“I stopped trying to eat perfectly — I just started eating like someone who actually trains.”

When I first started lifting, I thought food was supposed to be this strict, scientific thing. Chicken, rice, broccoli, every day, every meal. I’d open MyFitnessPal like it was the Bible — logging every bite, feeling guilty if I went even a few calories “over.” It worked for a while, but I was miserable. I’d do great all week, then completely crash on the weekend.

Now it’s different. I don’t track, I don’t obsess, and I don’t try to be perfect. I just eat like someone who actually trains — enough protein, real meals, no extremes. My breakfast is usually oats with some whey and fruit. Lunch is something basic like rice, chicken, and veggies. Dinner changes — sometimes pasta, sometimes wraps, sometimes takeout if I’m busy. I don’t care as long as it fits my day and makes me feel good.

The biggest change wasn’t in what I ate, but how I thought about it. I stopped putting food into “good” or “bad” boxes. Now it’s just: does this help me feel better and train better? If yes, I eat it. Simple as that. Once I stopped punishing myself for eating a burger or missing a meal, everything became easier.

It’s funny — when I stopped chasing the perfect plan, I finally found consistency. No more guilt, no more binge cycles, no more starting over every Monday. Just eating like a normal person who trains.

“If you can’t stick to it on a bad day, it’s not a good plan.”

Food used to stress me out. Now it’s just part of the process.

I don’t eat perfectly, and I never will — but I eat in a way that helps me feel strong, clear-headed, and actually enjoy my life.