I've been tracking my macros for three years, and I'm convinced that flexible dieting beats any rigid meal plan. But last month my coach put me on a strict carb-cycling protocol, and my energy and lifts improved more than they had in years. Does that mean we actually need rigid plans to see real progress? I know adherence matters most, yet I can't shake the results I saw. Maybe the structure itself reduces decision fatigue—or maybe it was just the novelty effect.