Diets suck.
Can I get an amen? Low-carb, low-fat, no-fat, and that constant feeling of hunger are not things I find energizing or rewarding. We take on new diets with good intentions, the hope of dropping a clothing size or claiming control of our health, but inevitably end up right back where we started.
My issue with dieting is that in one moment we decide to deprive our body of a certain type of food and expect to hit our target weight in a couple weeks. Short-term, restrictive diets force you to say “no, I can’t have that” over and over. Doing that is neither sustainable or positive way to speak to yourself. The key to weight loss is not in a cup of skinny tea or found on a list of “The Top 10 Fat-Burning Foods.”
The best diet is not a diet at all – it’s a sustainable way of eating that works for you and your lifestyle. It encourages you to eat, move, and live better, while still enjoying the foods you love. Its called, the 80/20 mindset.
80/20 Mindset
This is a healthy lifestyle change that helps us discover balance and enjoyment with food. The focus is on eating real foods that line up with your goals (ie. protein, unprocessed, whole foods) while still giving you the freedom to enjoy social gatherings free of guilt.
Here’s how it works:
- Aim to make healthy choices 80 percent of the time. Choose foods that will help move you towards your goals, like protein, fats, whole foods, fresh vegetables, water, etc.
- For the remaining 20 percent, enjoy the freedom to indulge in your favourite foods.
So, what does this look like? If you eat 3 square meals a day, then every week 4 of those meals are up for grabs. If you 5 meals a day, then you can indulge for 7 meals each week.
Don’t aim to be perfect. You can’t be 100 percent all of the time, but you can be 80 percent, all of the time.
Small Steps For Long-Term Success
Choose one of these tips to help you lead a healthier life and ditch diets for good! Think one is too easy? Add another tip to your routine.
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If you are consistent with nutrition, you will succeed. If your goal is to build muscle or drop a pant size – you can achieve it. No one ever got fat from eating one chocolate bar and no one gets skinny from eating one salad. Change requires consistent action over time. It is up to you what you want that change to look like.
Kitchen to Gym Fitness 
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