Diets are applied when people want to lose weight (which is probably everyone at some point in time), and are usually in the form of something like these categories:
• vegan/vegetarian
• Paleo
• low fat
• low carb
• raw foods
• “clean” eating
• nutrient timing (intermittent fasting)
• restriction of food groups
• eating for your blood type
And this isn’t a full list either; this is just a few that came to mind. I’ve read countless books, blogs, posts, articles, reviews and lecture notes that have talked about these diet styles (both good and bad sides to them). No wonder we’re all so damn confused on how to eat! Seriously. Eating is a BASIC and NECESSARY means to survival, yet we don’t know HOW to do it. That’s messed up. This causes more stress than it does any benefits, which is another reason why we end up gaining weight (stress produces cortisol, which promotes fat gain around your midsection). Following all these drastic dieting measures isn’t enjoyable nor rewarding, because they are sometimes so extreme that we cannot maintain this lifestyle for a prolonged period of time.
So unless you’re planning to step on a fitness competition stage or entering a power/weightlifting competition, you really don’t need these insanely restrictive diet rules to follow. (and even then, we don't always need to be insanely restrictive!!) Let’s be flexible, shall we?
Eating real food is absolutely important, and if you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of my veggies. I get MORE than enough veggies in my diet every day. You need to be fuelling your body with good food that gives you energy. There’s no question about that. But allow yourself to be flexible with your diet; enjoy the desserts or the alcohol once in a while, sure. But be mindful and stay focused on your goals. Flexible dieting guidelines are very simple and don’t come with any insane rules; basically you have X macronutrients (proteins, carbs, and fats; because that’s what our bodies primarily function off of in large quantities), and how you intake those calories is up to you. No timing, no eliminations, no blood, and definitely not nearly as much stress or hassle as any of the other diets I mentioned above. More people are successful with flexible dieting than any other diet, there’s no doubt about that. Because when you aren’t being restricted, you are way less likely to binge or fall off track. No need to overthink anything here, especially when you can have a coach who does the programming and number calculations for you!
It’s time to put an end to diet confusion, and adopt something simple that you can do for a lifetime.
For more information about flexible dieting and how you can apply this successful protocol into your lifestyle with guidance, visit my website: courtneyforlife.com/coaching to see programming options that are available. You can email me with any questions that you may have, that aren’t already answered on my website at courtney.u@live.ca