Why Moderation = Frustration (And What To Do Instead)

"Everything in moderation" is a saying you'll hear all across the fitness industry.

Which basically means you can enjoy whatever foods you want, just do so in moderation.

I believe this is doing more harm than good if you're trying to get fit and healthy, especially when starting out on a new health journey.

I've struggled with this for a lot of years, because I get where it's coming from.

In theory, I agree with it.

In reality, I don't think it works well.

Obviously, if it were that easy to simply eat the foods you love in moderation, without going overboard, you would be doing it...right?

I'm not a fan of restrictive diets. 

But I'm also not a fan of diets without any guardrails or boundaries. 

Restrictive diets create more stress (which does not create a healthy environment for your body), and diets without any boundaries create poor results and no real traction when it comes to looking and feeling better.

When you see healthy and fit experts (or 'influencers') promoting "everything in moderation", it's misleading for most people.

To see why, you first have to understand one important thing:

What it takes to get there, and what it take to stay there, are two different things.

Here's what I mean.

Most influencers that have something to sell you are probably not following their own advice.

I know former CrossFit games athletes or bodybuilders, that worked out 6 days/week for 1.5-2 hours per day, and sometimes performed 2 workouts per day, selling people on "less is more" and "everything in moderation"

They spent years (and sometimes decades) building the body they have, tracking the food they're eating, and working relentlessly to get a specific result.

But now they're telling you that you can enjoy everything in moderation and get similar results working out a few times a week for 15-30 minutes and without giving up the foods you love.

This leads to frustration when you follow their advice but don't get the results you actually desire.

If you're not getting the results you desire, you might have to drop the 'everything in moderation' mindset, and get more aggressive towards your goals.

That doesn't mean you have to do this forever or that you can never enjoy foods you enjoy again.

But it does mean you need to make some short-term sacrifices to get the results you desire long-term.

Because remember: it takes more work to get there then it takes to stay there.

If you do the hard work now, maintaining it long-term becomes easier.

You're going to have to look at your health and fitness differently to get the body that looks and feels the way that you desire.

You'll need to look at food differently, avoiding the things that don't make you feel your best and eating more of the foods that do help you look and feel your best.

While that can feel like a lot, there are some simple tips you can follow to get started.

Don't overthink it. Don't overcomplicate it. Trust that you know more than you think you do when it comes to knowing what to do.

Tip #1: Identify What's Holding You Back. You probably know what thing you're enjoying 'in moderation' that might need to go. Maybe that's the after dinner drinks you enjoy a few times a week. Maybe that's the sugary dessert or morning baked goods you know that's not helping your waist line. The first step is knowing what needs to go.

Tip #2: Select A Timeframe. Remember, this doesn't have to be forever. But it does have to be a clear length of time. Decide ahead of time if you want to commit to this for 30, 60, 90 days (or longer). There is no right answer, but what's important is that once you commit that you don't stop or give up.

Tip #3: Be Specific. Be very clear on what you're giving up, so that there isn't any room for debate or compromise. For example, are you cutting out alcohol or sugar cold turkey? If eating out is your vice, do you need to give up fast food, ordering takeout/delivery, or all the above?

Tip #4: Make ONE Change At A Time. You will be miserable, and probably fail, if you try to change multiple things at a time. If you drink 2 cups of coffee, 3 glasses of wine, and eat out every night - giving them all up at once will wreck you. Remember Tip #1 - identify the one thing that you need to change first, and start there.

Tip #5: Tell Someone. Accountability will 10x your likelihood of success. Let someone know what you're committing to doing, and allow them to regularly check in on how you're doing.

This might sound restrictive, or extreme, but sometimes that's what's needed to breakthrough your plateau and get some real momentum going.

If 'everything in moderation' isn't working for you, it's time to try something different.

Identifying what's holding you back, and committing to removing it for a specific amount of time could be exactly what you need to get the results you really desire.

If you want different results, go get after it.

Dr. Dave

P.S. If this resonates with you, and you're ready to get more serious about your goals, click here to send me a DM and let me know what you're committing to. That might sound scary, but I'll make sure to give you the accountability you need (and provide other resources that might be able to help)