Macros: The importance of macronutrients

Macros: The importance of macronutrients

If you consider yourself part of the fitness community then you may have heard of counting macros or, “if it fits your macros” (IFFYM). If not, sooner or later you will hear the term in conversations with other gym goers. Counting macros has become very popular for reaching specific weight and health goals. Specifically for losing weight or putting on muscle mass. Let’s move on to what exactly it is and if you should count them.

Macros is a short term for macronutrients –the fats, carbohydrates and protein we consume to give us energy. Each macronutrient is measured in grams. Carbohydrates and protein provide 4 calories per gram, while fat provides 9 calories per gram. In order to successfully count macros it is important to understand the role of each macronutrient and why some people need different ratios to reach a weight goal.

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How to Kickstart a Healthy Diet

How to Kickstart a Healthy Diet

You’ve finally decided to make your health a priority and want to make some serious changes in your diet. First off, congrats for jumping on the health train! You’ll find that eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard or require you to give up any of the foods you love. It’s all about making smart choices that essentially lead to a balanced and healthy dieting pattern.

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Top 5 Rules for Cheat Day

Top 5 Rules for Cheat Day

Cheat meals are a must in order to keep a long-term healthy weight. It allows me to  keep a healthy diet without feeling deprived of indulging every now and then. But the worst feeling is having all your hard work go to down the drain after  a weekend of binge eating so I’ve put together my top five rules for staying on track on cheat day.

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From Darkness to Light: My Fitness Journey

From Darkness to Light: My Fitness Journey

When people look at me, they automatically categorize me under slim framed. You know those “girl, you can eat anything and still look great,” comments.  But there’s always a story behind a portrait.  Growing up I was a husky child. Many might call it baby fat, but if I didn’t change my lifestyle, that baby fat would have turned into adult fat.

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Top Fruits and Veggies You Should Always Buy Organic

Top Fruits and Veggies You Should Always Buy Organic

When it comes to buying fruits and veggies, we all want organic. But it’s no secret that they’re kind of pricey. So instead of buying the apples that are free of synthetic chemicals, we settle for the waxy coated ones that are within our budget range. But not every single crop needs to be bought organically. Some are more heavily sprayed then others. Each year the Environmental Working Group releases a new shopper’s guide to pesticides in fruits and vegetables. The “Dirty Dozen” list  with the most pesticide residues, and the “Clean Fifteen”  with less pesticides and harmful sprays. So if you can’t afford to buy organic, use the shoppers guide to select only the crops that should be eaten organically. That way you’re not spending money on produce that you could probably skip on buying organic.

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3 Reasons to Eat a Balanced Breakfast

3 Reasons to Eat a Balanced Breakfast

Everyone’s heard of the well known phrase, “breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper,” but do we really follow it? With all of our morning responsibilities it can be tricky fitting breakfast into our schedule. Well, this popular phrase isn’t any mumbo jumbo. The word “breakfast” literally means to break the fast between dinner and the meal eaten after a person wakes up the next morning.  If you think about the amount of time from dinner to breakfast that’s a lot of hours.  For most people, it can be up to 12 hours since their last meal, and yet they are quick to skip it as they rush out the door.

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