Tracking macros newest trend in weight loss

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Delaney Troop's time in the kitchen is a math lesson as much as it is cooking.

She is tracking her intake of macronutrients, or macros - better known to most people as carbs, proteins, and fats.

Delaney says it helps her follow a non-restrictive, flexible diet.

"I think it’s a good idea to just enjoy your food and enjoy the way you are living your life, so that's one of the things that attracted me to Avatar," she says.

The tool helping her track her macros is Avatar Nutrition. The app is the brainchild of personal trainer Mark Springer and was developed in Tamp. It now has 25,000 users and climbing.

He says most people bounce diet to diet, not understanding the role played by food's core components.

"What I really ran into was diet confusion with my clients left and right," says Springer. "Every person on this planet has a specific need for protein, carbs, and fat. How much do they need? Well, it varies based on the individual. Your body doesn't see food in terms of a moral value, but a biological value."

The Avatar app creates an individualized macro count based on a person's body type, fitness level, and goals.

"All you do is budget each one of your macros and hit zero at the end of the day and it's up to you what you use to hit zero with," says Springer.

Mark says Avatar uses technology to simplify the process. For example, if you eat a bag of chips, you can scan the barcode and it automatically deducts what was in the bag from your targets.

After struggling with binge eating and trying different restrictive diets, Delaney says she is seeing positive results.

"My lifts are a lot stronger, I'm a lot stronger and I feel a lot healthier than I did. It's nice. I don't have to punish myself for the food that I want."

The Avatar Nutrition app costs $10 a month. You can find their website, https://www.avatarnutrition.com/.