Articles

Paralysis Through Analysis
by Rick Mayo

As a personal trainer and training business owner, I field every imaginable question regarding health and fitness. Naturally, many of those questions are about nutrition. It dawned on me the other day that some people just don't understand the basics. This lack of understanding can lead to confusion and ultimately the failure of the client to reach his/her goal.

There are many new diets on the market these days. Also, some oldies have seen a resurgence in popularity. Most of the diet plans tout the carbohydrate as the source of all evil, attributing everything from cancer to obesity to this nasty macronutrient. The truth is that successful diets are simply a reduction in overall calories regardless of their specific nutritional makeup. I will admit that it is easier to overeat carbs more than other foods but they certainly will not make you gain weight if they are kept in check.

This leads to my point about paralysis through analysis. I had someone ask me at a dinner party recently, "I heard that carrots will make you fat cause they turn to sugar and then to fat. Is that true, because I hate carrots?" The person who asked the question was holding a half empty plate of brownies in one hand and a Pina Coloda in the other. The point is that without looking at the bigger picture, it is pointless to fret over fruits and veggies that may cause a slight rise in blood sugar. Also, although I am fully aware of the recuperative properties of protein, something tells me that 2 lbs. of bacon and 10 eggs is probably not the healthiest breakfast choice.

The best diet should include all of the food groups in moderation taking into account portion control. Read our success stories and you'll see that the clients with the most short and long-term progress live by that rule. So next time you are wondering about the dangers of the artificial sweetener in you diet soda, put down the burger and biggie fries and head home for a carrot or two.