Is Tracking Macros Too Restrictive for Women Over 40?

Nikkiey: You, as a human, just need to learn how to be a little bit more disciplined in your regime to stop eating the whole bag of Doritos or to stop having the whole bag of Dove chocolate. And listen, that is something that doesn't switch automatically.

What is up, my friends? Hello and welcome back to The WarriorBabe Show, or if you are a new listener as of recent, welcome to the show with Nikkiey Stott, co-founder of WarriorBabe. On this podcast, we talk about mindset, methodologies, and tactics that will help you lose body fat, build muscle, be strong, and feel insanely confident. I am your host, Nikkiey Stott, and welcome to episode number 80.

So this morning, I was on a podcast that will be releasing in August. And this one little sliver of a topic that I'm going to extrapolate on in this podcast today came up in that podcast this morning. And I was like, ooh, this is juicy. I really didn't elaborate on it too much on that podcast. I'm not taking away from it, but I wanted to elaborate on it here on this podcast today.

So we're going to dive into talking about how many women look at tracking macronutrients as something restrictive, and that they feel like they're restricting themselves from certain foods. On the contrary, I look at it as something that is very sustainable, realistic, and matter of fact. I look at macros as a skill set that will serve you for the rest of your life. So what this podcast is going to be all about is debunking that type of mentality that women have around macronutrients.

And if you think it is restrictive, let me ask you, how is it restrictive? Why do you think it's restrictive? Because the answer to those questions, from my point of view, is you can really have any and all of the foods that you want to. So there's something a little bit deeper that makes you feel like it's restrictive. Maybe it's because you think that if you're going on a new eating regime, you have to eliminate things that you once had or once enjoyed because you are trying to eat better. That ain't macros, my friends.

Now, to unpack that one a little bit, if you're looking at things that you're thinking about giving up, or what you once had, you had too much of those things. And so, therefore, those things controlled you as opposed to you controlling them. So for an example, you guys know from listening to the podcast, I absolutely, and still to this day, love sugar. I love candy. I love sweets. I love dessert. Like, hashtag the Hormozis, never skip dessert. However, before my journey, that shit controlled me. I didn't control it.

So when I got into eating better and focusing on eating right and choosing healthier foods, I completely understand where you guys are coming from in terms of where you think it may be restrictive, but it ain't macronutrients. That's the problem. It's the overarching idea that you think you have to shift from what once controlled you and what you were eating too much of in order to get the result that you want. And yes, that is the fact. However, it's not restrictive, because with macronutrients, you can still have those things that you want and enjoyed. And you can have them in moderation and balance.

So it's not that you're going to have a whole bag of Doritos or a whole, you know, what I'm trying to think of in terms of what I love, a whole bag of Dove chocolate. You guys know I still to this day have Dove chocolate at the end of the day. It's not that you're going to have a whole bag of this stuff. It's like, how can you develop a self-discipline that still allows you to have some of that stuff but stops when it's too much? Or you feel like you're going to eat the whole bag, but then you're like, hey, I have a self-awareness where I'm going to stop eating this right now, because that's what needs to shift.

We really want to unpack that entire statement. It's so much deeper than, oh, macros is just too restrictive. That's where I love to get curious. Why? And typically it's that. You think that you have to give up all of the things that you enjoy when you really don't have to. You, as a human, just need to learn how to be a little bit more disciplined in your regime to stop eating the whole bag of Doritos or to stop having the whole bag of Dove chocolate. And listen, that is something that doesn't switch automatically. Okay? That's not something that you're able to tackle in three months.

This is the way I like to think of it. I've talked in episode, I think number four, about the person that you want to become. So right now, obviously, maybe you are in this state where you've allowed these types of eating patterns, eating a whole bag of Doritos or not really caring about what you're eating and loving ice cream and all of this stuff. And you're having it all the time. And you're in this state of your body that you're just not happy with. So then I want you to think about where you want to go and who you want to become and what kind of body you want to have and things that you want to build for yourself. So how is that person acting? How is that person eating? How is that person speaking? How is that person going about her day to day? And you need to start acting like that person.

So here for me, for example, I'm just going to use my personal story because I feel like this will help paint a better picture. I loved sweets. I loved all of the ice cream. I loved all of the things, mainly because I wasn't fueling my body properly, which is another thing that I could get into. I wasn't giving my body enough protein, which helps you feel full and also combats your cravings. At the end of the night, if you're not eating throughout the day, you may have all these cravings for all of these sweet, tasty, salty things. But if you fuel your body the right way and you give your body enough protein, you'll notice that those cravings actually start to subside.

Anyway, I was the one that was being controlled by the food instead of me controlling it. And once you get a little bit deeper and you ask these types of questions, you see that it's not actually macronutrients. So I was that person here. And a lot of you guys may be struggling with trying to get over that type of mentality, letting the food control you and not controlling it. And where I wanted to go, and where I am today, is here, where I still enjoy these things.

If you guys are watching my video, I'm creating a line from where I was to where I want to be. And this line is almost like a zigzag upwards, because there are points where I was really, really good, and there are points where I would step back. There are points where I was really, really good, and there are points where I just failed. And there are points where I was really, really good, and then it just started to smooth out as I realized that these things that I wanted to let go of really didn't serve who I was trying to become. That food wasn't really serving the body that I wanted to have. And so I started to eliminate those things in respect to the goals that I wanted to have.

And then it was just like, okay, now here I am moving on upward, and it's just becoming more of a lifestyle at this point. Now I've reached a lot of physical goals with myself and my physique, and I'm really happy with where I am. I can always do better. I always think, I'm happy, but I can do better. I'm blissfully dissatisfied. And so here I am at the achievement of where I am with my body right now. And it's not that I completely gave up those things. I just gave up the quantity at which I was eating them, meaning the whole bag, or a dessert every single night. And I know I just mentioned the Hormozis, and I know they do that also, but they're not going towards specific goals with their body.

So in relation to being restrictive and to how I see macronutrients, I'm going to dive into what it actually truly looks like when you just accept the fact that tracking your macronutrients is a milestone to be able to live an entire lifestyle the way you want to and not have to worry about meticulously tracking.

So let me say this right now, loud and clear. When people say macros are restrictive, and they have this mentality around food, and they don't want to track macronutrients because it feels restrictive and they're eliminating foods, you're actually the one eliminating the foods. You can put the food into your routine, but then you have to learn, when it's in your routine, not to eat the whole damn thing. So it's on you. It's not macronutrients. And that's a big distinction to be able to identify and accept. When you make that identification and that awareness for yourself, you see that it's really you that needs to build the habits and the discipline around tracking macronutrients the right way.

And I don't think I said what I wanted to say. I don't expect you, A, to track for the rest of your life. And I don't expect you, when you come into the world of macronutrients, to bring your damn food scale to a restaurant and start weighing your food. I think these are misconceptions that people have when they start hearing about macronutrients and the actual work that it takes to start tracking them and be committed to the process, which, again, is a milestone and a stepping stone to living life in full enjoyment around food.

Because the main thing is that women think that, and I'm kind of going all over the place. This is actually just turning into a rant. But we're just going to go with it, you guys. Just stay with me here.

Hey, guys. I love so much that you're listening to this podcast. If you ever want the video version of this, which usually has more effects and all that good stuff for those of you who are visual learners, check out the WarriorBabe YouTube channel, if that's what you like. Either way, keep enjoying the show.

So a lot of women think, before they dive into macronutrients, that they're eating healthy. And then when they're introduced to having to pay attention to their food, they're like, holy cow, I'm actually not eating enough. People think they're eating healthy, and they're probably eating like 1,100 calories. And I guarantee you the majority of those are coming from fats and carbs and not so much protein. Because protein, and I've talked about this in a previous podcast, is the one macronutrient that a lot of women struggle to get in.

So once you become more aware, it opens your eyes. When you start paying attention and actually become aware of the food that you're eating via the methods of tracking it and paying attention to the things that you're putting on your plate, it is such an eye-opening self-discovery, self-journey, self-awareness around food. You realize that you're actually not eating enough food for what is needed to fuel building muscle, losing body fat, all of the things that women want to achieve within their journey. That is the number one thing that women are struggling with. They're not eating enough food. And I guarantee you guys who are listening to this podcast can totally resonate with that.

So that's a thing women get into when they become more self-aware of needing to eat more. But then it's like, oh, well, macronutrients is time-intensive. Macronutrients is restrictive. Macronutrients is X, Y, and Z. And then I'm like, are you actually taking the time to do this? Because that's what it comes down to. Macros aren't the problem. Macros have helped thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people learn how to eat better and fuel their body and eat right and get the results that they want. So it's not macronutrients. It's you.

You can't blame the program that has helped thousands and thousands and thousands of people. It's like, what is getting in the way of you? How are you getting in the way of yourself to actually put in the work that is needed to understand how to use macronutrients to fuel the results that you want?

And now I'm going to kind of pivot into why, from my perspective. First, if you're saying that macronutrients is restrictive and you're looking at it that way, it's totally a mindset. You're looking at it in a negative light. And now, pumping the brakes there, if you've had some type of eating disorder or things in the past, again, those are the things that you need to nurture, not macronutrients. You need to nurture the things that you've experienced in your life and how you view food and why you view it that way, and get curious about why you've been down that avenue. Because it's usually something deeper. It's something you've experienced in your life that led you to have this relationship with food. And once you unpack that and you have more self-awareness around it, then you can have a better relationship with food.

So it's not macros. Macros may be a triggering word, but it's not the actual approach. It's always a level deeper, into the human that has the type of experience that they do around X, Y, and Z. And then you want to pull that back and get curious about how you can heal that or nurture that. And then you introduce this skill set. Like I said, it's a skill set that will serve you for the rest of your life.

So once you switch the mentality around from being restrictive to actually being in an array of abundance, because you can have the foods that you want. I'm very big on, don't restrict. Please don't restrict. Don't restrict yourself from foods that you want. Because if you restrict yourself from foods that you want, guess what's going to happen? You're going to eat those foods. It's like me telling you, and I just said this in a podcast as well, not to think about a pink elephant. What are you thinking about right now? A pink elephant.

So please don't restrict, but better yet, become more self-aware, become curious, become an observer of why you think those things are restrictive, so that you can switch the mentality around to embrace the absolute abundance, the array of abundance, I like to say, of what macronutrients can give you in terms of such a beautiful relationship with food.

And like I said, I don't expect you to track macros for the rest of your life, but I expect you to understand how to track. Because what that is going to bring to light for you is, as you continually track for a year or a year and a half or two years, and you're weighing things and putting them on a plate, guess what you're doing? You're subconsciously programming your mind to see how much of X is a carbohydrate. Like, how much is three ounces of this chicken breast? It's probably about 25 grams of protein. And so you're becoming accustomed to seeing these portion sizes on your plate.

And the more you become accustomed to that, the more you ingrain these things into your brain, the better it's going to serve you for when you don't need to track macronutrients. Now it's become a habit, and it's become your lifestyle, and it's become a way of living, so that when you're not tracking, you know what portion sizes look like. When you go out to eat, you've already instilled these habits, like asking for more protein. Because whenever you go to restaurants, protein is typically the number one macronutrient that's lacking on salads or entrees. So you always want to ask for double. That's something I personally do, and I've learned it through having macronutrients to fall back on.

Ladies, are you feeling frustrated with body changes you're experiencing during menopause? It's time to take control. If you're between 45 and 65 years old and tired of struggling with body fat and muscle loss, WarriorBabe is here for you. At WarriorBabe, we've helped over 18,000 women just like you lose body fat, build toned muscle and understand their bodies better with personalized plans based on hormone and thyroid testing and more. Imagine knowing exactly what your body needs to see real results, and results that last. Don't wait anymore. Take charge of your health and join our community of strong, empowered women. Visit warriorbabe.com/apply today to start your transformation. That's warriorbabe.com/apply. All right, let's get back to the show.

I feel like not a lot of women look at it in this light, that macronutrients is something that can truly help you build a better relationship with food, better discipline with food, and overall a better, more sustainable, realistic path to be on. But I think that's a really hard concept to understand because a lot of women aren't there yet. And I'm speaking from the other side. So what I want to do, the best I possibly can, is put my hand back out behind me and hold your hand and pull you along.

And this is why I love what we do inside of WarriorBabe, because wherever you are along your journey, whether you know macronutrients or you don't, we are going to meet you where you are. We're not going to just throw X, Y, and Z macros at you to follow. We're going to be like, hey, I think it's best that you start to track, because you're not even aware of how much food you eat. I can't tell you how much to eat, because it may not even be the right equation that we need to fuel your fat loss. So let's just pay attention in the first week, with you tracking your normal way of eating, and then from there we're going to build what our starting foundation is going to be. It is such a beautiful thing.

And from there, a lot of women get frustrated because macronutrients takes time and it does feel restrictive. Again, that is just because we are changing habits from what you were used to doing to what we want to do, so you can get the results that you are seeking. People have deemed it restrictive because you're not allowed to do all the things you did before. Well, guess what? All the things you were doing before led you to where you are right now. So why would we keep doing all those things?

Maybe just allow yourself, instead of the whole bag of chocolate, what I do. I allow myself four pieces of chocolate every night, and I've built a discipline to stop there.

So that's the restrictive thing, and then people say it's too hard. Well, when you rode a bike the first time, it was freaking hard, right? Yeah. So if you've never tracked macronutrients before and then you start tracking macronutrients, duh, it's going to be hard. There's a learning curve. But are you really that willing to give up that quickly? I don't think you are. I know that the women who stand behind me are very strong, very determined, very dedicated, and they're willing to try this new thing that they probably never did, or didn't try long enough to get the results they wanted.

And like I already stated, macronutrients has helped so many people. So once you accept that it is actually something that can fuel and drive the results that you want, it is actually the catalyst for change. Once you accept that and stop thinking about it in a restrictive light, and you surrender to the fact that sure, it's going to be hard, you may have some bumps along the road. Like I said, from here to here, the line upwards was jagged, but it got me up here. That's going to be you. That's normal. If you don't expect to fail, you need to accept that you will fail. You're not a superhuman. And when you fail, it's not that you failed. It's a learning opportunity to be like, oh, okay, I can just do this a little bit better next time.

And guess what? Once you get over the hump of tracking macronutrients initially, which, the first three or four months may be a learning curve, like anything when you're trying something new, and let me just reiterate that, you get to five months, six months, a year, to now me being in year five. I can do this shit in the blink of an eye. I can do it in a matter of three minutes. I can look at my plate and know what it is. I don't have to track macronutrients all the time. Quite frankly, I don't track macronutrients all the time. But I've still been able to maintain the results in my body, because I use the tools, the resources, the skill set that I developed through tracking macronutrients for a couple of years, in this next phase I'm in, which is intuitive eating and enjoying my life, which I want you all to get to.

But you have to understand macronutrients, and you have to give macronutrients what it deserves. You have to give it the time. You have to give it the commitment. You have to give it the dedication. You can't just fucking half-ass it. You can't just say, oh yeah, I tracked my macros all week, when in actuality you only tracked two out of the seven days, or five out of the seven days for my weekenders. You know what I mean?

So can you sacrifice a couple of years to learn this skill set? Because guess what? What it's going to amount to, in terms of you being able to live with a realistic, better relationship with food and have a sustainable approach to nutrition, is fucking 20 times the couple of years, or couple of months, it's going to take you to learn it. That's what I mean about the other side. That's what I mean about the array of abundance when it comes to learning this skill set: knowing that you're not restricting anything, unpacking that a little bit more, like I said, and really getting down to the true root cause of why you think it's like that. Because it's not truly macronutrients. It's not truly the word. It's whatever your experience was in the past that is leading you to think that.

And when people say that stuff online, it's valid, it's a part of your story, but you can't blame it on a tool that has truly helped so many people. And what I'm sharing with you is that it's not something I would hold women to doing for the rest of their lives. I don't want you to have to do that. I want you to learn the abundance that is on the other side of learning what macronutrients are, of learning what's in your food, of learning about the relationship that you can actually truly have with food. And knowing that with some of those foods, once you switch to different habits, you really won't turn to them anymore. And that's a beautiful thing. It's a part of evolution. It's part of growth, all of these things I'm sharing with you.

So, in that rant, of all the things that I said, I really hope this podcast helped you have a different approach and understanding when it comes to macronutrients, and not look at it so much in a restrictive light. Look at it more like, why do I think it's like that? Why do I think it's restrictive? What are the things I need to unpack? What am I hearing on social media that makes me think it's that way? And really switch the mindset to what I said, taking you along that whole path, from what we do with our women and how we help them level up with macronutrients and tracking macronutrients, to where I'm at, which is that I don't have to track macronutrients all the time right now, but I can still maintain my body and my results, because it's my lifestyle and I can look at food and understand it. And I have a really good relationship with it.

So that's that, my friends. If you guys enjoyed this podcast, please, please, please take a couple of seconds after this podcast to rate it, to review it, and leave some awesome words about how you feel about this podcast. If this is your first time listening, leave a review on what you think about this first episode. Or if you've listened to a few of them and haven't reviewed it yet, I would greatly appreciate that so, so, so freaking much. And I'll see you guys in the next podcast. Peace out.

Hey guys, real quick, if you're interested in taking your body to the next level, losing body fat, building more muscle, and feeling more confident, do it alongside one of our 30-plus professional coaches. Work one-on-one with her to eliminate all of the guesswork you may have, and all you need to do is the work she tells you to do to get to those goals of yours. To learn more, click the link below this podcast and apply to our VIP program right now.