You might not believe this, but the picture on the left is me at my lowest point, both mentally and physically. I knew I needed a change, so I hired a coach to help me lose weight. He focused heavily on tracking calories and macros to maintain a calorie deficit and understand macronutrients.

While I lost weight, I didn’t develop healthy habits. My tendency for binge eating worsened with strict tracking, and the stress of perfectionism made me miss out on fun with friends and family. Tracking isn’t for everyone, especially if you have underlying eating disorders. It can lead to restrictive behaviors and take the joy out of eating.

If you enjoy tracking, that’s great—just don’t let it control your life. Remember, food is meant to be enjoyed. It’s part of our culture, identity, and heritage. It’s about cooking a meal for your partner or having Sunday dinners with family.