5 Times You Were Doing Better Than You Thought
Written by Rev Nutritionist, Kristin Mason
When you first start tracking your macros, it may be a little overwhelming. It does take some getting used to but before you know it, it just becomes part of your day. If you are struggling to hit your numbers in the beginning, do not get discouraged, but instead, think about some of the positives. Here are 5 times you were actually doing better than you thought:
1. You didn’t hit your macros, BUT you tracked everything.
Even if your numbers were a little over or under the target ranges, at least you tracked. Tracking everything shows that you are making an effort. It is also a very important component when assessing your progress. If you are not tracking, your nutritionist does not know what you are eating and cannot make any necessary changes. And if your tracking looks perfect, your scan results should coincide, so when the two don’t match up, we need to figure out why. It is much better to track EVERYTHING and not hit your numbers, rather than not accurately enter foods into My Fitness Pal, because at least we know WHY you may not be seeing results.
2. You thought you were way off, BUT you really just tracked incorrectly.
It is very easy to track incorrectly. Some of the entries in My Fitness Pal are incorrect so always double check and make sure that the entry you choose contains macros, not just calories, and also makes sense. Also, pay attention to serving size and adjust accordingly. Your body is the ultimate tracker, so it’s better to be consuming the ¾ cup of rice found on your meal template and accidentally tracking it in MFP as 1 ¾ cups, rather than the opposite.
3. You’re not 100%, BUT you improved since last week.
Your first few days you were getting used to tracking and using the app, and you struggled to hit your numbers. Week two came along and you just focused on making sure you consistently hit your fats. Week three you focused on your protein. And by week four you got it down pat. It is definitely okay to break it down and take it one step at a time. Just because you don’t start off perfect, doesn’t mean you’ll never get there. It doesn’t matter if it takes a little longer to get to where you want to be, just be patient and focus on progressing towards your goal!
4. You didn’t hit your numbers, BUT you acknowledged it and learned from it.
It is important to acknowledge that you didn’t hit your numbers, so you can figure out why, and make adjustments. Nobody is perfect, and sometimes it takes a little trial and error to realize what works and what doesn’t. It is inevitable to have an off day here or there, and that’s fine! Just make sure you learn from it, move on, and get right back on track the next day.
5. You didn’t lose weight, BUT you lost fat.
It may seem frustrating when you don’t see the scale moving as fast as you would like, but there are so many factors that can skew the number on the scale. Maybe your weight didn’t change, but you lost fat and gained lean mass! A gain in lean mass could be anything, considering it comprises everything that is not fat. A loss of fat and gain in lean mass is much better than a quick 10-pound drop in water weight. This is why we don’t want to focus on the scale, but rather a change in body composition.
So just because you’re not where you want to be, doesn’t mean you’ll never get there! Work hard, stay on track, and acknowledge any small victories along the way because you’re probably likely much better than you think.
Written by: Kristin Mason B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics