Have you been following IIFYM for a while and haven’t seen any results? There are three reasons that IIFYM may not be working for you. This post will cover those reasons and give you some tips for fixing them and getting those results!
Reason Number 1: You Aren’t Using the Correct Macros
The number one biggest mistake that is made when people first start following IIFYM is that they try to use someone else’s macros. Everyone’s body is different, so everyone’s macros will be different. Your body is special, has special needs, and requires special care. Therefore, you cannot take a fitness model cutting for a competition and use her macros. It just won’t work long-term.
So how do you find out what your correct macros are? You can calculate your perfect macros several different ways. One way is to use bodybuilding.com’s Macro Nutrient Calculator. This is a free calculator that you plug age, height, weight, goal, and activity level into. Quick, easy, and free!
Another way you can calculate your macros is to get an ebook that will walk you through the steps. I recommend Amanda Bucci’s Everything Guide to Macro Tracking. This ebook will take you through everything you need to know about following IIFYM properly.
Reason Number 2: You Aren’t Prioritizing Nutrient Dense Food
I know that the whole idea behind IIFYM is that you get to eat things like cookies and pizza and still lose weight. However, those things should still be the exception rather than the rule. Most of your foods should still come from whole food sources that will help you get the fiber and micronutrients that your body craves. You can also eat a lot more volume of food when you eat nutrient dense food. Prioritizing nutrient dense foods will also help with any bloating that you might be experiencing.
My best rule of thumb is to still stick to the 80/20 rule. 80% of the things you eat should be whole food sources like chicken, beef, oats, fruit veggies, etc. This will help give you the energy that you need to smash your training. The other 20% can come from things like cookies, doughnuts, pizza, etc. If you stick to the 80/20 rule in IIFYM, you will see results.
Reason Number 3: You Aren’t Tracking Everything
Do you run your finger around the rim of the peanut butter jar? Maybe you snag a cracker or a chip off your kid’s plate. In these cases, you probably aren’t tracking the one chip or the taste of peanut butter. In general, this would not be such a big deal. However, you could be adding 50-100 extra calories per day from these practices. You don’t even realize you do this sometimes.
IIFYM is great for making you more conscious about how many fats, carbs, and proteins are in a particular food. Many people do not realize how many calories they actually take in in a day. However, you need to track all of your foods. Instead of swiping your finger through the peanut butter, get out a spoon and have a teaspoon or a tablespoon, then track it. Two great resources for tracking are MyFitnessPal and MyMacros+.
If you become more conscious about what you are putting into your mouth and you start tracking all of your foods, then you will see the results that you want with IIFYM.
Do you have any tips and tricks that help you stay on track with IIFYM? Drop them in the comments so that I can check them out!
P.S. If you want to get started with IIFYM or you want more guidance, feel free to email me at catouellette7@gmail.com. I can help you get started. If you want a more detailed plan customized for your body and needs, we can set up some nutritional coaching that will help you smash all of your goals!
