What would happen if you used the latest technology to design a diet specifically for you? Would you finally lose more weight and see better results.
According to Arnold Schwarzeneger’s Pump Club, a recent study found that you don’t need to personalize your diet to your genetic variables to see incredible results. The research is a perfect example that change does not depend on spending more money to figure out how your body works. You already have everything you need!
The scientists split participants into two different groups. One group received a non-personalized plan and was told to follow a low-fat diet and reduce how much they ate by 500 calories. The other group also reduced their calories by 500 per day, and they received a specialized diet based on an algorithm incorporating many personal data points. The personalized diet was based on microbiome composition, blood sugar levels, physical activity, and sleep. Both groups were given an app to track what they ate, receive feedback, and check in with a Registered Dietician every 1 to 2 weeks.
Both groups lost a similar amount of weight and improved some markers of glycemic control, but there were no significant differences between the groups. Interestingly, both groups had similarly low levels of compliance, which shows just how hard it can be to stick to a diet. You can rationalize all the reasons you need to eat certain foods — and if they help you stick to the plan— that matters. But, at the end of the day, it comes down to math: calories in vs. calories out still ultimately determine changes to your weight.
This doesn’t mean data is worthless. It has a place and can be used to help you understand how your body reacts to different foods. The hard part of dieting is doing so without losing your mind, feeling too restricted, and being able to stick to the plan. It’s a matter of consistency over the long term.
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