There are a whole slew of different diets out there that people are raving about. Paleo, Keto, macro counting, whole30…and those are just the top few! In my experience as an online nutrition coach, there is only 1 type of diet, or meal plan, that is going to work for you. And it is the one that you can STICK TO for the long term! You have to remember that you are different from everyone else that is on their fitness journey, and what works for them might now work for you, and that is totally okay. There are 3 factors to a nutrition plan that are ultimately going to help you be successful in your fitness journey, whether that be weight loss or not.
Number 1: Your nutrition plan cannot stress you out. If your meal plan or diet is causing extra stress in your life, it’s the wrong one. And yes, I know that whenever you are starting something new it is going to be a little uncomfortable, but that is not what I am referring to here. I am referring to you constantly being worried about what your eating or what you are “allowed” to eat on your meal plan. This means if you are eating Whole30 and you are constantly worried about whether or not your meal with friends is going to fit the guidelines or not. Or if you are tracking your macros and are afraid that you cannot take your scale to a restaurant. Those things cause extra stress. And stress releases hormones that can cause fat storage (if it’s too high for too long) and therefore we are defeating the purpose of a meal plan!
Number 2: Your nutrition plan needs to be sustainable. If you do not feel like you can stick to your nutrition plan for the long term, it’s the wrong one. Nothing in health and fitness should be a quick fix, because they don’t work You might be able to shed some weight really quickly, but you’ll never be able to keep it off unless you can keep up with your current habits. Healthy habits and a sustainable lifestyle takes time! You should still be able to enjoy your favorite foods without feeling guilty, but also without binging and overeating because you had been restricting yourself. So think about keto. Keto is a very low carb and high fat diet, and people have seen great immediate results. But are you really going to be able to eat only 20 grams of carbs a day indefinitely, and without causing further damage to your body/metabolism? The answer is probably no, which means it is not a sustainable nutrition plan for you.
Number 3: Your nutrition plan needs to be based around balance and moderation. No successful nutrition plan is going to allow you to eat as much as you want of your favorite foods, unless your favorite food is greens. A nutrition plan you can stick to needs to be balanced! This means you are consuming all of the macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein) as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables. No nutrition plan should be cookie-cutter eat the same foods everyday. That brings along its own set of issues like food intolerances and binging from boredom. You want to also remember moderation is key. Enjoy all foods, in moderation. Ideally you will still be eating whole foods that are free of chemicals and preservatives 80% of the time, but also allow yourself to have that scoop of ice cream or handful of chips when you really want it. And don’t forget, all successful nutrition programs are still based on portion control and calorie deficits (if looking to lose fat).
These 3 things are what I have found to be most important for a successful nutrition plan. If you are someone who finds it easier to stick to guidelines, maybe the paleo diet is for you. If you are someone who likes structure and numbers, maybe tracking macros is for you. Either way, whatever you can stick to for the long term is going to be the best option for you! And if you are needing more guidance in terms of nutrition, or just health and fitness in general, visit endorphitness.com and set up a free consultation with me!