Over the last week or two I have had a few members asking about diets, what foods to eat or avoid and how to deal with cravings of certain “bad” foods they enjoy. It’s actually a question we get a lot so let’s tackle it here.

First, on the topic of diets, I would say there really isn’t a specific “diet” that we would recommend. What we recommend is learning how to eat properly, what a real portion size is and how much you should be eating in terms of calories depending on your specific situation and goals. There is a really good book about this called “Eat Smart, Eat Often, Eat Small” that you can download free right above this article. Ask yourself, “is the way I am eating sustainable and can I see myself doing this for the rest of my life?” This is where typical “diets” fall short. They are usually a short-term solution. They work, no doubt about that, but for most of us are not sustainable for the long term and therefore not a real solution.

Is there a way of eating that still allows you to eat what you want?

To this I would say yes! The catch is that it can’t be whenever you want. If you are eating well 80% of the time, there is nothing wrong with indulging in some of your favourite foods that might be a less than optimal once in a while. A couple tips on this:

• When you do indulge, be mindful of how much you are eating. 2 slices of pizza will not stop your progress but 6 might. And you won’t feel good either.
• Think ahead and include the calories from this less than optimal choice in your regular meal time and into your overall calories for the day.
• Don’t feel guilty. Eat it and move on, picking right back up again on your normal healthy eating choices.

The key is moderation in dealing with eating foods that are of the “bad” choice column. Remember the 80/20 rule. If you are eating well the majority of the time, one indulgence here or there won’t make a difference, because remember, you will be eating this way for the rest of your life! Over the long term you will be healthier, and feel and look amazing.

Another big tip is to keep your metabolism high by making strength training a regular part of your routine as well. The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn throughout the day.

So yes, you can eat whatever you want, as long as it is not whenever you want and it’s in moderation. It’s the key to long term success and happiness! For a more complete picture make sure you download the SOS Book!