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In this series, we pull back the curtain on how real people fuel their lives with real-life nutrition. Each weekly journal will showcase another MyFitnessPal member’s nutrition goals, habits, and meals to inspire your journey—because progress, not perfection, is what really matters.
Today, a MyFitnesspal chief engineer in Texas trains for a half marathon and focuses on increasing fiber intake.
Location: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Lead Engineer at MyFitnessPal
Old age: 38
Weekly budget for groceries and food: I don’t really follow!
Nutrition plan: I recently switched to low-FODMAP
Dietary restrictions: Without onion or garlic; limited wheat, barley and rye
Weekly Goals:
Weekly calorie goal: 14,000
Daily macro ratios: The only nutrient I focus on is fibers— doctor’s orders!
A typical weekly training schedule: I run every day, about 40-50 miles every week.
When did you start learning about the importance of nutrition?
I always “knew” it was important, but I don’t think I really did anything about it until I began to realize that food can positively improve many aspects of my health.
When and why did you start food logging?
I first started logging my food in 2015 (before I even worked at MyFitnessPal!) when I accidentally found myself much heavier than I internally thought. From then on I will be checking in more or less periodically depending on my life goals.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your nutrition journey?
The foods you eat are much more than just the calories they contain. For me, certain foods that most people would consider “healthy” have a negative effect on my body. Your health is not one-dimensional.
What health or fitness goals are you working towards?
I’m training for a half marathon in January, so as part of that I’ve been working back to a healthy running weight. I am down about 24 lbs from my 30 lb weight loss goal
How do you plan for life events that may affect your normal diet? (E.g. vacations, birthdays or wedding parties, etc.)
I tend to focus more on the big picture rather than individual days or events. For example, I like to think of my calorie budget as weekly rather than daily. If I know I’m going to have a complicated weekend or event, I usually budget for it earlier in the week.
How often do you eat out each week, as opposed to preparing meals at home?
I probably eat half my meals at home. I eat a lot sandwiches.
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7 days of nutrition for real life
Day 1
breakfast: I started the day with a warm bowl of instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal — comfort food in 90 seconds. I topped it with a sliced banana and a handful of blueberries for that extra “look, I’m eating fruit!” energy. Total: 433 calories
lunch: By noon I had a chicken bowl from Waba Grill. Lean protein, check. Rice, check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, it’s my go-to when I want something filling, but I don’t also heavy. Total: 640 calories
dinner: Okay, balance. I ended the day with a medium cheeseburger and a side of crispy, straight-cut fries. Sometimes just need hamburger. No regrets. Total: 681 calories
Daily total: 1,754 calories
Day 2
breakfast: My pick: instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal, topped with banana and blueberries. Easy, reliable and gets the job done.
lunch: I grabbed a bagel from the deli and spread some cream cheese on it. Simple, carby happiness.
dinner: I ended the day with a medium poke bowl from the neighborhood Poke food truck. Ahi tuna and salmon, rice, all the toppings… Honestly, poke always feels like the right choice, even if the calories pile on a bit.
Daily total: 1,547 calories
Weekend update
I took a little nutritional break. Sometimes you just need to enjoy your meals without counting!
Day 5
breakfast: Back to routine – instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal with banana and blueberries. Why mess with perfection?
lunch: I grabbed an Italian panini from a local bodega, went with the above verified option on the app. It hit the spot and didn’t require much effort.
dinner: Jimmy John’s is having dinner! I went for number 7—with bread, not witch. Sometimes you just need the full sandwich experience.
Daily total: 1,533 calories
December 6
breakfast: You guessed it: Instant Brown Sugar Maple Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas. It’s reliable and I like it.
lunch: I relied on my Jimmy John’s streak and ordered the Spicy East Coast Italian again — this time as a witch. The lettuce wrap makes it lighter but still filling.
dinner: Two slices of pepperoni pizza to end the day. Sometimes pizza is just calling your name. Total: 496 calories.
Daily total: 1,379 calories
Dec. 7
breakfast: Instant Brown Sugar and Maple Oatmeal again, with sliced banana and blueberries for added whole fruit nutrition. Can’t beat a classic.
lunch: I stopped by Thundercloud Subs and got a New York Italian sandwich. I paired it with a side of Sun Chips because, let’s be honest, sandwiches are better with chips.
dinner: Dinner with friends at a local brewery! I kept it simple with an order of lemon pepper wings. Delicious, shareable and not too heavy.
Daily total: 1,505 calories
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