In this day and age, new diet fads are being introduced left and right. Diet plans and pills are being advertised on T.V. by individuals who claim the diet “Really works!” and brings “Fast results!” But, what normally happens to these people? They lose all the weight they want to lose and continue to eat like they did before. This results in weight regain.
The problem with these diets is they aren’t sustainable. Most of them you can’t see yourself maintaining for years on end because they are either too restrictive, or they are just plain boring. A diet is a lifestyle change, not a 5-month hiatus from your typical eating habits.
Along with these fad diets, there is another new way of dieting popular in the fitness industry; Flexible Dieting. If It Fits Your Macros, commonly known as IIFYM, is a widespread way of eating for your goals. It is utilized by bodybuilders and people looking to improve their physique. With this approach to dieting, you are given an allotted daily macro count (protein, carbs, fats, and fiber) and are required to hit these numbers within 5 grams. These macros are usually counted through an app called MyFitnessPal.
So, what does Flexible Dieting do that other diets don’t?
1. It promotes health, as well as sanity.
Diets are very mentally exhausting. Most diets say, “you can’t eat that. It has sugar. Or fat. Or carbs.” IIFYM is different. It says “HEY! You can have that ice cream… as long as you meet your fiber needs first!” Fiber is a macronutrient commonly found in a variety of fruits and vegetables; so it encourages followers to always keep in mind their overall health is a priority.
2. It encourages treats--in MODERATION.
High-calorie foods like doughnuts, pizza and ice cream aren’t the real reason for our weight gain. Over-eating these foods IS. People tend to blame these foods, claiming they are “bad” for you, simply because over-eating these foods is SO easy. Who can have just one slice of pizza? The creators of IIFYM understand this. Most of us don’t have endless macro goals everyday, so we can’t fit a whole pizza and a carton of ice cream into our macros. But if we have carb and fat macros left over, (after we meet our fiber goals, of course), and we want a serving of ice cream, then damn it, we will have our ice cream!
3.Lastly… It’s ACTUALLY maintainable.
Too many diets preach the “all or nothing” mentality, but this isn't realistic. No one can go months on end, just eating chicken, broccoli and rice. (And if you think you can, you’re fooling yourself). This is why so many diets can turn detrimental. You eat very healthy several days in a row, then all the sudden you start craving, give into your favorite foods and consume more than enough calories in one sitting to gain a pound or two. Flexible dieting lets you incorporate these foods in a fashion that won’t hinder your progress in any which way.
To sum things up, flexible dieting has worked for a large number of people. Is it for everyone? Most definitely not. It still requires a large amount of dedication to stick to a set of numbers. Like any diet, it demands sacrifice. The reason flexible dieting is loved by so many is because of its ability to let you live and relax sometimes. It promotes a psychologically healthy way to look at food and dieting. Lastly, it lets you enjoy your favorite foods in a way specific to your aesthetic goals. And who doesn’t love some pizza and chocolate every now and then?
Stay healthy, stay happy!
