The time of exploding waistlines is nearly upon us! What better time than to think about Diet Success.
What is Diet Success? In the nutrition world, it’s certainly not 8,000 calories of turkey and all the trimmings, chocolate pudding and 3 bottles of Prosecco gobbled down in a pig trough before you’ve even got to dinner time. But – to YOU – if you’ve been good to Santa this year, maybe it is…
Because you don’t need a Life Guide like me to tell you that Diet Success is subjective. To some people, it’s eating salad all week and losing 4 pounds. To others, it’s increasing protein shakes for the extended gym sessions to gain 4 pounds. Ok, there’s a difference between fat and muscle, but you get the point. Either way, having a good relationship with food is paramount.
To most people, myself included, Diet Success is about have a healthy, balanced diet. Where you cover all bases, consume all the macronutrients you need – carbs, fats, protein – and get a good slug of fibre and fluids. Plus, hopefully tick the boxes on all the micronutrients and healthy gut stuff as well. Success is certainly not eating more than your bodyweight in calories and tucking yourself into the sofa for the rest of the day. While our bodies are amazing machines, the world we’ve created of convenience and calorie-dense snacks has put the balance out of whack – it seems cruel that a half an hour on the treadmill can be outdone with one mince pie (300 calories…I know, I know).
Obviously, there is a lot of detail within this, and a truck load of nuance – depending on body type, mood, gender, health etc. But the broad concept is simple: eat sensibly in quantity and quality. It’s not rocket science and we all know what’s good and bad, what’s enough and too much. The tricky thing, as we all know, is bloody well sticking to it!
And for me, that’s the biggest Diet Success. Which is why I have a 3-5 hour eating window. And my first meal is modest and covers most of my daily dietary requirements. Because then my hand is not in the cookie jar, and I have a much greater probability of success. And if it all goes awry (yes, I am partial to the odd mince pie!), then tomorrow, I get back on the horse again.
What is diet success for YOU?
Don’t know what diet success is? Start here.
To all of you Whisperers, far and wide, I hope you have a wonderful break and enjoy all the festivities of the season. Rest, play, sleep and dance with your loved ones until your feet hurt.
Merry Christmas!
The Whisper: A Life Guide for Perfectly Imperfect People
Looking for an Xmas present? Publishes 28 February 2026.
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