Macros have become “the thing” recently. That’s all people talk about. And I’m continuously asked what my macros are. I want to make something clear: I don’t count macros. I don’t know how to and I don’t want to. In the past I’ve counted calories, I’ve weighed and measured my food when I did zone, and when I did those things, I was never happy. I was actually pretty unhappy. I was obsessive, I didn’t want to go out with friends and I was even more frustrated when I didn’t see my body change when I was putting SO much work into it.
I’m not saying this because I don’t think macros are helpful. I’m sure they are for lots of people. I’m saying this because I want people to know that there is freedom outside of obsessing over numbers. I don’t obsess over how much protein or carbs or fat or sugar. I don’t eat crappy food because it “fits within my macros.” I just try to balance it out. Sure, sometimes I indulge in gluten free foods like when I had a mimosa and chicken chilaquiles at brunch yesterday. But it’s all balances out by the continual smart decisions I make with my other meals. For me, it’s not about perfection or how many ounces of meat I have. It’s about eating healthy food on a regular basis and listening to what my body needs and is craving.
So if you’re still trying to find your balance, not sure where to look and you’re thinking macros since it’s the new thing right now, just know that I have found a balanced life without numbers or tracking or obsessing. Sure, it’s taken me some time and some trial and error to get there, but don’t get discouraged thinking that counting is the only way to stay in shape or reach your goals. Because I firmly believe that’s not true. Just my perspective! Working hard on a regular basis, resting, eating well, and being kind to your body WILL PAY OFF. Remember that!
Sunday – Rest day
Monday –
Every 30 sec for 10 mins: 1 Squat Clean @ 70%. All reps must have a 3 sec pause at knee. – I used 105#
Then @ 0:00 Sprint 400m For Time. MAX EFFORT!!! – I got 1:25
@ 4:00 Sprint 400m For Time. MAX EFFORT!!! – I got 1:28
** Both times recorded!
Lastly – 6 min AMRAP Of: (from CF Linchpin)
4 Lateral Burpees Over Bar
2 Power Cleans (185/135)
I honestly do not remember what I got. No idea!
Tuesday –
20 mins Moving With Purpose
– Accumulate 1 min in OH Hold (1 rep max strict press weight) – I used 90#
– 16 Double KB Front Rack Lunges (2 x 70/55) – Must go unbroken! – I used 35#KB’s
– 30 Kipp Swings on Rings Or Bar. Every 10 swings perform 1 Muscle Up or Pull Up. Hold on entire set!!! – I did pull ups
Then 10 min Partner AMRAP Of:
20 Wall Ball
Max Cal Row
* Score is total Cals per pair. One person completes 20 Wall Ball while the other rows. Once 20 wall ball have been completed partners swap.
Me and my partner got 104 calories on the rower
Wednesday – See movements here
Deadlift: 4 x 7. All sets at 75% (13 mins) with a 3 second descent – I used 165#
Then 3 Rounds For Time Of: (17 min Time Cap)
50 Double Unders
30 Toes 2 Bar
25 Cal Air Bike
20 Push Jerks (135/95)
I got 2 rounds + 87 reps using 85#
Thursday – Rest day
Friday –
10 Rounds For Time Of: (10 min Time Cap)
6 Strict HSPU
6 Strict Hollow Pull Ups
I got 7 rounds
Then 2 Rounds For Time Of: (19 min time cap)
400m Run
15 Thrusters (115/75)
– 1 min REST –
500m Row
15 Thrusters (115/75)
– 1 min REST –
I finished in 15:21 rx
Saturday –
5 rounds of:
400m run
40 air squats
20 deadlift (185/125)
I finished in 19:35 using 105#
_______________
At Home/Hotel Gym Workout:
Modified from Saturday’s workout!
5 rounds:
400m run
40 air squats
15/15 bulgarian split squats (weighted, if possible)
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GREAT POST! Thank you for the advice and inspiration.
Thank you for this. While counting macros does “work”, it personally made me miserable. I spent too much time thinking about calculations and balancing my macros “just right”. It wasn’t healthy for me mentally
Thank you for sharing your perspectives and your life with us. Your transparency with your lifestyle gives me inspiration and ideas for how I can be a healthier person in any situation I find myself in, whether its out at a restaurant or on vacation. There is a lot of health advice out there, but the most valuable to me is seeing you live it out day-to-day. Thank you Juli!!
thanks so much for the support, jenica!
Your perspective on eating and food is inspiring and so greatly appreciated! Thank you for opening up and addressing this. I often think people who are out on the internet and touting macros still have not dealt with underlying ED issues. No judgment if they haven’t but it is just hard to not that it infiltrate what you do. Thank you again!
Thank you for this post, it comes at the perfect time for me. On Friday, I made the decision to stop counting macros after tracking religiously for 6 months. Although I made a lot of progress with it physically, it started to mess with my mind and my relationship with food became very unhealthy. I was anxious and obsessive about eating. I constantly thought about food and spent a ridiculous amount of time measuring and tracking. Deleting the My Fitness Pal app was hard but I’m already thinking about food less frequently (and spending less time on my phone too). I need to relearn how to eat when I’m hungry rather than eating at programmed times (and never knowing when I’m actually hungry or just bored). Time to be good to my mind, eat good food, and stop driving myself crazy. Your post is such positive reinforcement, thank you!
that’s how i was too! i had lost all hunger cues and really didn’t regain those feelings back until i stopped thinking about food. hope the same happens for you!
Absolutely agree! I was constantly thinking about food and how to squeeze in an evening snack when I was tracking. I would even get stressed if all of my macros were used up by dinner time.
Now that I’m doing more paleo style i have my cues back too! I feel full after dinner and often don’t even think about an evening snack.
Hey girl! Thank you so much for the “real talk” regarding weight, body image, and food. So refreshing. I too have struggled with such issues and also did the whole macro thing for a while. Long story short, it doesn’t work for me. I become crazy and obsessive about hitting numbers. No bueno. I’m now trying a more intuitive approach to my eating. Any advice? It’s hard to go from restriction to none at all. That being said, I have a couple of questions for you. I never see you post fruit, nuts, or stuff with artificial sweeteners in it. Has eliminating these foods helped? Thank you and keep up the great work! You are an inspiration to us all.
i think cutting out those things definitely helps. i don’t eat much fruit because i know i can get the same nutrients but without the sugar in the form of veggies so i just stick with that (and i just don’t crave fruit, i would rather have chocolate if i’m eating something sweet) and i cut out nuts probably 4 or so years ago because my digestive tract or skin doesn’t agree with it. i still have nuts here and there, but they aren’t part of my weekly diet. let me know if you have other questions! hope i can help with that transition!
Thanks for this, I was actually going to ask you about macros because a lot of people in my gym seem to be doing it lately. I had the same experience with counting cals and weighing food – it made me neurotic and I started having bouts of binge eating that I never had before. I think clean / intuitive eating is the way to be the most healthy both physically and mentally. Thanks for setting such a great example!
I thought about macros for a second, but like you said, I didn’t want to become obsessive and to me, then your whole day revolves around tracking your food. Plus, I had concerns about weighing/measuring food in front of my young daughter- I didn’t think that sent the right message. Just eating really food, and treats in moderation sounds much better to me!
katie, thank you for thinking about that first and foremost. i was brought up around people who obsessed about food and weight and i think that led to a lot of the issues i had because of it (obviously can’t blame that all on it, but it definitely didn’t help) so thinking about your daughter first is truly awesome. if you can teach your children a good relationship with food, that is huge!
Hear, hear, Katie! I feel the same way about wanting my kids to have a good relationship with food as they grow up and worrying that they might get messed up from watching their mom weigh, measure, and track every gram, especially since I am already within a healthy weight range for my height. They are not babies anymore, and they do notice and pay attention to all that we are doing around them! But sometimes I feel like ours must be the minority position on this topic, because I *rarely* hear this viewpoint mentioned. I get it, it’s a complex issue – like if someone really needs to lose a significant amount of weight for health reasons, then maybe that is different. But for me, I go out of my way never to talk bad about my body, or mention wanting to lose weight in front of my kids (even though, like most American women, I’d always love to shed a few pounds!), so being so meticulous and precise about my food intake could send an inconsistent, and possibly confusing or even damaging, message. Anyway, I’m with you, and I think more parents should think like this, mindful of the watchful eyes of their children.
Ai Julie . You are always such an encouragement to me. I am JUST.SO.TIRED of counting, and measuring, and weighing…. Aghhh and I am STILL not happy with my look! You are right. It is very frustrating:( I just don’t know where my balance is yet:( I am a crazy foodie, and probably like my tequila too much, but I am trying. I would lovvveee to be where you are. But me right now, work hard 4/5 days a week and then play 2. And we also travel a ton- and those are always play /indulge days. So I guess my pleasure outweighs my work….. I eat paleo 80/20 and also do crossfit. Which translates to 80 paleo, 20 crap….But I am stuck at the body like the pic no 3 you posted previously …. I I dunno how to get out!! So when you say you eat no crap food. What exactly does that mean? No gluten, no processed, no refined sugar, very little alcohol? And when you say you “cheat” sometimes (I know you hate that word lol) What does that mean? A little slack on alcohol, maybe some cheetos and a snickers? Or does that mean some creamy dairy desert with dark chocolate? Bc I feel like i do right 80% of the time and can let go and live my life 20% of the time- but still no results- arrrr. No bikinis for the most part for sure????
lol i do hate that word. to me, alcohol is a cheat because it has no needed nutrients. but another cheat i would have is a piece of real cake at a wedding or special event or a bite or two of something with gluten in it like a donut, but that’s very rare. never am i eating cheetos or snickers, no way jose! processed foods like that are just gross to me at this point, I would much rather have a baked good from a little bakery then have a candy bar. hope that helps!
I do renaissance periodization which involves a lot of counting plus nutrient timing. It has taken me months to get used to it, but it works pretty well for me as far as improving my body composition. It is a lot of work and rewuites SO much planning and meal prepping, but I am someone who is truly awful at intuitive eating. Without tracking every single bite I eat throughout the day, I usually end up eating half of my calories from fat and feeling sluggish in workouts and looking “fluffy”. I am still trying to figure out what works best for me though. Because my workouts suffer when I actually drop any weight. It’s like my body refuses to perform well at anything other than exactly what I weigh right now. My body composition is changing for the better, but I still weigh a ton. I have been trying to get lighter to improve my gymnastics in crossfit (I can’t do strict HSPU at all and I’m so embarrassed by that).
Lisa! I’m RP too! I love this blog and I lost the bulk of my weight (like, 80 lbs) doing paleo/Whole30, intuitive eating. But I found when I got to this last 10-20lbs I just couldn’t get it done without dialing in what I was actually consuming. Adding back rice has been a godsend for me. And I love that RP makes the counting a bit more manageable than trying to figure it all out on my own. I still eat mostly paleo (plus rice and occasional dairy), and I love it…feel like I’ve found a happy medium that is helping me meet my goals!