I popped this post on my Insta the other day and felt inspired to expand a little into my next blog.
So regularly, I hear men and women proudly relaying their nine pounds weight loss after replacing breakfast and lunch with a cleverly branded meal replacement shake. Or… being the proud recipient of an A5 cheap cardboard certificate that represents their latest milestone achievement at a well-known slimming club. Or… paying three times the standard rate for an Atkins-friendly loaf of bread when nutritionally they aren’t hugely different.
Faddy shakes, detoxes, and confusing point systems overcomplicate what it actually a very simple biological process; and that’s a calorie deficit.
Sure, there are more nuanced strategies, and each body is different and responds better to different stimuli. But the simple version is: eat less than you burn off and you will cut fat.
Diet companies are huge businesses and designed to keep you paying for as long as possible. They spin and create gimmicks to make you believe they have the magic cure, the easy option. The truth is, there is no cutting corners. Everything worthwhile is worth working for. It’s back to the old cliché; dieting is difficult, being fat is difficult. Chose your difficult. One of the options helps to promote longevity and vitality so try to be kind to yourself and pick the choice that will not only make you healthier but also increase your self-confidence. You deserve it.
Save on money on cute marketing and convoluted gimmicks, that just disguise the tried-and-tested calorie deficit and get back to basics. Try to eat a little less, minimally processed, wholefoods, with plenty of protein. Try low-calorie, high-volume foods like vegetables to keep you feeling full and incorporate some diet hacks, so it feels like you’re still enjoying a treat. Low-calorie jellies, zero-calorie syrups and flavour drops, and cans of Pepsi Max are some of my personal favourites.
When it comes to exercise, yes, resistance training builds more muscle, which in turn, burns more calories, even when your body is sleeping. HIIT is also a good strategy, as it is proven to elevate EPOC (Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) for extended periods after you’ve finished your workout; basically, the after-burn effect on your metabolism. But I’m going to break the mould here, and just say: move your body. There’s no such thing as a bad workout and the key is sustainability. Find what you enjoy, whether it’s horse riding, long country walks, or smashing out a heavyweight session at the gym and repeat.
It really is as simple as that!
