{"id":431224,"date":"2026-02-17T23:22:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/431224\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T23:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:22:08","slug":"why-is-everyone-tracking-their-macros-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/431224\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Everyone Tracking Their Macros Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While on the hunt for a planner recently, I noticed many of the meal prepping sections had a \u201cmacros\u201d tab. This was a space where you can meticulously track your macros, aka the three essential nutrients our bodies require to function. At the time, it struck me as a little too close to restrictive eating, but my interest was piqued after continuing to see chatter about it online.<\/p>\n

Macro tracking is a dieting technique traditionally used by bodybuilders and professional athletes\u2014and it\u2019s finally edged its way into the mainstream in recent years via social media, where it is often framed as a weight-loss tool.<\/p>\n

Here, three experts\u2014Emily English (@EmTheNutritionist<\/a>), ALO Wellness Club<\/a> pilates instructor Bianca Wise, and Rachel Butcher, head of nutrition at Third Space<\/a>\u2014break down the obsession with macros, and explain whether there is a healthy way to track them.<\/p>\n

What are macros?<\/p>\n

The term \u201cmacros\u201d is short for macronutrients, and refers to proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Protein<\/a> helps with muscle building and repair, as well as supporting immune function, hormones, and enzymes. Carbs provide us with energy, and fats are essential for hormone production and regulation. And when it comes to fat,<\/a> keep in mind that not all of it is bad\u2014there are healthy versions like avocados and walnuts that help keep you full.<\/p>\n

How does macro tracking differ from calorie counting?<\/p>\n

Calorie counting doesn\u2019t place as much emphasis on where your calories come from; the goal is simply to hit the right number. Macro counting means ensuring the body receives specific nutrient ratios, rather than just focusing on your total calorie intake.<\/p>\n

What is a macro calculator?<\/p>\n

Macro calculators<\/a> are a tool to help you work out the appropriate amount of protein, fats, and carbohydrates to eat each day. You begin by entering your age, gender, current weight, level of physical activity, and height (just like a BMI calculator). The calculator will then generate a figure to estimate the number of calories you should typically consume in a day. This total calorie amount will then be divided into a certain number of protein, fat, and carbohydrate grams to consume per day.<\/p>\n

Depending on your goal\u2014muscle gain, fat loss, longevity\u2014these ratios may change. For example, someone looking to build lean muscle may concentrate on higher carbohydrate and protein ratios with lower healthy fats.<\/p>\n

Provided you begin with a healthy, sensible calorie quota, the way you split your macronutrients should result in eating enough food and not in a restrictive calorie deficit. However, if you have any sort of medical condition, it\u2019s worth reaching out to your GP before embarking on any diet plan.<\/p>\n

Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send\u00a0Vogue’s senior beauty & wellness editor an email at\u00a0beauty@vogue.com.<\/p>\n

Is it beneficial to track your macros?<\/p>\n

\u201c[Done sparingly] macro tracking can be a useful entry point for understanding how food fuels the body, but I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0believe it should be the end goal,\u201d Wise says. According to English, \u201clike most things in nutrition, it sits in a gray area.\u201d For some, it can be a helpful tool; for others, it can feel overwhelming. \u201cThere is no single right way to approach nutrition,\u201d she explains. \u201cWhat works brilliantly for one person might not work for someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both English and Wise acknowledge some benefits, but are careful to note that it depends on the individual. \u201cTracking can build awareness and help people to understand whether they are eating enough protein,\u201d explains English. \u201cPlus, it can help clients understand what a balanced meal looks like in practice.\u201d Wise notes that this is often most effective in the short term \u2013\u00a0especially when aligned with a specific goal or medical need. \u201cFor women navigating concerns such\u00a0as\u00a0metabolic imbalances or training for performance or strength, understanding macronutrients can offer invaluable insights,\u201d she says. \u201cIt may help people to identify whether they\u2019re under-fuelling, lacking protein, or unintentionally skipping key nutrients \u2013\u00a0all of which can impact hormones, energy, and recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While on the hunt for a planner recently, I noticed many of the meal prepping sections had a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":431225,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55,7268],"class_list":["post-431224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-nutrition","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}