In this series, we pull back the curtain on how real people feed their lives with real food. Each weekly journal will showcase another MyFitnessPal member’s nutritional goals, habits, and meals to inspire your own journey—because progress, not perfection, is what truly matters.
Today, he is the chief engineer of MyFitnesspal in Texas, training for a half marathon and focusing on increasing fiber intake.
Place: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Chief Engineer at MyFitnessPal
Age: 38
Weekly budget for groceries and food: I don’t really follow!
Diet plan: I recently went low FODMAP
Dietary restrictions: Without onions and garlic; limited wheat, barley and rye
Weekly goals:
Weekly calorie goal: 14,000
Daily macro ratios: The only nutrient I’m focused on is fiber— medical instructions!
A typical weekly workout 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 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 cutting food?
I first started logging my food in 2015 (before I even worked at MyFitnessPal!) when I accidentally discovered that I was much heavier than I internally thought. From then on, I will periodically check in more or less depending on my life goals.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your nutrition journey?
The food you eat is much more than the calories it contains. 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’m working on getting back to my healthy running weight. I’m down about 24lb from my 30lb weight loss goal
How do you plan for life events that may affect your normal eating routine? (E.g. vacation, birthday or wedding parties, etc.)
I tend to focus more on the big picture than on 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 plan it earlier in the week.
How often do you eat out each week and not prepare meals at home?
I probably eat half my meals at home. I eat a lot sandwiches.
You might also like it
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—90-second comfort food. I put a sliced banana and a handful of blueberries on top for that extra “look, I’m eating fruit!” energy. Total: 433 calories
Lunch: By noon I had grabbed a chicken bowl from Waba Grill. Lean proteins, check. Rice, check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, it’s my go-to when I want something filling, but no also trying. Total: 640 calories
Dinner: Okay, balance. I ended the day with a medium burger with cheese and a side of crispy, straight-cut fries. Sometimes just need hamburger. No regrets. Total: 681 calories
Daily total: 1,754 calories
2nd day
Breakfast: My choice: 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 slathered myself with cream cheese. Simple, carby happiness.
Dinner: I ended the day with a medium poke bowl from the Poke food truck next door. Ahi tuna and salmon, rice, all the toppings… Honestly, poke always seems like the right choice, even if the calories pile up a bit.
Daily total: 1,547 calories
Weekend update
I took a little break for food. 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, took the best verified option on the app. It hit the spot and didn’t require much effort.
Dinner: Jimmy John’s is for dinner! I chose number 7—with the bread, not the witch. Sometimes you just need the full sandwich experience.
Daily total: 1,533 calories
December 6
Breakfast: You guessed it: Brown Sugar Maple Instant Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas. It’s reliable and I like it.
Lunch: I leaned on my Jimmy John and ordered the Spicy East Coast Italian again — this time as a non-expert. The lettuce wrap makes it lighter but still filling.
Dinner: Two slices of pepperoni pizza to end the day. Sometimes pizza just calls you. Total: 496 calories.
Daily total: 1379 calories
December 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 face it, sandwiches are better with chips.
Dinner: Dinner with friends at a local brewery! I kept it simple with an order of Lemon Pepper Wings. Tasty, shareable and not too heavy.
Daily total: 1,505 calories
Fast A week of high-fiber meals like a runner appeared first on MyFitnessPal blog.
