Anyone else frustrated by how tedious and time consuming counting calorie intake can be? No? Just me? For all of the technological advances we’ve made as a society to gather health and fitness data, I would think there would be something out there that could automate this task as well. So far the best I’ve found is food scales and product labels. Sure, there are apps out there that do a pretty good job of making it more convenient to scan a label and enter the quantity you consumed, but I’ve found it extremely difficult to do the same with homecooked meals; especially when I’m eyeballing some of the ingredients.

This isn’t so much a post as it is a rant on my frustrations with this part of the process. Food intake is such an important component to the journey that it bugs me that there just isn’t a good way to measure it. For those who are just starting on this journey, adding another element of complexity to your already volatile shift in routine, in my mind, sets you up for failure. Not only are you already adding restrictive diet and exercise to your day, but also being asked to meticulously measure those calories like a 7th grade science project.

I talked about using the shotgun approach in the Data Overload post. I use this approach when logging my own calories, but I still find it tedious and annoying that my phone doesn’t just automatically know what I’ve eaten at each meal. We’ve killed it in the wearables game with smart watches, smart rings, Whoop straps, and even running shoes with Bluetooth. Why can’t we figure out a way to automate this too.

I’m working my way through “The 4-Hour Body“, by Tim Ferriss. I’m not a science buff, but I’m fascinated by the data he provides for all of the methods he’s used for weight loss and muscle gain. I highly recommend reading this book. It’s really dense in its scientific details, but provides so much insight into the function of the human body. While reading this book, I started to think about my calorie intake from his perspective. I don’t want to become a body builder by any stretch, but I was intrigued by the concept of doing as little effort as necessary to achieve maximum results. It’s a lesson in efficiency. He talks a lot about calorie intake and the necessary amount and type to reach your goals. While inspired to put some additional focus on this aspect of my journey, I also became frustrated by the available options for calculating and measuring my intake.

All this to say I am exploring ways to optimize this process. There has to be a better way to count calories that doesn’t feel like doing taxes. If you have any ideas put them in the comments below. Perhaps together we can solve this seemingly unsolvable equation.

Happy halfway to Friday. Crush those goals today.