I stopped talking about my diet on social media. I apologize for that. It happened for 3 reasons:
- I became disenchanted with online dieting/fitness marketers. I do not like how they market to your WANTS instead of your NEEDS. They know you will purchase their products if they promise you what you want. I can't compete with this because I don't sell false promises, diet methods or quick fixes. I am really turned off by this and made the decision to stop marketing my dietary approach to people because I refuse to become part of the "white noise". Besides, it's not my job to be a coast guard. It's not my job to search for and rescue everyone who is following unsustainable dietary practices. Rather, I took on the role of the light house. If you need help transitioning from an unsustainable to a sustainable dietary practice, then you know where to find me.
- I'm not struggling with my diet. That's why I don't talk about it ... because it's not even a blip on my radar. The only time I ever talked about my diet was when I was thinking about it 24/7 because I was struggling with it.
- Trying to change a person's diet is like trying to change their religion. I'm not going to force what I do down your throat. Yes, my approach is based on science, But my approach is also based on years of my experiences. You can learn a lot from my mistakes.
I realized I needed to start discussing it again when my followers started reaching out to me. Many were worried I stopped intermittent fasting and flexible dieting, which is not true (don't freak out!). Many admitted they were struggling. So that's why I am back. If you let me know you are struggling, then I'm here for you! But warning, I'm a no BS kind of gal, and I won't tell you what you WANT to hear. I will tell you what you NEED to hear.
If you are failing with your healthy lifestyle, that's a sign that:
1. You are not giving your body the calories and macros that it needs to function
2. Your INTENT needs an intervention. You subject yourself to unsustainable dietary practices and daily calorie-burning workouts because you prioritize your appearance over your body's physical and mental health.
3. You are following a lot of diet and exercise rules. All the rules you have made for yourself are causing you tremendous anxiety. Anxiety is the reason why you are not getting results, even if you're following your diet and exercise regimen perfectly. ANXIETY PRECLUDES RESULTS.
4. You are chronically over-consuming (you are eating your emotions) and making poor lifestyle choices. This is a sign that you have some stored emotional baggage that you need to release. Mindless eating and poor lifestyle habits (drinking/partying) are a sign that you are trying to get control over your current state, but your choices are actually not allowing you to win your state, and that's why you are stuck. The solution is facing and expressing the pent-up emotions. That's why I train... to release my stored emotional baggage. To learn more about this, I recommend you join my Strength Academy.
I don't talk about my diet very much because it's no big deal to me. I have changed nothing about my diet since I re-launched the Fat Loss Fast e-Book in the summer of 2017. I don't need to make changes because I'm not doing anything to sabotage myself. You know why I'm so consistent? It's because I accepted the way my body appears as a result of sustainable lifestyle choices, and I stopped making weird food and exercise rules for myself. Rules cause anxiety. Anxiety precludes results.
I'm not kidding when I say that diet is not something I think about very much. Exercising to burn calories is never a thought that enters my head. I couldn't care less how many calories I burn when walking, running, lifting weights, sleeping, etc. I really hope that you can achieve this type of inner peace with your diet and workouts. I remember having this inner peace when I was a kid. I listened to my body and had a normal relationship with food and physical activity. I do remember my mom always fighting with me and my sister to force us to eat breakfast. Neither of us felt good eating breakfast in the morning (it made us nauseous). Today, both my sister and I skip breakfast. We are intermittent fasters because it compliments our eating personalities.
Stop making it complicated. Stop making it an hourly obsession. Ditch the rules. Stop ruining your quality of life by trying to force your body to look like something it wasn't meant to be. Life is too short to waste it trying to unsuccessfully lose 20 lbs. Embrace those 20 lbs because they give you the freedom to eat the amount of calories that your body needs to function. That's when your weight will finally stop fluctuating! The best thing I ever did was let my body gain 20 lbs.
Instead of fussing over your diet and losing 20 lbs, do something more productive instead, like join a sport or fitness activity (e.g. soccer, pole fitness, salsa dancing). Turn your body into something capable! That's sexy!
FYI: I fast every day. I practice flexible dieting. I'm very flexible about it. I don't even track my calories or macros anymore (that doesn't mean I eat donuts all day: it means I'm good at practicing moderation, and you can read my blog post about it here). I listen to my body. I respect what my body tells me. I accept my body. I treat my body well by learning how to move better. My training is all about learning how to move better. I couldn't give 2 💩 💩 how many calories I'm burning. I teach all of this in my FLF ebook. It's not new information. The secret sauce is minimizing anxiety by ditching the rules.
Just so you know, I only have 2 rules regarding my diet: I always break my fast at the same time every day. And then I pick my poison. If I want carbs, then I keep my fats in check. If I want to eat foods higher in fat, then I keep my carbs in check. It's really that simple. I ditched all the other rules... and that's when things started working really well for me.
KEY POINT: Rules cause anxiety. Anxiety precludes results.
I don't exercise and diet to defy my body type so that I will appeal to others.
I train and fuel to build a strong body that will carry me through life. This appeals to me.
Which one of the above applies to you?
If you remember anything from this post, remember this: Want what you need. Don't need what you want.
xoxo
Sara
