In September 2022, I made a decision that quietly reshaped my entire life.
It wasn’t dramatic. I didn’t hit rock bottom. I just got honest with myself: I wasn’t feeling my best. I had been coasting and slowly getting out of shape. So I hired a personal trainer and started taking my health seriously. But here’s the kicker—the biggest change wasn’t the workouts. It was the macros.
Yep. I started tracking my food intake down to the gram: protein, carbs, fats. At first it felt mechanical and strange. But over time I came to a realization. The more I stuck to the plan, the more freedom I felt.
That’s the paradox I want to explore today: the idea that limitations—when chosen wisely—don’t confine us. They liberate us.
The Clarity of Constraints
Let’s start with the obvious: most people don’t like being told what to do, especially when it comes to what’s on their plate or in their wallet. When I tell people I track macros, the most common reaction I get is:
“I could never do that, I like food too much.”
There’s this widespread belief that tracking means dieting. That it’s a punishment. That it means giving up joy. But here’s what I’ve found: I eat all my favorite foods. In good portions. There’s no scenario where I’m hungry or deprived—unless I’m intentionally cutting for a goal. Tracking macros just gives me awareness. It’s not a restriction; it’s a tool.
The same way knowing your income and expenses gives you power over your money, not less. And I realized this applies to everything in life – as the saying goes “What you measure will improve”.
When I started planning meals, there was no more standing in front of the fridge at 6:30pm wondering, “What am I even in the mood for?” The guesswork was gone. I could think less about food and live more.
That’s what constraints do: they remove noise so you can hear what really matters.
The Macro Mindset: How Fitness Taught Me to Think About Money
Let me bring this back to finance, because the parallels are almost too perfect.
Just like you can live in a calorie surplus and still be undernourished, you can earn well and still be financially stressed. It’s not about how much comes in—it’s about the quality of your habits and the clarity of your goals.
Tracking macros taught me the value of planning, preparation, and delayed gratification. Those same muscles apply directly to how I budget, invest, and coach others to think long-term.
There’s freedom in knowing your numbers.
There’s peace in prepping your “financial meals” ahead of time—setting up automated savings, sticking to spending boundaries, and checking in regularly instead of trying to play catch up. At times it feels like a cheat code because it’s like having a crystal ball – you can see what’s coming down the road and plan for it instead of reacting.
Choose Your Chains
Here’s the strange truth I’ve learned: everyone wears chains. The question is whether yours are chosen or accidental.
I chose to track macros—and that choice has given me health, energy, and confidence I never had before.
You can choose to track spending, to say no to certain expenses, to build a financial structure that supports your goals. Not because you’re boring. But because you want to be free.
Constraints aren’t a prison. They’re the rails that keep your train moving forward.
“Limitations, when embraced, don’t cage you—they carry you.”
And yes, it’s hard.
Being fit is hard. Being out of shape is hard.
Being financially disciplined is hard. Being in debt is hard.
Choose your hard.
One path gives you power. The other takes it away.
There’s this idea that discipline is the opposite of freedom. But I’d argue the opposite is true. When you live without boundaries, without planning, without intention—you’re not free. You’re reacting. You’re chasing cravings. You’re always behind.
Real freedom is having your future self thank you. It’s peace, not permission.
That’s what I want to leave you with. Whether you’re looking at your health, your money, your time, or your business: ask yourself not how much can I do, but what do I want most?
The answer might lead you into fewer options, fewer distractions—and more of what actually matters.
Takeaway:
If you’ve been avoiding structure because it feels limiting, try reframing it. What if the rules you resist are actually the rails you need?
Start small. Set one clear limit this week. Track your spending. Prep three days of meals. Pick one metric and pay attention. See how it feels.
Chances are, you’ll feel lighter—not heavier. Stronger—not restricted.
Because the truth is: structure doesn’t shrink your life. It focuses it.
And focused people get free.
