IIFYM vs MEAL PLANS – What Suits You Best?
IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros), and SET MEAL PLANS.
What’s the difference, and which approach should you choose?
In all of our programs, we offer the option to follow a SET MEAL PLAN or take the MACRO APPROACH.
Essentially, you have the choice to have your nutrition set for you and follow a meal plan that gives you consistency and structure.
The other option is to create your own meal plan from scratch which allows for more flexibility in your lifestyle.
When we launched The Bod in 2016, there was only a set meal plan to follow.
We saw some INCREDIBLE results, and were recognised far and wide for offering a meal plan that tasted good and didn’t leave you starving.
See below ⇓
A set meal plan is comprised of fixed meals you follow and consume day-to-day.
Having the same meals provides ease of use, but has its negatives too.
Some people find it mentally challenging to eat the same thing every day, while others love the convenience of it.
Set Meal Plan Pros:
- Peace of mind and trust in the program – you simply eat what’s set out for you
- Helps you understand how a certain meal plan can help you achieve a certain goal
- Convenient and suits busier lifestyles
- Food preparation is easier as you are preparing the same meals
Set Meal Plan Cons:
- Loss of certain micronutrients/nutrients if you eat the same foods consistently
- Hard to stick to for those who prefer variety in their meals
- Makes eating out ‘harder’ – unlike flexible dieting, the idea of a set meal plan doesn’t take eating out into consideration
When we introduced IIFYM, or ‘If It Fits Your Macros’, it was the first step in the direction of offering our athletes a different path to the same amazing transformations we’re well known for.
IIFYM or ‘flexible dieting’ is based around ensuring that what you eat in a day aligns with a specifically set macro ratio.
MACROS are comprised of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. You can read more about understanding macros here.
Formulas are used to first determine the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats you need to consume to reach a certain goal.
The goal doesn’t necessarily have to be weight loss either, you could be tracking to maintain your weight or even gain. This approach allows you to select the foods you want to eat and still achieve results, as long as you are hitting your macros as closely as possible.
Flexible Dieting Pros:
- Allows you to eat out socially and has more flexibility in your day-to-day eating
- Allows you to include a variety of foods and source nutrients from an array of produce
- Convenient, and able to be followed when travelling, socialising or at work functions
Flexible Dieting Cons:
- Food preparation is harder if you are planning to eat different things day-to-day
- You need to commit to measuring and weighing your food
- It can lead to unhealthy behaviour if you aren’t opting for mainly wholefoods in your diet
Have you been thinking about switching to tracking your macros?
Don’t be put off by the measuring and weighing of it all! When done right, tracking your own macros is a healthy and maintainable way of life that allows you to change your body composition at the same time. After learning how to track and weigh your food correctly, it becomes as natural as riding a bike!