Authored by: Amber Brueseke, BSN, CPT, Chief Macro Scientist & Owner of Biceps After Babies
Picture this: It’s 7 PM, you’ve just finished dinner, and the last thing you want to do is spend 20 minutes logging your food. But what if I told you it could take less than 10?
We’re all short on time. Between work, family, and trying to squeeze in a workout, finding a few extra minutes can feel impossible. So when it comes to macro counting, I totally get it—you might be saying, "I barely have time to cook, let alone track my food!"
So, how much time does it really take to count macros? And here’s the big question—does it work?
If something takes time but gets results, we usually find a way to do it. But if it’s just busy work, who needs that?
Let’s tackle these two questions, starting with the time commitment.
I can tell you how long it takes me, but I wanted to know how long it takes others. So, I asked my Instagram followers. The results were surprising.
What’s the secret? How do 50% of responders log their food in under 10 minutes?
After talking to many women who track macros, I found four reasons why some can log their food in less than 10 minutes a day. If you’re short on time, these tips can help you go faster.
Reason 1: Familiarity with Your Go-To Foods
If you eat the same meals often or have a list of favorite foods, you can log much faster. Save your meals or frequently used items in your tracking app. This way, you spend less time searching and more time enjoying your food.
Reason 2: Mastering Your Tracking App
People who know how to use their tracking app’s features—like barcode scanning, creating custom meals, or copying previous entries, or my favorite, simply speaking your foods into MacrosFirst using AI Search—save a lot of time. Once you learn the shortcuts, logging gets easy.
Reason 3: Planning and Preparation
Planning your meals ahead or batch cooking can make a big difference. By logging everything at once, either before you eat or all at once for the day, you spend less time logging and stay on track with your macros.
Reason 4: Embracing Imperfection
Perfection isn’t the goal—consistency is. Those who stop worrying about logging every single gram or hitting their macros perfectly often log much faster. This shift in thinking not only saves time but also reduces stress, making the process easier and more enjoyable.
Is It Worth the Time?
Now that we’ve discussed how to make tracking faster, is it worth your time?
The short answer is yes. Here’s why.
First, tracking your macros lets you lose weight and gain muscle without cutting out your favorite foods. Unlike strict diets that make you give up certain foods, macro tracking lets you enjoy what you love while still reaching your goals. It’s about balance, not cutting out.
Second, macro tracking helps ensure that more of the weight you lose is fat, not muscle. By getting the right balance of protein, carbs, and fats, you keep lean muscle while losing fat. This not only improves how your body looks but also helps your metabolism, making it easier to maintain your results.
Finally, one of the best things about macro tracking is how it changes your relationship with food. Instead of seeing food as “good” or “bad,” you start to see it as fuel for your body. This shift can be really empowering, helping you build a healthier, more lasting way of eating.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! While it might feel like just another task on your already busy list, macro tracking doesn’t have to take up much time. By using a few simple strategies, you can log your food in less than 10 minutes a day, making it easier to stay on track with your goals.
And when you think about the benefits—enjoying your favorite foods while losing weight and gaining muscle, making sure the weight you lose is mostly fat, and building a healthier relationship with food—it’s clear that the time you spend tracking your macros is time well spent.
Ready to take control of your nutrition and see real results? Start by making macro tracking a part of your daily routine. With a little practice, you’ll find it’s one of the most valuable tools in your fitness plan.
Ready to learn more?
Ready to make tracking your food easier and faster? Join the FREE 5-Day Tracking Challenge from September 9th-13th! In just five days, you’ll gain the confidence to log your food like a pro and uncover valuable insights about your nutrition.