July 14, 2025 • 11 mins
The Calorie Myth & Why Macros Make More Sense
Macro Myths Series: Part 1
Is counting calories really the best way to measure health? Or are we clinging to an outdated system that oversimplifies how our bodies actually work?
In this first episode of the Macro Myths series, we’re busting the calorie-counting mentality and exploring a smarter, science-backed approach to nourishing your body—macros.
You’ll learn where the calorie concept came from (spoiler: it involves burning food in a metal box), why it doesn’t reflect real digestion or hormone response, and how macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbs—actually fuel your body on a biological level.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in food math, confused by conflicting health advice, or just ready for a more aligned and freeing way to approach your plate, this episode is for you.
💥 Say goodbye to outdated diet rules and hello to real, functional nutrition.
Key Topics:
- The flawed science behind calorie-counting.
- What macros are (and how they work).
- Why your body needs more than just “energy in, energy out”.
- How to build a smarter, more satisfying plate.
- A sneak peek at the full Macro Myths series.
Ready to ditch diet math and feel better in your body? Let’s do it—together.
SHOW SOME LOVE: If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to leave a quick rating and review here. Your words brighten my day and also help more mamas discover the hope, healing, and joy they deserve.
WORK WITH ME TO RESTORE YOUR ENERGY + DISCOVER YOUR DESIGN FOR HEALTH AS A BUSY MAMA: Option 1) Join the Live Healthy, Mama coaching program today! Find all the details here.
Option 2) Work 1:1 with me to reach your wellness goals - without the overwhelm -and get total clarity on living the healthy and energetic life you were created for. Get the details here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerusha Jantz, Holistic Wellness Coach for Christian Moms:
Welcome to Tired Mommy Revival. (00:01):
undefined
Hey mama.
Are you running on coffee fumes,feeling like brain fog, fatigue
and anxiety, or running the show?
Do you wake up dreading the dayahead already overwhelmed by the
endless to-do list, and unsurehow you'll make it through.
Do you long for the energyto enjoy motherhood?
(00:23):
And care for yourself, but feelstuck and unsure where to start.
Let me remind you ofsomething life changing.
You were created for more, moreenergy, more clarity, more joy.
Hi, I'm Jerusha, certifiedHolistic Wellness Coach.
Wife and mom to two wild boysand one baby girl in heaven.
(00:46):
I know the exhaustion you'refeeling because I've been there
barely making it through the day.
Relying on coffee and chocolate tosurvive and wondering why nothing
I tried ever made me feel better.
Then God stepped in andrevealed a powerful truth.
A woman's body is beautifullyand uniquely designed to thrive.
(01:07):
When we align with how God createdus, we can boost our energy bust
through fatigue and step into thevibrant, joy filled life he has for us.
Mama.
I'm living proof thatit's possible these days.
I wake up, refreshed, nourished my bodywith intention and navigate the chaos
of motherhood with patience and peace.
(01:28):
Most days, and I wannahelp you do the same.
If you're ready to swap exhaustion forenergy, brain fog for clarity and guilt
for grace, you are in the right place.
Each week we'll dive into practicalstrategies, faith-filled truths,
and empowering tools to renew yourhealth, body, soul, and spirit.
(01:48):
Are you ready for this?
Let's do it, mama.
Today we're kicking off a brandnew series called Macro Myth.
I know another series I can't help it.
You guys.
I love a good series, and I hopeyou're here for it too, because
I am so excited about this one.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed bynutrition advice, afraid of carbs,
(02:13):
confused about fats, or wondering ifyou're eating enough protein, or too
much, you are in the right place.
But before we talk about the individualmacros, we need to start by breaking up
with one of the oldest, most overusedand flat out inaccurate systems for
measuring your food and your health.
(02:34):
Calories.
Somewhere along the way.
We were told that managing ourhealth came down to a math equation.
Calories in versus calories out.
Just eat less, movemore, and voila, health.
Right?
Wrong, because if you've ever tried livingoff 1200 calories while chasing toddlers,
(02:57):
doing laundry, homeschooling, and stilltrying to show up as a functioning human,
you already know the math ain't mathing.
But here's the real kicker.
The entire calorie counting modelis based on science that's over
100 years old and doesn't even makesense for how real human bodies work.
(03:20):
Let's take a quick trip back tothe 1800's where a guy named Wilbur
Atwater decided to figure out howmuch energy was in different foods.
So he used somethingcalled a bomb calorimeter.
I think I said that right.
Basically it's a metal chamberwhere you incinerate food and
(03:41):
measure how much heat it gives off.
This heat was used to assign anumber, a.k.a. a calorie, to that
food and just like that, we startedlabeling our meals based on how
hot they burned in a metal box.
Let's just pause and say it together.
That's like burning a pair ofjeans to see if they'll fit you.
(04:03):
You see how ridiculous that sounds.
Just because something burns acertain way in a lab doesn't mean
your body will respond to it that way.
You are not a furnace.
You're not just burning fuel.
You are digesting, absorbing,metabolizing, and interacting with food on
a cellular, hormonal, and chemical level.
(04:25):
The calorie model isoutdated and oversimplified.
Here's what it gets wrong.
It ignores how your body uses food.
It doesn't account for digestion,nutrient absorption, muscle mass,
stress, sleep, or hormone shifts.
And it treats a 300 calorie donut thesame as the 300 calorie chicken salad.
(04:50):
Spoiler alert, they're not the same.
You and I could eat the exact same500 calorie lunch and have totally
different blood sugar responses,hunger levels, and energy afterwards.
Calories don't measure impact.
They just measure heat.
This is where macros come in.
(05:12):
And no, it's not just a trendything bodybuilders say on Instagram.
So what are macros?
Macros short for macronutrients arethe nutrients your body needs in
large amounts to function properly.
There are three main ones,protein, carbs, and fats.
(05:33):
Sometimes I include fiber as abonus macro because it plays such
a critical role, and we will havemore on that later in the series.
But each of these macros serves avery different purpose in your body.
And this is key.
Every macro sets off a different chainof biological reactions, chemical
messages, hormonal shifts, andcellular changes based on what you eat.
(05:59):
Calories completely overlook that.
Now macros are not the onlypart of our nutritional profile.
We also have micronutrients, alsoknown as Micros, and these are
your vitamins and minerals likeiron, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C,
et cetera, and they also matter.
But today we're focusing on thebig picture macronutrients that
(06:22):
fuel our body on a daily basis.
So let's talk about whateach macro actually does.
Here's a super simplified breakdown.
Protein builds and repairs tissue,balances, blood sugar, supports immune
function, and helps you feel full.
Carbs provide quick energy, fuel yourbrain, and support hormone function,
(06:45):
especially thyroid and serotonin.
And fats nourish your brain,stabilize hormones, and absorb
fat soluble vitamins like A, D,E, and K, and keep you satisfied.
Each one of these communicatesdifferently in your body.
They're not interchangeable,they're informational.
(07:08):
Your food isn't just fuel.
It's a message.
Protein tells your body (07:11):
build and repair.
Carbs say (07:14):
we've got energy, go.
Fats say (07:18):
we're safe, nourished, and stable.
And fiber, it tells yourgut bacteria to party.
So let's talk about how to shift fromcalorie counting to macro awareness.
This doesn't have to be complicated.
You don't need to weigh your food orlog every bite, but start thinking
(07:40):
in categories instead of calories.
Ask yourself at eachmeal, where's my protein?
Is there a healthy fat here?
What kinds of carbs am I eating, and isthere fiber or nutrients attached to them?
This shift alone can radicallyimprove your energy, digestion,
(08:03):
blood sugar, and even your mood.
It's not about eating less,it's about eating what works.
When you start thinking inmacros instead of calories, you
stop micromanaging every bite.
You start eating with purpose.
And you feel better because your mealsare actually doing something in your body.
(08:26):
And as a busy mom, that'swhat you need, food that works
with you and not against you.
So now that we've burned thecalorie myth, pun fully intended,
here's where we're headed next.
Over the next few episodes, we'redigging into each macro one by one.
(08:47):
First up is carbs, the most feared,most misunderstood, and most lied
about macro in the wellness world.
Then we'll talk about protein, whymost women aren't getting enough,
and how it impacts everythingfrom energy to metabolism.
Then we'll tackle fats, the onesthat heal versus the ones that harm.
(09:09):
And why eating fatdoesn't mean gaining fat.
And finally, a bonus episode on fiber,which I consider the forgotten macro that
actually makes all the others work better.
Because the truth is the healthworld has made a mess of all of this.
We've been told to cut carbs, fearfats, overload on protein powders
(09:33):
and ignore fiber altogether.
But in this series, we're untanglingthe confusion and relearning
how to fuel our bodies in a waythat aligns with real biology.
And yes, also God's brilliantdesign for women's health.
So here's your biggest takeaway for today.
(09:53):
Calories are outdated.
Macros are smarter.
Your body deserves realfood, not a math equation.
If this episode gave you a lightbulb moment, would you text it to a
friend or post it to your stories?
You never know who else is stillstuck in the calorie counting trap and
just needs permission to let that go.
(10:14):
And be sure to hit follow orsubscribe so you don't miss the
next episode (10:17):
carbs, friend or foe?
Until next time, keep it simple.
Stay nourished and remember,you are made for wellness.
Mama, I hope this episode blessedyou and reminded you that you were
beautifully and uniquely made to thrive.
If today's conversation spoke to yourheart, I'd love for you to take a
(10:40):
moment to leave a rating and review.
Not only does it encourage me,but it helps more tired mamas
discover the hope, healing, andenergy they've been searching for.
You are not in this alone.
Make sure to hit subscribeso you never miss an episode.
Together we will reclaim yourenergy, renew your health, and revive
your spirit one step at a time.
(11:01):
Until next time.
Remember, you are beautifully designed byGod to live with energy, clarity, and joy.
You're not just surviving mama.
You're stepping into the vibrantlife you were created for.
I'm cheering you on.
undefined
Hey mama.
Are you running on coffee fumes,feeling like brain fog, fatigue
and anxiety, or running the show?
Do you wake up dreading the dayahead already overwhelmed by the
endless to-do list, and unsurehow you'll make it through.
Do you long for the energyto enjoy motherhood?
(00:23):
And care for yourself, but feelstuck and unsure where to start.
Let me remind you ofsomething life changing.
You were created for more, moreenergy, more clarity, more joy.
Hi, I'm Jerusha, certifiedHolistic Wellness Coach.
Wife and mom to two wild boysand one baby girl in heaven.
(00:46):
I know the exhaustion you'refeeling because I've been there
barely making it through the day.
Relying on coffee and chocolate tosurvive and wondering why nothing
I tried ever made me feel better.
Then God stepped in andrevealed a powerful truth.
A woman's body is beautifullyand uniquely designed to thrive.
(01:07):
When we align with how God createdus, we can boost our energy bust
through fatigue and step into thevibrant, joy filled life he has for us.
Mama.
I'm living proof thatit's possible these days.
I wake up, refreshed, nourished my bodywith intention and navigate the chaos
of motherhood with patience and peace.
(01:28):
Most days, and I wannahelp you do the same.
If you're ready to swap exhaustion forenergy, brain fog for clarity and guilt
for grace, you are in the right place.
Each week we'll dive into practicalstrategies, faith-filled truths,
and empowering tools to renew yourhealth, body, soul, and spirit.
(01:48):
Are you ready for this?
Let's do it, mama.
Today we're kicking off a brandnew series called Macro Myth.
I know another series I can't help it.
You guys.
I love a good series, and I hopeyou're here for it too, because
I am so excited about this one.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed bynutrition advice, afraid of carbs,
(02:13):
confused about fats, or wondering ifyou're eating enough protein, or too
much, you are in the right place.
But before we talk about the individualmacros, we need to start by breaking up
with one of the oldest, most overusedand flat out inaccurate systems for
measuring your food and your health.
(02:34):
Calories.
Somewhere along the way.
We were told that managing ourhealth came down to a math equation.
Calories in versus calories out.
Just eat less, movemore, and voila, health.
Right?
Wrong, because if you've ever tried livingoff 1200 calories while chasing toddlers,
(02:57):
doing laundry, homeschooling, and stilltrying to show up as a functioning human,
you already know the math ain't mathing.
But here's the real kicker.
The entire calorie counting modelis based on science that's over
100 years old and doesn't even makesense for how real human bodies work.
(03:20):
Let's take a quick trip back tothe 1800's where a guy named Wilbur
Atwater decided to figure out howmuch energy was in different foods.
So he used somethingcalled a bomb calorimeter.
I think I said that right.
Basically it's a metal chamberwhere you incinerate food and
(03:41):
measure how much heat it gives off.
This heat was used to assign anumber, a.k.a. a calorie, to that
food and just like that, we startedlabeling our meals based on how
hot they burned in a metal box.
Let's just pause and say it together.
That's like burning a pair ofjeans to see if they'll fit you.
(04:03):
You see how ridiculous that sounds.
Just because something burns acertain way in a lab doesn't mean
your body will respond to it that way.
You are not a furnace.
You're not just burning fuel.
You are digesting, absorbing,metabolizing, and interacting with food on
a cellular, hormonal, and chemical level.
(04:25):
The calorie model isoutdated and oversimplified.
Here's what it gets wrong.
It ignores how your body uses food.
It doesn't account for digestion,nutrient absorption, muscle mass,
stress, sleep, or hormone shifts.
And it treats a 300 calorie donut thesame as the 300 calorie chicken salad.
(04:50):
Spoiler alert, they're not the same.
You and I could eat the exact same500 calorie lunch and have totally
different blood sugar responses,hunger levels, and energy afterwards.
Calories don't measure impact.
They just measure heat.
This is where macros come in.
(05:12):
And no, it's not just a trendything bodybuilders say on Instagram.
So what are macros?
Macros short for macronutrients arethe nutrients your body needs in
large amounts to function properly.
There are three main ones,protein, carbs, and fats.
(05:33):
Sometimes I include fiber as abonus macro because it plays such
a critical role, and we will havemore on that later in the series.
But each of these macros serves avery different purpose in your body.
And this is key.
Every macro sets off a different chainof biological reactions, chemical
messages, hormonal shifts, andcellular changes based on what you eat.
(05:59):
Calories completely overlook that.
Now macros are not the onlypart of our nutritional profile.
We also have micronutrients, alsoknown as Micros, and these are
your vitamins and minerals likeiron, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C,
et cetera, and they also matter.
But today we're focusing on thebig picture macronutrients that
(06:22):
fuel our body on a daily basis.
So let's talk about whateach macro actually does.
Here's a super simplified breakdown.
Protein builds and repairs tissue,balances, blood sugar, supports immune
function, and helps you feel full.
Carbs provide quick energy, fuel yourbrain, and support hormone function,
(06:45):
especially thyroid and serotonin.
And fats nourish your brain,stabilize hormones, and absorb
fat soluble vitamins like A, D,E, and K, and keep you satisfied.
Each one of these communicatesdifferently in your body.
They're not interchangeable,they're informational.
(07:08):
Your food isn't just fuel.
It's a message.
Protein tells your body (07:11):
build and repair.
Carbs say (07:14):
we've got energy, go.
Fats say (07:18):
we're safe, nourished, and stable.
And fiber, it tells yourgut bacteria to party.
So let's talk about how to shift fromcalorie counting to macro awareness.
This doesn't have to be complicated.
You don't need to weigh your food orlog every bite, but start thinking
(07:40):
in categories instead of calories.
Ask yourself at eachmeal, where's my protein?
Is there a healthy fat here?
What kinds of carbs am I eating, and isthere fiber or nutrients attached to them?
This shift alone can radicallyimprove your energy, digestion,
(08:03):
blood sugar, and even your mood.
It's not about eating less,it's about eating what works.
When you start thinking inmacros instead of calories, you
stop micromanaging every bite.
You start eating with purpose.
And you feel better because your mealsare actually doing something in your body.
(08:26):
And as a busy mom, that'swhat you need, food that works
with you and not against you.
So now that we've burned thecalorie myth, pun fully intended,
here's where we're headed next.
Over the next few episodes, we'redigging into each macro one by one.
(08:47):
First up is carbs, the most feared,most misunderstood, and most lied
about macro in the wellness world.
Then we'll talk about protein, whymost women aren't getting enough,
and how it impacts everythingfrom energy to metabolism.
Then we'll tackle fats, the onesthat heal versus the ones that harm.
(09:09):
And why eating fatdoesn't mean gaining fat.
And finally, a bonus episode on fiber,which I consider the forgotten macro that
actually makes all the others work better.
Because the truth is the healthworld has made a mess of all of this.
We've been told to cut carbs, fearfats, overload on protein powders
(09:33):
and ignore fiber altogether.
But in this series, we're untanglingthe confusion and relearning
how to fuel our bodies in a waythat aligns with real biology.
And yes, also God's brilliantdesign for women's health.
So here's your biggest takeaway for today.
(09:53):
Calories are outdated.
Macros are smarter.
Your body deserves realfood, not a math equation.
If this episode gave you a lightbulb moment, would you text it to a
friend or post it to your stories?
You never know who else is stillstuck in the calorie counting trap and
just needs permission to let that go.
(10:14):
And be sure to hit follow orsubscribe so you don't miss the
next episode (10:17):
carbs, friend or foe?
Until next time, keep it simple.
Stay nourished and remember,you are made for wellness.
Mama, I hope this episode blessedyou and reminded you that you were
beautifully and uniquely made to thrive.
If today's conversation spoke to yourheart, I'd love for you to take a
(10:40):
moment to leave a rating and review.
Not only does it encourage me,but it helps more tired mamas
discover the hope, healing, andenergy they've been searching for.
You are not in this alone.
Make sure to hit subscribeso you never miss an episode.
Together we will reclaim yourenergy, renew your health, and revive
your spirit one step at a time.
(11:01):
Until next time.
Remember, you are beautifully designed byGod to live with energy, clarity, and joy.
You're not just surviving mama.
You're stepping into the vibrantlife you were created for.
I'm cheering you on.
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