By Dayne Hudson
(This is a 3 part article - feel free to catch up on Part One and Part Two)
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Flexible Dieting For Long Term Fat Loss
We know that quitting sugar (all forms including fructose) causes us to crave it more.
Now that we've established there's no solid HUMAN evidence other than hypothesises based on rat studies to cut it out of our diet, we must ask ourselves this: why put yourself through the pain of quitting sugar when there's no benefit to it?
And this is my precise point.
The data is clear - flexbile dieting (allowing for things like sugar in a calorie deficit) has been shown to prevent overeating, less fat, and the absence of anxiety and depression (14,15).
They also discovered that the all or nothing aproach - like this stupid quitting sugar ideology - was associated with overeating and increased bodyweight (14).
This same uncalled for approach was associated with symptoms of easting disorders, anxiety and mood disturbances in the other research (15).
So why am I so passionate about this? Am I so one-sided and blind?
Why do I think quitting sugar is the wrong thing to do?
Because ladies and gentleman....
.....I've tried it.
Back in 2011, I thought this was the way forward. I did it to drop some fat thinking it was the way forward. Of course I wasn't COMPLETELY quitting it, but it was very limited - the same as what some people are telling you to do today.
I could smile sometimes day to day, but was dying inside.
After this diet, I went on a trip to Europe for 6 weeks.
You ask anyone on my tour - I was starved and could eat about 3 deserts afterwards. People couldn't believe how much I could eat.
Nor could I.
I've written before about how diets in this context don't work - citing a very reputable paper as to how we end up putting all the weight back on, and then some. Quitting sugar can cause just this.
So after my body was starved....and I ate like crazy, you won't believe what I came home looking like.
I dare you to look down.
Yep. Amazing huh?
My six pack disapeared like the notes from the Venetian violins I listened to in the cobblestone corridors whilst munching on something sweet.
Then, I began reading. And reading.
Then reading some more...
Scientific papers and only articles from scientists with no agenda and solid credibility.
I have been doing such since then and won't stop educating myself so I can pass onto you the FIT'N'FLEXED reader/viewer all my life changing knowledge.
I'm so passionate about your health and how you look, as well as "experts" lying to you to sell a product, that it keeps me awake at night.
You ask anyone close to me.
So years on, with more knowledge but never all of it (the more you know the less you know), I continue to try and do photoshoots every year.
My latest one, the end of 2014, saw me take a flexible dieting approach. Here's one of my shots UNEDITED.
After sitting at this level of bodyfat (good enough for any man or woman I'm sure) I couldn't believe how easily I was doing it.
Normally, lots of people who compete in physique competitions or who quit sugar for a period of time - go out and SPLURGE like I did in Europe on everything after doing a shoot or a competition.
But not me, I was so happy and comfortable. I sat down with a huge smile and realised the journey I had come on and what I've learnt - through trial and error...and hours of reading PROPER science.
So guess what I did?
I booked another shoot.
Yep. After already about 12 weeks of dieting that felt like no time at all.
And the shoot was for another 2 weeks away!
I could maintain this level of body fat so easily, that I figured I could get some more shots to reveal my hard work.
Here's another one of those shots from my second shoot below - again unedited.
Now, I'm as happy as ever.
I know just how to diet to gain a six pack and maintain muscle mass, whilst eating plenty of sugary and fructose containing foods in the process. My health is strong and I'm happy with how I look.
And the difference? I'm NOT sugar-free.
The same people whom I create diet plans for can't believe how their life changes when they lose weight with the diet they get from me.
But that's what all my years and years of research has gone into since my lifting journey started 10 years ago - something that WORKS and can be MAINTAINED....and backed up by scientific evidence that is supported anecdotally by HUMAN BEINGS....and not rats!
Don't Quit Sugar
So you can see why I get fired up and worked up over complete fallacies that are presented to you by people who aren't familiar with the real evidence, and who are just after your dollar.
Their goal is simple - tell you fructose is bad and will kill you - cite pseduoscience then sell you a book with recipes that don't contain fructose so you can live happily ever after.
I care about your health and how you look much more than you know, and just HATE it when people try and take you for a ride.
"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!"
REFERENCES
(14) Smith CF, et al. Flexible vs. Rigid dieting strategies: relationship with adverse behavioral outcomes. Appetite. 1999 Jun;32(3):295-305.
(15) Stewart TM, et al. Rigid vs. flexible dieting: association with eating disorder symptoms in nonobese women. Appetite. 2002 Feb;38(1):39-44.
