In this series, we pull back the curtain on how real people fuel their lives with real-life food. Each weekly journal will feature a different MyFitnessPal member’s goals, habits, and meals to inspire your journey—because progress, not perfection, is what really matters.
Today, a MyFitnesspal lead engineer in Texas who is training for a half marathon and focusing on increasing his fiber intake.
Location: Austin, Texas
OCCUPATION: Lead Engineer at MyFitnessPal
Age: 38
Weekly food and grocery budget: I really don’t keep track!
Diet plan: I recently went low FODMAP
Dietary restrictions: No onion or garlic; wheat, barley and rye limited
Weekly Goals:
Weekly calorie goal: 14000
Daily macro reports: The only nutrient I focus on is fiber-doctor’s orders!
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 did anything about it until I started 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 meals in 2015 (before I worked at MyFitnessPal!) when I accidentally found myself much heavier than I thought on the inside. From then on I will check 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, some foods that most people would consider “healthy” affect my body negatively. 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 towards my healthy running weight. I’m down about 24 pounds from my weight loss goal of 30 pounds
How do you plan for life events that may affect your normal eating routine? (E.g., holidays, birthday or wedding parties, etc.)
I usually 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 have a weekend or complicated event, I usually budget for it at the beginning of the week.
How often do you eat out each week versus preparing meals at home?
I probably eat half my meals at home. I eat a lot of 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: At noon, I got a chicken bowl from Waba Grill. Lean protein, check. Rice, check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, it’s my go-to when I want something full, but not 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 you alone need the burger. There are no regrets. Total: 681 calories
Daily total: 1754 calories
Day 2
Breakfast: My favorite: instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal, topped with bananas and blueberries. Easy, reliable and gets the job done.
Lunch: I grabbed a bagel from the deli and put some cream cheese on it. Simple, easy happiness.
Dinner: I ended the day with a medium bowl of poke from the neighborhood Poke food truck. 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: 1547 calories
Weekend update
I took a little break from cutting food. Sometimes you just need to enjoy your meals without doing the math!
Day 5
Breakfast: Get back to the grind: Instant Brown Sugar and Maple Oats with Bananas and Blueberries. Why mess with perfection?
Lunch: I picked up an Italian panini from the local bodega, went with the highest verified option on the app. It hit the spot and didn’t require much effort.
Dinner: Jimmy John’s is for dinner! I went for number 7 – with bread, not a wizard. Sometimes you just need the full sandwich experience.
Daily total: 1533 calories
December 6
Breakfast: You guessed it: Blueberry Banana Brown Sugar Instant Maple Oatmeal. It is reliable and I like it.
Lunch: I leaned into my Jimmy John’s belt and ordered the Spicy East Coast Italian again – this time like a wizard. The lettuce wrap makes it feel lighter but still filling.
Dinner: Two slices of pepperoni pizza to end the day. Sometimes, pizza just calls your name. Total: 496 calories.
Daily total: 1379 calories
December 7
Breakfast: Brown sugar and maple oatmeal again, with sliced bananas and blueberries for some added whole fruit. 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 fries because, let’s be real, sandwiches are better with fries.
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: 1505 calories
The post A Week of High-Fiber Meals as a Runner appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.
