Have you tried one, a few or even all the latest fitness trends out there and it just hasn’t quite worked out well for you?
You lose 10-20 pounds in a few months only for it come back twice as fast and twice as much!
And after this, you may be shocked and starting to think “well, maybe I’m the problem!”.
Full stop. You are not alone on this, as so many people are currently in or have been in the same boat as you at one time or another in their lives. The boat you are in is being rocked by the waves of trends within the sea of fitness misinformation. In this overwhelming sea of information, advice is coming in all forms and from many different angles. The “best kept secret”, “key to results”, “hack for change”, “tip, trick or gamechanger.” To say this is a lot is an understatement. Not only that, but you’re also left scratching your head when there are so many opinions for and against just about everything out there when it comes to fitness, nutrition and lifestyle.
If you couldn’t tell where I was going with this, here it is. The gurus, influencers, masterminds (and whatever else they may profess to be) are 100% failing you and setting you up for failure in the long term. The fact of the matter is, they don’t care. If you’re even able to get a response from one you have trusted and signed up with and have done “everything”, they may even tell you its your fault. The reality is 90% of people fail diets and that is not something that should happen with a proper plan and curated guidance.
“Why do these trends not work?”
A commonality among most trends is that they are centered around or to some extent involve relying on fad diets to produce “results”. The huge underlying issue with fad diets is that they greatly restrict calories and/or eliminate a food or energy source completely.
Although there are many out there, one easy example of this is the KETO diet.
The keto diet completely cuts out carbohydrates and allows only protein and fats for food. As a result of cutting out carbohydrates, there is a recommended increased intake of protein and fats from varying sources.
This can work very well in the short term with change in body composition through weight loss. Despite short term success and for those who in fact love and swear by keto, even they break protocol and must eat carbohydrates at times. For many people out there, this approach is not sustainable long term, and they will gain all the weight back and more after this diet.
“So, I should just not try then?”
That is definitely not the solution, but rather far from it. You should look for dietary strategies and ways of eating which fit your lifestyle. In this search, you will find that a good starting point involves an appeal to what you like to eat, but also support the things you do like – “are you lifting or running more often, etc.”.
With this in mind, you can certainly adapt it to something less extreme, but follow kind of what the fad diet does. We do however recommend just following reasonable nutrition practices and habits, as this will work for 90% of us out there. Save the other approach which may be more aggressive and short-term for those wanting to do a competitive show or a photo shoot. Most of the time but not always, those that do competitive shows or photoshoots are doing them for their career or to support their livelihood in some way.
“So, tell me. What is the answer?”
This may sound incredibly obvious, but it still needs to be said. Stop giving Oprah, Dr. Oz and whomever else, especially a self-proclaimed fitness or diet guru your hard-earned money! You ever hear that expression “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? Yeah, that one! It applies perfectly to what we’re talking about when it comes to this situation.
Instead, look to invest with a seasoned fitness professional or qualified nutritionist that will actually work with you to create a fit and healthy lifestyle for you! This is one that will not only be suitable, but also one that you can sustain for years to come. Healthy living is a commitment and a series of lifestyle choices. This is not to say you can’t enjoy things in life, it’s actually the opposite! Being healthier and more fit will allow you to enjoy the good things in life while also making you more physically and mentally resilient to the challenging, trying times as well.
I hate to break it to you, but despite what any of the popular figures might be saying out there, unfortunately there is no pill or shortcut to being fit and healthy. However, don’t be discouraged or wondering if the commitment to the long game is valuable, because it is so worth it to invest in your own health as it will transform your life completely.
“Where do I start?”
It’s important that you do your homework and make an informed, educated decision like we know you will. If you are in the GTA, I encourage you to come check out and meet with the team at Primal Performance Coaching. With a diverse team of qualified and committed industry professionals, we will ensure you start off on the right track, no matter what your goals are on your health and fitness journey