Decisions-decisions. What works and what doesn’t?
Every so often there is a new craze or a fad diet that takes the world by storm. Before you know it everyone who’s anyone is on the diet. And often it goes away just as quickly as it started.
As personal trainers we need to keep abreast of all these latest trends in health and fitness as we frequently get asked about it. My honest opinion?
Compare yourself to the person next to you, your best friend, your life partner or even your favorite celebrity. What differentiates you from them? What makes you YOUnique?
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Body size (short, tall, skinny, fat, length of your limbs…)
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Body shape (pear, apple, athletic, hourglass, bone structure…)
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Body features (light skin, dark skin, beauty spots, eyes, nose…)
Most of us have all the same organs, but they may function differently depending on our upbringing, what we eat, how and where we live, stress, work, exercise, sleep… And the list goes on. The way our bodies react to our lifestyle may cause certain dysfunctions including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), vitamin deficiencies, depression, sleeplessness or even eating disorders.
Off course there is also the factor of likes/dislikes. If someone doesn’t like to eat meat, you can’t put them on a Carnivore type diet. They will keep at it for a week or two, lose weight for a while and then go back to their old unhealthy habits. A lot of diets focus on removing carbs completely, however carbs are not always thy enemy. It is needed for sustainable energy and to perform at your peak while exercising.
Diet forms a part of holistic living. That being said, a bad diet can wreak havoc on your body. But what works for me may not work for you. Because we are all YOUnique…
I say, if Banting works for you? Good. If Banting doesn’t work but Weigh-Less does? Also good. If you want to try a new diet? DO IT! There is no one size fits all.
But don’t go on all of these fad diets that promise you will lose 10 kg in 2 weeks or only allows you to drink green slushy smoothies breakfast, lunch and dinner to “detox”. FAD diets don’t work!
Rather
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Focus on applying diet principles that work for your lifestyle
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Stick to healthy guidelines such as no preservatives, no fast foods.
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Limit sugar, alcohol and caffeine
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Eat fruit and vegetables from all the colours of the rainbow
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Eat natural and organic foods
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Eat healthy fats like nuts and avocado
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Protein is an important building block to lean muscles and healthy bones
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Eat for sustained energy
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Drink lots of water.
Find the magic healthy combination that works for you. If it is sustainable you are more likely to stick to it and you’ll be a happier and healthier person for it…
