Friend or Fad?

Happy 2025!!!

Honestly, I am really excited for the year ahead. I don’t really care for New Years’ Eve celebrations, it’s nice to do something but I’m not fussed, however I do like the feeling of a reset.

Time is after all just a social construct but it gives each of us a time to review and plan and get excited for what is to come.

One of these goals is often getting in shape..

In come knobheads selling their wonder products, quick fixes and magical diets.

Fitness social media is a fucking minefield full of bollocks and false promises which is exactly why I created this newsletter.

So here’s some help on deciding if the person you follow or product you’re about to buy is a big walking red flag (be ready because this is something that gets me a bit sweary)..

They talk in absolutes

You can usually find these bellends wondering around supermarkets saying this food is shit and you should only eat 20 eggs and a steak. Every person is different, how their body reacts to different diets is different for example I know people who react really well to intermittent fasting whereas I am a total grumpy arsehole for the first 6 hours of a day doing it which when in a person focused job is not ideal. Even with that latest studies show all those health benefits being promoted for intermittent fasting are no better than a calorie controlled diets (if you’re interested here’s a great article on this https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a62150509/intermittent-fasting-diets-longevity/)

3 digit calorie targets

Food is fuel. You need fuel to function. The food you eat is full of nutrients which improve all aspects of health including energy, sleep, libido and mood. If you want to be shit at shagging go ahead and eat 700 calories. But seriously, you cannot get the nutrients your body needs in 700 calories and your training will never be optimal to build muscle or tone up.

Detox/Cleanse/Fat Burning (insert product..)

Detox tea? Cleanse sachet? Fat burning pills? Lemon water with salt from a monks arsehole?

These can seem tempting but the reality is if your overall diet, sleep, exercise and stress is in the bin your drink in the morning is going to be about as helpful as my budgie smugglers were in keeping me warm during a boxing day sea dip.

These are usually overpriced nonsense and even the odd one with some benefit is the least of your worries.

Demonising foods

Again you can find these berks wondering the aisle of your local supermarket but also they can be huge corporations describing food as sins.. sorry Syns.. short for synergy right? Get fucked. They knew what they were doing. A banana is fine but mash it up and all of a sudden it’s the food equivalent of Saddam Hussein like the banana doesn’t get chewed and we’re all here just deep throating the glorious yellow phalluses.

Food is food. Yes you want to eat mostly whole foods but a pack a few m&ms or a normal loaf of bread isn’t going to riddle you and your whole family with diabetes and 4000 forms of cancer.

Stephen Bartlett.

If Stephen Bartlett is involved simply leave the webpage, supermarket or wherever the product may be douse yourself in bleach, set yourself on fire and go about the rest of your day murmuring the lords prayer or Shania Twain whichever suits you best.

We will all go on diets in our lives but you should always leave a diet feeling prepared for what’s after, how to maintain your goal and also having a healthy relationship with your food and exercise.

Here are some great people for you to follow on Instagram to help drown out the noise

The Fitness Chef - https://www.instagram.com/thefitnesschef_/ 

Sohee Carpenter - https://www.instagram.com/soheefit/

Ben Carpenter - https://www.instagram.com/bdccarpenter/

(Absolute power couple when it comes to nutrition! Ben has a great book which will give you all the knowledge you need!)

Gee Hill - https://www.instagram.com/energeehealthcoaching/

(Gee is a friend of mine but I love her socials because I know she cares but also she’s a real person who enjoys her food, you’ll also get a great recipe from her regularly. She is also always happy if you drop her a DM asking for a recipe if she posts her food on her stories.)