If you're trying to lose fat and gain muscle (a.k.a., body recomp) or simply want to be more mindful of your diet, keeping track of what you're putting in your body every day is crucial. One of the easiest ways to do that is by tracking your macros. ICYMI, macros stand for macronutrients, which you need in large quantities to stay healthy and energized.
The main macros are carbs, protein, and fat. Of course, counting all that data requires a ton of calculations. The good news is, there are plenty of apps that can help you stay organized along the way.
First, know macro tracking is difficult even with the most amazing tool, and it'll take some time and effort to work that into your routine. Also, build in some flexibility when setting your macros,” says Franziska Spritzler, RD. Do you feel hungrier, less energetic, or notice any other changes?" Not sure what ranges you should be reaching for?
Start by calculating them using the WH+ Eating for Body Recomp Guide. Once you know what you should be aiming for and become familiar with the practice, you can see which app offers features and functionalities that work best for you. It may take some trial and error to find the one you'd want to stick with.
Here's what you can expect from these apps. Best for: Dining out and getting takeout The Nutritionix database has info on over 800,000 unique foods, covering about 95 percent of all grocery items in the U.S. and Canada. "I am a big fan of Nutritionix because it has a regulated database of foods, so I know the nutrition information is accurate," says Salafia.
It also includes foods from the menus of over 760 restaurant chains, so you know you're still nailing your macros even when you're eating out. Review: One person who reviewed Nutritionix in the App Store wrote, “I’ve had this app for over three years and it’s the best tracking app I’ve found...and it’s free with no paid upgrades! What I love about it is that you can scan foods in with a barcode scanner, you can add your own custom foods or recipes, they have an EXTENSIVE restaurant database, all foods in the app are very accurate (unlike other apps), so you don’t have to guess if what you’re tracking is accurate or not." Best for: Combining your diet with a fitness plan The MyFitnessPal app allows you to customize your macro tracking according to what your goals are: weight loss, weight management, or weight gain.
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