As our 9 Week Intensive transformations continue I am constantly reminded of the difference between a performance diet and a fat loss diet . We are. Easily distracted and influence by what other people are doing without truly considering the difference in current goal . One diet restricts to lose , the other fuels to grow . It is a question of both overall caloric need and carbohydrate intake . Frustrations occurs when these are miscalculated and misunderstood .

A great extreme example to use is competitive bodybuilders . In the final weeks of contest prep most are deep in restriction . Fatigue will set in with minimal effort as the body is fueled less and less . No successful bodybuilder is running long distance or performing high intensity intervals in the weeks before prep for good reason ; they simply do not have the energy for it . When you see them walking at incline or on the stairmaster at steady in this phase it’s not because “they are lazy “ it’s simply a question of using the energy they have left have to burn through the remaining fat . Performance is not the goal here , aesthetics is and that will dictate the type of activity you should and are able to do .

Similarly a Crossfit Athlete will do poorly on a low cal/low carb deficit diet . Aesthetics is not the goal here , performance is . It doesn’t matter what you look like , it only matters what you can do . Now great aesthetics may well be (and are often ) achieved through volume , intensity and consistency but your primary instinct should be to fuel the action and not hinder it through restriction.

So our clients often have to stop doing certain things to achieve the immediate goal . They will be reintroduced once calories are increased . For example our Hybrid Program is a Performance orientated program . The goal is to left heavier and move faster , it is fueled primarily by glycogen (carbohydrate ) . In the absence of that fuel , the client may well meet to make a switch in the type of training that they do to compensate for the deficit .

We can try to fight it but we will be disappointed as we are asking too much of our bodies . I have seen people get sick or hurt as they try to run against the wind . We just have to remind ourselves that the goal is the goal is the goal . And we have to sometimes forgo what we love for what is necessary .

So when you look at your diet just ask yourself “ what am I fueling right now “? What choices do you need to make that support your immediate endeavor . Send your body the right messages and give it what it needs so that it may adapt to the situation you want . That is the key to progress, motivation and result .

Eating with Purpose