Nutrition
At Ananda Fitness we have a unique approach to nutrition and food planning. At Ananda Fitness, rather than have the physiology of the body work against you during a dietary program, we use the scientific knowledge of how the body adapts to caloric restriction, to allow us to positively influence the physiology and get results. I would like to review why standard dieting is unsuccessful, at best giving only temporary results
Why standard diets do not work
Diets do not work long term for the following reasons:
- Standard diets are too restrictive and do not take into consideration the foods that a person enjoys
- Standard diets activate the starvation response of the body.
- Standard diets do not take into account a persons unique lifestyle
- Standard diets do not take into account food sensitivities/ intolerances that the individual may have
Standard diets are too restrictive
The typical diet plan that is given to most individuals is a one diet suits all approach. Every person is given the same sheet and a highly restrictive diet is expected to be followed. Favourite foods are banned for sometimes weeks at a time. Some of the foods on the list a person may not even like, but the diet must be followed all the same. This approach is not only impossible for a person to follow, but is mentally and emotionally taxing and cannot be incorporated into a long term, healthy nutritional eating plan. The result is that the individual will follow it for a week, sometimes up to a month before crashing and breaking out. This greatly damages their focus and confidence and makes the whole goal of reducing body weight seem impossible. The person ends up quitting, only to put themselves through the same mental, emotional and physical torture weeks to months later.
Standard diets activate the starvation response of the body
Most diets require a large drop in caloric intake, sometimes to excess levels. One of the most important hormones for fat loss in the body is Leptin. When there is an excessive reduction in caloric intake or if the caloric intake is reduced in smaller amounts over a longer period of time, the bodies level of Leptin decreases, sending a signal to the pituitary gland. This is the beginning of what is known as the starvation response. The bodies primary focus is survival. The pituitary gland responds to this drop of Leptin as a sign that food is not available and it instigates a series of physiological responses to maximise the bodies chance of surviving this 'Famine.' This results in the following:
- Increase in Cortisol levels ~ leading to an increase in calories taken in to be converted to bodyfat, especially around the tummy area!
- Muscle is broken down to fuel the body ~ This allows the body to hold onto the bodyfat! Muscle tissue has a fundamental influence on the Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR). Loss of muscle means a reduction in your bodies ability to burn excess calories. A lb of muscle can burn up to 50 calories a day at rest! Every lb of muscle you lose reduces your BMR and makes fat burning harder. Any weight loss approach that results in muscle tissue loss is doomed to fail long term.
- Increase production of the hormone Ghrelin ~ Ghrelin is produced in larger amounts, causing the body to crave foods, especially those foods that are high in cardohydrates and simple sugars! This is a complete diaster for the 'Dieter', as these cravings have a physiological basis and cannot be ignored, no matter how much will power a person can invoke. The result is a food binging that cannot be controlled.
- Metabolism is reduced ~ When the body instigates the starvation response, the pituitary gland affects the thyroid, resulting in a reduction of the thyroid hormones, to match the calories taken in. To continue to keep the body losing weight, the person has to continually decrease caloric intake. This is not only dangerous, but eventually impossible to continue. This process, coupled with the lose of muscle tissue, results in a continual drop in the metabolism and puts a complete stop to the fat burning process!
It is imperative to utilise the natural physiological adaptive processes of the body to maximse fat reduction while maintaining lean muscle tissue. It is also important to take into account the psychological elements of dieting to create a long term successful approach to weight management. All of our food plans incorporate these two essential elements to deliver you maximum success in your desired goal.
Standard diets and weight loss approaches do not take into account a persons unique lifestyle
Every individual has different challenges when it comes to changing their lifestyle to accommodate their health and fitness goals. For some people, major changes are required, while for others, only minor changes may be all that is needed. Some people may only be a few pounds from their desired target, while others may need to lose several stone. Some people may decide to lose weight in a steady gradual pace, over an extended period of time. Others may want to lose their excess weight quickly; either because they need to get in shape fast for a particular event or occasion, or their individual personality type may need to see results faster in order to keep motivated. Each person's work schedule, stress levels, family commitments and free time are different. Some people are vegetarian, others eat meat. Some people have medical conditions and others do not.
A successful approach needs to incorporate all of the above factors, to ensure that each person can make the necessary lifestyle changes in a way that is suited to them, without being overly demanding and stressful. If some people are pushed too hard or too many changes are imposed on them in a short space of time, they may become overwhelmed. Others, like being challenged and are ready and willing to make the appropriate changes in short space of time to accelerate the level of success. The message here is that everyone is different. A one suits all exercise program approach and a one suits all food plan approach does not work. The program must be tailored to suit the person and not the other way around.
Standard diets do not take into account any food intolerances that an individual may have
Most fitness professionals and personal trainers do not have the training to detect food intolerances, therefore the standard diets that their clients are put on may contain foods that the person is intolerant to. This can cause much unnecessary discomfort and frustration to the client as these foods can cause digestive discomforts, bloatedness, lethargy and weight gain! This can be very frustrating to the client as they may be following everything that they are being asked, without reaping the rewards they truely deserve. Food intolerances can also create states of poor concentration, low motivation, tiredness and psychological reversal. Psychological reversal initiates negative emotional states and self defeating behaviours.
Food intolerances are in themselves symptoms of underlying nutritional deficiencies caused by poor eating habits, tissue imbalances or stress states that can inhibit the body from digesting and assimilating nutritional components of food i.e Vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These intolerances and their nutritional deficiencies can be addressed using Kinesiology techniques. Please refer to the Kinesiology portion in main menu. Any long term successful approach must take into account the possible presence of food intolerances.