05/12/2026
When making the decision to improve your overall diet many beginners try to dial it all in at once. It’s very hard to go from the diet you’ve become accustomed to over the years, to now tracking and measuring your food like a seasoned athlete/bodybuilder in a matter of 7-14 days.
There’s a process to this that can sometimes take a while for people to figure out. Remember we are all different, we digest foods differently, have different taste buds, schedules and preferences.
Learn how to dial in the first 3 steps listed below before focusing on hitting your daily caloric goals and macronutrient ratios.
First, you need to learn how to improve your quality of food choices from your current eating habits. This can be as simple as switching from Captain Crunch and Pop Tarts to Special K cereal and a Banana to eventually something like 2-3 Eggs with a whole grain English muffin and a protein shake. But, you have to choose foods you will actually eat and enjoy! You can always make a journal listing what you eat currently for all meals and snacks and think about what other healthier options are available that interest you.
If you choose foods that help you reach your goals but you can’t stand the meals, once you hit your goal you’ll run back to your old comfort foods.
Next, once you improve the quality of food choices try to dial in your hydration goals. Women should aim for 80-100oz and Men should aim for 100-130+oz. If you drink only 30-40oz daily which many do, don’t shoot right up to those numbers or you’ll live in the bathroom. Add 10-20oz weekly until you build a tolerance. Even if you hate water like I did you’ll notice your body craving water now. The reason you don’t notice this now is because your body has become accustomed to the limited water intake you provide it. Once proper water intake is introduced your body will crave it. It’s also not normal to not have to use the bathroom every 1-3 hours. If you’re out for 3+ hours and never use the restroom that’s a bad sign.
Third step involves tracking and dialing in your protein goals. Women should aim for 120-140g daily; Men 160-200g daily.
Focus on these three steps first.