Dr. Dad Bod Reviews: Using a Food Tracker

I’ve alluded in prior posts that nutrition isn’t always my strong suit - I’ve often been guilty of trying to “out-exercise a bad diet”!

I’ve spent the last few weeks using the “MyFitnessPal” app, with the goal of getting a little lighter for my fall marathon (ok… and also slightly motivated by an upcoming family beach trip.

It’s working. Here’s some thoughts:

First, I recognize that food, weight, and weight-loss are sensitive topics. Calorie tracking, or focusing on a caloric deficit, may not be right for you. This is not a “prescription” for what I think everyone should do - just a *description* of what I have been doing.

For me, tracking food and calories has been less about hitting a certain numeric goal, and more about increasing intentionality and mindfulness. It’s been eye-opening to see how my daily food decisions, big and small, add up.

I’ve been less likely to absent-mindedly reach for the passing handful of pretzels or candy, or eat my kids’ extra nuggets.

I’ve been MORE likely to practice portion control with energy-dense foods, and MORE likely to load up on vegetables and lean proteins.

Rather than focusing on “cutting out” certain foods, I’ve been able to think about how my daily decisions allow me to “FIT IN” foods that I love! I’ve enjoyed pizza, burgers, tacos, popcorn, and alcohol - all just in greater moderation.

I’ve been losing about 1-1.5 lbs per week - between running more and lifting less, I’m sure that includes a little bit of muscle.

To be honest, I don’t think I’ll keep tracking much longer (the logging is a little annoying, and it’s hard to train well in a deficit) - but it’s provided a jumpstart, and it’s nice to know that I’m capable of making changes and practicing what I preach!

I still have much to learn in this area of wellness. For some professional-grade nutritional advice from very smart docs, I highly recommend checking out @drplantel and @drnadolsky on Instagram. I also enjoy following @champcityatx, a regular-dude-turned-super-fit-trainer whose personal story and daily practices constantly inspire me!