This series pulls back the curtain on how real people fuel their lives with real nutrition. Each week’s diary features dietary goals, habits, and meal recommendations from different MyFitnessPal members to inspire your own journey. Because what really matters is progress, not perfection.
Currently, the MyFitnesspal Principal Engineer in Texas is training for a half marathon and focusing on increasing his fiber intake.
position: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Lead Engineer of MyFitnessPal
year:38
Weekly grocery and food budget: I’m not tracking you at all!
diet plan: I have recently become low FODMAP.
dietary restrictions: No onions or garlic are used. Limit wheat, barley, and rye
Weekly goals:
weekly calorie goal:14,000
Daily macro ratio: The only nutrient I focus on is fiber – what the doctor ordered!
Typical weekly training schedule: I run about 40-50 miles every day, 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 started realizing that food can actively improve many aspects of my health. .
When and why did you start food logging?
I first started tracking my food in 2015 (before I worked at MyFitnessPal!) when I accidentally discovered that I weighed a lot more than I secretly believed. Since then, I’ve started recording more or less regularly depending on my life goals.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your journey into nutrition?
The food you eat contains more than just calories. In my case, certain foods that most people consider “healthy” have a negative effect on my body. Your health is not one-dimensional.
What health and fitness-related goals are you working on?
I’m training for a half marathon in January, so part of that is working on getting back to a healthy running 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., vacations, birthday or wedding-related parties, etc.)?
I usually focus on the big picture rather than individual days or events. For example, I like to think about my calorie budget on a weekly basis rather than daily. If I know I have a complicated weekend or event, I usually budget at the beginning of the week.
How often do you eat out per week compared to cooking meals at home?
I think I eat half of my meals at home. I eat a lot of sandwiches.
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7 days of nutrition for real life
Day 1
breakfast: I started my day with a warm bowl of instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal. Comfort food that can be eaten in 90 seconds. I topped it with sliced bananas and a handful of blueberries to give it the impression that I was eating fruit! energy. Total: 433 calories
lunch: By noon, I got a chicken bowl at Waba Grill. Lean protein, check it out. Rice, please check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, I usually use it when I want something filling but it’s not. Too heavy. Total: 640 calories
dinner: Now, balance. I ended the day with a medium cheeseburger and crispy straight cut fries. Sometimes you just need Burger. No regrets. Total: 681 calories
Daily total: 1,754 calories
2nd day
breakfast: My favorite is the instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal with banana and blueberry toppings. It’s easy, reliable, and gets the job done.
lunch: I bought a bagel from the deli and slathered it with cream cheese. Simple, curvy happiness.
dinner: I ended my day with a medium poke bowl from my local poke food truck. Ahi tuna and salmon, rice, all the toppings… Honestly, poke always feels like the right choice, even if it’s a little higher in calories.
Daily total: 1,547 calories
weekend update
I took a short break from food tracking. Sometimes you just need to enjoy your meal without doing the math.
Day 5
breakfast: Let’s get back to the routine. Instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal with banana and blueberries. Why mess with perfection?
lunch: I chose an Italian panini at a local bodega and selected the most tested option on the app. It worked on the spot and didn’t require much effort.
dinner: Jimmy John’s for dinner! I chose number 7, not the witch, but with bread. Sometimes you just want the full sandwich experience.
Daily total: 1,533 calories
December 6th
breakfast: You guessed it: instant brown sugar maple oatmeal with blueberries and bananas. I can trust it and I like it.
lunch: I leaned into Jimmy John’s and ordered the spicy East Coast Italian again. This time as a witch. It’s wrapped in lettuce, so it’s light but filling.
dinner: End your day with two pepperoni pizzas. Sometimes pizza calls your name. Total: 496 calories.
Daily total: 1,379 calories
December 7th
breakfast: Add whole fruit nutrition to instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal with sliced bananas and blueberries. You can’t beat the classics.
lunch: I stopped by Thundercloud Subs and purchased a New York Italian sandwich. I paired it with sun chips because, to be honest, sandwiches taste better with chips.
dinner: Dinner with friends at a local brewery! I simply ordered lemon pepper wings. It’s delicious, shareable, and not too heavy.
Daily total: 1,505 calories
The post How to Eat a Fiber-Rich Week as a Runner first appeared on MyFitnessPal Blog.
