Can I let you in on a little secret? It has to do with your diet. And, believe it or not, it’s the key to unlocking the perfect way to eat. If you’re looking to shed unwanted weight, firm up, get stronger, leaner, faster, more flexible, healthy, happy, and glowing- yes, all of those things!- then pay close attention to what I’m about to share.
Are you ready?
Here it is:
Bio-Individuality.

If you’re a regular follower of mine, then you’ve heard me using this word quite often. But do you know what it means when it comes to unlocking the door to better health and fitness?

Bio-individuality is a concept that focuses on finding the best lifestyle for the individual. It’s a one-size-fits-all approach that’s never about prescribing the same exact recommendations for each and every person. Confused? Don’t be! Really, it’s basic common sense. It’s about embracing the fact that you and I are very different, and therefore aren’t going to respond the same way to different foods.
Have you ever noticed that there are different body types out there? Big, small, lean, curvy- there’s enough diversity in body shapes to show that people are not carbon copies of each other. There are similarities, but there aren’t any ‘clones’.
How about another example. We all know that one person who can eat as much as they want, no matter what kind of food (junk or natural), and still not gain an ounce of weight? Or how about the fact there are hundreds of people thriving on a particular diet, with an equal amount of people having failed on it?

It just goes to show that not everyone can do one thing and do that thing exceptionally well. And that’s where bio-individuality fits in. It takes into account your genetics, age, gender, personality, where you live, your lifestyle, your habits, your environment, work hours, family, romantic relationship, and all the little factors that make you unique. And then it helps you to sift through the crowd of overwhelming information in order to hone in on what’s really going to work for you. Not your neighbor, not your cousin- you.

Here on my website, I’ve written a lot of articles on different types of diets. I’ve also released meal plans with different “approaches” to nutrition. There’s my plant-based Shred & Glow meal plan, my low-carb Z-Shred meal plan, and my latest Keto meal plan. As you can tell, I’ve put my own approach to diet and shared it in the form of these plans with you. And I encourage you to try at least one of them out to see how your body responds to it, like I do. In fact, you may find yourself going through “phases” throughout the year. Maybe for a few months, you stick to keto as a sort of ‘reset’ for your metabolism. And then, you get off of it, and return to more of low-carb diet. Then you go back and forth between the two according to your intuition.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to you. Don’t get into the trap of attempting to eat exactly like someone else if it’s at the detriment of your own health (and sanity). If you absolutely hate eating a certain way, then find something else that’s going to work for you and your goals. There’s no need to copy a supermodel or Olympic athlete if you’re an average person working a 9 to 5. Even though I offer meal plans based on my own experiences, I always encourage you to make a few tweaks here and there, whether that’s including a few snacks (depending on the plan) or altering the portion sizes (i.e., making them bigger or smaller). In my Shred & Glow plan, I’ll even offer substitutes for certain recipes; replacing meat with tofu, for example.

So instead of assuming there’s going to be the ultimate diet out there for everyone, how about focusing on the best diet for you. Yes, it’s going to take some time and experimentation, but that’s really all a part of the journey. Our needs are going to change. Pregnancy, age, work, even the time of the year… all of these things will impact how we choose to nourish ourselves throughout the course of our lives.

If it’s any help, why not keep a notebook and chronicle your journey? Observe your body’s response to different diets and foods. Customize according to the results of those diets, and you’ll end up with a diet that’s tailored to fit your exact needs.

So let me know what you think of this approach. Have you done it before? And do you think bio-individuality is the key towards finding clarity in a sea of information these days?