3 Reasons Why A Flexible Approach To Nutrition Is Best
I used to be one of those people that considered certain foods “off limits”. One of the foods on that list was pizza. I loved pizza, but I thought I couldn’t have it in order to reach my goals.
But I was wrong. I learned a way to have my pizza……and eat it too.
What if I told you that you could eat the foods that you enjoy and still reach your goals? The reality is that you can.
Here are three reasons why a flexible approach to nutrition is best.
1. Adherence
Studies have shown that the biggest factor in determining success or failure with someone’s nutrition plan is adherence. If you are able to eat foods you enjoy using a flexible approach while also working towards your goals (whether it be losing weight, gaining strength, or competing at any level), then you will be much more likely to stick with your plan than if you were eating bland foods that you do not enjoy.
2. Sustainability
A nutrition plan should not be something that lasts for a certain amount of time — it should be something that you can take with you for the long haul. A flexible approach is sustainable because again, it allows you to live your life and enjoy foods that you normally wouldn’t be able to enjoy with a plan that restricts certain foods because they are considered “bad”; when in reality, there are no “bad” foods.
3. Nutritional Freedom
A flexible approach to nutrition fosters a healthy relationship with food. All of us have an emotional connection with food and it can be good or bad. It can be a good memory you have of your favorite dish that your grandmother makes for Thanksgiving. Or it can be that time someone at school told you not to eat a cupcake “because you’re fat”. When you allow yourself to eat all foods, you take the negative connotation away from certain foods. Food is no longer considered good or bad. Food is then just food — with some being less nutritious and some being more nutritious.
At the end of the day, food is food and all of it should be enjoyed.
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