, protein high. I've been able to sustain 1700 or so calories a day for months, when I was also keeping my protein at 150g or higher a day. And the way I count my calories is to pre-portion my food into 250 calorie chunks. [EDIT: talking to a nutritionist, it seems a person never needs more than like 100g of protein a day, so max it out there; the rule seems to be about 1g of protein for every 3 lb body weight. On the other hand, we also need 520 calories a day from straight carbs, so be sure to get 130g of carbs along with your protein.]

Happy birthday Lana!

[scottbeesley]

I like to do what I call a ‘calibration’
I will count my calories, macros and micros using cronometer for 4-6 weeks at a time. I do my best to memorise what is what and also take photos of everything for future reference.
I will do this 2-3 times a year.
For the rest of the time I just eyeball everything and do my best to estimate by using the knowledge I gained from my calibrations.
It works well for me

[zsssolt]

I count calories and proteins throughout the day with the simple calculator on my phone (yes, over the years I memorized all the calories of foods and ingriedients/100g I eat). Then, at the end of the day I loosely check my fats because I tend to under eat, and I make my last meal accordingly. It is really not as hard as it might seem. I do this for 7 years now, every, single, day. And it works like hell (or heaven?)

[oclery]

I use My Fitness Pal to track calories and macros after bariatric surgery. Has become part of my daily routine. 💪🏃 Gorgeous cat! 😍

[fivestringpat]

I use MyFitnessPal but it's not very fast, it's getting frustrating. I like to fill it out in the morning with what I plan to eat, which also helps me figure out what I'm going to cook today!

[NvThaKidd]

Forget macros. I just count calories. Down 20lbs since I started counting calories. Guestimating, no pen and paper or apps

[ceasarmiranda]

Counting calories is like flossing, I have to do it, just too lazy and bad habits. And when I do, sometimes I half ass it.

[pokeyspastries]

Great point made! I weigh a lot of what I eat so I usually just guesstimate my calories, but if I start plateauing (performance lacking/low energy, or just trying to lose bodyfat and the number doesn't seem to want to go down) I go ahead and track calories with the Samsung Health app; it has a weight maintenance section that tells you whether you're under, over, or "good" based on your set deficit. Gets me back on track every time 😎

[johnjosjohnjos]

Happy Birthday 🐈, I love the loose it app for counting calories.