We’re done with the all-or-nothing approach. The dichotomous thinking.
You’re an evolving woman that needs flexibility. That’s why I’m so passionate about this approach for my clients and now you. The expectations of this approach are realistic, and actually achievable long-term.
Keep reading to understand what Flexible Dieting is and how it can help you long-term.
FLEXIBLE DIETING 101
Despite the name, it’s not an actual diet!
Let’s clear up the confusion around flexible dieting versus what social media and fitness culture have promoted it as. ‘Cause girl, they’re two very different things.
Flexible dieting is not an excuse to eat whatever you want, so long as it hits your macros/calories. Whilst you can technically hit your macros by only eating chocolate, ice cream, and pizza, you’re not going to be feeling your best or optimising your performance and energy. At Status 8020, we’re in the business of healthy balance. That means 80% of the time you make the dietary choice that’s packed with vitamins and minerals. These are usually unprocessed, single-ingredient foods. 20% of the time, you can make less nutritious choices, so that you can enjoy the foods you love without restriction. This is important, because it means you can be flexible (hence the name) with your dietary approach, but the MAJORITY of the time you’re eating foods that support your fitness/body composition goals. When you do enjoy a treat, you have not ‘fallen off’ the bandwagon – you’re in that 20% soul foods window, ready to dive back into the nutritious options next time. It’s a change of narrative, that doesn’t allow for extremes. You are now operating at Status 8020.
Flexible ways of eating does NOT mean you need to cut out food groups or your favourite snacks. The stricter the diet, the more likely we are to ‘break the rules’ and overeat. Studies show that rigid dietary control is associated with greater dissatisfaction and non-adherence to the approach. Conversely, studies show a flexible dietary approach (like that we program at Status 8020) is associated with lower bodyweight, improved body image, and lower disordered eating outcomes (aka: a healthy relationship with food!).
Flexible dieting encourages non-adherence for some of the time – which means we can have a sleep in, or a glass of wine with a girlfriend without guilt. Even better – it’s actually part of the plan. It means you have a life-long strategy of balance, one that doesn’t come and go when you’re on a health kick.
Instead of complete avoidance of certain ‘bad’ (or more correctly, non-nutritious) foods, you can enjoy smaller servings of what you desire – giving YOU greater variety and enjoyment in the process. YES PLEASE.
Whilst the Status 8020 App provides a unique meal plan that suits your goals, we also encourage eating ‘off plan’ every now and again – and tracking those meals to still meet your personalised macros laid out in your program.
Remember – there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods. Just foods that are either packed with nutrients, devoid of nutrients, or anywhere in-between on that spectrum. Staying at the nutritious end of the scale 80% of the time will leave you feeling energised and nourished, without cravings and energy dips. When you choose non-nutritious options MOST of the time, we’re missing out on key nutrients that help us thrive, our blood sugars go on a rollercoaster and as a result, we suffer.
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