Is your Diet Sustainable?

I have said this many times and I’ll say it again: a sustainable and healthy relationship with food and fitness depends on MANY factors. Obviously, there are better food choices that are nutrient-rich, fresh, local, and ethical. Obviously, different ways of eating work for some people and not for others. I’m the first person not to label foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for many reasons.  A donut has its place. I’m also the first person not to label myself as a vegetarian because I believe in flexibility and eating with awareness.

Nutrition advice must be based on the individual, metabolism, starting point, activity level, hormone health, digestion, personal preference, environment, mental well-being, and more.

Do you label yourself or your diet?

Practicing yoga is extremely beneficial, but it doesn’t equate to juice cleanses. Weight lifting is extremely beneficial, but it doesn’t equate to steroid use. There are a lot of misconceptions out there. When it comes to health, we must understand that there is no absolute approach. You can be a boxer and a yogi who is paleo, and you can be a powerlifter and wrestler who is vegan. Labels move us further away from health and in fact contribute to fear and more misinformation. How many people do we know that have tried every fad diet under the moon to ‘lose weight’? Only to never actually lose the weight. How many people do we know that are truly happy and confident in their own skin?

I never give a blanket recommendation and I’m extremely careful to never use the language that encourages diet culture. There is a difference between an experienced individual modifying caloric intake based on current metabolism and performance, to someone going on a restrictive fad diet.

What do I believe?

I will continue to promote a healthy, sustainable relationship with food. I will also continue to promote a sustainable approach to fitness where resistance training, mobility, flexibility, and meditation are all key elements.

We each have a responsibility to share this message. If you’re a practitioner in the industry, please check yourself and your scope of practice. If you’re a science-based practitioner, please do not dismiss the holistic ‘hippie’ elements that work for some people. If you’re a free spirit, please don’t disregard anecdotal evidence and ever-evolving research. Let’s work together to encourage confident, healthy, and happy people.

I for one, am a student for life. Learning and growing forever is inevitable and welcomed!