Is Tracking Food Obsessive?
Is food tracking and macro counting “obsessive”?
My answer is NO.
Food tracking—when properly used—is a wonderful tool that promotes nourishment, balance, and a healthier relationship with your body.
Here’s 5 reasons WHY:
Food tracking is not a “diet” or a fad. It is simply science. With tracking, you learn what your body requires to thrive (in the form of daily calories and nutrient balance), and you then aim to provide the proper fuel. There are no extremes, restrictions, or rules on which foods to include or omit. In this way, it is as anti-diet as you can get.
Tracking is not meant to be used long-term or indefinitely. It is a tool that is meant to foster greater awareness and mindfulness around food. Once you have a solid understanding of what your body needs, and how to best provide nourishment to yourself, you take a break from tracking or stop altogether. This is not a life raft to desperately cling to, but a swimming lesson to strengthen your skills.
Food tracking removes moral judgement from food. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. Diet culture has convinced us that we need to follow strict rules, deny ourselves cravings, and feel guilt over eating certain foods. Tracking your nutrition puts the power—and freedom—back into your hands.
All foods fit! Ice cream, pizza, beer, bacon. You name it, it fits. You can eat the foods you love and still reach your goals.
Tracking promotes balance, while allowing flexibility. This is why I truly love tracking, and am so passionate about sharing it with my clients. Witnessing my clients’ “lightbulb moments”, when they realize that they can eat chocolate and ice cream, still go out to the movies and have popcorn, or enjoy a beer on a sunlit patio, is everything for me.
What are your thoughts on food tracking ? Have you tried tracking before, and experienced the benefits that come with it? I would love to hear your story below!