Breaking Up with Dieting for Good: How Counting Macros Led Me to Food Freedom
Let’s be real: breaking up is usually messy. But when I decided to break up with dieting, it felt more like getting out of a toxic relationship — one I should’ve walked away from a long time ago.
For years, I was stuck in a negative relationship with food that developed into an eating disorder. I would follow “healthy diets” that appeared inclusive of all foods on the outside but on the inside, I was miserable. I heavily restricted certain foods and if I ate them, I got a beating from my ED. I felt guilt and shame for enjoying homemade Christmas cookies and don’t even ask me about liquid calories! Sound familiar? It felt like I was sprinting on a treadmill that never actually took me anywhere — just exhaustion, frustration, and a whole lot of negative self-talk.
Until I found something different. Something that actually worked.
That something was counting macros — and before you roll your eyes and think, "Ugh, another numbers game," stick with me. Because this isn't just another diet. It's the total opposite.
Why Counting Macros Changed Everything
Instead of slashing calories, demonizing carbs, or surviving on sad little salads, counting macros taught me how to fuel my body — not punish it. I learned that as long as I stayed close to my totals, I would be able to achieve my goals and hit my macros any way I wanted to.
Macros (short for macronutrients) are the three main building blocks of food: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Our bodies need all three to thrive. When I started tracking my macros, I realized that no food was off-limits. Carbs weren’t evil. Fats weren’t scary. And protein wasn’t just for bodybuilders. Every food had a place.
Instead of feeling guilty every time I ate a cookie or had a slice of pizza, I learned to balance those foods into my daily goals — guilt-free. Diet culture lost its power over me. No more “good” days vs. “bad” days. No more "falling off the wagon." Just real, sustainable habits that made me feel strong, energized, and, honestly, happier than I'd felt in years.
Food freedom isn’t just a cute Instagram hashtag — it’s real, and it’s life-changing. For me, it looks like:
Enjoying brunch with friends without a second thought.
Eating a slice of birthday cake because I want to. I have a friend who bakes and my rule is if she is baking for an event we’re going to, I’m gonna eat that.
Having the energy to crush a workout instead of feeling drained by starvation diets.
Seeing legitimate progress in the gym regarding muscle mass.
Trusting my body enough to listen to it — and knowing it won’t betray me.
Counting macros helped me rebuild trust with food, with my body, and, most importantly, with myself. It taught me that I didn’t need another diet. I needed a new mindset — one rooted in abundance, not restriction.
Ready to Break Up with Dieting Too?
If you're tired of the endless cycle — the rules, the guilt, the fear — I want you to know: there’s another way. You don't have to live trapped in diet culture forever.
You can learn to nourish your body, enjoy your favorite foods, and hit your goals without feeling like you’re constantly battling yourself.
I’d love to help you break up with your diet forever and start building sustainable nutrition habits! Fill out the form below to get started on your journey.