View this post on Instagram

[1]

Counting carbs [2] and calories unfortunately doesn't always equal weight-loss success, and that's because it's all about the quality of the foods you're consuming. Tracking your macros (protein, fat, and carbs) instead may actually be key. Macronutrients [3] are what make up the caloric content of what you eat, but some foods provide more nutritional value than others.

Zach Rocheleau, who's behind the Instagram account theflexibledietinglifestyle [4], posted a handy macros cheat sheet to help you identify which groups certain foods belong to. The graphic also displays items that crossover in additional categories. Here's how he broke it down:

• Carb sources (bread, rice, pasta)
• Carbs and protein sources (beans, grains, yogurt)
• Protein sources (chicken, turkey, fish)
• Protein and fat sources (eggs, salmon, chia seeds)
• Fat sources (avocados, nuts, olives)

A formula you can follow for weight-loss macro planning [5]: 20 percent fat, 45 percent carbohydrate, 35 percent protein. This paired with the cheat sheet above will set you up for success!