Diet Periodisation

Proposing a Potential New Approach to Diet Theory Amidst Prevailing Dietary Extremism

- Pedro van Gaalen

IN THE WORLDS OF HEALTH, FITNESS AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE WE'RE TOLD THAT TO GET THE BEST RESULTS FROM OUR BODY AND PHYSIOLOGY WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY VARY OUR EXERCISE, MANIPULATING INTENSITY, VOLUME, FREQUENCY AND RECOVERY  TO ENSURE THE BODY KEEPS ADAPTING AND ADVANCING WITHOUT REACHING A PLATEAU. TERMS SUCH AS PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD, SPECIFIC ADAPTATIONS TO IMPOSED DEMANDS, AND PERIODISATION PERVADE OUR EXERCISE-RELATED LEXICON.

Yet, when diet and nutrition are discussed – if we're honest they're rarely discussed, but rather fiercely debated – proponents of a specific diet vehemently defend the principles of their touted approach over all others.

The low-carb versus high carb debate is a prime example. Proponents of either dietary approach contend that it's either one or the other. According to their view, the definition of healthful eating exists on either end of a spectrum, and that's the way we should eat without deviation.

But why would your body respond differently to diet than it does to exercise? Surely if we follow the same approach, be it macro nutrient ratios or total calorie intake over prolonged periods of time, we'll stop responding due to a normalisation or equilibrium in our hormonal response and/or shifts in our metabolism?

THE VALUE OF VARIETY

The truth of the matter is that we'll all generally respond to a change in one or more variables in our diet, but the effect will diminish over time.

For example, in the case of obese individuals, it is often a shift to low-carb diets that deliver the most dramatic effects, at least initially – usually up to about six months, but then those results start to diminish over time.