Eating enough protein is important for your health, performance, strength, and aesthetic goals.

If your goals are geared towards changing your body weight, body shape, or body composition, your focus should be on eating in a calorie deficit.

Most people want to change their diet in order to work towards specific aesthetic goals. If you want to hit a certain weight goal, reach a lower body fat percentage, or fit in a new size of jeans, being in a calorie deficit is without a doubt the most important factor at play.

CALORIE DEFICIT = eating fewer calories than you burn through daily activity

People often achieve these physical changes because they have cut out certain foods from their diet (no sugar, no fast food, no soda) or have added in more movement to their day (hitting a daily step goal, starting to lift weights or run). Without knowing it, they have created a calorie deficit by eating fewer calories and burning more calories through activity. And while a calorie deficit can be achieved without counting your calories or macronutrients, tracking your intake ensures that you are consistently eating the right amount of the right things so that you can optimize your aesthetic changes.