The chart above shows my nutrition summary for the week. I have to admit that all week long it has felt extremely narcissistic to talk about my quinoa diet every day. Now, showing you this and putting it all out for the whole world to see is somewhat embarrassing. I didn’t get enough of a lot of key nutrients, and I have a long way to go before I should talk about the plank in anyone’s eye. Still, sharing this with you helps me feel accountable, and I am so grateful that you have indulged me this week.
In the end, I hope I am doing this for you too.
I hope that maybe you will be inspired, not to go on a diet, but to simply track your meals for a week or two and see how the foods you eat match up with the goals you set for your nutrition.
What I Learned
The main thing I have learned this week is that I am often wrong about how my daily calories have been distributed. On one level, I might know how a particular food will affect my totals, but I fail when I try to add them all up in my head. Yesterday, I was certain I had maxed out my carbs, and yet, it turns out I didn’t even consume the minimum. Until I plug the foods in the tracker, I cannot be sure.
Consider tracking your nutrition against recommendations so you can:
- See where you waste calories.
- Learn where your diet is deficient.
- Understand portion sizes.
Don’t have a nutrition tracker? Check out the one at SparkPeople.com. It’s free and comprehensive. In fact, the nutrition tracker is but one feature of this site. You will also find motivational groups, fitness videos, and recipes. I have been a member for over four years, and I have found it to be a tremendous resource. By the way, if you join SparkPeople through that referral link, I will earn ten points toward my next trophy.
If you do check out SparkPeople.com, please come back and let me know in the comments what you thought of its features.
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