How many diets have you started and stopped in the past 10 years? For me, itโs been well over 15, and Iโve tried almost all of them โ even the 10 day โchicken broth and vegetables onlyโ diet, what even is that?! ย I know how confusing it can be, especially with the internet and social media bragging about how XYZ lost 30 pounds in only 10 days doing so and soโs diet. What they arenโt telling you is that 5 days later, they gained that 30 pounds (plus 5 more) right back.
Wherever we go there seems to be some type of advertising about the newest and greatest diet, from the grocery store to the doctorโs office, there are magazines and signs everywhere! Youโve heard great things about Keto, Intermittent Fasting, High Carb, Low Carb, Carb Cycling, Paleo, Vegan, Green Tea Detox, I think you get the point. There are a ton of diets out there, all claiming to be the best one yet that will help anyone lose that โstubborn fatโ.
I am here to teach you about a diet that will work for literally anyone, and no this isnโt another scam on the internet โ this is real life Iโm about to change your life type of diet. You know what itโs called? A diet you can stick to.
Thatโs it. ย But it is what will take you from yo-yo dieting, crash dieting, losing 30 pounds, just to gain it back, etc. to feeling good in your skin and loving every second of it. ย To be honest, it probably wonโt even feel like a diet because youโre going to be enjoying the things you love with no restrictions! That word right there is key, no restrictions. ย ย Read that again. ย The biggest problem with these fad diets is they cause us to restrict the foods we love to the point where eating that food is the only thing you can think about. ย I love chocolate, a lot, so when I say I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner that is not an exaggeration. Now, if someone told me for the next 8 weeks that I couldnโt have a bite of chocolate, I wouldnโt want anything to do with that person. ย Sure, I could probably do it for a few weeks, but after that I wouldnโt stop thinking about how much I want it. And then chances are, I would cave in and eat it. Not just one piece, but a whole bag of M&Mโs, plus a Snickers, and most likely chocolate chips. ย The next day I would step on the scale and instantly be mad and disappointed with myself. This is a cycle that never stops.
If there is one diet that will work for everyone, itโs one they can stick to, while still enjoying the foods they love, and not feeling like theyโre missing out on โlifeโ. Because when you think about it, we all have only one chance on this earth so we want to make the most of it!
Okay, I do want to give you a few tips thoughโฆbecause a diet consisting of only Big Macs most likely will not help you get that toned/strong/lean physique youโre looking for.
Youโve probably heard the whole โCalories in vs. calories outโ saying, and if you havenโt, now you have! ย This simple concept is used in reference to dieting. If you consume more calories that you burn, you wonโt lose weight. ย Conversely, if you consume fewer calories than you burn, youโll lose weight. ย Now, thereโs a reason I italicized the word weight because when most people say they want to lose weight, theyโre really saying they want to lose fat. ย I donโt think Iโve ever heard someone say, โNo, I want to lose muscle.โ
Let me give you a little example to illustrate. ย I could eat 1,600 calories worth of ice cream every day, or I could eat 1,600 calories worth of whole nutrient-dense foods with a proper balance of carbs, protein, and fats. ย One approach will not only help me perform better in and out of the gym, but it will also provide me with the nutrients I need for overall health and daily energy. I think you can guess which one that is, but if notโฆ itโs the balanced diet with whole foods. ย If we are lacking in nutrients and vitamins our bodies will let us know. We may have trouble sleeping, we may experience little crashes throughout the day, grogginess, skin breakouts, digestive issues, etc. So, tip number one, eat a diet consisting of nutrient dense foods balanced with foods you love!
Now for tip number two, PROTEIN! What is the deal with protein? What is all the hype about? Why is everyone talking about it? Iโm going to make this as simple as I can so that you understand the importance of protein in your diet!
Our muscles are made of amino acids, and when we train them we are breaking them down. ย In order to repair them we need to feed our bodies with protein. Once we do, this causes muscle protein synthesis, which in turn helps us gain lean muscle. ย The more muscle we have, the faster our metabolism becomes. Faster metabolism will lead to burning more calories throughout the day.
Does this make sense?
More protein can lead to more muscles. ย More muscles can lead to faster metabolism, which can lead to more fat loss.
So there ya have it! ย My top two tips to go along with my diet that works for everyone!
Until next time.
Peace & Love,
