
Flexible dieting has gained notice over the years as a way to eat anything you want while losing weight as long as it fits within your macros.
Meaning, a person who wants to lose weight while still eating donuts or pizza and beer can, in theory, do it if they use flexible dieting.
Proponents of flexible dieting say it’s “more sustainable” and “more enjoyable” because people can, potentially, lose weight without feeling deprived.
One of the biggest problems with flexible dieting is that a lot of people who try to do it also misuse it.
They hear, “You can have whatever you want” and think it means they can keep eating in the exact way that’s keeping them fat, except they can lose weight.
On Code Red, we don’t do flexible dieting. I DO give you foods to eat and foods to avoid, and you’re free to pick the foods to eat that YOU love.
Some programs force you to gag down specific foods for specific meals, even if you hate them.
With Code Red, there’s flexibility in that you can pick your favorites FROM the Code Red foods list.
But there are foods we remove in weight loss mode, too. Not because they’re necessarily bad for you (though some are), but because they slow down weight loss in most people.
The purpose of Code Red’s weight loss mode is to get the extra fat off as quickly as possible, and still safely.
Leaving every food on planet Earth as an option will slow down your weight loss.
In maintenance is where I teach people how to introduce as much – or as little- flexibility as they can handle.
That’s a SUPER important distinction, because some people are – for various reasons – more susceptible to binge eating, sugar addiction, and food addiction.
Telling a sugar addict they can use flexible dieting to eat sugary foods (like donuts) in moderation while they’re trying to lose weight is like telling an alcoholic they can drink in moderation while trying to get and stay sober.
It. Doesn’t. Work.
Another problem with flexible dieting is the QUALITY of food.
Yes, food volume is super important.
But so is the quality of your food.
Even if you drop some pounds eating a little less of that yummy crap food, if you’re still eating mostly crap food, there will be health consequences (if there aren’t already). Everything from brain fog and heartburn to type two diabetes (and worse).
Another thing some flexible dieters do is try to recreate healthier versions of foods they love but know are unhealthy.
This can work for some people, but for others, it backfires.
Having a healthier “treat” might soothe your inner dessert lover and make it easier to stay on track.
But it might also turn your inner dessert lover into a rampaging Godzilla who loses control and goes on an ice cream binge.
Whether or not flexible dieting will work for you comes down to how much control you can maintain over your food choices.
If too much flexibility just gives you enough rope to hang yourself, then it’s not the method for you if you want to get and keep your weight off. As always, all I ask is that you be honest with yourself.
If you’d rather just get the weight off and be done with losing weight so you can learn how to keep it off while creating the amount of food flexibility that’s right for you, then Code Red is the way to go.
You don’t need shakes, shots, diet pills, diet foods, or exercise. Just real food, water, sleep, and a few simple rules.
If you haven’t yet, give it a real shot and see what you think. You’ll know in the first 30 days whether you wanna continue.
Come join us in the Code Red network! We’ve got communities, tons of videos, podcasts, articles, motivation, tips, programs, meal ideas, and more! It’s free to join, and you can join in either of these two ways:
1) Go to www.coderedlifestyle.com/app from your laptop (or an Internet browser like Chrome on your phone or tablet) and create your free account.
2) Download the mobile app version from the App Store or Google Play by searching Code Red Lifestyle™.