Carte Blanche

by Kris Pitcher

A lot of people are exercising regularly and good for you! I see some of these people at the gym year after year yet they never change. A conversation with someone this past week at the gym has me thinking about an attitude I call "carte blanche".

This particular member had noted the changes Jacques and I have made over the past four years. He had some questions about the power lifting training techniques a group of guys were using with their benching. Jacques explained what they were working on and some of the differences in our training as bodybuilders. I added that a major change has been in our focused efforts in our diets not just during prep season, but all year long for the past few years.

It's usually at this point in a conversation when it turns "confessional". And it's not just with this guy, it's nearly everyone including many competitors we know. They feel like because they're working out they can eat whatever they want. The flaw with this thinking (there actually are many) is you don't require more calories just because you're exercising. AND you certainly require the right kinds of calories.

Most of us have stored energy to use, right? So when it comes to reading the "calorie burn" on the cardio machines (remind me to come back to that topic one day) this is not your savings bank of what you get to eat later in nachos and mojitos. Also, just because you did your workout doesn't mean your body is benefiting from the chips, soda, beer etc. while you watch the game. You don't need to carbo-load for your morning Zumba class. OK?

This guy admitted to never being able to get his eating down right. He has a secret stash of chocolate, "Just for Dad." Even saying it aloud made him wonder why he does that. Maybe he'll stop. The point is this carte blanche attitude has 95% of well intended gym-goers taking two steps forward, and one step back every week. Maybe even two steps back depending on the damage they do over the weekend. And they never change.

If this is working for you and you just want to maintain where you are, by all means take carte blanche with your food. But for most people I talk with, they want to make some changes in their composition. They want to gain more muscle tone, and lose fat. Simple. Stop sabotaging your efforts with your attitude about food. Making conscious choices helps you shift your attitude about food. Will this choice fuel your healthy body? It's up to you.