How I Actually Track My Food (And Why I Switched to MacroFactor)

June 17, 2024

Tracking your food isn’t rocket science—but doing it well is a game changer. Here’s how I figured out calorie and macro tracking without losing my mind, the apps I tried (spoiler: MacroFactor wins), and the simple workflow that keeps results coming.

Why I Started with MyFitnessPal

Back in the day, MyFitnessPal (MFP) was basically the tool everyone used to get a handle on nutrition. Huge database, easy barcode scanning, and totally free (for a while).

What worked:

• Simple barcode scanning
• Massive UK food database
• Taught me real portion sizes (turns out I was always underestimating—oops)

What annoyed me:

• Tons of inaccurate crowd-sourced entries
• Endless ads, pop-ups, and laggy UI
• More and more features locked behind paywalls (even per-meal macros!)
• No proper trend tracking or useful weight insights

Eventually, I wanted something less clunky, more accurate, and (let’s be real) less ad-infested.

Why I Switched to MacroFactor

After seeing it recommended by evidence-based fitness nerds, I gave MacroFactor a try—and honestly, it made me enjoy food tracking again.

What makes it different:

• Verified food database (no more random crowd chaos)
• Auto-adjusts macros based on actual progress
• Built-in weight trend tracking (not just raw scale numbers)
• No pressure to be perfect every day
• Zero ads, popups, or shady UX tricks
• Not free—but 100% worth it for what you get

My Current Tracking Workflow

How I log food:

• Log throughout the day (not just at night)
• Pre-log meals if I know my plan
• Weigh big items, estimate sauces/condiments
• Use frequent foods and meal templates to speed things up

How I track weight:

• Daily weigh-ins (naked, fasted, same time)
• MacroFactor’s weight trend is what I actually care about

My macro strategy:

• Focus on calories + protein—don’t stress carbs/fats to the gram
• Mostly consistent breakfast/lunch, more flexible dinner
• Fiber, hydration, and treats all factored in

My check-ins:

• Weekly review: weight trend, average calories, and consistency
• If I’m maintaining—cool. If I’m cutting/bulking—tweak and move on.

What I’ve Learned

• Consistency > perfection
• Data > effort—don’t just grind, get smarter
• Weight trends > daily fluctuations
• All foods can fit if you plan and portion
• Habits > willpower—my weekdays run on autopilot, weekends are flexible

MacroFactor vs. MyFitnessPal: Quick Comparison

| Feature | MyFitnessPal | MacroFactor | | ---------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Database Quality | Mixed / crowd-sourced | Verified & consistent | | Ads / Popups | So many | None | | Macro Adjustments | Manual only | Automatic (trend-based) | | Weight Trend Smoothing | None | Yes, built-in | | Food Logging UX | Clunky | Fast, clean, customizable | | Free Version? | Yes (limited) | No free version—but worth it |

Final Thoughts

I still recommend MyFitnessPal for beginners—it’s free, familiar, and good for learning the basics. But if you’re serious about results, hate ads, or want smarter feedback, MacroFactor is where it’s at.

It helps me focus on living and eating—not obsessing over every gram.

Nutrition isn’t a religion. Use tools that make you consistent—not anxious, stressed, or burnt out.