Why ‘Moderation’ Is Misleading: Finding What Works for You

Moderation is a lie.

Make sure you read that correctly.

It says moderation, not motivation.

Although motivation is also overrated.. that’s a topic for another day.

As a broad stroke, general concept.. there’s nothing wrong with moderation.

I’ve probably even mentioned it numerous times.

“Just do that in moderation.”

“Just consume in moderation.”

It’s well-intentioned advice.

However, the reason why I think it’s become a bullshit phrase…

is because it’s totally subjective.

What does “moderation” even mean?

If you’re eating out 2x per week is that moderation?

What about 4x per week?

What if the 2x per week person is eating 3000 calorie fried meals each time they eat out and the 4x per week person is ordering meals that fit their calorie & protein goals.

Which one is moderate?

Are either of them?

It depends on who you ask.

And therein lies the misleading fib.

It’s hard to define moderation and it can look totally different depending on the person.

Many coaches like to give broad stroke answers because they have a hard time explaining nuance and context.

IG Bro Coach: “just eat clean! No junk food”

IG Health Guru: “its ok, in moderation”

How about we actually explain what we’re talking about and how it applies to each individual.

What a novel concept.

Well, the actual definition of “moderation” is the avoidance of excess or extremes.

Again… subjective.

Rather than guessing, I like to be very specific and intentional with my clients.

We first discuss their non-negotiables.

What are the things you absolutely love to do, eat, drink, etc that you don’t want to give up?

For many, it’s some form of eating out, lounging on weekends, going out with friends or their partner, occasional drinking, and their favorite foods.

Great. We make sure those stay in tact.

Then, we have the honest conversation about “moderation.”

The reality is this…

We want to begin this process with the MOST amount of flexibility possible.

However, we’re going to quickly see how you’re responding and progressing and will be able to determine what moderation actually looks like for you.

Meaning.. we may need to dial things in and make some sacrifices here and there if you want to see progress.

Cool?

Cool.

In practice, it looks like this…

My client Beth is able to go out to breakfast every Saturday with her family, order whatever she wants and still has dropped 20lbs.

My client Amanda is able to take the entire weekend off from working out. She goes out with friends, has some drinks, goes on dates with her husband, and is still making progress.

She has completely transformed her relationship with food and she is down over 40lbs.

My client Ariana is a busy professional, mom, and wife and has a number of responsibilities for work with bare minimum free time.

Knowing what moderation looks like for her, she’s more confident in the plan than ever and are already down 16lbs.

My client Dee is in her 60s and owns her own business and has consistently been able to enjoy meals out with friends and family. Even when she is actively trying to lose weight.

She has lost about 50lbs and is able to keep up with her grandkids with zero issue.

I could keep going with hundreds of examples and they would all look different.

Which is the point I’m making here.

Moderation will look and feel differently depending on the person.

Most people struggle to figure this out on their own.

They often vacillate between chaos and rigidity.

Meaning.. they’re either trying to be 100% perfect all the time…

OR they burn themselves out and say fuck it all.

That’s why my clients feel a giant sense of relief from the very beginning of our time together.

We’re able to figure out the exact level of flexibility and moderation for each client so they can enjoy life while still reaching their goals.

This is a major part of building baseline habits which is the 1st pillar of my program.

Personalized guidance is the most sure-fire way to reach your goals and stay there.