Can you believe I almost completely ditched macros before I even really started tracking?
If we go back a few years to my first weeks of *attempting* to track macros, I remember being incredibly confused and frustrated.
Even as a dietitian, I felt like a complete and total newb.
Simply out of sheer curiosity, I figured out my daily macro targets from a free website. I downloaded My Fitness Pal and I marched to the kitchen to eat breakfast. But, instead of reaching for what I would normally eat — something like eggs, smoothie, oats — I reached for the pumpkin bread I made from a boxed mix a couple days earlier. And I proceeded to eat at least double what I would normally eat in a sitting.
But, I logged it! *Pats self on back*
Anything fits – they said!
As long as it fits your macros – they said!
All the enthusiasm about macros wore off by lunch time. I found myself with a stomach ache and in a total downer of a mood, (probably because I had a sh$t pile of sugar for breakfast!). I didn’t have a clue how to piecemeal the rest of the day to “fit my macros.”
I gave up and didn’t bother tracking for the rest of the week. My macro story could have ended there with me totally flunking.
Instead, I tried again with a renewed commitment to learn – both about the principles of macros and my personal habits.
>> My diet was lacking in protein. Maybe THAT was why, I didn’t really “look” like I worked out.
>> I love fat! Between heavy cream in my coffee, a heaping handful of trail mix, and extra guac – I was typically BLOWING past my recommended fat targets.
>> Was I carbo-phobic? I didn’t think so, but after tracking, I realized I was eating very few grains + starchy vegetables.
Armed with some data, I made changes.
And what resulted was a leaner and stronger me. Not only did I actually look fit, but I could actually train harder and recover quickly. My energy soared – no more afternoon naps or need for an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up.
Did your macro journey start in a cluster like mine?
how I almost failed at macro tracking
