From counting macros to The Zone Diet and even cutting out meat altogether, there are countless diets out there to choose from.6
Additionally, everyone has an opinion about diets based on what has and has not worked for them, but what’s best for you? Everyone is different, which means what worked for your sister, friend, or co-worker, might not work for you. You need a specific plan tailored to you–something that’s sustainable for the long-term.
A truly effective diet means changing your lifestyle, not following a fad diet. Doing a restrictive diet for 24-30 days then going back to old habits will not yield the results you are looking for.
So what does an effective diet plan look like? There are a few key elements you want to start with, including: setting realistic goals, creating action steps to help you stay on track, and tracking your progress. You can also take measurements such as body fat and weight to monitor your progress. Tracking your food is another great way to help you stay on track with your nutrition. We recommend MyFitnessPal to track your food.
Accountability is another piece of the puzzle that’s often missing. What kind of support system do you have around you to help you stay on track?
At CrossFit Renaissance, we have clients go through Phase 1, which is the initial month to determine your baseline, set goals, gain nutrition education and customize a plan, then move to Phase 2. During Phase 2, clients will meet with a nutrition coach to track progress, review food logs, provide continuous support and tweak their plan. Lack of accountability is one of the main reasons why 80-97% of the people who lose weight will regain it within the first five years.
What are you doing to ensure you aren’t part of that statistic?
Here Are A Few Tips To Get You Started:
– Start with the basics and focus on whole foods
– Shop the perimeter of the grocery store
– Don’t replace real food with supplements and food products
– Measure out your food
– Focus on the plate method: 1/2 plate non-starchy veggies, 1/4 starch, 1/4 protein
– Drink lots of water!
– Get into a good routine of eating consistently and not skipping meals
Finally, be careful where you get your nutrition information from. Where are you getting your nutrition information from? Let’s first understand the difference between a nutritionist and dietitian.
Nutritionist vs Dietitian:
“Nutritionist” isn’t a legally backed term, which means anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. People will take a weekend course online, then start a nutrition business and identify themselves as experts. Are you an expert after a few hours of learning something?
Dietitian is the only title backed by a college degree. Dietitians have to complete an internship for 1200+ hours of supervised practice then take a board exam and are licensed by the state. Make sure that you are asking questions of anyone who is providing you with nutrition information to ensure they are truly experts. All of our nutrition programs at CrossFit Renaissance are backed by a registered dietitian.
As we mentioned at the beginning, the same plan doesn’t work for everyone. You need something that will fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals. Please do your research and get your information from a credible source.