Why I Started Tracking Macros
As I write this, there are just 67 days left until my Spartan Sprint Race in October. One of my main goals for this race was to shed some weight before race day. Despite eating healthy and sticking to a consistent exercise routine, my weight loss progress was stagnant. I realized that I needed a more structured approach to my diet, so I decided to focus on tracking my macros—a method I had heard many people had success with. I figured it was worth a try!
What Are Macros?
Before diving into my review of the Mealtivity app, let's quickly cover what macros are. Macronutrients, or macros, are the fundamental components of our diet that play a crucial role in balancing nutrition and managing weight. The three primary macros are:
- Protein: Essential for muscle repair and growth.
- Carbohydrates: The body's main energy source.
- Fats: Important for hormone regulation, cell health, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Understanding these macros allows you to tailor your diet to meet specific goals such as weight loss, maintenance, or muscle gain. To effectively track macros, I decided to use the Mealtivity app. After using it for a couple of weeks, here’s my take on it.
What Is Mealtivity?
Mealtivity is a user-friendly app designed to help you track your macros throughout the day. The app calculates your macro needs based on your goals and activity levels. You can either scan your food with a barcode scanner or enter it manually.
One of the standout features is its comprehensive Recipe section. Each recipe includes a macro breakdown, and you can adjust ingredients to suit your preferences, which adds flexibility to your diet.
The app also features a "My Progress" page where you can input your weight, body fat percentage, and measurements. It tracks these metrics and generates charts to help you monitor your progress.
Mealtivity Pros
After a couple of weeks of using Mealtivity, here are some benefits I’ve noticed:
- Ease of Use: Logging food is straightforward and quick. You can scan items or enter them manually. The app saves recent entries for even faster tracking.
- Extensive Recipe Database: The app offers a wide range of recipes with macro breakdowns. You can easily customize ingredients and adjust your daily meals accordingly.
- User-Friendly Interface: The home screen and other sections are clear and easy to navigate. The app prominently displays your remaining daily macro targets, which helps keep you on track.
- Effective Tracking: You can input and track various metrics like weight, body fat, and measurements. The app generates charts to visualize your progress.
- Supportive Community: Joining the Mealtivity Facebook group provides access to recipe reviews, tips, and app-related advice from other users.
Mealtivity Cons
One drawback I’ve encountered so far is the cost. The app is priced at $19.99 per month or $9.99 per month if you pay annually. Since I’m currently testing it out, I chose the monthly plan. If I decide to continue using it long-term, I’ll switch to the annual plan to save money. For those on a tighter budget, free or lower-cost alternatives might be worth considering. I’ll provide an update on my decision in a few months.
My Results So Far
The first week was quite surprising. I followed the app’s macro recommendations and was skeptical about consuming 3027 calories on training days (with 327 carbs, 225 protein, and 91 fat grams). Despite my concerns about the high carb intake, I lost 2 pounds that week. This was a contrast to my previous experience, where eating fewer carbs hadn’t yielded any weight loss. I took a brief break during a vacation but am now back on track and eager to see how things unfold in the coming weeks.
The Verdict
Although it's still early days with Mealtivity, it appears to be a valuable tool in my fitness journey. If the monthly cost fits your budget, the app offers excellent features for tracking macros and staying on target. Since I’m just beginning with Mealtivity, this is only the first part of my review. Stay tuned for part 2, where I’ll share my continued progress and experiences with the app!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of my review! In about 40 days, I’ll update you on my results and overall thoughts on Mealtivity.
