NWR: Extreme diet grumpiness.

JCbride2015 · August 2014

So, my little sister (she's not really little, she's 23, but I'm annoyed thus she is little) talked me into joining this boot camp thing with her while I was having a moment of bar-induced brain weakness. The price was pretty good and the workouts are outside on a pier in the Hudson River, so that part seems awesome.

What's not awesome is the diet. I didn't realize until I started getting emails for this thing (after paying) that when they say it includes a free meal plan, what they mean is that not only do they give you a meal plan, they require you to track every bite on MFP and bring your food journal to every workout. And the diet is gluten free, sugar free, no grains at all not even quinoa. Sorry, I don't want to make "rice" out of cauliflower or "pasta" out of zucchini. If I want rice or pasta, I will eat it in moderation, thankyouverymuch.

I missed the first week because of the bar. Now I'm dreading going to my first class tomorrow morning with no food journal. I tried to put the diet stuff in my cart and couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm more interested in finding a good workout than in starving myself for six weeks.

Can I just say "thanks but no thanks" to the nutritional stuff? Am I being a total wuss about this?

KatieinBkln · August 2014

Skip the nutrition stuff. What are they going to do, kick you out and give you your money back? I seriously doubt it.

They might guilt you about it, which might make the whole thing less fun. Honestly, I don't trust it when physical trainers start acting like they're dieticians. I think they should make recommendations, but it's really a bridge too far when they start dictating diet. That right there is medical advice, in my opinion, which is extremely irresponsible for them to give out. (Legally I'm sure they make you sign a waiver promising to discuss all this shit with a real doctor, but it doesn't make it any less gross ethically).

AddieCake · August 2014

I couldn't do it, either. I don't think you will be successful if you are miserable.

beethery · August 2014

If they try to give you even ONE IOTA of guilt you tell them you came for boot camp and not for bullshit. Then maybe leave. I hate that shit.

JCbride2015 · August 2014

Also-- although he said no counting calories, he said typically a day on the diet is 1200 calories. WHILE DOING BOOT CAMP FOUR DAYS A WEEK. Fuck that noise.

WinstonsGirl · August 2014

Don't do it. Go for the workouts though. But your body needs carbs!! They feed your brain. If you eating healthy whole grain type carbs in moderation, it's good for you. Without moderation, you go crazy thinking about the stuff you can't have and then binge on it later.

smalfrie19 · August 2014

ugh.. sounds like Whole 30 diet plan...yikes.. no thank you..

climbingsingle · August 2014

Eff that noise. Not even quinoa?!?!

Maggie0829 · August 2014

Um, fuck them and their ridiculous nutrition plan that no sane person could ever follow for more then an hour.

Eat what you want, just be healthy about it. If they have a problem with you eating a plate of spaghetti and meatballs then they can just jump off that pier they exercise on.

JCbride2015 · August 2014

Maggie0829 said:

Um, fuck them and their ridiculous nutrition plan that no sane person could ever follow for more then an hour.

Eat what you want, just be healthy about it. If they have a problem with you eating a plate of spaghetti and meatballs then they can just jump off that pier they exercise on.

Hahahahaha

theartistformerlyknownas · August 2014

I tried to do a Whole 30 and made it a day and a half. Fuck that. Gimme some cheese.

I'd "forget" my food journal. Maybe fake it one time, then forget it again.

cupcait927 · August 2014

smalfrie19 said:

ugh.. sounds like Whole 30 diet plan...yikes.. no thank you..

That's what it sounds like to me as well. FFIL and FI did it for the month of January but they already both eat pretty clean. It's HARD. You have to read the ingredients on everything because everything has hidden sugar or grains. No way in hell could I do that. I can't even do Paleo.

missdelilah · August 2014

@JCbride2015 I'd tell them to get fucked on the food front too. The exercise sounds like a good idea, but you know your body, these people don't. I agree with PPs that this probably really irresponsible of the company to do. It's ridiculously painful to survive on a diet of 1200 calories a day, particularly when combined with intensive exercise. If they try to guilt you, tell them your doctor gave you orders not to change your diet. If they ask why, tell them to get fucked. Good luck!

abl13 · August 2014

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

KatieinBkln · August 2014

cupcait927 said:

smalfrie19 said:

ugh.. sounds like Whole 30 diet plan...yikes.. no thank you..

That's what it sounds like to me as well. FFIL and FI did it for the month of January but they already both eat pretty clean. It's HARD. You have to read the ingredients on everything because everything has hidden sugar or grains. No way in hell could I do that. I can't even do Paleo.

I can't, and I won't. Like, I'm pretty sure that some days, carbs are the only thing that separates me from a serial murderer. Every bite of pasta I take is contributing to our society, dammit!

missdelilah · August 2014

abl13 said:

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

That's sadistic! You should definitely be in charge of whether or not you follow any diet.

bethsmiles · August 2014

I'd skip the diet. If it's not a lifestyle change you can or want to make permanent I don't think it's a good way to lose weight. I'd just fake the food diary. What I eat is my business.

theartistformerlyknownas · August 2014

missdelilah said:

abl13 said:

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

That's sadistic! You should definitely be in charge of whether or not you follow any diet.

Oh hell no. If any fitness instructor ever insisted I tell him what I ate and threatened me with PHYSICAL TORTURE like that, I'd give him a cold, hard look right in the eye and say "the flesh of my last fitness instructor."

abl13 · August 2014

missdelilah said:

abl13 said:

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

That's sadistic! You should definitely be in charge of whether or not you follow any diet.

Our food logs were just so the trainers could grade us on our eating choices and offer feedback. But I totally agree! The diet the OP mentioned would be very difficult.

daria24 · August 2014

If the trainer asks you any questions about it, I would snap "that's between me and my dietician."

1200 calories might be right for some people. It's not right for most. I burn that in a single run sometimes, so yeah, I am gonna go ahead and eat that flour and sugar filled cupcake.

cupcait927 · August 2014

KatieinBkln said:

cupcait927 said:

smalfrie19 said:

ugh.. sounds like Whole 30 diet plan...yikes.. no thank you..

That's what it sounds like to me as well. FFIL and FI did it for the month of January but they already both eat pretty clean. It's HARD. You have to read the ingredients on everything because everything has hidden sugar or grains. No way in hell could I do that. I can't even do Paleo.

I can't, and I won't. Like, I'm pretty sure that some days, carbs are the only thing that separates me from a serial murderer. Every bite of pasta I take is contributing to our society, dammit!

Pretty sure I can say the same for myself. Carbs are my most favorite thing on the planet. FI is a close second. He'd be okay hearing me say that, because carbs keep me happy.

JCbride2015 · August 2014

abl13 said:

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

WHAT? No, that is not okay.

beethery · August 2014

abl13 said:

Honestly, for your first class I would fake the food journal until you feel things out. When I did boot camp, if you forgot it your workout was much harder than everyone else's as punishment!

I would peace the fuck out while yelling about all of the DELICIOUS ICE CREAM I WAS GOING TO ENJOY.

theartistformerlyknownas · August 2014

This is always an option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWMhzLIT0As

beethery · August 2014

Beethery diet philosophy (though I'm trying to change my stance on plain water):

Coincidentally, both are from Parks & Rec. Whoops.

levioosa · August 2014

daria24 said:

If the trainer asks you any questions about it, I would snap "that's between me and my dietician."

1200 calories might be right for some people. It's not right for most. I burn that in a single run sometimes, so yeah, I am gonna go ahead and eat that flour and sugar filled cupcake.

Going under 1200 calories per day puts you at risk for starvation, and as @daria24 says, many people require more than that due to their basic metabolic functions. There are several mathematical equations to help you figure out exactly what your base need is before you factor in exercise. You must burn 3,500 calories more than you consume to burn off a pound of fat. Safe weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week, so anyone who advertises "LOSE 15 POUNDS IN A WEEK!" is a liar, and also most likely practices unsafe methods of weight loss.

You don't have to follow their diet plan if you don't want to. BUT, you will see a HUGE difference if you do. Exercising does not mean you can eat whatever you want without consequences. Weight loss and physical fitness is almost equally a combination of diet and exercise. If your diet is poor, you will see poor results. It doesn't matter if you exercise for two hours a day, if you continue to eat Big Mac's, a giant shake and jumbo fries for your meals, you probably won't see much change.

Their plan is extreme. I have done diet modifications before to help my extreme fatigue, pain and other health problems. A few years ago I gave up dairy and all white flour/white sugar, and I swam for an hour each day. I felt fantastic, and I looked great, but keeping up the diet was difficult. Truthfully though, at the end of three months, I didn't even want to look at junk food or sugar, it disgusted me so much. Since then, I've fallen off the band wagon a bit, and have paid for it (AHHH, NUTELLA.)

I am not a licensed practitioner or dietitian, but I did graduate with a BS in Kinesiology. My recommendations are to give up alcohol, white sugar, white flour, and most dairy if possible, and to eat as clean as possible with a ton of vegetables. You will see awesome results just from doing that. You can get all crazy if you want with the zucchini pasta and cauliflower rice, but let's be real. We all have crazy busy lives. Maintaining that is close to impossible unless you are a) crazy stubborn or b) absolutely have to adhere to a diet like that because of allergies. Also, being hangry is no fun for anyone.

Of course you should always consult with a doctor before beginning an intense exercise regimen. I also have a little bit of a beef with a lot of "fitness" and "personal" trainers because they lack the appropriate training and resources. Don't let them guilt or shame you if you are doing the best you can with what time and money you have. And you know what? If you train hard and eat well all week and on Saturday night you want a freaking margarita, then just have the effing margarita.

Also, don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. It usually takes 6-8 weeks to notice results yourself and up to three months for others to see them. But rest assured, you're building muscle and getting healthier each day. Go kick some ass!

JCbride2015 · August 2014

@Time2strtliving I already do most of the things you described, actually. I do enjoy some tortilla chips and guac every now and then, but long ago I stopped keeping it in the house because I would destroy that shit. Now it's just a treat when I go out, and I get my fix by eating avocados on whole wheat toast with eggs most mornings. I cook pretty much every night, dislike most fried stuff, and don't have a sweet tooth. I've just put on some weight lately because I've been sitting & studying all day, plus I had a recent injury, so working out has been on the back burner. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm figuring I will be extra careful about what I'm eating, but within my normal parameters, not following this crazy diet.

Just bought my groceries-- I said "fuck that" to the crazy shopping list from the diet and I ordered a CSA box full of yummy mystery veggies, some pork chops and steak, rice crackers to eat with homemade hummus as a snack, and avos of course. Yum.

@Cookie Pusher We are still on for RL. I want a biscuit.

ETA: dammit, Cookie, that space in your name makes life hard. No idea how to tag you.

levioosa · August 2014

JCbride2015 said:

@Time2strtliving I already do most of the things you described, actually. I do enjoy some tortilla chips and guac every now and then, but long ago I stopped keeping it in the house because I would destroy that shit. Now it's just a treat when I go out, and I get my fix by eating avocados on whole wheat toast with eggs most mornings. I cook pretty much every night, dislike most fried stuff, and don't have a sweet tooth. I've just put on some weight lately because I've been sitting & studying all day, plus I had a recent injury, so working out has been on the back burner. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm figuring I will be extra careful about what I'm eating, but within my normal parameters, not following this crazy diet.

Just bought my groceries-- I said "fuck that" to the crazy shopping list from the diet and I ordered a CSA box full of yummy mystery veggies, some pork chops and steak, rice crackers to eat with homemade hummus as a snack, and avos of course. Yum.

@Cookie Pusher We are still on for RL. I want a biscuit.

ETA: dammit, Cookie, that space in your name makes life hard. No idea how to tag you.

That's awesome. I too suffer from the love of guacamole and chips and have had to stop making it as often. A few weeks ago I made a 5 avocado guacamole and bf and I ate it all in one sitting. After we finished we were like, "We have a problem. We have to stop." Sounds like you're doing a great job and don't need their crazy list of requirements. It sounds like you know your body and are doing what you can to treat it well and take care of it. Keep up the good work!

JasperandOpal · August 2014

"Why didn't you bring your diet journal?" "Hi, I'm JCbride2015, nice to meet you. I am adult who is fully capable of making my food choices without the input or monitoring of other people. I appreciate that you offer this as part of the bootcamp service but I will not be participating in that portion of the program. I can promise that I will show up to all training sessions ready to work out. Thank you for being so understanding."

I once attended a bootcamp that had an eating plan, and they weighed us and encouraged us to do Isagenix. I said something similar to the above. They still took my money and I worked out with the other ladies without participating in the food part without a problem.

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falsara · August 2014

DO the work outs, they sound like a great way to get started on fitness. To the diet-

Do the work outs and then eat a couple of these. You'll feel awesome.

JK - I just love that Grilled cheese gif.

Most of the time if you are already eating healthy than adding the exercise routine is the only boost you need. Judging by the avocado on rice cake breakfast which you like, I think you're already eating pretty good. (BTW what is with people and avocados? I just can't like them. Feel free to hate me for this.

mschristie123 · August 2014

That is so insane- I can't even imagine!! Honestly for me, I'm super non-confrontational and hate dealing with lectures, guilt trips, etc from people. If it were me, I'd make up some bullshit about already being on a meal plan/dieting regime with FILLINTHEBLANK (doctor, dietician, nutritionist, fucktologist). Whatever I could say that would make me sound credible and not like some lazy, fat freak (in their eyes, obviously)

NWR: Extreme diet grumpiness.

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