The Supplements That I Swear By

I briefly talked about my supplements in a recent post in which I highlighted all of my supplements, my daily diet, and weekly workout routine with everyone.

I was asked specifically about what supplements I take and WHY. 

First of all, I love two brands. I love MRM and I love Labrada. However, when it comes to fitting most of my supplemental needs, MRM does that by offering a complete wellness line.

All of their products are natural and great tasting. I also feel comfortable with taking their products while breastfeeding because of the minimal ingredient list and available natural options for whey. Also, my doctor has approved them for use during breastfeeding as well.

My husband has also become a fan and enjoys the veggie pea protein in a yummy chocolate flavor! Yes-they do have a veggie line :)

On a daily basis, I use the following:
Whey Protein Powder:

MRM Natural Whey is different from most wheys in the fact that it is heavily concentrated in amino acids and L-Glutamine to support muscle building and recovery. This protein powder is ultra clean since it has been ultrafiltered and processed at a low-temp (to prevent destroying any nutrients).

MRM Fruit-n-Whey blend is perfect for those who struggle to get enough fruits in throughout the day. Packed with antioxidants from 10 antiozidant-yielding fruits, this powder has an ORAC value of over 3,500 units! This is great news especially since the USDA recommends getting in between 3,000-5,000 units daily.

Everyday stresses can cause cellular damage and free radicals to occur, but this is where antioxidants are known for their healing properties.

Just like the Natural Whey, this protein has been ultrafiltered and processed at a low temp to protect all vitamins, minerals, and nutrients as well as containing a great deal of BCAAs.

Oh, and I also LOVE MRM Flax-n-Whey powder as well!!

Just as with the other protein powders, it is ultrafiltered and processed at a low temp, but this whey combines everything you want and need from a whey protein powder while also delivering you the essential fatty acids from flax!

Fish Oil: MRM Smart Blend Fish Oil.

Containing a variety of "smart fats" that your body needs, this supplement is essential-especially since it is hard to eat enough to meet the daily recommended needs. Also, our body usually does not produce enough!

Packed with Omega 3, CLA, and GLA, fish oil does wonders for decreasing your body fat, keeping you fuller longer, balancing your hormones, and regulating your blood sugar levels. Plus, fish oil is great for your cardiovascular system as well as your brain!

Hair, Skin, Nails Supplement: MRM Biotin 5mg. Biotin is a water soluable B vitamin that is naturally found in a variety of foods that you eat everyday. Taking a Biotin supplement can help speed the growth of your hair and nails, improve your skin quality, aid your metabolism, and assist with cellular energy. If you are trying to grow your hair, this is your go to vitamin!

On workout days, I add the following two:
Pre-workout: MRM's DRIVEN-1 scoop

This is the first pre-workout formula developed with pure ingredients that include natural extracts, amino acids, vitamins and minerals to support the body’s complex metabolic function. I take this before anything else on workout days as it jumpstarts my energy levels for a killer workout. It also helps me to focus to get things done while I have little time to do so!

Post-workout: MRM's BCAA's + G RELOAD- 3 scoops.

This, hands down, is the best tasting amino acid powder that I have ever tried. BCAAs are important-especially for girls who lift regularly! It cuts back on how sore you might be the next day while also boosting your endurance during your workout-not to mention improving your strength and preventing muscle breakdown. Your body uses these BCAAs and burns them as fuel during your workout. 

For all MRM products click here and you can use my personal discount to take 40% off of your entire purchasing by using code 'SIA' at checkout.

11 Ways to Eating Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy can feel expensive to some people, but there are ways to eat better while still sticking to your budget. Here are 11 of my favorite tried and true ways:

1. Make a list and stick to it! I am obsessed with making grocery lists. It is how I get what I truly needed and not what I think I may need. It is so easy to get off of track when you are grocery shopping. Everything can look completely appetizing at the time of strolling down the aisle. But with careful planning, you can jot down a note of what is on sale and remember to stick to your list to spend every penny wisely.
2. Shop produce that is in season. Product that is in season are known for having the best quality for the best prices. Since it is in season, there is plenty of it to go around so markets are less likely to jack up the prices. Make sense? It is the basic law of supply and demand here. Not only will it save money in your wallet, it also tastes better in season!
3. Cut down on meats or choose meats that are on sale. Meat is expensive and it is only projected to climb, according to recent stats. You can either minimize how much actual animal protein you eat weekly or you can try cheaper cuts of meat. Some great cheap cuts are chuck eye steak, beef sirloin, chicken thighs & drumsticks, ground beef, ground turkey, and bone in pork chops.
4. Focus on other sources of protein. There are other (and cheaper) ways to get the protein you need without having to eat meat-just ask vegetarians! Popular choices are tofu, tempeh, spinach, non-dairy milk, nut butters, quinoa, beans, and sprouted bread. Get creative and discover new recipes for a "Meatless Monday" and also reap the benefits of cutting animal products out for a day.
5. Purchase the off-brand. Buying generic brands are a great way to save money. Sure the packaging may not be as alluring or pretty, but many generics are made from the same ingredients as their name-brand counterparts. Some of the best things to buy off brand are: milk, pain relievers or other meds, pantry staples, water, and cereal.
6. Look for markdowns or sales. Things go on sale everyday-if not every week. Thankfully, there are weekly store ads and even some iPhone apps that you can obtain to figure out when a sale will be going on. If you are not sure what is on clearance, ask a sales associate!
7. Drink more water. One of my favorite tips ever-do not drink your money away. Nix the sodas, juices, sweet teas, beers, and wines. Not only will you cut down on drinking free water, you will also help your waistline shrink. However, if you live in an area where the water needs to be filtered, I would suggest buying a detachable Pur spout filter. It will typically last you 3 months for around $15. Or you can buy the pitchers that filter your water for you.
8. Check out store rewards programs. Many stores these days have loyalty programs as a way to thank their customers for their continued shopping experiences. You an earn points to save on future products or even get tons of coupons! Some rewards programs worth taking a look at are:Walgreens, Starbucks, Target, some gas stations such as Shell, CVS, and KMART.
9. Shop local farmers markets. Shopping local is not only what we encourage, but it is cheaper and healthier for you-not to mention that you are helping to support your local farmers versus a vegetable yielding factory. The only con is that they are not as readily available as Wal-Mart or some other grocery store is so you just have to do your research to find one closest to you.
10. Start a garden. Starting your own garden can certainly give you a sense of pride and accomplishment-and you will know exactly whats in your food. In a matter of time and some effort, you can easily be growing your own organic fruits and vegetables.
11. Buy in bulk. Shopping at wholesale clubs such as Sam's club or Costco can end up saving you a ton.. if you are buying in bulk. Some great things to buy in bulk are: alcohol, cereal, dried beans, pasta, toilet paper, paper towels, non-perishables, and diapers.

What are some ways in which you enjoy saving money while still eating healthy?

Why I'll Never Compete in Fitness Competitions

Someone asked me if I ever planned or wanted to compete in a fitness competition. A long time ago, it had crossed my mind.. until I caught a glimpse inside of what it's really like for some ladies.

Everytime I reply "no," I always get the "But, why not! You look great!" response. Well, it has nothing to do with how I look, but how I might think that I look.

Now, this post has nothing against fitness models who do choose to compete. I have TONS of girlfriends who compete and absolutely love it! To each their own-this is not a debate! 

After all, competitions are a way for those who have worked so hard to show off that hard work. 

But, these are just my personal subjective oppinions behind why I am happy not stepping on stage.

It is all in the way you look. Duh. Just like beauty pageants (which I cannot stand either), fitness models are judged by the way they walk, their stance, and, most importantly, their look or physique. 

I dont need the approval of a judge to tell me whether or not I have won or failed in my fight for fitness. 

I have traveled a long road-battled and won against a eating disorder, gained 50lbs, lost 50lbs, fought an obsession with being too healthy (yes, its a real thing), gained a little back, had a baby, and then got into the BEST shape of my life. To me, no judge can ever dare put a number on THAT. 

It is not balanced. Training for a competition is pretty extreme. It starts off normal, but as the weeks dwindle down, things tend to get a little crazy. All of that training and dieting can throw off your body's balance of hormones. Low levels of body fat can be pretty harmful, especially to a woman. 

Some of my friends whom have competed have trained to lower their body fat percentage so much that it caused infertility for them and it took years to allow their bodies and hormones to get back on track.

It messes with your mind. Dana Linn Bailey posted the image below on her Facebook page recently after competing at the Arnold bodybuilding competition. She said that "It's extremely hard to handle your body's bounce back after competing. Emotionally and psychologically it fucks with you!"

You can't blame her. After months and weeks of preparation, when everything is over, what is there to do? Your body is completely in "comp" mode and now you must find a way to ease out of it. It can definitely take a toll on your mental health.

Fitness becomes your #1 priority. You start counting down weeks to the competiton and as those weeks dwindle down, so does your social life. Next thing you know, every spare minute is spent preparing for the big show. You HAVE to train at THIS TIME. You can't eat this or that-so don't even ask! As a fitness blogger, I find myself sometimes pushing my family away here and there to hammer out my articles, so if I were to train to compete, it breaks my heart to think how I might react. Your family might begin to miss you.

There are some dark sides to the industry. Being someone who has battled a diet/eating disorder and body dysmoprhia for years, I am not sure if I could handle the constant standing in the mirror or selfie taking to make sure I was "lean enough" to step on a stage. I cannot handle and will not handle that worry anymore. This was baggage for me and honestly, I just can't. Mainly, because I have no idea how I would react and if I could snap out of comp mode. 

IFBB Biniki pro Ruthie Harrison shared her story on developing an eating disorder due to competing. In her own words, "Four months later, during the competition prep for my first show under a professional trainer, I developed an eating disorder. What started in the same way that many competitors consider a usual occurance: a week of extreme dieting followed by a weekly cheat meal, a post show binge here, a "refeed" there; ended in full blown Bulimia Nervosa, a disintegrated metabolism, a wrecked body, and a self-deprecating and fragile girl struggling to reassemble all the shattered pieces."

I have a family now to look after and I have to make sure that I am 100% well and doing the things that will better me-not regress my long and hard fought battles with body insecurities.

I do not to teach my son that there's a price or award of good health. Sure, winning a prize, money, or a trophy is a definite feel good thing, but I want to teach my children that getting in good shape & health is truly priceless. 

I also want to teach my kids that just because you have abs does NOT mean you are healthy. During my phase when I was counting every single calorie that I put into my mouth, I wasn't healthy- I was obsessed. And before that, with my eating disorder, I was a mere 100lbs and was throwing up everything that I had eaten, but I was in good shape.

Basically, I want my kids to know it starts from the inside out. You simply cannot judge someone's healthy by how they may appear on the outside. 

Lastly, I'm not a fitness model-I am just a wife, author, and mom, and I am definitely okay with that.

If you choose to compete, that is awesome and more power to you girls! These are just reasons why I won't be.

A Clothing Line For Good Looking People!

What do you think of when you hear the term "good looking people?" 

A perfect set of abs? Large biceps? A beautiful face?

I have come across a new fitness apparel brand and here is why I am in love. 

The brand is called GLP Fitness. GLP stands for "good looking people" and its motto is "confidence from within." 

This is how GLP sees it: We see a world in which what it means to be “good looking” has less to do with what’s on the outside and everything to do with what’s on the inside. To be truly “fit” is to have a healthy mind, soul, and body…not just a strong physique. In our world, empowerment comes from within. In our world, confidence equals freedom. Together, we see a world where everyone – male and female, athlete and mathlete, disabled and enabled, of any race and creed – is celebrated for his/her holistic beauty, as truly “good looking” people are those who are confident from within.

GLP's mission: to empower every athlete to embrace his/her Confidence From Within. We hope to motivate individuals to shed their preexisting beliefs about what it means to be “good looking,” and to enlighten people around the world to what it means to be truly good looking: physical fitness for the mind, body, and soul regardless of your physical appearance or ability. True beauty is being the best you and finding your confidence from within – we all deserve to be good looking people.

Workout apparel is everything to me. I would go as far as to say that, yes, what I choose to workout in does affect my workout-absolutely. 

Why? Fitness is just as much a mental thing as it is a physical thing. You have to fight everyday to wake up and make the choice to get your butt into the gym. 

Have you ever went shopping for cute new workout clothes that you couldn't wait to wear to your next fitness session? Well, I have another one for you-this time, with an amazing message that reflects my OWN personal goal: FIT MOM status!

Brought to you by, GLP Fitness, this is the GLP Tech Fit Mom Performance Tank. It was designed for the confident mother who loves and balances fitness & motherhood, while ignoring the haters who love to say that you can't make the time to do both. We all know who they are!

As a thank you to all whom are enjoying this post, we would love to offer you at discount code to get 20% off your very own Fit Mom tank! Pssst... the discount code will also work on the whole entire site! So, if there's something else that catches your eye, you can save on it, too.

Use coupon code FITMOMMY at checkout!
Code expires April 9th, 2015 at midnight.

This tank is lightweight, moisture wicked, and a wonder to workout in! It is a performance tank so it isn't made with regular ole' fabric-the fabric actually helps to keep you from sweating your ass off. I love this.

Tank features:

• Made in USA
• 100% microfiber polyester pk maX
• Inherent moisture wicking to keep you dry and comfortable
• Treated with BodyFreshé to inhibit growth of odor causing bacteria
• Extreme softness allows for full freedom of motion
• ON SALE NOW! (Just sayin')

I was also sent a long sleeve GLP tee which was pretty damn good quality. It wasn't one of those thin, skimpy little long sleeved tees. It was thick, durable, and made with care.

On their site, they share some pretty amazing and influential people whom have some amazing stories to tell and whom GLP uses to model their fitness line-my favorite is Ana, dubbed the first fitness model with Down Syndrome. 

As you can see, there's more to being good looking than your outward appearance. Check out the rest of their line as well as the men's line for your hubbies!

Please be sure to follow GLP Fitness on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Disclaimer: I was given GLP apparel to test, at no cost. All opinions are my very own.

What is a "REAL" Woman, Anyway?

From left to right: Curvy Jada Sezer, Rachel Hollis from The Chic Site, me, and bodybuilder Dana Linn Bailey.

Is it just me or does it seem like the talk of who's a real woman will never end? There seems to always be some degree of shaming going around-whether its fitshaming or fatshaming, shaming is happening amongst us women. We post a picture of what we feel the ideal body type is and dub it as being "real." Nothing wrong with that.

What is wrong, is when you say THIS is real and the other body types are clearly wrong. I see this everyday and it is just so sad. ALL WOMEN ARE REAL. It does not matter if you are plus sized, have some extra loose skin and stretch marks, bounced back right after birth, or have huge muscles. Just because you do not agree with a body type, does not mean it is wrong. ALL shapes and sizes are equally so gorgeous. 

There will always be haters. There will always be jealousy. But, regardless of how you look, confidence and the ability to rock out-in your own skin-is SUPER HOT! That is shit that you cannot buy in stores or see a plastic surgeon about. 

Real women have curves.

Real women have stretch marks.

Real women have loose skin.

Real women have abs.

Real women have muscles.

Real women are whatever the hell they want to be.

Embrace what makes you, you. Don't let anyone shame you and mostly do not shame anyone else.

Embrace all women of different shapes and sizes.

Because we are all real.

Period.

Bikini Booty Bootcamp April Workout Challenge

Wednesday April 1

5 Donkey Kicks

5 Split Jumps

5 Lunge Kicks

Thursday April 2

5 Plie Squats

5 Curtsy Squats

5 Step Ups

Friday April 3

10 Donkey Kicks

10 Split Jumps

10 Lunge Kicks

Saturday April 4

10 Plie Squats

10 Curtsy Squats

10 Step Ups

Sunday April 5

15 Donkey Kicks

15 Split Jumps

15 Lunge Kicks

Monday April 6

15 Plie Squats

15 Curtsy Squats

15 Step Ups

Tuesday April 7

20 Donkey Kicks

20 Split Jumps

20 Lunge Kicks

Wednesday April 8

20 Plie Squats

20 Curtsy Squats

20 Step Ups

Thursday April 9

25 Donkey Kicks

25 Split Jumps

25 Lunge Kicks

Friday April 10

25 Plie Squats

25 Curtsy Squats

25 Step Ups

Saturday April 11

30 Donkey Kicks

30 Split Jumps

30 Lunge Kicks

Sunday April 12

30 Plie Squats

30 Curtsy Squats

30 Step Ups

Monday April 13

35 Donkey Kicks

35 Split Jumps

35 Lunge Kicks

Tuesday April 14

35 Plie Squats

35 Curtsy Squats

35 Step Ups

Wednesday April 15

40 Donkey Kicks

40 Split Jumps

40 Lunge Kicks

Thursday April 16

40 Plie Squats

40 Curtsy Squats

40 Step Ups

Friday April 17

45 Donkey Kicks

45 Split Jumps

45 Lunge Kicks

Saturday April 18

45 Plie Squats

45 Curtsy Squats

45 Step Ups

Sunday April 19

50 Donkey Kicks

50 Split Jumps

50 Lunge Kicks

Monday April 20

50 Plie Squats

50 Curtsy Squats

50 Step Ups

Tuesday April 21

55 Donkey Kicks

55 Split Jumps

55 Lunge Kicks

Wednesday April 22

55 Plie Squats

55 Curtsy Squats

55 Step Ups

Thursday April 23

60 Donkey Kicks

60 Split Jumps

60 Lunge Kicks

Friday April 24

60 Plie Squats

60 Curtsy Squats

60 Step Ups

Saturday April 25

65 Donkey Kicks

65 Split Jumps

65 Lunge Kicks

Sunday April 26

65 Plie Squats

65 Curtsy Squats

65 Step Ups

Monday April 27

70 Donkey Kicks

70 Split Jumps

70 Lunge Kicks

Tuesday April 28

70 Plie Squats

70 Curtsy Squats

70 Step Ups

Wednesday April 29

75 Donkey Kicks

75 Split Jumps

75 Lunge Kicks

Thursday April 30

70 Plie Squats

70 Curtsy Squats

70 Step Ups

Instructions:

Donkey Kicks

• Start on all fours, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips.
• Keep your right knee at a 90-degree angle as you slowly raise your leg behind you until your thigh is almost parallel to the floor. Pulse your flexed foot toward the ceiling by squeezing your glutes. Your back should remain perfectly still in a neutral spine. The motion should be small and controlled with the muscle doing the work and not momentum.
• Return to start position to complete one rep.

Split Jumps

• To prepare for the split jump, stand with one foot forward and the other foot back in a lunge position.
• Bend your knees slightly. Position your arms in front of your chest, elbows bent and hands in fists and touching.
• Jump up, swinging the back leg forward and the front leg to the back.
• Land with bent knees and come down into a full lunge so your back knee almost touches the floor.
• You may be tempted to lean forward as you do this move, but try to keep yourself as upright as possible.
• Once you've landed, immediately jump up again and alternate legs.

Lunge Kicks

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by sides, elbows bent.
• Lunge forward with left leg while swinging right arm forward and left arm back.
• This completes one rep. Alternate sides.

Plie Squats

• Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with toes turned out, holding lighter dumbbells vertically in front of thighs.
• Keeping abs tight and torso tall, bend knees 90 degrees; keep knees aligned between second and third toes and weight in heels.
• Press back to start; squeeze your glutes.

Curtsy Squats

• Start in a standing position with legs hip distance apart.
• Bring your right leg behind you into a curtsy position, getting as low down to the ground as you can.
• Then stand back up.
• Do the same thing again with the left leg.

Step Ups

• You will need a sturdy bench, stairs, or an aerobic stack for this move and a pair of dumbbells, a medicine ball, a weight plate, or a kettle bell.
• Stand with dumbbells (or weight of choice) grasped to sides facing side of bench.
• Place foot of first leg on bench. Stand on bench by extending hip and knee of first leg and place foot of second leg on bench.
• Step down with second leg by flexing hip and knee of first leg.
• Return to original standing position by placing foot of first leg to floor.
• Repeat first step with opposite leg alternating first steps between legs

Want to lift, tone, and shape your booty in just four weeks! Click the image below to come join the Fit Mommy Booty Bootcamp!

How to Calculate Your Macros!

We recently discussed how to count your macros.

But now, we are back for round two to find out how to calculate the right amount of macros for you!

The thing with calculating, counting, and tracking your macros is that it is very much a trial & error thing. Meaning, you will be tweaking your carbs, proteins, and fats a LOT until you reach that perfect harmony to get you to your goal.

First things first-counting your macros and eating clean are two different things. One focuses on quantity rather than quality and vice versa and both have their pros and cons.

You can eat whatever you want-as long as "it fits your macros." Some people who follow the IIFYM diet plan eat pizza, ice cream, and Poptarts-as long as it fits their macros for the day.

Now, this doesn't mean you should eat junk food all day. Sure, I count my macros, but I don't eat garbage all day. But, say you were craving that ice cream cone or that slice of pizza-if it fits into your macros for the day, it is allowed.

Clean eating on the other hand, focuses on the quality of your food. This is great, but what is clean eating anyway? If you were to survey a room filled with 10 people, I am sure that nearly half would have different responses. There is NO one clean and cut definiton for clean eating.

I was strictly on the "clean eating" way for over three years.. until I was tired of reading every single label of everything that I picked up at the grocery store. It literally caused unnecessary stress and anxiety because I worried if every little morsel of food that I ate would cause cancer or poison me. I actually became so obsessed with the mind set of eating clean that I lost too much weight and I developed a disordered eating-yes, too much of a good thing is never GOOD and you can take "clean eating" too far.

This is where I said enough was enough and that it was time to try a better approach: counting my macros.

See the image below. 
The left me was overweight (according to the BMI scale). I was 150lbs at 5 foot 3 inches all.
The middle me was clean eating OBSESSED. Counting every single calorie and reading every single label.
The right me is the counting macros, calories, AND focusing on the quality of my food me. However, I count calories these days to ensure I eat ENOUGH-not to make sure I OVEREAT.

The macronurtrients that you choose to eat can play a large role in your ability to burn fat, stay the same, or build new muscle. Counting your macros also helps you take control of YOUR diet and teaches you where YOUR calories come from.

Now, let's do some diet math!

Step One: Find your body's "maintence" calories.

This is the basic amount of calories that are needed for you to survive day to day. To find your BMR or "basal metabolic rate," you will need your gender, weight, height, and age to complete the equation.

Women: BMR = 655+ ( 9.6 x weight in kilos )+( 1.8 x height in cm ) – ( 4.7 x age in years )


Men: BMR = 66+ ( 13.7 x weight in kilos ) + ( 5 x height in cm ) – ( 6.8 x age in years )

For example, here is mine:

655+ 499.2+ 288- 117.5 = 1324.7 calories needed to survive daily.

Step Two: Determine your day-to-day activity level to Figure Out Your New Daily Caloric Intake Goal

Using the Harris Benedict Formula, determine your total daily caloric needs. Keep in mind, this is just an average because let's face it-one person's thought of "sedentary" might be another person's "lightly active" or vice versa.

• Sedentary (little or no exercise): BMR x 1.2
• Lightly active (easy exercise/sports 1-3 days/week): BMR x 1.375
• Moderately active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week): BMR x 1.55
• Very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week): BMR x 1.725
• Extremely active (very hard exercise/sports and physical job): BMR x 1.9

Here is mine:

1324.7 x 1.55 = ~2053 calories per day needed

*I am still breastfeeding my toddler so I add around 200 calories extra per day to this number*

Basically, at this point:

• Eat more than this = weight gain.
• Eat less than this = weight loss.
• Eat this amount = weight maintenance.

Step Three: Choose Your Goals

This step is highly imporant. Your goals will determine your macros. 

1. Do you want to lose fat? Then your carbs will need to be lower than your protein and fat intake.
2. Do you want to maintain your weight and figure? Then your carbs should be eaten at a moderate amount.
3. Do you want to bulk up? Then carbs will cover most of your plate.

Step 4: Now, Ready, Set, Calculate!!

As mentioned in part one of counting your macros in this article that I had written, we already know that:

• 1g Protein = 4 Calories
• 1g Carbohydrate = 4 Calories
• 1g Fat = 9 Calories

We are now ready to plug in those numbers to find the right macros for you!

Let's start with protein:
As a good rule of thumb, try to aim for 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Then multiply by 4.

For example, I weight 115lbs so I need at least 115 grams of protein per day. 

Now, taking that number of grams of protein that I need per day, I will multiply that times 4 to give me my protein macros!

So 115 x 4 = 460 calories from protein per day.
Sounds easy enough, right?

Next up, is fat:
Fat is SUPER important and should never be completely restricted. Eating too little amounts of fat will cause serious hormonal damage and wreak havoc on your bodily processes. 

In step 2, you will see that the total fat percentage never drops below 15% of your daily calories. If you are planning on eating lesser fat, then you may need to speak to a nutritionist or doctor before doing so!

If you are female, a good number to play with is 30% of your total daily value. 
If you are male, then 25%.

Since I am female, I will aim for making 30% of my daily calories come from consuming healthy fats. But, now, I will need to figure out how many grams of fat 30% of my total daily caloric intake will be.

Back in step two, we figured up my daily caloric intake to be ~2053 calories. Now, I am going to multiply that by %30 or .30. This gives me: 615.9 calories. So 615.9 calories out of my ~2053 daily intake will come from fats. But, to make things easier, we must figure out grams. So, we will divide 615.9 by 9 since 1 gram of fat yields 9 calories, right?

615.9/9= ~68.4 grams of fat per day. (Don't be afraid to round if you want. I promise, it won't change much.)
Woohoo! We are getting somewhere.

Now, let's calculate CARBS!
Hooray, we are almost done here. Carbs are an amazing thing and they also will determine your goals.

First things first, take your daily caloric intake value. Remember, mine is about 2053 calories so we will continue using this number. 
Now, we know that we will need 460 from protein and 615ish from fats. So this puts us at 977.1 calories from carbohydrates daily. 
Now, divide that by 4 and this will be rounded to 244.3 grams of carbs per day.

Happy dance!!!! We finally figured out how to calculate out macros the manual way!!!


If You Are Completely Lost About Calculating Macros:

Here are a few great sources to calculting your Macros using a calcuator, but please note that your result will vary from calculator to calculator, but the first source has been the most on point to me:

http://www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/

http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ (this is the official calculator on the IIFYM site. I don't care for this one because, to me, the calories are always too low for my needs)

http://healthyeater.com/flexible-dieting-calculator

Step Five: Tracking Your Macros

Now that you have figured up how to calculate your macronutrients, now is the time to track them. 

Personally, I love using MyFitnessPal. It is pretty easy and does it all for you. All you have to do is adjust your goals and numbers. 

However, don't be shocked when your percentages come out different than what you had manually set up for yourself.  This is why I like to count & track my macros MANUALLY.

As you can see, mine are a bit different. It won't let me go in and spefically tweak the percentages-it just goes by 5%.

But doing it this way and mentally rounding makes your day a whole lot easier.

No matter how you choose to calculate or count your macros, make sure it is the best way that suits you and your needs. 

For further questions about macros, please talk to a nutritionist regarding your nutritional goals before beginning any type of calorie or macro counting regimine.