We’ve all been there—logging every bite, scanning barcodes like it’s a part-time job, and obsessively trying to hit a magical calorie number that changes as often as your mood. But what if this so-called “wellness tool” is quietly hijacking your relationship with food?
In The Food Tracking Trap, I break down why popular apps like MyFitnessPal might be less of a health ally and more like that toxic ex who promises self-improvement but delivers anxiety and guilt.
1. The Illusion of Precision These apps love to dish out hyper-specific calorie goals—as if 1,847 is the golden number that unlocks your best self. But bodies aren’t machines, and they definitely don’t reboot at midnight. Our metabolism is more like jazz than algebra: improvisational, intuitive, and responsive to everything from stress to sleep.
2. “Accountability” or Red Flag Energy? We’re told that logging keeps us accountable. But accountable to what—a formula generated by a Silicon Valley tech bro who’s never heard of your menstrual cycle or your Monday stress snack? Real accountability honors hunger cues and satisfaction, not a pixelated number on your screen.
3. Mindfulness ≠ Micromanagement True mindfulness means experiencing your food—not doing mental gymnastics about whether three almonds will blow your macro budget. When we hand decision-making over to apps, we trade in body wisdom for spreadsheet thinking.
4. The Control Paradox Ironically, the more we track, the more out of control we often feel. One “off-plan” slice of birthday cake, and suddenly we’re in binge-and-repent mode. Your body isn’t betraying you—it’s tired of being micromanaged and is staging a well-earned rebellion.
5. Your Body: The OG Smart System You were born knowing how much to eat. Babies don’t track macros, yet somehow grow just fine. Ignoring your body’s hunger cues in favor of data-driven rules creates confusion—and disconnects you from signals that are more sophisticated than your phone’s latest update.
Here’s the kicker: food tracking isn’t inherently evil, but when it becomes the boss, you lose the plot. Trusting your body may sound radical in a world obsessed with numbers, but it’s also the most grounded, biological truth we’ve got.
Want to ditch diet jail and reclaim your intuition? Hit play on the video and let’s break up with food math—together.