Nutrition doesn’t have to be all or nothing
The “all-or-nothing” approach to nutrition isn’t sustainable. You’ll either break the “rules” so often that the nutrition plan becomes meaningless, or you’ll resent moments when the plan gets in the way of life.
That’s part of why I created 100 Year Athlete Nutrition. It bums me out to see people struggle with extreme fad diets (carnivore, keto, etc.) that micromanage everything they eat and do. Fad diets might help you shed weight in the short-term, but will you be on the same diet 10 years later – and still enjoying it? Doubtful.
If you want a nutrition plan that becomes second nature – and that will fuel a lifetime of adventure and play – get in touch with me
That’s what 100YA Nutrition is all about.
In the meantime, Memorial Day and other summer holidays are coming. Let’s cover two common situations that blow up diets over the summer and how you might handle them.
Visiting family means eating all your childhood favorites, and it’s hard to say no.
Eat the food. Often, the temptation to overeat stems from food restriction and the stress that comes with it. By removing the ‘off-limits’ label from treats, you can lighten the psychological load you’re carrying.
Expecting perfection during a high-temptation situation isn’t realistic. When you realize you’re not restricted in what you can eat, it makes it easier to stop eating after the first serving.
So, practice gratitude for your friend or family member who prepared the meal. Do a lap and take small portions of your favorites first. That way, you won’t miss out on grandma’s famous pie.
2. Going to any event means drinking, and we have a lot of events coming up…
If you occasionally drink and enjoy it, great. That won’t derail your nutrition. But summer has a way of giving us excuses to drink 4-5+ times a week. There’s after-hike beers, wine at the concert, cocktails on the deck at 4 pm, two nights of car camping. You get the idea.
On the nights when you aren’t going to drink, prepare and strategize like an athlete. Sleep well the night before so that you’re in a calmer frame of mind. Before you head to the event, use a mindfulness app, like Calm or Headspace, to get in the zone.
Once you arrive, keep a non-alcoholic drink on hand at all times to help create a placebo (i.e., make yourself feel like you’re drinking). This will also limit the number of times people offer you another drink. When you find yourself feeling stressed, take five deep breaths.
Bottom Line: Perfection isn’t realistic in any aspect of life, and especially not with nutrition. Don’t invest all your willpower into resisting the occasional drink or treat. To win the war, just win most of the battles, not all of them.
