How do you measure moderation?

Eat treats in moderation
Eat carbs in moderation
Drink alcohol in moderation

What does this even mean?

I hesitate to use this term with people sometimes because it’s very ambiguous.

It can mean anything.

In terms of diet and nutrition, moderation is essentially how much you can get away with without sabotaging your results.

That’s it.

Pure and simple.

For weight loss, some people abstain, others moderate. Everyone has what works for them.

This post doesn’t apply to the abstainers, they’re happy to leave it well alone.

But in our society, especially as we head into Easter – the food focused bank holiday – we are encouraged not to abstain, but to indulge in moderation

How do you measure moderation?

In a time where we are encouraged to count calories or weigh our food portions to avoid over eating, how can we calculate moderation?

Weight watchers have their points systems

Slimming world have their ‘syn’ foods

but what about those of us who eat real whole food?

There is no ‘one size fits all’ here.

For one person moderation might be one glass of wine with dinner every night

For another it might be some popcorn at the cinema on a Saturday

For another it might be a meal out with desert once a month

We all enjoy food, as we should and if you’re a moderator having things occasionally is fine.

but how often is occasionally?

Ask your tape measure.

If your goal is weight loss, and that nightly glass of wine is stopping you from losing weight, that’s not moderation. That’s sabotaging your results.

Of course, you can say ‘screw it’ and keep drinking the wine, it’s completely up to you.

But when we seek comfort from our food, we tend to lie to ourselves about what moderation means.

But the bottom line is,

Results are what matter.

No results? Your plan needs changing.

Time to be honest with yourself,

are you eating in moderation to enhance your nutrition

or are you

sabotaging your results?

Ainzlie xx