I’m so tired of listening to so-called Health and Fitness Experts demonizing the foods in which we consume. Labeling a food group as “Clean” vs “Dirty” is ludicrous. Ofcourse there are certain foods that are healthier for us than others. And obviously there are certain foods which are not as healthy for us. But to suggest that there is only one particular way to eat in order to be “healthy” and look and feel good about one’s self is not only ignorant, it’s dangerous as well. Especially in today’s society where misinformation can spread like wildfire online to the public through filtered photos, edited videos, and fictitious facts backed by Bro Science.
Now if you know my stance on Fad Diets and Dieting Trends than you might be thinking to yourself –
Has my hatred for the IFFYM Diet softened?
Have a I found some common ground with Intermittent Fasting?
And Have Keto and I kissed and made up?
Well….kinda….sorta…..but not really……
Why I’ve Never Been a Fan of The FADS
Over the years I’ve mocked, ridiculed and shamed just about every single FAD Diet that has come and gone. I’ve never been one to shy away from providing my educated opinion on a ridiculous Diet Plan that either restricts too many calories, eliminates certain macronutrients, promotes junk food as being “flexible”, and/or starves the body of essential nutrients for 18-20 hours each day. Simply put, I don’t like FAD Diets because they are not healthy for the body, they are not optimal for performance, and perhaps most importantly, they are not sustainable for life. In fact, in my experience working with people who have fallen victim to FAD Diets over the years, these diets usually cause more harm than good. From metabolic massacres, to loss of hair, to kidney and liver issues, I could honestly go on and on.
However throughout my years of despair for these FADS while calling them out on their bullshit, I failed to realize that I myself may have unintentionally promoted the wrong message about Dietary Nutrition and how to create and follow a healthy and nutritious Diet Plan.
And for this I apologize.
Imperfectly Perfect
I’ve always said that dieting is very much like politics and religion. I don’t offer my advice on a Client’s diet, unless I am asked for it. I will ofcourse always provide my insight on a subject and offer my opinion regardless of how unpopular it might be. When it comes to an individual’s diet, none of us are perfect (including myself). Whether it’s too much processed sugar, too many simple carbohydrates, too little vegetables, not enough nutrients, etc., we are all guilty of following imperfect Diet Plans. And that’s okay. Because regardless of how “Clean” you might think your own diet might be, there is no such thing as perfect. And once again, this is okay.
It has always been of my opinion that the “Best” Diet Plan to follow is the one that is sustainable and provides us with the utmost amount of essential nutrients. Now this doesn’t mean that we can’t have a little fun and have a little cake and ice cream from time to time. Nor does it mean that we can’t go out with our friends for a few drinks once or twice a week. In fact, I think being too strict with one’s diet can lead to serious and extreme eating disorders and create an unhealthy relationship with food. Therefore when it comes to creating a Nutritional Plan for a Client there are a few things I take into consideration prior to structuring a program and implementing a plan into place.
a) Lifestyle – Do you travel a lot for work? If so, then meal prepping might not work for you. Therefore it’s even more important for you to educate yourself about Dietary Nutrition so that when you are in meetings at restaurants you make the best choices and learn how to ask for certain modifications when necessary.
b) Emotional Eater – Well, are you an Emotional Eater? It’s nothing to be ashamed about. However if you find yourself reaching for that second helping of pasta or snacking mindlessly on chips because you are feeling stressed, sad, and/or depressed, this can develop into a bigger issue than just poor eating habits. If this is the case, I recommend you address the issue as soon as possible by seeking the help of a highly trained and qualifed therapist that can provide you with the necessary tools to help manage your emotions in other ways than looking for comfort in food.
c) Are You a Sugar Addict? – I would suggest that over 80% of the people that enlist in my services to help them with their diet struggle with sugar addiction. Whether it’s processed sugar or natural sugar, the amounts are usually dangerously high. As I’ve mentioned before throughout previous Blogs as well as on my weekly Q&A Videos on our YouTube Channel, the average female requires no more than 25 grams of natural sugar and the average male requires no more than 30 grams of sugar per DAY. Unfortunately the numbers I’m used to seeing from new clients far exceed these numbers. Reducing your sugar intake is not easy. It takes time. But when implemented in a strategic and timely fashion, it CAN be done.
Take Home Message
Moving forward, I myself need to be much more careful with my words. My goal has and never will be to demonize certain foods. Unfortunately I think my message was lost on a few people who perhaps thought that the only way to lose weight and build muscle was to follow a strict Diet Regimen 24/7. And the fact of the matter is that is simply not true. So I want to be perfectly clear when I tell you that yes, you can have bread, you can have pastries, you can have pasta, you can have dairy, you can have chocolate and you can have pizza and beer. BUT, you just shouldn’t have them all the time. Nor should you really want them all the time. I believe that as long as you are following a diet that is full of essential nutrients 80% of the time, then you can and you should be able to eat whatever the hell you want for the remaining 20% of the time.
“Treat your body well, and it’ll see you through for many years.”
Johnny Weissmuller
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance