Tracking


Have you ever taken a personality test? There are a number of them and such an inventory can sometimes reveal interesting information about your traits, tendencies, and preferences. I’m not going to suggest you go take a personality test right now, although it’s not a bad idea if you’ve never done one.

 

The reason I asked that question is because whether you are attracted to the idea of tracking your food intake or not is almost entirely dependent on your personality. Believe me, I’ve worked with a lot of people who were on both sides of the fence. Some folks love tracking. They dig the weighing, measuring, recording, and analyzing. But others are not so inclined. They rebel against the process as being a hassle and confinement and would rather just work in general concepts with diet.

 

The good news is that you can succeed, and keep your Lean4LIFE rocking self in bodcompopp, either way. The manner in which this works is via extrinsic versus intrinsic data (all of which drive intrinsic motivation).

 

Folks who prefer trackers are driven by extrinsic data…all the labels, measuring devices, apps and spreadsheets. They are the ones who want to know how many calories and macros are in a food product, what a serving size is, and how everything stacks up in terms of grams and percentages. This totally works. It’s a calculated approach.

 

Non-trackers prefer less minutia and concentrate more on how they are feeling (hungry, satisfied, bloated) on certain foods. They stick with general food categories and exercise portion control more with the fork on the plate than the scale or measuring cup. This method also gets excellent results but it usually requires more experimentation and a little guesswork. It’s an instinctive approach. 

 

I’ve used several of the popular food tracking apps, and I’ve worked with a lot of clients who really do well with them. I’ve also “gone by feel” and done fine. And I’ve known an equal amount of people who’ve done the same. It all comes down to what makes you feel best about your process. I bet you weren't thinking I was gonna present this topic in such a manner. No need to put anybody into a box and have them rebel against “The Man.” I’m not the man (at least in this case) anyway. You know who you are. Trust that. Don’t try to fit into a category that your instincts tell you isn’t the right one for you. I support your choice.