As a gym owner and lifelong athlete, I’ve spent over 20 years immersed in the world of health, strength, and fitness. In that time, one thing has become abundantly clear: what you eat plays a huge role in how you feel, perform, and progress. Whether it’s getting stronger, building muscle, or simply having the energy to enjoy life, nutrition is at the core. When you put the right foods in your body, in the right amounts, you can see incredible results. But like many of us, I’ve had moments of curiosity about popular diets or the latest “breakthrough” in nutrition. Sometimes, the hype is hard to resist.
In one of these moments, I got pulled into intermittent fasting. The concept sounded promising, and I thought, “Hey, maybe this will be a game-changer!” Initially, I did notice some positive effects. I was already eating healthy, so by simply adjusting the timing and quantities, I experienced minor weight loss and felt lighter. But I quickly noticed some concerning side effects: my strength started to decline, my muscle mass began to decrease, and overall, I felt more sluggish and less energetic. It wasn’t long before I recognized that intermittent fasting wasn’t the right fit for me and, in fact, was working against the strength and performance goals I’d spent years building.
The Truth Behind Popular Diets
This isn’t to say that intermittent fasting, or any diet, is inherently “bad.” In fact, every diet has the potential to help people reach their goals. The problem often lies not in the diet itself but in how we approach it. Many people, myself included at times, are drawn to diets with the hope that they’ll be a quick fix or the missing piece to reaching our goals. We want that “magic bullet” solution because it seems easier than examining and slowly improving our daily habits.
But a diet isn’t just about temporarily changing what you eat. To succeed long-term, you need to have a strong foundation in place. This includes understanding your body’s nutritional needs, finding sustainable habits, and practicing the skills to build a healthy relationship with food. Without these foundational skills, any diet is likely to feel restrictive, short-lived, or even damaging.
Focusing on Building Sustainable Habits First
What I’ve learned from my personal experience—and from working with countless members at Strength Warehouse—is that sustainable, long-term success in nutrition doesn’t come from following a trendy diet. It comes from consistently practicing healthy habits, educating yourself, and finding an approach to nutrition that fits your unique lifestyle and goals. Whether you’re looking to build muscle, lose fat, or improve energy, it’s the small, daily actions that add up over time, not the short-term bursts of intense dieting.
This is why, at Strength Warehouse, we focus on helping people build that foundation first. We emphasize understanding your goals, setting realistic expectations, and developing healthy, sustainable habits that don’t require drastic measures. For most people, this means learning to listen to your body’s hunger cues, creating balanced meals, and not being afraid to eat enough—especially breakfast! One of the most common mistakes I see is people trying to “power through” on minimal food intake, only to hit a wall with low energy and frustration down the line. check out our nutrition page that talks about what we do HERE
Changing Lives by Prioritizing the Basics
I make a point every day to talk to at least three people about how Strength Warehouse can help them create a strong, sustainable fitness and nutrition foundation. Why? Because I’ve seen firsthand how many lives we’ve changed by focusing on these basic, foundational steps. People come to us looking for confidence, strength, and a way to break the cycle of starting and stopping fitness routines. And that’s exactly what we help them build: the confidence to know they’re on the right path and the skills to stick with it.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the diets out there, or if you’ve tried a few and found yourself back at square one, take a step back. Instead of jumping into the next “solution,” think about what sustainable habits you can practice every day. Maybe it’s committing to eating breakfast each morning or planning balanced meals that fuel your goals. These small steps add up and are what create a healthy lifestyle over the long term.
Here’s to Breakfast—and a Strong Foundation
After my own experience with diets, I’m back to appreciating the basics—like a good breakfast! There’s power in simplicity, and it’s often the simple, sustainable habits that make the biggest difference over time. So, here’s to fueling your body, making sustainable choices, and, yes, enjoying breakfast again. When you prioritize the basics, you set yourself up for long-term success—and that’s something no trendy diet can replace. If you’d like help reach out here is a link to my schedule HERE