It’s "Not That Toxic"... Or Is It? What MyFitnessPal Might Be Doing to Your Eating Disorder Recovery

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Can I keep using MyFitnessPal? It’s not that toxic…,” you’re not alone. I hear this from clients all the time. On the surface, food tracking apps feel harmless, even helpful. They give you a sense of control and reassurance, especially if you’re trying to “stay on track.”

But here’s the truth: just because something feels safe doesn’t mean it’s supporting your healing. When it comes to eating disorder therapy and recovery, food tracking apps like MyFitnessPal can quietly keep old patterns alive. (It’s literally marketed as a weight loss app.) And that makes it much harder to build a peaceful, trusting relationship with food.

In this post, we’ll explore why food-tracking feels so compelling, the hidden ways it may be interfering with your healing, and what you can try instead as you work toward food freedom.

Why Food Tracking Feels “Safe”, & Why That’s a Trap

Food tracking apps like MyFitnessPal can feel like a safety net. They promise clarity and accountability. You can see exactly what you’re eating and feel like you’re “staying in control.”

And in a culture that constantly tells us to count calories, track macros, and earn our food (hello, diet culture), using an app can feel like the “responsible” and “disciplined” thing to do.

Here’s the tricky part: when you’re in recovery or trying to heal disordered eating, that sense of control can actually keep you stuck. Tracking keeps your focus on numbers and rules instead of your body’s natural hunger cues, satisfaction, and emotional needs.

So while an app may feel “not that toxic,” it’s still interfering with the deeper work of recovery. Even if you don’t meet criteria for an eating disorder and simply have a complicated relationship with food, tracking can reinforce those patterns and make that relationship even harder to heal.

And remember: these apps weren’t designed with your physical or mental health in mind. They’re designed to keep you doubting yourself so you keep coming back (and spending money). The less you trust your body, the more you rely on them. But your body already knows how to guide you — what would it feel like to trust it again?

The Hidden Ways Food Tracking Can Keep You Stuck

Even apps that seem “not that toxic” can impact your recovery in subtle but powerful ways. Here are a few patterns I see most often in therapy:

1. Reinforces All-or-Nothing Thinking

Miss a log? Go over your target? Cue the guilt. The hyper-focus. The shame spiral. This perfectionism is the opposite of flexibility, the heart of recovery.

2. Disconnects You From Internal Cues

Your body already gives you instructions. Hunger. Fullness. Satisfaction. Preferences. But tracking teaches you to override all of that.

3. Keeps the Focus on Control, Not Healing

Recovery isn’t about perfectly managing your intake. It's about peace, trust, nourishment, and freedom, things no app can measure.

4. Masks Real Progress

Apps measure calories and macros. Recovery measures ease, confidence, flexibility, and reduced mental load. The more progress you make, the less an app can “capture.”

How to Know If Food Tracking Is Becoming Harmful

Food tracking isn’t inherently bad, but it can become harmful when it starts to affect your emotional or physical wellbeing.

Some signs include:

• You feel anxious or guilty when you don’t log perfectly.

• You eat to match numbers rather than your body’s needs.

• You avoid social meals because you can’t track them accurately.

• You judge yourself harshly for going “over” your numbers.

• You feel disconnected from hunger, fullness, or satisfaction.

• You spend more mental energy thinking about calories than living your life.

If any of these resonate, it may be a sign that tracking is taking a toll on your relationship with food and could be reinforcing disordered patterns.

What I Tell Clients in Eating Disorder Recovery Who Ask If They Can Keep Using It

When a client comes to me wondering if they can keep a food tracking app, I always start with curiosity and compassion. It’s normal to feel attached to tools that gave you structure for years. But I also explain that letting go of these tools is often a crucial step in healing disordered eating.

You don’t have to make big changes all at once. Recovery is about exploring ambivalence, noticing how tracking affects your thoughts and feelings, and gradually shifting toward freedom. Therapy gives you a space to do that safely, with support.

An important caveat, sometimes in eating disorder recovery, clients do keep food logs or use apps to log meals. The distinction is that these logs are used as a therapeutic tool, not a tool of control. 

For example, using an app like Recovery Record to log meals can help you and your therapist or dietitian track whether you’re getting enough fuel, notice patterns in hunger and emotions, and provide accountability as you work toward more consistent nourishment. The intention here isn’t about micromanaging calories, it’s about supporting your body’s healing and building awareness in a structured, compassionate way.

What to Try Instead of Food Tracking Apps

If you’re ready to step away from MyFitnessPal or other food tracking apps, there are ways to rebuild trust with your body without feeling lost:

• Gentle Self Check-Ins: Ask yourself, “How hungry am I? What would feel satisfying?” instead of tracking calories.

  
  

• Journaling About Your Relationship With Food: Reflect on emotions, cravings, or patterns instead of numbers.

  
  

• Working With a Therapist or Dietitian: Professionals can help you navigate triggers and develop new coping strategies. Learn more about how I can support you here.

  
  

• Practicing Intuitive Eating Principles: Focus on listening to your body, honoring cravings, and giving yourself unconditional permission to eat.

If You’re Ready to Explore Food Freedom, I’m Here to Help

Letting go of food tracking can feel scary at first! Especially if it’s been part of your life for years. But the real control comes from trusting yourself, not an app.

If this blog resonated, you might be craving a more peaceful relationship with food, fewer rules, and more self-trust. That’s exactly the work I do.

I offer virtual eating disorder therapy for women 18+ across Wisconsin, helping you reconnect with your body, break free from diet culture, and build food freedom and body respect.

You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether we’re a good fit and get support for your next steps.

Book Free Consult

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Tracking & Recovery

Is food tracking always harmful?

Not necessarily. The intention matters. Tracking becomes harmful when it fuels shame, rigidity, anxiety, or disconnection from your body. In recovery, these risks are high, which is why many providers recommend limiting or avoiding diet-based apps.

What if tracking makes me feel safe?

It makes sense that tracking feels grounding. But safety built on avoidance or control eventually becomes fragile. Recovery helps you build a deeper, more sustainable sense of safety from within — one that doesn’t depend on an app.

Can I use MyFitnessPal while doing intuitive eating?

Not really. Intuitive eating is about internal cues; tracking apps are about external rules. They work against each other. If you’re transitioning, a therapist or dietitian can help you gradually shift toward internal awareness.

What if I need structure without dieting?

Structure doesn't have to mean restriction. Gentle routines, regular eating patterns, meal support, and therapeutic meal logs (like Recovery Record) can provide helpful structure without reinforcing diet culture.

Closing Thoughts

Healing disordered eating isn’t about being perfect.

It's about compassion.

Flexibility.

Curiosity.

And learning to trust your body again.

If you’re ready for support, I’d be honored to walk that journey with you.