Are you trying to lose 10 pounds? If you’re not tracking your food intake you might want to start thinking about it. Why? Because it could be a real eye opener for you. It’s super easy to underestimate what we’re eating. We think we’re really not eating that much but you’d be surprised at how quickly things like calories, fat and sugar add up.
Beginning with week 7 in Jamie Eason’s LiveFit Trainer, she instructs you to start counting/tracking calories. Counting calories isn’t the funnest activity in the world but MyFitnessPal makes it REALLY easy + it’s FREE. If you have a smartphone, there’s even an app for it.
Setting Up MyFitnessPal
Disclaimer: You do NOT have to be doing LiveFit for this to benefit you. Also, these are the settings I used to get to my goal weight and the results were amazing. You can certainly adjust the macros if you wish. If you haven’t already, use Jamie Eason’s calorie calculator (link will open in new window) to determine how many calories you should be eating to meet your goal weight – I did that as well. Once you’ve done that, come back to this post to configure MyFitnessPal. :)
Log-in or Create your MyFitnessPal account and then:
- Click –> Goals (up at the top)
- Click –> Change Goals
- Mark –> Custom
- Click –> Continue
- Enter your calorie number that you obtained from the calorie calculator above.
- Adjust your macros (you can see the ones I used in the pic below)
- Be sure to save your changes!
I play around with macros but I usually use the formula in the picture or sometimes I’ll do 30% carbs, 40% protein and 30% fat.
Many people don’t realize that you can completely customize your goals on MyFitnessPal so I wanted to bring awareness to that fact. Also, it’s completely hard for me to consume 184 grams of protein, but I just try to include some at each meal. At a bare minimum I try to eat 1 gram per pound of body weight (even that’s hard for me!). The easiest thing for me to go over on? Carbs!
MyFitnessPal + working out regularly helped me lose 15 pounds. These are the precise macros I used to drop the last 10 pounds. BUT, don’t forget about exercise!
xo
Mindi
Melinda F says
I always feel sleepy when I eat too much too! I’ve noticed that eating smaller meals every 2-3 hours really helps keep my energy levels up and I don’t starve in between meals (and thus overeat).
Tiffany says
Thank you for this information! I have been using MFP for over a year and never noticed they only calculate 15% of calories from protein!
Melinda F says
You’re very welcome! They don’t make it very clear that you’re able to customize it so just wanted to bring awareness. :)