I Took Calorie Counting Too Far: Here's Why
Ever felt anxious about eating something because you couldn’t track it perfectly? I was the epitome of that guy in 2019. Here’s my journey from obsessive calorie tracking to finding a healthy balance—and how you can too.
Between the summer of 2018 and March 2020, just before I began my 1-2-1 online fitness coaching, I went through an extremely rigid training and nutrition phase.
It was partly a reaction to a long, two-year injury, a wild study-abroad year in the USA, and a month of travelling around Europe. All of that made it hard to dedicate the level of attention I wanted to my health and fitness. So, once the injuries and the wild American college parties were behind me, I finally had the chance to focus properly on my training.
And focus, I did.
I trained six to seven days weekly, lifting heavy and pushing nearly every set to failure. I meticulously tracked every single calorie, protein, carb, and fat gram—so much so that I could fall within a 5g range of each macronutrient almost perfectly.
Sound familiar? Maybe you've tried to track your nutrition perfectly too—worrying about every detail. It can feel exhausting, right?
At one point in 2019, my calories went as high as 4,300 daily—my metabolism was in a wild place, and my progress showed it. I was the strongest I'd ever been, maxing out (or nearly maxing out) most of the machines at my gym: the cable row, chest press, lat pulldown—you name it.
Visually, my progress was unmistakable. For the first time, I even had people question if I was natural, and two or three brought up the subject of anabolics. That felt pretty surreal.
But looking back, I can confidently say that I was doing way too much. Training nearly every day of the week and pushing every set to failure? It was a recipe for unnecessary strain. I remember random joint niggles, like my left elbow acting up overnight, and being baffled as to why. Of course, I trained through it, but it only subsided after I was forced to take ten days off training during a visit to the USA.
And then there was the calorie tracking. That was a whole other story.
It wasn’t just about hitting my calorie or protein targets. I was aiming to hit every macronutrient on the dot. This led me to avoid foods I couldn’t track perfectly. I barely ate out or enjoyed social occasions that revolved around food. I almost only ate what I could be 99% sure of regarding nutritional info.
One day, I remember going to a kebab shop in Thornton Heath with my sister. I was excited to have a kebab, but also anxious because I couldn’t know the exact nutrition info. So, I decided I’d bring my own pitta bread—bought ten days earlier—to try and stay as accurate as possible.
"Your own pitta bread?!" the guy at the counter said, looking confused. Even my sister chuckled—not out of spite, but more because she couldn’t quite believe what I was doing, even if she was somewhat used to my antics by then. "Yes, please," I replied, feeling slightly embarrassed but also convinced they just didn’t understand.
Then I opened the bag and saw it. The last pitta had gone mouldy, with green and white patches all over it. I hadn’t even checked before leaving home. "Actually, don’t worry about it. I’ll use yours," I said, throwing it away, trying to act casual.
I wish I could say that moment was a turning point—that I realised I was taking things too far. But it wasn't. I carried on like that for quite some time. My strength and physique kept improving, and people noticed. But what they didn’t see were the unhealthy eating behaviours that were lurking beneath the surface.
Years later, I’ve calmed down considerably. Even now, I’m consistent with healthy habits—my prior baseline was so extreme that where I am now feels great. And while I don’t regret everything from that phase, I do wish I'd approached things differently. I wish I’d accepted more meals out, enjoyed more moments with friends, and set a better example of what true balance looks like to my family.
So, what did I learn from all this?
At the time, I didn’t realise it, but that phase of extreme dedication—tracking everything and training relentlessly—taught me something about balance. I had to push to the extreme to truly understand where balance was.
Many people talk about finding moderation, but if all you’ve known is indulgence and poor habits, it’s difficult to appreciate what that actually feels like.
I now know that sometimes, a phase of rigidity can help you discover the limits of what’s too much. It taught me what’s necessary for progress and what’s overkill. It's not about being "perfect" all the time; it's about knowing your boundaries. And that’s something you can apply to your own journey.
Here’s what you can take away from my experience:
A phase of dedication can help you learn balance: Sometimes, you need to go all-in to figure out what works for you.
Perfection isn’t sustainable: There’s a point where obsessing over the details can hold you back more than it helps.
Find your middle ground: You don’t need to avoid meals with friends or bring your own bread to reach your goals. Flexibility is part of long-term success.
If you're starting your fitness journey and want to avoid the mistakes I made while still implementing healthier habits, check out my "How to Track Calories" video. This guide will show you how to use calorie tracking in a simple, stress-free way—no obsessing over every gram, no missing out on social occasions.
I cover what to do—and more importantly, what not to do—so you can use calorie tracking as a helpful tool for progress without getting lost in extremes. You'll learn how to track your food even when eating out, so you can consistently maintain a social life without compromising your goals.
This video isn't just for advanced fitness enthusiasts—it's for anyone who wants to take control of their nutrition without the stress or complexity that often comes with calorie tracking. I'll share practical tips, cover common mistakes to avoid, and help you find a happy medium, just like I did after learning the hard way. Because, like most things, there’s a balance to be found. Calorie tracking can work brilliantly—as long as you don’t overdo it like Leo did in 2018-2020.
Suppose you've ever felt intimidated by calorie counting. In that case, this video will help you see how to do it without fear and without sacrificing the joy of everyday moments.
You can watch it by clicking here or the thumbnail below.
Speak soon,
Leo
P.S. Below are my progress pictures, me training with a sled, and then one of the massive breakfasts I used to have to help me hit my 4,000-calorie goal.
