Lesson 3: How to Track Without Going Crazy

What Is a Calorie?

• Calories are a unit of energy. Understanding them helps you make informed choices about what and how much to eat.

1. Why Track?

   • Tracking gives you awareness of your intake, helping you adjust habits to support your goals.

   • Focus on tracking major components: protein, carbs, fats, and calories.

2. Keep It Simple:

   • Start by tracking one meal or one day a week—progress over perfection.

   • Use modern tools like apps with photo recognition (e.g., SnapCalorie) to make tracking faster and less tedious.

3. Avoid Common Tracking Mistakes:

   • Most calorie tracking is off because we forget about licks, tastes, and bites—those small, mindless extras that add up quickly.

4. Build Awareness with a Calorie Goal:

   • Learn how to calculate your calorie needs using the attached PDF, or use your app’s built-in calculator to determine your target.

   • Knowing your calorie target makes tracking more purposeful and effective.