Avatar Nutrition sets your initial macro targets based on the information you provide during the registration process. As long as the information you enter is correct, the macros you’re given will be an appropriate starting point, and the system will adjust and refine the macro recommendations from there based on your body’s response.
That being said, there are a few common mistakes people make when entering their information. To ensure your targets are optimal, ask yourself the following:
Did I choose the right setting for my goal?
Verify that you’ve chosen the right setting for your goal. For example, if your macros seem too low and you’ve selected a fast weight loss goal, it might be wise to go back through the goal set up process and select a less aggressive option. It’s almost always better to err on the high side of calories when starting a diet so that you don’t needlessly suffer. If you don’t lose enough weight the first week, the system will drop your calories accordingly.
Did I correctly enter my activity level?
Your activity level will have a significant impact on your macros, so you’ll want to double check that you estimated both lifestyle and exercise activity accurately. If you feel your calories are too low and you found yourself struggling to choose your level on either lifestyle activity or exercise (for example, you were between levels), you’ll want to go back and err on the higher side of each.
Is your body fat percentage correct?
Verify that you’ve correctly measured your body fat percentage as this will have a major impact on your starting protein recommendations.
It’s important to understand that all forms of body fat testing are just estimations and none will be 100% accurate. That’s okay because what we’re looking for is a measurement that’s at least in the right ballpark, with error that is consistent from week to week. This entails using the same body fat measuring method at each weigh-in. When making macro adjustments, Avatar considers the trend in body fat from week to week and not so much the absolute number.
**If you’ve double checked all of these settings and your targets still don’t seem right, please reach out to our Coaching Team for help.