In this series, we take a closer look at how real people fuel their lives with real nutrition. Each weekly diary displays the eating goals, habits, and favorite meals of a different MyFitnessPal member to inspire your journey. Because progress is really more important than perfection.
Currently based in Texas, the MyFitnesspal senior engineer is training for a half marathon and focusing on increasing her fiber intake.
location: Austin, Texas
job: MyFitnessPal Chief Engineer
age: 38
Weekly Grocery and Food Budget: I don’t really keep track!
diet plan: Recently, FODMAPs have become insufficient.
dietary restrictions: There is no onion or garlic. Limited wheat, barley, rye
Weekly Goals:
weekly calorie goal: 14,000
Daily Macro Ratio: The only nutrient I focus on is fiber, which is what the doctor ordered!
Typical Weekly Exercise Schedule: I run about 40-50 miles every week.
When did you start learning about the importance of nutrition?
I always “knew” it was important, but I don’t think I really did anything about it until I realized that food could positively improve many aspects of my health.
When and why did you start recording your food?
I first started tracking my food in 2015 (before I started working at MyFitnessPal!). Then I happened to realize that I was much heavier than I thought internally. From then on, I will keep some notes periodically, depending on my life goals.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your nutrition journey?
The food you eat is more than just the calories it contains. For me, certain foods that most people consider “healthy” have a negative effect on my body. Your health is not one-dimensional.
What health or fitness-related goals are you working toward?
I’m training for a half marathon in January, so part of that is trying to maintain a healthy weight. I lost about 24 pounds of my 30 pound weight loss goal.
How do you plan for life events that may affect your normal nutritional habits? (e.g. holiday, birthday or wedding-related parties, etc.)
I generally focus more on the big picture rather than individual days or events. For example, I like to think of it as a weekly calorie budget rather than a daily calorie budget. If I have a busy weekend or event coming up, I usually set my budget at the beginning of the week.
How often do you eat out each week? Or do you eat at home?
I probably eat half of my meals at home. I eat a lot of sandwiches.
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High-protein meals for a week from a nutritionist in Boston >
7 days of nutrition for everyday life
Day 1
morning: I started my day with a bowl of warm instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal. It’s a meal you can comfortably eat in 90 seconds. I topped it with sliced bananas and a few blueberries to give it that extra “I’m eating fruit!” vibe. energy. Total: 433 calories
lunch: Around noon, I bought a bowl of chicken from Waba Grill. Lean protein, check it out. Rice, check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, this is the place I go when I want something to fill me up but I don’t. ~ degrees heavy. Total: 640 calories
dinner: Okay, strike a balance. I finished the day with a medium cheeseburger and crispy, straight-cut fries. Sometimes you just necessary Burger. Don’t regret it. Total: 681 calories
Daily Total: 1,754 calories
Day 2
morning: My favorite dish is instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal topped with banana and blueberries. It’s easy, reliable, and gets the job done.
lunch: I picked up a bagel from the deli and topped it with cream cheese. Simple and kavy happiness.
dinner: I ended the day with a medium poke bowl from a local poke food truck. Ahi tuna, salmon, rice, all toppings… Honestly, poke always feels like the right choice, even if it piles on a few calories.
Daily total: 1,547 calories
weekend update
I took a break to document my food for a while. Sometimes you just want to enjoy your meal without paying!
Day 5
morning: Get back to your routine and enjoy maple oatmeal with instant brown sugar, banana and blueberries. Why mess with perfection?
lunch: I bought an Italian panini at my local grocery store and chose the most tried-and-true option on the app. It fit into place and didn’t require much effort.
dinner: Jimmy John’s has dinner! I chose number 7 with bread. Not a witch. Sometimes you just need the full sandwich experience.
Daily Total: 1,533 calories
December 6th
morning: You guessed it: Instant brown sugar maple oatmeal with blueberries and bananas. It’s reliable and I like it.
lunch: I leaned into Jimmy John’s flavor streak and this time, as a witch, I ordered the Spicy East Coast Italian. Wrapping lettuce makes it lighter and more filling.
dinner: Two slices of pepperoni pizza to end the day. Sometimes pizza calls your name. Total calories: 496 calories.
Daily Total: 1,379 calories
December 7th
morning: Instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal is made with sliced bananas and blueberries for added whole fruit nutrition. You can’t beat the classics.
lunch: I stopped by Thundercloud Subs and picked up a New York Italian sandwich. I paired it with a side of Sun Chips. Because realistically, chips are better on a sandwich.
dinner: Dinner with friends at a local brewery! I simply ordered lemon pepper wings. It’s delicious, easy to share, and not too heavy.
Daily Total: 1,505 calories
The post One Week in Fiber-Rich Eating as a Runner appeared first on the MyFitnessPal blog.
