What Flexible Dieting Can do for You
I have been using the flexible dieting, or IIFYM, approach for many years now. The truth is flexible dieting has been around for years but people never called it that. in fact, there wasn’t really a term for it. Flexible dieting is more of a lifestyle and NOT a diet.
if you search the term this is what you will get “it promotes the notion that there are no “bad foods” and allows you to choose any food, as long as it fits within your macronutrient needs.” However, eating something just because it fits your macros isn’t exactly a great theory. In fact, it isn’t really teaching you anything about nutrition. But, once you start to learn more about nutrition and the foods you are putting inside your body, you will want to eat more veggies and lean protein. The great part is that you can also enjoy the foods you love.
For instance, today we ordered some BBQ food. I ordered smoked turkey breast, green beans and fries. I love fries! Did I feel guilty about eating it? Absolutely not! And it's not because I worked out, it's because I know that even though fries have no nutritional value for me, I am eating veggies and turkey that do. So that is why I eat fries solely because I like them.
That is one of the major benefits of flexible dieting but it certainly isn’t the only one. Something else that is great about it is that you can track your macros and then when you need to make changes according to your goals, it is easier for you (or your coach) to do so. Tracking is a great way to be able to know how many calories you are consuming and from there you can adjust by going up or lower depending on what it is you are trying to achieve.
I know that many people get intimidated by tracking macros but it is not as bad as it seems. At first it may seem complicated and overwhelming but there are many techniques that you can use so you can get accustomed to tracking. If you need help, feel free to send me an e-mail and I can help.
Flexible dieting also has a mental advantage in that it doesn’t make you feel deprived, which then leads to binging. All these diets that are out there all have one thing in common: you are depriving yourself! That is why they are diets because they aren’t sustainable. Let's take Keto as an example. Do you really think you will be able to not have any carbs for the rest of your life? Unless you have a disease that prevents you, the answer will most probably be NO! So what ends up happening? The minute you eat some carbs you will end up binging. However, with flexible dieting since you are not depriving yourself, you candy it for the rest of your life and not care. I am so used to it that it is just my way of living. Think of it as portion control, but just a bit more in depth.
Flexible dieting (or tracking macros as I prefer) as NOT a diet, it is a lifestyle. It is a way of eating. The most successful people are those that understand why they are doing something and not just following a meal plan that a coach gave them. Why are you eating tilapia? Why are you eating those veggies? Once you understand this, your relationship with food will completely change and you will no longer have to deprive yourself or diet!
Is it for you? Absolutely! This is for everyone and anyone! Pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto even. Wanna know why?It is NOT a diet! So what are you waiting for?
