You don’t have to track.
Hey, it’s Leah here. It’s a good question, so let’s talk about it.
Anyone who tells you that you are *required* to track your calories or track your macros in order to be healthy is misinformed.
Tracking isn’t for everyone, it isn’t forever, & it isn’t the only way to reach your goals.
(⚠️This topic is incredibly nuanced & people get real aggressive about both sides, so stick with me here as we unpack the issue…)
In my experience, tracking was a VERY unhealthy experience (at first). I began tracking too young, I didn’t have proper guidance, my calories were far too low, & I thought I *had to* do it- and if I didn’t, it meant I was lazy & failing.
I think the issues arose because I identified too closely with tracking macros, I depended on them for stability & security, and it ultimately caused more harm and anxiety than it did health. It wasn’t adding to my life- it was taking away experiences & peace from it.
And a lot of people fall into those traps when they start tracking.
🔺🔺🔺BUT…but…
I don’t think macro tracking is inherently unhealthy.
Yes, my original experience with it was awful & lead me to years of anxiety, digestion issues, injuries, hormonal imbalances…I could go on.
But I challenge you to think about it this way:
If you’re in an unhealthy relationship, does that mean all relationships are bad & unhealthy?
No- of course not! The CONTEXT of that relationship & the way behaviors were executed were unhealthy, but that doesn’t mean all relationships are bad, right? That doesn’t mean you should never date again, right?
We can think about tracking in a similar way- the behavior can become harmful & disordered, but that doesn’t mean the behavior or thing ITSELF is harmful & disordered.
The way we GO ABOUT IT- the context of it all – is important.
So I want to walk you through a bit of my philosophy with clients (and myself now) on HOW & when tracking can be utilized in a positive way.
Swipe through the slides to see if tracking might be a good move for you- and if you don’t know where to start, shoot me a message (click the Instagram icon below) and we’ll see what the next best steps are for you!
