Is Balance the Answer?

I had a funny interaction with a client the other day. I was helping her understand some nutrition basics as she's been crushing it in the gym and wants to make sure she's supporting her hard work with the right fuel for her body. (It is very true, after all, that you can't outwork a bad diet.)

We were chatting way about protein goals, when to eat, alternatives to things like mayonnaise and sour cream...when all of a sudden she said,

"Ok, so I have a question. What's the truth about bananas??"

I was...completely speechless.

I eventually gathered my words enough to say, "I have absolutely no idea what you mean by that."

She apparently has been reading everywhere that you can't lose weight and eat bananas, like they're some sort of evil magic that destroys all of the other work you've been doing in terms of fitness and nutrition.

Where in the world????!!! That was my thought. But -- I know that information is out there. All of these weird "do this and it will fix everything" or "don't do that or it will ruin everything" statements that are simply. not. true.

There is not one thing out there that will single handedly destroy your efforts - if you enjoy it at the right ratio!

I like to use the 80-20 rule as a guide. If 80% of the time, you're making healthy choices, then you can make "fun" choices 20% of the time and - importantly - not feel guilty about it!

As a society, we have forgotten that food is fuel. We have completely flipped to the other extreme and now expect every single interaction with food to bring us immense pleasure.

Now, listen. Your girl here is FOODIE. I love food. I love pizza I love pasta I love ice cream I love wine I love cobbler I love whiskey I love uber-buttery popcorn and I looovvvveeeeeee cheese.

But 80% of the time, my job is not to think, "What will taste the yummiest right now?" It's to think, "What will best fuel my goals, give me energy, give me the nutrients my body needs to function, and not lead to cravings or wanting to eat junk later?"

Then 20% of the time.....BRING ON THE CHEESE. And you will not see me feeling bad about that! Which is the best part. Pure, cheesy joy!

A lot of people say it's about balance, but I wouldn't go quite that far. It's about understanding where you want to be and what it takes to get there, and then making sure to not burn yourself out and to leave an appropriate amount of room for life, for joy, for....french fries!!

As always, it comes back to being intentional. Are you just reacting to your dopamine-craving brain that locks in on that donut like an eagle spying a field mouse? Or are you choosing what you want your life to look like.

Only you know the answer. And if you're not happy with that answer, I'm here to help. Just hit reply.

You can do this.