As a trainer and coach, I’ve heard an exhausting amount of excuses about why you can’t lose weight and not eating healthy. It’s not my fault, I’m too busy, eating healthy is expensive, I can’t eat healthy because I have kids, I eat clean but I just can’t seem to lose weight, I’ll get too bulky if I eat too much protein, I don’t know what to eat and the list goes on. Whatever your excuses may be, if you don’t start somewhere, you’re never going to go anywhere. Here are a few of the most common excuses I hear and how you can overcome them to live better, live healthier, and finally reach your goals. 

Eating Healthy Is Expensive

This is one of my favorite excuses for not eating healthy. Because you know what else is expensive - being overweight. Contrary to popular belief, eating healthy is not expensive, it’s just expensive for you because it’s an excuse. Eating healthy means including lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats in your diet. Eating more protein does not mean you need to eat a New York Steak or Salmon and spend $20+ for every meal. There are plenty of options that won’t break the bank and still help you lose weight and reach your goals such as pork loin, chicken, eggs, sweet potatoes, fresh fruit, and high fiber vegetables. The more whole foods you eat, the less expensive its going to be. You don’t need to eat pasture-raised organic grass-fed chicken to be healthy and lose weight. Just because it's trendy, does not mean it'll change your outcome.

I’m Too Tired 

Too tired to do what exactly? Go to the gym and workout? The good news for you is that you don’t need to work out to lose weight, and it's not really a good excuse for not eating healthy. Weight loss starts with your nutrition and healthy eating habits. If you can start eating healthier, then your energy levels will naturally start to incline, helping you gain the energy you need to start training. Food is fuel for your body, and your body is a finely tuned biological machine. Without the right fuel, you won’t be running at optimal levels. In your case, that means protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and valuable micronutrients. Without the proper fuel, your machine will slow down, perform poorly, and eventually break down.

I Can’t Lose Weight Because Of My Genetics

This excuse, comes after many tried and failed attempts at dieting. Food intake and nutritional programming are challenging because everyone has different nutritional requirements. You are unique, which means that your diet needs to be adjusted to your specific wants and needs. That’s why so many fad diets like Keto and Atkins work well for some people, but not everyone. Eating high amounts of fat and peeing on a stick, gets old after a while. Fad diets work, but they’re just not sustainable. You can lose weight, but the only way to do that is by dialing in your nutrition. More often than not, the majority of people can’t lose weight, because they’re not eating enough of the right things, particularly protein. There is no cookie-cutter method for weight loss. But just because you’ve tried a few fad diets and failed, does not mean you can’t lose weight because of your genetics. It means that you need a customized approach, with foods you enjoy eating, and a plan to change your life forever, not just for the next 30 days.

I Don’t Have Time Too Meal Prep 

Probably the most common excuse for not eating healthy, is not having time. But you have time to watch TV every night and scroll endlessly through your phone right? Despite what you may think, meal prepping does not take much time. Cooking an extra pound of ground turkey, seasoning some vegetables, and putting them in containers, will actually save you time. It means fewer visits to the grocery store, less time cooking, and less time cleaning dishes. If anything, it’s an extremely efficient use of time.

The excuse of not meal prepping does not actually stem itself from an aspect of time, but rather from excitement. Meal prepping is bland and boring. I mean, who wants to eat chicken and broccoli for lunch every day of the week? Am I right? Missing out on the excitement of “what should I eat for lunch today” leads to making the excuse that you don’t have time to meal prep.  

Your meal prep does not have to be Pinterest worthy but having food readily available in the fridge, will help you be more consistent, stay and track and not make poor food choices when you’re hungry. 

I Don’t Eat Healthy Because My Family Won’t Eat Healthy With Me

I get it. You feel bad because you want to eat dinner with your family. Meal prepping, eating clean, and losing weight isn’t your children’s goal, it’s your goal. But not eating healthy because your family won't, is a pretty bad excuse. First off, it assumes that your kids and partner have to eat poorly and that as a parent, you’re forced to eat poorly as well. Secondly, it assumes that your family doesn’t support you, your goals, or your long-term health. 

You have to take responsibility for your own well-being. And, as a parent is it not your responsibility as well to ensure your children are making healthy nutrition choices? Setting an example of how to eat healthily, will teach your children how to eat and what nutritional choices to make. Without gaining the correct knowledge of how to eat, how are you supposed to teach your kids how to eat? Eating healthy does not have to be bland and boring. There is an endless amount of amazing food choices you can pick from, to help yourself and your family make better nutritional choices.  

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I Eat Clean But I Still Can’t Lose Weight 

There are two possible reasons, why you’re not losing weight if this is true. One – you’re not eating as ‘clean’ as you may think you are. And two – you’re making wise food choices, but you’re just eating too much. The issue is figuring out which of these two problems you’re facing. Without getting nutritional guidance from a certified nutrition coach, it will be difficult to distinguish. My advice is to hire a nutrition coach, so they can identify the why you’re not losing weight and to help educate and teach you how to make more informed choices and calculate your macros, so you can reach your goals. Time and time again, I’ve seen clients waste their time, money, and effort just to be discouraged and feel like no matter what they do, they can’t seem to lose weight. Instead of putting yourself through months of disappointment and failure, hire a coach and get the nutritional guidance you need.    

I Won't Be Able To Eat The Things I Want

If your excuse for not eating healthy, is because you can't eat the foods you want, then that's basically saying you don't want to eat healthy because all you eat is candy, bagel bites, and pizza. Any diet or nutrition plan requires some kind of sacrifice. Whether it's cutting down on calories, adding more protein, or giving up the six cans of soda you drink per day. Creating a healthy nutritional lifestyle, however, does not mean you can't eat the foods you love. It just means you'll have to eat them in moderation. Some, is better than none!

Excuses For Not Eating Healthy: Takeaway

If you hear yourself making any of these 6 excuses, you're not alone. But if you're serious about reaching your goals, then it's time to drop the excuses and put a plan into place. Changing nutritional habits that have been ingrained over a long period of time can be challenging. Keep it simple, track your food, journal, be conscious of what you're eating, be intentional with your training, and don't let your excuses get in the way. 

If you want to change, have more energy, improve the quality of your life, fit in your favorite pair of jeans, lose a few inches around your waist, burn some body fat, and optimize your training, then you'll need to work on your relationship with food. With the right nutritional guidance, plan, consistency, and dedication, you'll stop making excuses and start getting results. 

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