When I first started my macro journey, I tracked my calories and macros using MyFitnessPal. And I loved it.

But now, 9 years in, 154lbs down, and 3,000 successful macro nutrition coaching clients served, we use MacrosFirst.

This new and highly intuitive macro tracking app has everything MyFitnessPal has and so much more!

We love MacrosFirst, and we know you will too.

This blog post explains the basics of MacrosFirst, so read on and then download the app!

But first, get my HOW TO TRACK MACROS GUIDE for free!

MacrosFirst is hands-down the BEST macro tracking app. Here’s why…

1. MacrosFirst has way better free features than MyFitnessPal.
2. The food database is updated regularly and checked for inaccuracies
3. You can track your alcohol as macros, with ease
4. Since we’ve partnered with them, MacrosFirst will drop its newest and best features to us first

Ultimately, the goal is to make macro tracking as quick and easy as possible. And MacrosFirst does exactly that.

So, gon’head and get it HERE (code Eve10).

First things first…Standard or Premium MacrosFirst?

Just like MFP, MacrosFirst had two versions: Standard (free) and Premium (paid). Personally, I think the Standard version is more than sufficient (with even more features than MFP), but depending on your specific goals, upgrading to Premium may be your best bet.

Standard MacrosFirst Features

• Custom macro entry – Input your specific protein, carb, and fat goals for the day
• Daily macro tracking – Track your daily macro intake and easily compare it against your goals
• Start with the macros - Specify your protein, carb, or fat goal per food and get the serving size that meets your needs*
• Save your fave meals – Enter once and simply click again when you choose to eat it again
• Choose your measurements – You can use whatever measurement style you want
• Customize your meals – Quickly adjust recipes to make meals fit your macro needs

*Paid feature in MFP offered free in MacrosFirst

Premium MacrosFirst Features

• Unlimited custom macro entry – Switch up your pre-made macros based on your daily fitness activity
• Export data for your coach – Instantly create Excel spreadsheets with all the details
• Track net carbs – Automatically deduct sugar alcohol and fiber from your meals and snacks to fit your daily goals
• Easily organize your meals – Create unique folders for a variety of things like, favorite meals, macro templates, mealtimes, etc.

We love this app so much and we want you to use it whether you work with a GTA Coach or not. So, keep reading!

How to set up MacrosFirst

Setting up your MacrosFirst profile is fast. Watch this quick tutorial and follow the steps below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xy1lq9sGls&feature=youtu.be

• Tap on profile icon
• Tap on my goals
• Tap into existing macro goals or tap + to create new
• Edit protein, carbs, and fat
• Edit name of macro goals (i.e. fat loss, maintenance, gain)
• Check days of week macro goals apply to
• Tap the checkmark to save

Use MacrosFirst to track macros

Now that your calories and macros are set, let’s start tracking your food! And when you work with a GTA Coach, they can easily review and assess your entries. 

• Tap the + symbol next to any meal name
• Search for the food name as an existing database item (make a point to indicate the form of food cooked versus raw, dry versus cooked)
• Modify portion size based on weight or serving size of item (find an example where ‘serving name’ can be either grams or ounces)
• Repeat with next food source in meal
• Show how total calories and macros add up under meal name and how it changes totals at top of food diary
• Now that your calories and macros are set, you can start tracking your food in
  your daily log.
  
  

You can either search in the text box for the food you want to track or use the barcode icon in the upper right corner to scan the barcode of the item you choose to eat; for example, '½ cup strawberries' or '28 grams or ketchup'.

With meats and seafood, it is best to include how the protein is prepared in the search box. Examples of this would be 'shredded chicken breast,' 'grilled chicken breast', 'baked tilapia', 'ground turkey 93/7', or 'slow-cooked pulled pork'.

Once you hit “+,” you will also be given a list of foods you've entered recently, which will give you the ability to search for any food that is in the memory of your inventory. This will make tracking much faster in the future.

It is up to you to pick the correct serving size and number of servings. Once you have selected the food and made any serving size adjustments, click the check mark at the top of the screen to record it in your diary. If you want to be more accurate, use the barcode scanner the first time for items, but adjust the serving size as needed.

Meals Feature

Want to create your own custom meal? MacrosFirst makes it easy. And even better, once it’s created all you’ve got to do is click it again when you eat it again. Perfect for meals you make at home or macro-friendly fast food meals, too. Nice and easy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaBG8Us8Z2I&feature=youtu.be

• Tap the fork and spoon Icon to go to My Kitchen
• Select Meals and the + Icon and 'Create Meal'
• Name your meal
• Add foods
• Hit the checkmark to save the meal for fast adding of multiple component foods in the future

Recipe Feature

Love creating your own recipes? MacrosFirst has got you! Simply enter the individual elements of the recipe, and MacrosFirst will save all the data and automatically calculate your recipe’s macros based on the serving size you choose.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEA-mapomhM&feature=youtu.be

• Tap the + next to a meal time, then ‘Create Recipe’
• Add recipe name
• Tap + symbol next to ‘Ingredients’ and search for the Ingredients
• Enter the foods' weights and serving sizes used
• Once all ingredients and portions are entered, enter the total weight of the recipe after
  cooking in the ‘Weight after cooking’ field and the ‘Unit of measurement’ in grams or ounces
• Then tap the check mark to save
• Go to the Recipes tab to select the new recipe, then tap the check mark to add
  
  

Alcohol Tracking

At The Macro University, we believe that ALL foods are on the table. That includes alcohol! But if you want results you’ve still got to account for it by tracking it. MacrosFirst makes it simple and inside our 1:1 Coaching Program, we’ll show you exactly how.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaBG8Us8Z2I&feature=youtu.be

• Tap + under meal
• Scan barcode or search "red wine"
• Update the serving size
• Below the serving size, select ‘Convert Alcohol to Macros’ to find the right ratio of carbs vs fats
  
  

Copy & paste food items to other meals or days

One of the best ways to maintain consistency with tracking is to pre-track your meals and snacks. And MacrosFirst enables you to copy and paste food items from one meal to another and from one day to another, saving you time and energy.

• Find the meal you want to copy
• Select the three dots to the right of the meal
• Hit  ‘Copy Meal to Another Day’
• Select the date
• Select the meal you want to copy It to
• Repeat for days you plan on eating that meal again
• Hit done to apply
• Do this for multiple days If needed

To sum it all up

We LOOOOVE MacrosFirst and it’s the app we recommend our 1:1 clients use and tell the NASM/AFAA/ISSA-certified Macro Nutrition Coaches to use it with their clients, too!

It’s the most comprehensive macro tracking app, whether you use the Premium or Standard version.

If you’re ready to try out MacrosFirst, we’ve got you!

Click THIS LINK to register and use code Eve10 to save on the Premium version!

Macro Nutrition and Coaching with The Macro University

Here at The Macro University, we believe that macro nutrition is 100% the best way to reach your health, wellness, and body composition goals. No matter if you want to lose weight, maintain weight, gain weight, or even have highly specialized goals like a fitness competition, macros can help you reach your goals.

Using the MacrosFirst app will help you with the tracking part, but honestly, that’s just a part of it. Our team of highly educated macro nutrition experts can get you the macros you need and support you along the way.

We partner you with your best-fit coach, who will get to know you, your goals, your lifestyle, and all your health and wellness needs. When you work with one of our NASM/AFAA/ISSA-Certified Macro Nutrition Experts, you will know exactly what macros to eat at every step of your journey.

We can’t wait to help you reach your goals! Click HERE to learn more about our one-on-one, group, and self-paced macro nutrition coaching programs.