My Macros -- Change My Mind

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(less is more, more or less) #1

I know, I know. Click-baity topic title. This isn’t a call to zealotry and conquest. Let’s keep it fun, and n=1. I want to take the concept of “macros” and re-apply them to another critical aspect of low-carb living. Namely, rather than focusing on food, let’s step back one abstraction.

Here’s my proposal, in the meme, below.

vs-02

It wasn’t cheap getting what’s-his-name to pose for this muse, I’ll tell ya.
Thanks to @goohsmom for catching my bad math.

Maybe you see it as 95% Nutrition, 5% Activity, 0% Portion Control. That’s cool. Whatever.

I’m curious how you see the weighted importance of these items in your own life.

(Carl Keller) #2

I suppose it depends on what you want in your life. If you wish to lose weight, Jason Fung’s advice to his obese patients is almost exclusively on nutrition and it’s difficult to argue with his success rate. Anecdotal evidence also says that I can lose weight efficiently with little exercise, unless I count being on my feet for 50 hours per week.

But does this make me healthier than someone who workouts or runs regularly? Probably not. Stronger muscles and a better cardiovascular system not only makes one feel better, it improves overall health.

Lastly, I think portion control can be properly influenced with proper nutrition. If we eat LCHF, our hunger hormones will work the way they are supposed to. The entire process of eating the right amount will be self-regulating if fat and protein are our primary focus.

(less is more, more or less) #3

True, that.

As does another Dr. I tend to quote.

<Gazes directly at @CarlKeller> How do you live your low-carb WoE?

(Carl Keller) #4

Lazy keto FTW. I’ve never been much for running because it bothers my feet and knees. I’m flat-footed and I’m just dreading the day that I expect will arrive, sooner or later, when some type of serious knee problem will complicate my life.

I used to enjoy biking but where I live is plagued with rollercoasterish hills and just walking up them causes a heavy lactic burn.

I tried weight training when I was younger but I just don’t build muscle mass like most other humans and it was frustrating. I know it helped increase my strength but I always looked with envy, upon all the jocks who could work out once a week and get ripped. I would do curls and bench press all week long and it just made me wirey.

I know this sounds like I’m just full of excuses to avoid exercise and I don’t really know what to say, except maybe I am just physically lazy. :stuck_out_tongue: I have no problem outworking everyone around me when needed but working is a must, not something I do for fun.

#5

Body by Science demands as much as 0.15% activity. That means it’s basically 100% nutrition, even with a healthy level of activity. Unless you count normal walking around, cooking instead of microwaving etc. as activity.

Portion control is an odd concept. One anthropologist who lived with Inuits spoke about a constant feast-famin cycle. Feasting after the hunt, sharing the last scraps of food before going hunting again. Portion control shouldn’t be necessary.

(less is more, more or less) #6

No apologies necessary. You don’t need to be active on low-carb. I like hearing how others have adapted their habits to accommodate this lifestyle change.

Are you saying your 100%/0%/0%?

(Carl Keller) #7

When I used a step counter, I averaged about 7 miles per week. I suppose that can be counted as exercise.

(PSackmann) #8

Are you waiting for the first person to point out the arithmetic error? Or is this your way of saying portion control has nothing to do with your n=1? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

My personal n=1 at the moment is Nutrition 100%, Activity 0% as I’m wrapping up 6 weeks of non-weight-bearing. My clothing has gotten a little looser even though I haven’t reduced my food intake at all.

(less is more, more or less) #9

Ha! LOVE IT! Keto Clarity and all that.

Edit: I’ve fixed my math error. No longer writ large.

<oopsie>

#10

I’d say 80% nutrition, 10%-15% exercise, 5-10% portion control.

I’d argue to say portion control should be a part of nutrition, because I’m a firm believer of at least knowing the range of calories you’re consuming.

The pareto rule states 80% of change comes from 20% of your activities. Breaking this down further, out of that 20%, nutrition is a big chunk of that. Without nutrition, all the lifting and cardio in the world won’t help.

(Allan Misner) #11

I think this works best:
50% - Nutrition
20% - Sleep
20% - Stress
10% - Exercise

(less is more, more or less) #12

@AllanMisner Love this!

(Running from stupidity) #13

I am, pretty much. I still walk about 10k steps a day, but not because I’m aiming at them, just because they happen via doing stuff.

(Jane) #14

Do you consider fasting or IF as “Portion Control”? Or part of “Nutrition”?

My exercise macro is 0% because I never go to a gym to work out - just my normal walking and working around the house and garden.

My macros are:

Nutrition: 90%
Fasting/IF: 10%

(less is more, more or less) #15

I would consider not eating eating, in some zen-like way.

I like what @AllanMisner identified, such as stress reduction, sleep, or, new category: time spent learning new stuff.