If weight loss is your goal, it will come as no surprise that you will need to be in some sort of energy deficit. You simply cannot lose weight if you are eating more calories than you are expending. However, that does NOT mean you need to go hungry or be on a "diet". Focussing on the macros rather than just the calories is a game-changer for weight loss as it means you can eat so much more and still stay within your calorie goal. 

Forget counting calories, understanding your macros is key to sustainable weight loss. Why are macros so important? Unlike traditional calorie counting, tracking and understanding your macro intake is a healthier and more sustainable approach to weight loss. There’s no escaping the fact that if you eat too many calories you’re not going to lose weight. But the QUALITY of those calories is so, so important. The goal is to lose fat, not muscle.

Macronutrients, or macros, are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These are the nutrients our body needs in larger amounts, and all three macros form part of a healthy, balanced diet. Carbohydrates and protein contain 4 kcal/g, while fat is more energy dense, containing 9 kcal/g. The food we eat is either one or, more commonly, a combination of macros. Everyone has different macro requirements, depending on many factors including activity levels, health goals, life stage and age. Getting your macros right is important for weight loss as it can help make sure you lose fat, not muscle … the holy grail of weight loss. It is also typically a more sustainable approach than calorie counting, being more satiating, so you don’t get hungry, and provides more flexibility so is just easier to maintain and adapt to daily life.