Herman Nation,

 

I have recently seen some discussions around IIFYM - If It Fits Your Macros.  I wanted to give my perspective on this.  Again, feel free to agree or disagree and no disrespect is intended for those who believe in or follow IIFYM.

 

The analogy I always use to explain this to people is gasoline and automobiles.  All gasolines have an Octane rating (87,94, 91, etc).  The higher the octane rating, the more powerful the explosion in your Internal Combustion Engine and the more efficient the fuel (less knocking and pinging in the engine from pre-mature fuel ignition).  All cars built and sold in the U.S. must be able to use the minimum octane available here which is 87 regular.  This drives the foreign car makers, especially the Germans, crazy because their countries don't use this type of low quality fuel.  Why we have it is for another discussion.  Anyways, cars' computer "brains" that control the air fuel mixture as well as minimize pre-mature fuel iginition because this is very stressful on an engine compensate for fuel quality.

 

The human body acts in a similar way.  The "octane" is the quality of food you eat.  The system "brain" is your metabolism and hormones.  The "car" is your body.  When you weight train, you put much higher stresses on your body than the average sedentry individual.  To achieve an elite physique or have superior strength and stamina, you have to feed your body accordingly.  An average Honda Accord or Ford Focus will run and perform fine all day running on 87 octane fuel.  But these are average looking, non-performance, non awe-inspiring vehicles.  A Ferrari or Lambo or any other exotic car is a different story.  These are cars that draw stares and admiration and stir the soul with their performance.  They can "run" on 87 octane but they will not run or perform as they were designed and eventually you will have some expensive repair bills to fix the engine from all the cheap gas.  Fill it with 94 or 100 octane gas and watch what happens.......the "wow" factor.

 

The gyst of the analogy?  If you want to have a physique above and beyond the average individual.  If you want to look and feel at your best and have long term health and vitality, you need to eat good ALL the time.  I think this whole IIFYM idea is the biggest scam in health and fitness - right up there with the statement "the check is in the mail."   Younger individuals can get away with the occasional indulgence of 87 octane food.  Older individuals can't (and I know this from first hand experience).  But why tempt fate?  Whether you are young or old you will always look and feel your best if you consistently eat good food.  Garbage-in, garbage-out as they say.  The other benefit as well is: If you learn good eating habits when you are young, they will be second nature when your older.

 

John

You are 100% right.  This started to be really popular on the web last year.  These kids are eating froyo, burger king, and pop tarts claiming they are still staying ripped "naturally" while eating this junk almost daily.

 

So funny about the gasolin analogy, I use it all the time too.  I can see it in my own body since I really started focusing on good food.  The proof is in the mirror, just take a look after a few weeks of eating "junk" to fill your macros and you will see why IIFYM is a load of BS if you use it to justify eating junk all the time..

Herman Nation,

 

I have recently seen some discussions around IIFYM - If It Fits Your Macros.  I wanted to give my perspective on this.  Again, feel free to agree or disagree and no disrespect is intended for those who believe in or follow IIFYM.

 

The analogy I always use to explain this to people is gasoline and automobiles.  All gasolines have an Octane rating (87,94, 91, etc).  The higher the octane rating, the more powerful the explosion in your Internal Combustion Engine and the more efficient the fuel (less knocking and pinging in the engine from pre-mature fuel ignition).  All cars built and sold in the U.S. must be able to use the minimum octane available here which is 87 regular.  This drives the foreign car makers, especially the Germans, crazy because their countries don't use this type of low quality fuel.  Why we have it is for another discussion.  Anyways, cars' computer "brains" that control the air fuel mixture as well as minimize pre-mature fuel iginition because this is very stressful on an engine compensate for fuel quality.

 

The human body acts in a similar way.  The "octane" is the quality of food you eat.  The system "brain" is your metabolism and hormones.  The "car" is your body.  When you weight train, you put much higher stresses on your body than the average sedentry individual.  To achieve an elite physique or have superior strength and stamina, you have to feed your body accordingly.  An average Honda Accord or Ford Focus will run and perform fine all day running on 87 octane fuel.  But these are average looking, non-performance, non awe-inspiring vehicles.  A Ferrari or Lambo or any other exotic car is a different story.  These are cars that draw stares and admiration and stir the soul with their performance.  They can "run" on 87 octane but they will not run or perform as they were designed and eventually you will have some expensive repair bills to fix the engine from all the cheap gas.  Fill it with 94 or 100 octane gas and watch what happens.......the "wow" factor.

 

The gyst of the analogy?  If you want to have a physique above and beyond the average individual.  If you want to look and feel at your best and have long term health and vitality, you need to eat good ALL the time.  I think this whole IIFYM idea is the biggest scam in health and fitness - right up there with the statement "the check is in the mail."   Younger individuals can get away with the occasional indulgence of 87 octane food.  Older individuals can't (and I know this from first hand experience).  But why tempt fate?  Whether you are young or old you will always look and feel your best if you consistently eat good food.  Garbage-in, garbage-out as they say.  The other benefit as well is: If you learn good eating habits when you are young, they will be second nature when your older.

 

John

IIFYM for me is also about the mealplan that is already setup. When you are going to figure out what macros / micros you are going to need setting up a mealplan to reach thouse requirements is a great idea. IIFYM in my personal experience and opinion is a tool used to forfulling the needs of an induvidual.

Great mind think alike :-)

IIFYM is still a solid term in my opinion if utilized correctly. Obviosly many young people now days think it is fine to eat whatver which is not how i look at the term. Great points you are bringing up John ! 

You are 100% right.  This started to be really popular on the web last year.  These kids are eating froyo, burger king, and pop tarts claiming they are still staying ripped "naturally" while eating this junk almost daily.

 

So funny about the gasolin analogy, I use it all the time too.  I can see it in my own body since I really started focusing on good food.  The proof is in the mirror, just take a look after a few weeks of eating "junk" to fill your macros and you will see why IIFYM is a load of BS if you use it to justify eating junk all the time..

I agree with you wholeheartidly Sir....

Herman Nation,

 

I have recently seen some discussions around IIFYM - If It Fits Your Macros.  I wanted to give my perspective on this.  Again, feel free to agree or disagree and no disrespect is intended for those who believe in or follow IIFYM.

 

The analogy I always use to explain this to people is gasoline and automobiles.  All gasolines have an Octane rating (87,94, 91, etc).  The higher the octane rating, the more powerful the explosion in your Internal Combustion Engine and the more efficient the fuel (less knocking and pinging in the engine from pre-mature fuel ignition).  All cars built and sold in the U.S. must be able to use the minimum octane available here which is 87 regular.  This drives the foreign car makers, especially the Germans, crazy because their countries don't use this type of low quality fuel.  Why we have it is for another discussion.  Anyways, cars' computer "brains" that control the air fuel mixture as well as minimize pre-mature fuel iginition because this is very stressful on an engine compensate for fuel quality.

 

The human body acts in a similar way.  The "octane" is the quality of food you eat.  The system "brain" is your metabolism and hormones.  The "car" is your body.  When you weight train, you put much higher stresses on your body than the average sedentry individual.  To achieve an elite physique or have superior strength and stamina, you have to feed your body accordingly.  An average Honda Accord or Ford Focus will run and perform fine all day running on 87 octane fuel.  But these are average looking, non-performance, non awe-inspiring vehicles.  A Ferrari or Lambo or any other exotic car is a different story.  These are cars that draw stares and admiration and stir the soul with their performance.  They can "run" on 87 octane but they will not run or perform as they were designed and eventually you will have some expensive repair bills to fix the engine from all the cheap gas.  Fill it with 94 or 100 octane gas and watch what happens.......the "wow" factor.

 

The gyst of the analogy?  If you want to have a physique above and beyond the average individual.  If you want to look and feel at your best and have long term health and vitality, you need to eat good ALL the time.  I think this whole IIFYM idea is the biggest scam in health and fitness - right up there with the statement "the check is in the mail."   Younger individuals can get away with the occasional indulgence of 87 octane food.  Older individuals can't (and I know this from first hand experience).  But why tempt fate?  Whether you are young or old you will always look and feel your best if you consistently eat good food.  Garbage-in, garbage-out as they say.  The other benefit as well is: If you learn good eating habits when you are young, they will be second nature when your older.

 

John

This explanation is awesome! I’ve heard short versions of it before but never this thorough and detailed. I’ve been pushing myself these past few weeks to eat clean, eat clean, eat clean!

 

It’s been a tuff adjustment but I think I am finally getting the hang of it. Meal prep has been the hardest part but it’s vital in making sure I’m not tempted to eat crap. I just need to stay disciplined!

 

This explanation is awesome! I’ve heard short versions of it before but never this thorough and detailed. I’ve been pushing myself these past few weeks to eat clean, eat clean, eat clean!

 

It’s been a tuff adjustment but I think I am finally getting the hang of it. Meal prep has been the hardest part but it’s vital in making sure I’m not tempted to eat crap. I just need to stay disciplined!

 

You have made some excelent points.  The only thing I might disagree upon is achieving the 'in shape' or 'ripped' look.  If done correctly (and I actually think it's harder to do IIFYM correctly rather than eating healthy) IIFYM will still provide the same aesthetic benefits as eating healthy because that is just about entirely dependent upon your caloric intake.  However, I do agree that if you feed your body good foods, you will definitely feel the difference and will probably live a healthier life as well.  Either way, living a healthy life is what it's all about!