My journey from Fast food, vanity and the step machine to free range meats, performance training and kettlebells

PART 2

So the step machine and fried chicken were behind me. Well, the step machine certainly was but I still found a bit of time for a trip to Morleys :-)

Compound lifts such as deadlifts, pull ups, bench press, squats and cleans were the staple of my routine. That mixed in with my rugby training felt like an awesome combination. However, there was something still missing from this combination that was crucial.

You guessed it......it was still my diet.

My diet had become laden again with fast foods, chocolate and fizzy drinks. I was getting results with what I was doing and didn't feel I needed to pay so much attention to my diet.

THEN I MET THE GIRL.

I stuck to my big lifts and rugby (varying things along the way of course) until I was 22. It was here I met my now girlfriend, business partner and homie Keris Marsden.

I had just finished a workout and I was in the sitting area of the gym about to sink my teeth into a cheese laden bowl of chicken and pasta and a can of coke. Keris walked past and was in shock at what i was eating. "That is so unhealthy" she yelled. I was a young naive personal trainer who thought as I didn't need to lose fat i didn't need to pay that much attention what I was eating.

IT'S WHATS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS.

Keris highlighted to me that this was no way to go and she was right. When I thought about it, my energy levels were all over the place, I felt tired a lot. I just figured it was because I trained so hard.

I didn't really pay any attention to her at this point and carried on as I saw best. As I got more clients, started work earlier and finished later I found that not only was I struggling to fit my training in but I had no energy to train when I had the opportunity.

I HATED IT.

I realised Keris was right, my diet was the glitch in my plan. I needed to make a change. This is where Keris introduced us to the paleo diet (eating like a caveman). We cut out all the processed foods, no more pasta, bread, sweets and chocolate. For the first 5days I felt like absolute shit, no energy, headaches, dehydrated, but I read up on it (yes i can read, which im sure will surprise a few) and this was expected. On the 6th day I was a new person, I had energy from the moment I woke up until the very end of the day. My training went through the roof and the results were coming thick and fast.

As the results came I wanted to be even better with my diet, and the better I was the better results I got. It was a great cycle to be in and I felt amazing.

It took me a while but I now eat a very natural diet (most of the time). I eat organic free range meats and poultry, organic veg, fruit, nuts and seeds. I cook more than ever before and am always experimenting with new recipes. I have cheat meals once or twice a week and fully appreciate and enjoy them when I do.

It's easy to take tasty and convenient food for granted when you are eating it everyday. Chocolate and ice cream now tastes even better when I have gone 2 weeks without it.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Over training + junk food = poor results and lack of energy.

Smarter training + natural eating = great results and a ton of energy.

As much of a no brainer as it is, it took me years to come round to it.

My advice to you is if you lack in energy and your results have come to a halt, assess your diet and go natural where possible. It has worked for me and my clients so give it a try, it may just change your life the way it changed mine.

Yours,

Matt Whitmore