My Macro Journey

My Macro Journey

Mistakes, small wins, and lessons learned for a stronger, healthier me.

*Disclaimer: I am not a registered dietician, nutritionist, or therapist. This is simply my experience with macro-tracking and personal opinions. I will be discussing mental health and disordered eating so if you are sensitive to these topics, stop reading here.

discovering macros

Breaking the binge/restrict cycle.

After years of being stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset, I started tracking my food to give my body a healthy amount of energy on the daily. I instantly realized I had been extremely under-eating (no wonder my body wanted to overeat!).

Black sports bra and black biker shorts outfit, flexing arm.

The mindset shift from less to more.

Like most people on a health/fitness journey, I’ve made many mistakes (and still do!). I used to think that to feel my best, I had to eat as little as possible. I couldn’t have been further from the truth, and slowly taught myself to look for what I could add rather than take away.

Choosing compassion over criticism.

I had been punishing myself and felt so much guilt and shame for something I couldn’t help doing with the patterns I had in place. As I began to nourish my body with more protein and fiber (and of course a sweet treat here and there), my symptoms of bingeing naturally began to fade.

I was, and still try to be patient with myself and realize that these patterns take time to redirect, and I did my best to make changes from a place of love.

3 THINGS

Tracking Macros Helped Me Learn.

Stop over-restricting.

By hitting an appropriate amount of calories based off my activity level, age and gender, I ensured I was consistently eating enough, which ultimately ended my chronic bingeing.

Build trust within myself.

I slowly taught my body that I would feed it enough every day. Through doing this, I gradually built more confidence and trust that I had enough fuel to be happy and healthy.

Eliminate the guessing game.

As anyone with ED history knows, your emotions can’t always be trusted. When tracking my macros, I have evidence that I’ve hit or haven’t hit my calorie and nutrient needs.

Macro tracking was a game-changer for me – not by restricting, but by giving me freedom to eat more of what fuels me. I’m stronger, more confident, and hitting my fitness goals while still enjoying my favorite treats and eating out as a proud foodie. By prioritizing protein and whole foods, I’ve learned you can find sustainability while experiencing the joy of living a healthy lifestyle.

My Recovery Toolkit: Book Edition.

you can heal your life
By Louise Hay

Finding self-esteem and self-love to take back your power and achieve anything you choose in life.

read
brain over binge
By Kathryn Hansen

A practical guide to recovering from BED for good.

read
man’s search for meaning
By Viktor E. Frankl

For finding purpose and strength in times of great despair.

read
Looking back, I can see how far I’ve come. Tracking macros taught me to nourish my body, listen to its needs, and embrace progress over perfection. If you’re on a similar path, know that you’re never alone. So many of us are learning, unlearning, and figuring it out one day at a time – and that’s ok. There is strength in your story, hope in every setback, and growth in every small win.

xx Jaycee

FAQ

Answering my most asked questions on this topic.

Nope! Tracking has given me the fundamentals to be able to eat as intuitively as I can through different seasons of life. When I’m not tracking I prioritize protein, which helps me feel full and have stabilized energy throughout the day.

I try to hit at least 120g protein per day. Generally speaking, 30% of your total calorie intake coming from protein is a good place to start.

Not eating enough fat! At first, I wanted to eat the largest volume possible (very low fat, high carb). I started to see negative side effects like moodiness and dips in energy. Nowadays, I try to get at least 50 grams of fat per day for a healthy brain and body.

Absolutely! Occasionally eating out was very freeing for me while tracking because it took me out of the all-or-nothing mindset. One meal isn’t going to ruin your progress and there are so many healthy options out there these days.

I love a good protein prep at the beginning of the week, like shredded chicken or ground taco meat. That way it’s ready to go and you can use it in tons of different meals throughout the week.