As a nutrition coach, I've tried most of the diet trends out there.  For several years, I loosely followed intermittent fasting and a form of the keto diet.  Not to mention any specific names, but the diet where you put butter + oil in your coffee and eat lots of fat + minimal carbs.  I would drink the coffee for breakfast, with no food until lunch. By the time I ate lunch, I would be so hungry I wanted to eat everything in site.  

This way of eating worked great for me for a while.  Then, I began to notice my performance declining.  My runs were getting slower and I didn't have as much energy for HIIT classes and strength training.  I chalked it up to getting older and lack of desire to push myself as hard as I used to. Then I noticed my weight starting to creep up. Initially, I thought it was increase in muscle, but then I started to feel a little too soft around the middle.

After moving to Colorado and being surrounded by fit, energetic runners who would stop in the middle of long runs and eat a bagel, or get up to eat breakfast before a training session, something clicked.‍

“Melissa, you always tell clients that works for you or their friends, may not work for them.  So, why do you feel you need to restrict carbs and shorten your eating window?  You're caught in a diet trap and must reset your mind and body!"

So, I tracked my food + exercise to see the bigger picture for about a week and asked for help from another nutrition coach to allow me see the bigger picture.  LOTS of fat = lots of calories, since fat has more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates. I slowly added in more complex carbs from veggies and fruits + a small amount of gluten free grains (mainly oats) before running.  I increased protein substantially and decreased fat.

Within a few days I noticed a difference in my energy and quickly started seeing improvements in performance and recovery.  Then, those few extra pounds in my tummy started to go away.

I share this with you to tell you that I am NOT perfect!  We can all get caught up in the latest and greatest fads and trends.  But, it's important to figure out what works best for you.  If something feels off, take a step back, look at the big picture, evaluate what you're currently doing and what you need to change.  Often times, another set of eyes + knowledge can help!

‍