Maximize Your Macros:
February 16, 2024
A Consumer’s guide to Fat, Carbs, and Protein…
Diet and nutrition are a highly individual journey and no one answer is true or right for everyone. The simple fact of the matter is that when it comes down to it, you have to figure out what works best for you. However there are some overarching philosophy that can channel your approach to healthy eating. When you figure out a style and frequency in your relationship with food that works well you will notice improvements in energy levels, focus, mood, and of course physical performance.
Fats
Paleo, Ketogenic, and Atkins diet have helped change many of the negative perceptions of fat in the diet. As Americans a far bigger threat to our health is a diet that contain high sugar and processed foods.Fats are not only not bad for you but are an essential source of fuel and micronutrients that make us healthy. It’s important to choose the right types and amounts of fats in your diet that let you operate at your best.
The chemical structure of a fat or fatty acid determines what role it will play in our bodies. Based on this structure we are able to classify fats in certain classes that share similar characteristics.
Fats can be divided into saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats.
Saturated fats are found in red meat and coconuts and up until recently have gotten a bad rap as culprits of heart disease. Monounsaturated fats are found in plant foods like nuts, avocado, and olive oil. Polyunsaturated fats include Omega-3’s and Omega-6’s which can be found in fatty fish, flax seeds, and walnuts and are associated with a variety of health benefits.
Fats are essential for energy requirements, hormone production, and make up the wall of every cell in your body. They are also directly related to our immune system and having the right ratio of fats is very important for a healthy inflammation response.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are found across a wide variety of foods and depending on the structure of the molecule our body will respond to eating carbs in very different ways. Carbohydrates have a direct relationship with the glucose levels or blood sugar in our bodies. When our blood glucose levels become elevated our body releases a hormone called insulin to store this extra energy for later when we might have a greater need for it. This glucose is stored in the muscle and liver in long chains known as glycogen or the glucose can be stored in adipose tissue to be utilized later (aka fat storage).
Your goal should be to optimize the amount of carbs that are being stored as glycogen and minimizing excess carbs that would contribute to fat stores. Selecting the right types of foods like vegetables are beneficial because they contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index measures how much a food increases our bodies glucose after consumption. High GI foods include white bread, white rice, and cereals. These foods can be very bad for your waistline, because if your body is not prepared to receive fuel and store it as glycogen they will immediately be stored as fat.
Our bodies can become insulin resistant and requires higher and higher amounts of insulin to store the glucose. Resistance training however, can increase our insulin sensitivity. That means that our cells are highly responsive to storing glucose when insulin is present. Focus on consuming low glycemic carbohydrates that provide key nutrients and avoid high sugar or refined ingredients.
Protein
Protein is found in and comprises most of the cells in our body. It is found in a variety of animal and plant sources. Protein is important because it contains amino acids, tiny molecules that are the building blocks of muscle and also used for the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters. Some of these amino acids are considered essential meaning they must be provided from a dietary source. Without these essential amino acids we will not be able to repair our tissues and certain vital processes will cease to happen.
Since protein helps us recover from and perform optimally during our workouts it is important to consume after a workout for muscle repair. Real food sources of protein include beef, chicken, eggs, and fish. Try to include these foods as staples in your diet. These foods have amino acid content that is similar to what our human body requires for repair. This is also known as the biological value of the protein. Vegetable sources of protein have a lower biological value and may lack one of the essential amino acids needed by humans. These foods must be strategically combined by vegans or vegetarians so they consume all the amino acids needed for tissue repair. As a vegan athlete it can be challenging to meet your needs without supplementation and can be difficult to get a full spectrum of key micronutrients.
Try to consume 1.0 to 1.5 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight. For a 200 pound man (90 kg) that means 90 grams to 135 grams of protein per day. This will provide enough amino acids for your bodies daily needs. Unfortunately eating more protein doesn’t mean it automatically turns into muscle. Unused protein will be broken down and utilized as a fuel source by the body.
Hopefully knowing a little bit more about each of the macronutrients and how they act in your body will help you to make informed decisions. If you have more questions around a healthy diet give us a call today!
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🔥 The Junkie Journal | Mid-August Momentum 🔥 Hey Junkies! 👋 We know summer schedules are packed, but don’t let that stop your progress—this is the perfect time to keep stacking small wins. ✨ Ladies Lift – Final Week! This is the last week of our current Ladies Lift session. Huge shoutout to everyone who has shown up, lifted strong, and built confidence these past weeks! 💪 The next round kicks off mid-September—stay tuned for dates. 📆 Coming in September – Air Squat Challenge! It’s simple. It’s effective. And it’s for everyone. We’ll start at 15 squats on Day 1 and build up to 150 squats by Day 30. All in one session, with rests as needed. You’ll be amazed what consistency can do. Who’s in? 🙌 🏋️ This Week in the Gym Strength focus is ON: ✔️Hang Cleans ✔️Bench Press ✔️Deadlifts Conditioning? Expect those long grinder-style metcons on Tuesday and Thursday to keep your engine sharp. Even when the gym feels quiet, your effort counts double—so show up, put in the work, and keep building momentum heading into fall. 🍂
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🔥 The Junkie Journal | July in Full Swing! 🔥 Hey Junkies! 👋 Summer has officially arrived and the energy in the gym has been awesome. From big lifts to sweaty metcons, you all are showing up strong—keep it up! Here’s what’s happening this week and what you can look forward to: 💪 Programming Focus: Over the next several weeks of summer, we’re taking a page from our past with this well-rounded training block designed to build strength, dial in technique, and keep our conditioning sharp. Here’s what you can expect: 💪 Strength Work You Can Feel: You’ll see consistent progressions in foundational lifts like Cleans, Squats, and Deadlifts—paired with skill-focused Olympic weightlifting. Expect every session to include dedicated strength work to help you move better and get stronger. 🏃♂️ Conditioning Variety: From classic benchmark workouts like Christine to fresh interval pieces and partner challenges, the conditioning will keep you on your toes. We’re mixing short, intense AMRAPs with longer grind-style workouts to build both engine and grit. 🔧 Movement Quality & Mobility: Each day kicks off with intentional warm-ups and mobility prep—think hip openers, thoracic work, and activation drills—so you feel primed for training and can move safely and effectively. 🔥 Scaling Options for All Levels: Whether you follow StormKing, Pyramind Peak, or Spruce Railroad every workout has built-in modifications so you can get the most out of your training, no matter where you’re starting. This is a great month to stay consistent, hone your technique, and push your capacity. Let’s keep showing up and getting after it together! 💥 July Push-Up Challenge: We’re halfway through our 30-Day Push-Up Challenge! 🙌 Remember—these can be done at home or in the gym. You’re adding 2 push-ups each day (resting every 7th), building strength and consistency. Keep tagging us in your updates—we love seeing your progress! 👭 Ladies Lift: Don’t forget—Ladies Lift returns July 17th! This is a great chance to lift heavy, learn new skills, and connect with the other strong women in our community. If you haven’t tried it yet, come check it out—good vibes guaranteed. Our women-only strength class kicks back off on Thursdays at 5:00pm. Grab your spot early—email us at stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com to sign up. Let’s keep showing up, cheering each other on, and making July a strong month together. #StrongerTogether #StormKingStrong
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a d🔥 The Junkie Journal | Jumping Into July 💪 Hey Junkies! 👋 A new month means new energy—and July is already coming in hot. Let’s kick it off strong with everything happening this week at StormKing: July 4th – Gym Closed Heads up—we’ll be closed Friday for the holiday. Enjoy your time off, get outside, and celebrate safely! 🎉 July Gym Anniversaries! Whether it’s your first month or your fifteenth year—we’re so glad you’re part of the crew. Heather Thurman 2 years Krysta Parker 2 years Travis Waddell 8 years 🎉 July Gym Birthdays! Clara Dostie July 3 Debbie Givens July 6 Trina Hathaway July 7 Tommy Simpson July 10 Leslie Arango July 18 Corkey McKeown July 20 Katherine Braun July 21 Mike Soiseth July 28 Damun Seera July 30 💥 New 30-Day Push-Up Challenge Starts July 1! Our July challenge is all about building upper body strength and consistency—just like last month’s planks. Here’s the format: ✅ Start Day 1 with 5 push-ups ✅ Add 2 reps daily, with a rest day every 7th day ✅ Suggested modification...we recommend elevated pushups! ✅ Stay consistent for 30 days ending at 60 pushups on day 30! ✅Reps can be broken up into manageable sets but must be done in the same session. Tag @stormkingathleticclub and post your progress in the Junkies group—we’ll cheer you on every rep of the way! 👶 Childcare Reminder Childcare with Katelyn during morning 9:30am classes! Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s FREE! 🏋️♀️ Weekly Programming Preview Your strength days this week: Monday – Bench Press Tuesday – Endurance Metcon Wednesday – Front Squat Thursday – Endurance Metcon Friday – Closed for the 4th!! Saturday – Partner WOD (20–30 min) 🗓️ Ladies Lift Returns July 17! Our women-only strength class kicks back off on Thursdays at 5:00pm. Grab your spot early—email us at stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com to sign up. Let’s start July strong, focused, and fired up. Push-ups, PRs, and positive vibes only! 💚 Your SKAC Team
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Hey Junkies! 👋 Can you believe we’re already halfway through June? The sun’s out ☀️, the energy is high, and your commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Let’s dive into what’s new at StormKing this week: 🧘 Plank Challenge: Midway Check-In! We’re officially halfway through our 30-Day Plank Challenge! If you’ve been holding strong, your core is thanking you—if not, it’s never too late to jump in. Just a few focused minutes each day builds strength and mental grit. 💥 Keep tagging us and sharing your plank pics in the Junkies group—we love seeing your progress! 📅 New Class Schedule Starts TODAY! Thanks for your feedback and patience—our revised schedule launches today! Here are the key changes: ✅ We’re keeping both the 4:30pm and 5:30pm classes on M/W/F—no change here, thanks to your input! ✅ Pulse on Tuesdays now moves to 5:00pm (no more 5:30pm class on Tuesdays) ✅ The 9:30am class now replaces the 9:00 and 10:30 slots on M/W/F 💚 Don’t forget: Pulse counts toward your 3x/week membership—come try it out! 🙌 Coaching & Childcare Updates! We’ve got exciting additions to the SKAC fam: 👶 Welcome Coach Danielle Sily – Danielle is back to the gym after welcoming her new baby, Grace! We’re thrilled to have her energy and expertise join our coaching staff! You will see her shadowing in classes over the next couple weeks. Introduce yourself! 💪 Coach Paisley will now be leading the M/W/F 9:30am class .👏 Come say hi and crush your morning workouts with her! If you haven’t taken a class from Paisley yet...do it! 👶 New Childcare! Longtime member Katelyn is stepping in to support our families with on-site childcare during our 9:30am class on Mon, Wed, and Fri. We’re so excited to have her in this role—thank you, Katelyn! 💥 Weekly Programming Highlights Our current training block continues, blending barbell strength and metcons throughout the week. Here’s what’s on deck: Barbell Strength Focus This Week: Monday – Push Press Tuesday – Endurance Metcon Wednesday – Front Squat Thursday – Long Endurance WOD Friday – Clean and Jerk 💥 Plus a spicy finisher on weightlifting days, of course. Saturdays = Partner WODs!! Bring a friend, share the work, and kick off your weekend right. 💃 Ladies Lift Returns in July The next session of Ladies Lift kicks off on Thursdays at 5pm after the July 4th holiday. If you’re looking to level up your lifting in a supportive, female-led space, email us now to grab your spot: 📧 stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com Thanks for being the heart of this gym. 💚 Whether you're crushing planks, welcoming new faces, or simply showing up—you’re part of what makes StormKing so strong. Let’s finish June STRONG 💪 💚 Your SKAC Team
