Functional Vs. Dysfunctional Training
This article will discuss the differences between a functional (healthy) and dysfunctional (unhealthy) relationship with training and food. As you will see, having a healthy relationship with your training and nutrition is far more critical than it gets credit for. This article is essential for anyone beginning their fitness journey or feeling lost. We would also argue that you might get more out of it if you have been training for years. First, we must define functional and dysfunctional relationships with training and give examples.
Disclaimer: If some of this feels like a personal attack, try to see it with an open mind and allow yourself to try the healthier option. We don't like to hold anything back.
Dysfunctional training and dieting are typically done with the desire to reach a goal by any means necessary or as a means of punishment. In fact, almost all athletes, no matter how lean and muscular they are, are some of the most unhealthy people because they are doing everything possible to reach a goal. There is a time and place for this type of dysfunctional training, but it should only be a short-term strategy if you are an athlete or have very athletic goals. Far too often, people look at themselves in the mirror and are repulsed by what they see. This often leads to "punishing" via stringent dieting and excessive cardio (or weight lifting). Some people do not see these things as punishment because they are unaware of the source of their feelings.
One helpful question we ask some clients and ourselves is, "Would you ask your best friend, brother, or sister to do ____ to themselves if you wanted them to be healthy as a holistic person?" If you say no to this question but still do it to yourself, the habit is highly dysfunctional by definition.
A perfect example is someone who goes to 4-5+ orange theory classes per week and starts eating chicken and lettuce for every meal to lose weight. Initially, they lose a lot of weight and start feeling good about their appearance. Unfortunately, the plateaus will only take a few weeks/months to begin setting in. You might be able to cut calories again and even slightly increase your activity to break through the first 1-2 plateaus. After this point, it is hazardous and unsustainable to continue reducing calories and increasing activity to lose weight. Constantly cutting calories will eventually result in malnutrition in macro and micronutrients, which is problematic for endless reasons. Slightly less extreme versions of this are far more common but still dysfunctional regardless.
Unsustainable approaches like this are great for short-term results and satisfying the immediate need for results and/or punishment. However, this can easily lead to the person giving up and falling off their routine and diet for months or years on end. By this point, if you are thinking, "This isn't me! I’m just on that grind brah, I’m built different," think back to the last time you went on a run, done those extra pushups, or told yourself you won't eat as much tomorrow, all because you were disgusted with yourself in the mirror. It's a tough pill to swallow, right? Most of us have been there at one point, and we still may be doing these things subconsciously. Even if you believe that you are not dysfunctional, we encourage you to keep reading to determine if your relationship is functional.
Functional training and nutrition are done with a sense of care for your body. You train and eat a certain way because you genuinely want the best for yourself and want to be the best for yourself. With this mentality, training is far more productive because you are striving to feel good as a whole person. A holistic approach consists of four pillars: Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Utilizing the functional system improves all four pillars without letting one fall to the wayside, resulting in a highly sustainable and effective habit of becoming the best version of yourself. For example, if you prioritize your training and nutrition too much, at least one of the other three pillars will suffer.
This is why one of our most common questions to our nutrition clients is, "How are your libido and sleep?" If one of these things is off, training is likely becoming too much of a stressor, and we likely need to adjust our approach.
Ask yourself, "Would I rather be on the hamster wheel of cutting calories and increasing activity to lose weight only to inevitably put it back on? Or would I rather do things in a functional manner, build more muscle, and be able to eat more food without having to worry about putting on body fat?"
To us, the answer is simple. You want your body to work for you and with you rather than working against you because you are unhappy with yourself.
This approach takes a massive mindset shift, but there's no going back once you do it. This should be the goal; if you disagree, take a hard look at your life and ask yourself if you are being truthful. In the following weeks, we will discuss the most effective and efficient approach to fat loss while keeping this article in mind.
