Calories, Macros and Why I Don’t Track Them Daily
I don’t track calories or macros daily which usually surprises people, honestly it takes too much time and effort and brings on more stress for me than it’s worth. But I do think tracking can be helpful for a short period of time, especially if you’ve never done it before.
If you’ve never tracked your food, I recommend doing it for about a week. Not forever, just long enough to understand what your current intake actually looks like. Most people underestimate protein, overestimate portions, or both. Tracking brings you awareness of what you are putting in your body and can help you achieve your fitness and wellness goals.
There are a lot of food tracking apps out there, including ones with new AI features where you take a picture of your meal and it estimates calories and macros. This sounds amazing, but in my experience, they’re actually pretty inaccurate and take more work to correct - you end up editing ingredients anyway, which defeats the purpose.
How I Actually Eat
Instead of tracking everything, I focus on simple structure and consistency. I typically eat three meals per day, plus maybe a snack.
I train early, so around 6 AM I’ll have a protein shake right after my workout. Around 8 AM, I eat a high protein breakfast that keeps me full and fueled.
👉 You can see exactly what this looks like here: https://youtube.com/shorts/zJqifFNexO8 (add a scoop of protein powder and some almond milk for an extra boost!)
Around noon, I’m usually eating something quick, typically a protein bowl with chicken (yes, sometimes straight out of a can), a vegetable, and a carb.
👉 Here’s how I put these together: https://youtube.com/shorts/CdboOGFA6bU
If I have time between meetings in the afternoon, I’ll grab a snack like beef jerky or a protein bar. Dinner is usually around 6 PM, and I try to stop eating by 7 PM. I know I’m a snacker, so this boundary works really well for me.
What I Focus On Instead of Numbers
Rather than tracking macros every day, I aim for:
20 - 40 grams of protein per meal (some sort of protein is a must for every meal I eat)
A balance of protein, carbs, and fats (with protein as the priority)
Consistent meal timing that supports my training and recovery
That’s it. Nothing fancy at all.
And yes - I still eat ice cream and deserts. I recently found Halo Top, which is around 300 calories per pint depending on the flavor. Most nights after dinner, I’ll have about half a pint and move on. I love to eat, so foods like this help satisfy my cravings with no guilt and no spiraling out of control.
The Goal Isn’t Tracking Forever
Tracking isn’t the goal, awareness is. A short tracking phase can be eye-opening, especially if you feel stuck or unsure what’s holding you back. After that, structure and consistency matter more than perfect numbers.
The goal is to learn, adjust, and then live the life you love!
Want a simple way to build awareness without full macro tracking? I put together a FREE 7-Day Protein & Meal Awareness Tracker you can use on its own or alongside an app. Grab it here 👉 bossfitbritt.com/free