Some say that when it comes to altering your body composition (as in losing fat and adding muscle), diet is 75% of the battle. Some put it at 60% and others still put it at over 80%. Whatever the number, following a sound nutritional regimen is absolutely key when you’re trying to improve your body, both inside and out.
While some people will fixate on caloric intake, carbohydrate ratio or fat sources, I like to look at the bigger picture – see the forest for the trees, if you will. There are a number of diets out there that will help you lose fat and gain muscle, assuming you pair them with an exercise routine. But what’s even more important than the type of diet you choose to follow, is that you remain consistent with that diet. Far too many people manage to lose a few pounds while on a diet, only to gain them back, and more, as they decide that, with their goals met, they can go back to eating the way they used to.
The problem is with the way we think about dieting these days. To me, a diet isn’t a quick fix solution to a problem. A diet is a nutritional lifestyle that is followed consistently, for years on end or even for a lifetime. This is why you should choose a diet that suits your tastes, your temperaments and your schedule. If you don’t enjoy the way you’re eating the greater the odds you’ll slip off your diet and find yourself starting back up the hill, rather than enjoying the view from the top.