Lisa's advice on allowing for treats

Can you believe we're into 2nd week of March already? where has the first 2 months gone.  How many of you made New Year's resolutions and oops, have already broken them?  I didn't make any this year so so far so good.  However I'm sure there are heaps of you that were going on a diet at the start of the year and may have already fallen off the wagon.  But no doubt you'll be getting on another diet to compensate for the extra goodies you've indulged. left: most of the time I like clean fresh food eg. salad and tuna sashimi.

This whole dieting and binging is a vicious circle.  You might be eating cleanly for a couple of weeks then somehow, you don't know why, you have to cheat and eat pies, a pastry or a bread roll.  Perhaps all in one day and at one sitting!  I have clients sometimes do that.  Then they text me and say 'oops I've just eaten ....  Do I decarb the rest of the day and do more cardio?" I'm sure you know the scenario.    Firstly I'd find out if this was the first binge, how big was it and was it first of the week and if so, I'd say just continue with the meals as scheduled.  I think if the client got into the mindset that they had to decarb, they'd go and eat badly even more and continue with their bad ways.  Whereas if you say 'its ok, you've had your binge, now just get on with your day' it leaves them more in a good psychological space than if they felt guilty about it.  Which they already are!  However, if the binge happens again in the same week then obviously there are other issues involved which might go deeper than food being the problem.  You have to ask them 'Do you really want to look good. How important is it for you to lose weight. If competing, do you really want to get on stage?" . If so, then these binges aren't really going to get the result they want.  You have to look into their total work, family and lifestyle to see where their headspace is at.  So yes, I've become quite a psychologist, albeit an amateur one.

What I call treats might differ to what others call treats.  For me this week, I've had a couple of Protein Cookies (mmmm chocolate fudge is yummo)after training, on separate days this week which I call 'cheating'.  Cheating is also having an extra cup of rice or a trim flat white, having a clean meal like thai chicken and veges out.  I didn't do all of those by the way!  Oh and magnum ice creams depending on what time of the month it is. Sure, I'm not actually dieting for a comp and I can probably be more bad but the greasy food is not part of my lifestyle and I'd rather not develop it. left: Magnums are one of my guilty pleasures

For others cheating is like what I mentioned earlier eg. picking up pie or sausage roll on way home from gym, having sausages instead of clean food like chicken or fish, having those extra 2 or 3 chocolate biscuits after dinner,  2 glasses of wine a night or just eating for eating's sake and not thinking about when or what you're eating for what you're doing.

Instead of totally cutting the foods you like out.  Allow yourself a controlled treat meal or 2 and have the food you've really missed during your week.  Even my clients who are competing in contest are allowed treat meals - depending on how far they're out for comp.  But no, Jill and Wendy you're not allowed anything right now! 

And now with Easter approaching I'm sure you'll be tempted to nibble on a few choccy bunnies and hot cross buns.  Its ok to have it but just make sure you've made a plan to have it.  Supermarkets smell oh so nice around Easter time too and its extra tempting to just buy and eat chocolates and buns right out of the supermarket bag, so make sure you eat before you go shopping so you feel full and you'll be less likely to accidentally buy and eat those treats.

So the crux of this article is that don't put your mindset as being on a 'diet' but rather put yourself on a good healthy eating regime that allows for treats.  If you saw on the news recently, scientists revealed that no matter what kind of diet you're on, its the consistancy of that diet, that helps you lose weight and maintain the weight.  By developing a good healthy eating regime you're more likely to be in a better mindset to diet, especially if you want to consider competing in a bodybuilding contest where total commitment to a clean diet is paramount for at least 12 weeks.

Good luck to all those dieting for a contest, it'll be worth it when you look super hot on stage!

Lisa, Go Figure
9 March 09