As a personal trainer in Vancouver, I feel added pressure (and rightfully so) to make sure that I look my best and am setting a positive example for my clients. Something that I’ve let slip over the years is my diet. Back in my early 20′s, I had a rock solid system of grocery shopping and meal planning, and I very rarely ever went off track from that system and ate or drank anything that would be considered “unhealthy”.
Today, it’s a different story. Over the years my structured system of grocery shopping and meal planning has gotten worse, to the point where now the bulk of my diet is made up of less than desirable food that is not conducive to my current goal of decreasing my body fat.
Last summer I purchased a book called 5-Factor Diet. It was written by Harley Pasternak, who is one of the most sought after personal trainers in Hollywood, with a celebrity client list that includes Eva Mendes, Jessica Simpson, Kanye West, Mandy Moore, Alicia Keys, and too many more names to list here. Harley’s diet book is described like so:
The 5-Factor Diet is a revolutionary plan that has shaped some of Hollywood’s most beautiful bodies. This unique eating plan helps you lose weight, get fit, and have more energy throughout the day.
The 5-Factor Diet is based around the number 5 (surprise, surprise). 5 meals per day, 5 ingredients per recipe, and 5 minutes of prep time. I read the book cover to cover within days after purchasing it, and I was blown away by how simple Harley’s diet plan is. And unlike the vast majority of fad diets out there that are clearly unproductive, if not dangerous, Harley’s system promotes safe and healthy eating through a balanced diet of whole foods, and teaches step-by-step how even the busiest people with the least culinary skills can follow his plan and greatly improve their health.
I planned on trying Harley’s diet system last summer right after I read the book, but for whatever reason (no excuses) I didn’t end up starting it. But as a project to see how an improved diet affects my energy and body fat levels (which are both already pretty good), starting tomorrow I’m planning on following the diet for the next five weeks (possibly indefinitely if I enjoy it and see good results).
So today I need to head over to the grocery store and stock up my fridge with all of the “5-factor foods” that Harley outlines in his book. Once my fridge is full, then it’s just a matter of planning ahead, and following Harley’s simple recipes that should be completely within the ability of myself, and anyone else who’s not particularly skilled in the kitchen.
Over the next five weeks, I will be logging my progress, and thoughts on the diet system here. I’m hoping that this goes really well and that the system will become a permanent part of my nutritional habits.
