the real life food pyramid

I created the best visual of a 
real life food pyramid today. 

I was inspired to draw this due to the questions I get asked relating to diet and what should and shouldn't be eaten. This illustration is exactly what pops up in my mind and what I try to teach everyone because the standard government results do not work for the majority of vastly different people in our society.

As a health and fitness professional, my job would be a lot easier if I could give everyone the same nutritional and training advice and if that were the case, I probably wouldn't be working as a coach. I enjoy the challenge of dealing with different types of people and their individual needs based on their profile. However getting people to understand that they are different and that their training and nutrition may not be the same as their friend or ideal super model, is easier said then done. A lot of people want quick fixes and don't like to be consistent in the long term to get their desired health results. 

I cannot change peoples behavior or desire for quick fixes, I can only try my best to positively influence them in a S.M.A.R.T direction. Thankfully I have been able to guide many people in a S.M.A.R.T direction, however, I believe they deserve a lot of credit to their success because they came to me with a good attitude, They understood changes weren't going to happen over night, they knew they were going to need support throughout their journey and they knew they were going to take have to take ownership of their goals and be consistent! 

If you're willing to change your attitude about nutrition and lifestyle you'll first need to understand what S.M.A.R.T goals are. 

S - Specific
M - Measurable 
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time 

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Be specific with what you want to achieve (a healthier lifestyle, fat loss, muscle building/tone), make a plan to measure your progress (will you be testing strength, measurements, ensure your goals are attainable (is your goal sustainable for the long run ex: eating a 500 calorie diet for 3 months. I can assure you it won't be), set goals that are realistic (ex: losing 2 kilos in a month rather than trying to lose 20 which would be unrealistic), and last but not least - set goals that are time bound (ex: how many times/week are you going to exercise or how many months do you expect to achieve your desired results). If your goals are not S.M.A.R.T and you go out to try and achieve them you may end up not succeeding or even going backwards. 

The quote "a failure to plan is a plan to fail" is very true when it comes to your health, well-being and fitness. 

After understanding what S.M.A.R.T goals you want to create you can start to create your own personalized real life food pyramid:

• It will alter day to day 
• It will change on days when you're sedentary and when your're heavily active
• It will change if you undertake a sport event, pre post and during
• It will change if you're trying to lose fat or build muscle
• It will change if you have extreme health problems
• It will change when you're stressed
• It will changed when you do shift work or lack sleep
• Modifications will be beneficial during festive seasons
• It will change during season changes
• It will change when you're feeling sad or lonely 

It can be a very overwhelming for many and with so many external and internal factors surrounding us everyday. Therefore, making decisions on what we should and shouldn't eat or is 'acceptable' in our personal food pyramid needs to be reviewed when regarding your goals. If you feel stuck or lost, don't be afraid to reach out because the sooner you can find a way of eating that fuels your lifestyle, the sooner you will be happier and on your way to an energized life!