If It Fits Your Macros: Why Food Quality Still Matters

The Strong Principles crew — Larry, Rob, Zach, and Wendy — dig into the popular "If It Fits Your Macros" (IIFYM) diet trend and why hitting your macro targets with processed foods isn't the same as fueling your body with whole foods.The team breaks down:What IIFYM is and why it became so popularWhy ultra-processed foods are designed to keep you hungry — and how that sabotages your calorie goalsThe NIH study showing people on processed food diets consumed roughly 500 extra calories per dayIntramuscular and visceral fat — what they are, why ultra-processed foods contribute to them, and why they don't always show up on body composition scansThe thermic effect of food and why your body actually burns more calories digesting whole foodsHow food labels have changed over the years — and why a product you trusted may not be the same anymoreThe 80/20 approach — and why consistency with whole foods gives you the flexibility to enjoy treats without guiltThe bottom line: macros matter, but the quality of what fills them matters just as much.