Are You a Baker or a Cook? The Eating Style That Supports Your Fitness Goals

🎙️ On to Today’s Topic: Bake vs. Cook

“Bake or Cook?” That's the big question from fitness guru Dr. Andy Galpin. He explains this simple yet powerful metaphor:

• Bakers crave structure. They thrive on precise measurements, meal plans, and detailed calorie tracking.
• Cooks value creativity. They prefer freedom in the kitchen, tossing ingredients together based on taste.

📏 Why It Matters for Weight Loss

If weight loss is your goal, Galpin recommends starting as a baker–for at least a week or ideally 30 days. Why?

• Getting strict for a short time eases decision fatigue and builds a solid foundation.
• Tracking food—even briefly—teaches you what you’re actually eating, and how different foods affect your goals

🥑 Cooks, Don’t Panic!

Being a natural cook isn’t a flaw—it just means you’ll need a touch of baker discipline at the start.

• Track your meals for a few days.
• Use basic meal prep to guide your habits.
• Then you can transition back to creative cooking with confidence.

🍌 A Real-Life Example: The Banana Journaling Case

Galpin shared a game-changer story: one client was eating three bananas per day—a total of ~75 grams of carbs—while thinking she was eating “healthily.” After dialing back the bananas and pairing them with protein post-workout, she saw significant progress in just seven weeks. Lesson learned: not all healthy = supportive of weight loss.

📝 Quick Summary Table

Strategy                              Baker Style                                            Cook Style

Best for                              Beginners & structured goals            Creatives & meal lovers

Recommended time      1–4 weeks upfront                                 Post-discovery phase

Personal example           Tracking food (e.g., banana habits) Improvising meals with love

Key takeaway                   Structure breeds progress                 Creativity fuels consistency

✅ Your Fitness Action Plan

1. Start as a baker—track meals for 3–7 days
2. Switch to your cook mode, armed with smart habits
3. Tweak as needed: add protein, adjust carbs, and cycle goals

Final Thought

Fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about aligning your strategy (baker or cook) with your personality. Begin with structure, then let your creativity take over.