Let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood tools in the nutrition world: macros.

In most carnivore spaces, macros rarely come up — and when they do, it’s usually followed by someone saying, “You don’t need to track anything. Just eat meat until you’re full.”

It’s true that when you’re eating minimally processed, whole foods — like meat, eggs, and butter — you’re not dealing with the same dopamine traps or engineered hyper-palatability that come with processed foods. Your hunger cues should naturally balance out.

But if you’ve ever used food of any kind as emotional support, “eating until you’re full” isn’t that simple — because you were never eating just to feel full in the first place.

For me, macros aren’t about restriction. They’re a tool that gives me a little structure and guidance — and that structure leads to awareness. When my macros start creeping up for the day, it’s my cue to check in with myself. Am I actually hungry, or am I just bored? Sometimes I realize I’m not hungry at all — I just need to move my body, go for a walk, spend time with my kids, or talk with my husband. Those little moments of connection remind me that food doesn’t have to be the answer every time something feels off.

The goal for me is to become an expert in what works for me. To arm myself with the knowledge so that I can make intentional, educated decisions and always have a fallback map in my back pocket.

When I first started, I lost 45 pounds doing equal parts protein and fat. Then I hit a stall and had to switch things up. Sometimes I’ll lift my protein and lower my fat; other times I’ll flip it — or as Missy Elliott says, “flip it and reverse it.” There’s no perfect formula, because our bodies are always changing. What worked six months ago might not work now — and that’s okay.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: if it works for you, awesome. If counting macros helps you realign with your goals — like it does for me — use it. But if it stresses you out, makes you obsessive, or causes more harm than good, skip it. And if you’re one of those rare aliens who can eat until your body is perfectly nourished and never take a bite more — you definitely don’t need to count macros.

Put aside the diet labels and the rules. Experiment for yourself. Use the data as feedback, not judgment, and find what actually works for you.