Should I Weigh and Measure My Food?
When it comes to nutrition, the answer to many questions is often, “It depends.” Weighing and measuring your food can be one of those nuanced areas where the approach varies based on individual needs and goals.
In a world filled with hyper-palatable foods and oversized portions, taking the time to weigh and measure your food—even for just a short period—can be an eye-opening experience. This practice can teach you how to create portion sizes that align better with your specific goals and activity levels.
If you’re willing to take it a step further, logging your meals into an app like MyFitnessPal can provide even deeper insights. However, be cautious about relying on app-generated calorie goals, which can often be misleading, especially for an active population. These goals are usually too low for those looking to gain lean muscle mass or lose body fat while preserving muscle. They may also not be suitable for anyone aiming to lose body fat while simultaneously gaining some muscle.
For motivated clients ready to take on the challenge of tracking, I often prescribe specific macronutrient goals. These include not only a reasonable calorie target but also a targeted ratio of protein, carbs, and fats. By adjusting these goals, clients can better understand how much and what types of food they should consume depending on whether they want to gain muscle, lose body fat, or simply maintain energy levels throughout the day.
For those ready to fine-tune their nutrition, daily macro goals can be adjusted to match their lifestyle. This means you can increase your intake on harder workout days or when you anticipate eating more, and dial it back on days when you’re super busy but still want to maintain your energy levels.
It’s important to note that tracking macros and measuring food should always be a temporary strategy, helping you learn about portion sizes that support your goals. This method may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating.
But if you have an open mind, are comfortable with technology, and understand that this is a short-term strategy, then tracking your food—including weighing and measuring certain components—can be an effective method to achieve elusive body composition goals.
If this blog post has piqued your interest, stay tuned for our 6-Week FIIT Program starting on September 30th. It includes fitness programming and nutrition support, with guidance on how to effectively track your macros. We’ll take sign-ups starting this week for our FREE 6-Week FIIT Program Zoom Information Session on Wednesday, September 11th at 7:15 pm, where you can learn more about it! Contact info@pitraining.ca for more info!