NUTRITION - PERFECTION IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve had the same discussion with multiple people on the topic of nutrition and “good vs. bad foods”.  Because of this, I figured I’d address the confusion surrounding some basic principles of nutrition.

All the debates on the internet demonizing certain foods have led to the vast majority of people being confused about what to eat.  So much that it’s gotten to the point they don’t know 1) who to trust anymore for valid information and 2) what foods are good for their health.  It’s as if every food under the sun is toxic or will make you fat, and thus should be avoided at all costs.  Carbohydrates make people fat.  Eating eggs is worse than smoking cigarettes.  Dietary fats will make you fat and put you at risk of cardiovascular disease.

If I were to compile everybody’s advice and summarize it, it would look like the following:  We shouldn’t eat meat or animal products, carbohydrates, dietary fat, fruits, or vegetables. 

WHAT IS LEFT TO EAT THEN!!

First off, people that demonize specific food groups typically have an agenda they are trying to push.  The whole low-fat craze was funded by the sugar industry so that they could market low-fat products as “healthy”.  To compensate for the lack of fat and make the foods hyperpalatable, they increased the amount of sugar in their products, thus also making the food more addictive so people would buy more.  Even though people were limiting fat, the population wasn’t healthier (some would argue it got worse – hence the case against carbohydrates and sugar). 

Now to get back to social-media content, I do want to preface by saying that I do believe many of the folks putting out information want to help people get healthier and do truly believe their way of eating is the best.  For example, following a strict low-carbohydrate diet will help you lose weight fast and improve your energy levels.  However, no two people are the same.  What works for Joe might not work for Bob.  Even if the two are genetically identical, they need to take into consideration other factors such as life stresses and daily schedules.  Let me explain with an example.

Let’s say Joe is an executive at a large company and from 8am to 2pm is running from meeting to meeting, with potentially a 10-minute break to go to the bathroom.  On the other hand, Bob has the luxury of working from home and is able to take a 45-minute lunch break every day.  Both are intrigued by intermittent fasting; however, they live very different lives and thus, would receive two different recommendations.  Intermittent fasting is a great tool for some people, but it’s not necessary for most.  In Joe’s case, I think it would be beneficial because it fits his lifestyle perfectly.  He wouldn’t have to worry or think about food during meetings.  For Bob though, he has the option depending on what he prefers.  There is no reason to do prolonged fasts unless he enjoys it and finds it convenient.

I believe those are two critical points when it comes to nutrition – enjoyment and convenience.  Nutrition shouldn’t feel like a chore, and you should find a way for it to be enjoyable and convenient, up to a certain point.  Sure, eating a burger from McDonald’s is nice (at the moment – not so much afterwards) and requires no work to prepare except take your wallet out, but we can all agree it’s not great.  Eating plain chicken and salad every day isn’t either (unless you enjoy that).  We need to find some sort of middle ground between what is best and what works for us so we don’t let “perfection be the enemy of good”.

There is no perfect diet.  If we try to make everything perfect, we’ll drive ourselves crazy and do more harm than good.  Trust me, I know from experience.  I spent years being (no joke) scared of eating carbohydrates.  So much so that I felt like I was cheating on my diet if I ate an apple…  Then I started reading about Mike Dolce and the “Dolce Diet”, which is focused around nutrient-dense whole foods, including carbohydrates.  I started eating clean carbohydrates with my meals and next thing I knew, I was getting leaner!  There were probably other factors involved with that, but I believe a main reason why I lost more body fat eating carbohydrates was because I wasn’t as stressed out about my nutrition.  I focused on eating healthy whole foods rather than demonizing certain foods, which developed a healthier relationship with food (along with a reduction in daily cortisol levels).

Nutrition should always be focused around nutrient-dense foods while managing calorie consumption (yes folks – calories in vs. calories out is still king), but sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to have a little “treat” here and there or choose a less-perfect option.  Sometimes it’s better to be good than perfect for long-term sustainability.  I’ve got a perfect example.

Sugar-free ketchup might not be the perfect condiment because of the use of artificial sweeteners and other ingredients.  However, putting some on a couple meals a day helps me enjoy my food more.  This ultimately keeps me on track (it’s essentially calorie-free) and prevents me from feeling the urge to over-indulge in other foods.  If sugar-free ketchup or bbq sauce makes it easier for you to eat your chicken breast and rice instead of resorting for a burger and fries, that will lead to greater long-term success, even if it isn’t “perfect”.

“The perfect diet is the one you can follow” – Stan Efferding (Vertical Diet)

Consistency is what matters in the long run.  Like anything, if you do something “good” consistently for years, it’s better than doing something “perfect” for a couple weeks then falling off the wagon.  This is exactly why I continue to follow a carbohydrate cycling approach.  When work is hectic during the week, I don’t necessarily want to think about what I’m going to eat or prepare for food.  I eat the same foods every day to make it easy for me because I never waste time thinking about it.  Then, on the weekend when things are calmer, I have an off-plan meal included which allows the wife and I to either go out to eat or pick up something tasty.  After that meal, I feel psychologically relaxed and ready for another week of strict eating.  This allows me to accumulate good weeks, which over time, lead to greater results.

This has worked for me for many years now, but again, it may not necessarily work for you.  Experiment with different styles of eating and see what sticks or what needs to be adjusted based on what fits your lifestyle and what you enjoy.  At the end of the day, finding something you can sustain and be consistent with over a long period of time trumps the “perfect diet” any day of the week.

Train hard folks.

Coach Max