I can still remember back to when I was writing Eat Stop Eat. I had just finished my major literature review on the benefits of short term fasting for weight loss and was eager to share what I had found with the rest of the world.
My goal was a simple one. To explain the scientific literature carefully and thoroughly so I could help people understand that today's obsessive compulsive approach to nutrition is simply NOT NEEDED.
Well its almost two years later, and I'm starting to think that I didn't quite get my message across the way I wanted too.
Sure, more people than ever are are following Eat Stop Eat. And, more people then ever are seeing amazing weight loss results because of Eat Stop Eat.
But there are also many people who are now following a low-carb diet, cycling their calories, timing their protein, eating 17 times a day, only eating protein with fat (never carbs) AND following Eat Stop Eat
This was not what I had envisioned. I was hoping to help people break free from this craziness. OR, as the psycho looking infomercial lady with the blonde spikey hair used to say "STOP THE INSANITY".
For the vast majority of us (myself included) simply eating the way we normally do, following a resistance training workout program and fasting once or twice a week using the Eat Stop Eat method will over time result in dramatic weight loss results.
You may need to change the way you eat during your eating days if you are preparing to get your body fat levels temporarily down to dangerously low levels because you are competing in a bodybuilding or fitness pageant, then , but again for most of us, simply eating in a stress free way that has a hint of responsibility will be enough.
Now I will admit that for health purposes, many of us would benefit from eating less sugar and more healthy fats. And I completely agree with the statement that fruits and vegetables are good for your health. But the rest of the pill-popping, protein shake-drinking portion-measuring food-avoiding dogma that goes along with what we believe to be "healthy eating" is complete and utter nonsense.
In my opinion its time to not only give up on this trend of OCE (Obesseive compulsive eating), but to actually start raging against it.
I think OCE is the number one nutrition mistake that you can make. Take a look at these OCE diet plans that appear in all the magazines. They will work because they reduce calories, but really, are they healthy? Is 8 weeks of egg whites and cauliflower good for you? Not just your physical health, but psychologically? If you eat a brownie, should you actually feel disgusted with yourself? I hope your answer is no to all of these questions.
You have enough stress in your life that worrying about some super complicated way of eating shouldn't be one of them. Sure these methods may make you lose weight (because they lower your calories), but if there are easier, less complicated and still highly effective methods, then why bother?
Weight loss shouldn't come at the expense of your sanity. There is a better way, and in my opinion it's Eat Stop Eat method.
