The Exhaustion of the Food Scale: Why Tracking Wasn’t Working

Liana Marinelli really wanted to “hone in” on her nutrition, but she wasn’t sure where to start.

She knew one thing for certain: tracking macros for six months was exhausting.

“I wasn’t a fan of MyFitnessPal, and I hated using a scale to weigh my food,” Marinelli shared, “and when I wasn’t at home tracking everything, my nutrition blew up.”

Marinelli, who is about to get married, knew that life changes were imminent, but she wasn’t sure what else to do regarding her nutrition. It seemed like seeing the results she wanted could only come from being incredibly precise with her nutrition.

Then she stumbled across CBG on Instagram, and the support they offered came across as a more intuitive, sustainable approach to nutrition. She made the decision to reach out to CBG.

What Happened Next

Marinelli was teamed up with CBG Coach Kelly Paulson, who took a deep dive into Marinelli’s goals, body composition and nutrition history. She took a look at all the variables before delivering Marinelli her personalized CBG Blueprint.

At first, Marinelli was confused, as she found herself eating a lot more than she used to.

“My first two weeks, I was like, ‘[Coach] Kelly, …are you sure this is right?’” Marinelli laughed.

But she chose to trust Coach Paulson, and to her surprise, her body didn’t begin to adjust – it thrived.

“And now I’m in this really nice swing of things, in terms of when to eat and what. It just took a bit for my body to get used to it. And now my energy is so much better,” Marinelli said.

The Results: 8 Weeks to a New PR

Liana is only halfway through her 16-week program, and the changes have been rapid and undeniable.

In just eight weeks, Liana has achieved:

• A 35-Pound Deadlift PR: Jumping from a 200 lb former max to a staggering 235 pounds.
• A 10-Pound Clean PR: Finding new power and explosiveness in her lifts.
• 5 Pounds of Weight Loss: Dropping weight while simultaneously getting stronger.
• Improved Energy: Feeling “better than ever” in the gym and throughout the work day.

She credits this to the fact that she’s finally eating before she works out in the morning.

“I have added some carbs before my workout and protein right after, and then I eat breakfast. So in the mornings, I really load up now, and I realize now how much better I feel throughout the day. No energy crashes,” she said.

Not only has her energy improved, but her body composition has seen quick changes already.

“I have lost five pounds over the last eight weeks, which was one of my goals. I wanted to lose a few pounds, plus continue to PRs in the gym… I feel like I have been better than ever in the gym,” she said.

Building a Sustainable Future

Most importantly, Marinelli is gaining the confidence to maintain these results long after the wedding is over. She is mastering the CBG Plate Proportions, learning how to build a balanced meal without needing a scale or a tracking app.

“[Coach] Kelly has been great. She checks in weekly, and she is very responsive any time I have a question. I really have appreciated her guidance through it all… and I have really learned how much fat, carbs and protein I need both with my meals and my snacks. I really know how to build my plate based on CBG’s plate proportions now. I understand what I should be eating and how to make changes if I want to do a cut,” she said.

She continued: “And even when I go out and I want to continue to stick with it, I might not be perfect, but I have a good idea of what’s on my plate.”

For Marinelli, the best part isn’t just the PRs or the weight loss—it’s the fact that her new lifestyle feels achievable.

“That’s the coolest part for me. I just really appreciate the CBG approach, and they make [my goals] feel achievable,” she said.