Are diets getting out of hand? Amaya Fitness clarifies it for us

Instagram has become a showcase for fitness enthusiasts to find the best fitness products in the world. innovative training, exercises for changing sports routines and recipes to face diets without renouncing to taster.

However, the truth is that several studies and professionals point out that the frequency with which we see almost perfect bodies in our networks, many of them belonging to people who are not famous - in such cases, we can cling to the 'since they are rich, they dedicate their fortune to be perfect' - is responsible for our self-esteem is dented.

 Looking at the profiles of many of these people, we see that their diets are measured to the millimetre -so much so that many weigh every single ingredient that will end up in their stomachs- and that going out for a beer and enjoying the pincho of the day is almost sinful.

The celebrity trainer

We spoke with the celebrity personal trainer -and mortals, of courseAmaya Fitness about this trend. And we do so because in her networks she always advocates a healthy lifestyle in which restrictions are not the norm and in which the foods of a lifetime are the ones on our tables, without superfoods in between.

"I'm not about labeling foods like they're superheroes."

It is true that there are foods that, due to their composition or action on the organism, are particularly interesting, but we should add that they are so if they are consumed properly, taking into account promotions and the frequency of their consumption", he explains.

"We are fortunate to live in a country that is a standard-bearer for the Mediterranean dietwith a wide variety of quality foods. Actually, I am not saying anything that we do not know, because the benefits of the Mediterranean diet are more than demonstrated and we just have to put it into practice. But another very Spanish thing is to give more value to what comes from outside than to what we have at home, because we should be the ones exporting our diet to the rest of the world. However, we allow ourselves to be impressed by the fad diet that promises amazing results quickly and effortlessly. Pure marketing that uses illusion, desperation (in some cases), haste and lack of involvement to sell its products," he explains.

Long live common sense!

Looking at Amaya's physique, it is impossible to think of the word 'fat'. Her shapely silhouette, in which the muscles are perfectly definedHowever, it is not the result of one of those diets in which every bite is measured. "I don't weigh food, I think that makes my position clear. It is possible to carry a balanced diet and proportionate without the need to weigh everything you eat. In some cases, when you don't have a reference of what a portion would be, you can use the scale to have a measure. It is also helpful to talk about spoonfuls, cups, handfuls... There is no need to be exact, I always appeal to common sense," she explains.

Those who follow a strict diet allow themselves one free meal a week, which is known as a 'cheat meal'. How does she feel about this habit? Is it better to indulge in a cheat meal or enjoy a few treats throughout the week?"A strict diet is unsustainable and not at all healthy, neither physically nor mentally. One of the problems of strict and restrictive diets is that they generate so much anxiety that the day of the famous 'cheat meal' you gorge on junk food. Enjoy every meal and you will see how it will not be necessary to label a meal as free to commit all kinds of excesses. There are two phrases that define my philosophy of life in this sense: "Don't make the exception the rule" and "It's not sinning, it's living". If you combine the two, you will find the balance of common sense," says the trainer,whose social networks show that she is a strong advocate of going out for a drink with friends without depriving herself of (almost) anything.

Keys to avoid slowing down the metabolism

Advocates of the 'cheat meal' claim that the function of this meal is to free the mind from the pressure to which it is subjected by having to do without all kinds of whims when it comes to eating and to reactivate the metabolism, which needs an increase in calories to act strongly again after a week in which each food has been measured. Since she doesn't believe in this theory, we asked her the keys to avoid slowing down metabolism.

"Metabolism refers to the calories expended by the body to carry out its functions. Age, gender and genetics have an impact, but lifestyle is certainly a determining factor. I like to say that metabolism can be trained. For example, doing physical activity, especially training at different intensities and with explosive exercises, which keep the body in combustion even after the activity stops. Working with weights improves muscle tone and the muscle is a great calorie burner. Eating frequently, approximately every three hours, keeps the metabolism active. A good rest is also favorable, since important metabolic functions take place during the hours of sleep. It is important to avoid habits that slow it down. The dreaded rebound effect is related to the metabolic alterations that occur with prolonged low-calorie diets. Severe restriction forces the body to be more efficient, to live on fewer calories," he explains.

Another trend is the fasting cardio. We asked Amaya her opinion about this practice. "It is a type of training that is not suitable for everyone, which also depends on the type of exercise to be done and the physical condition of the person. A good option for those who want to exercise first thing in the morning is to split breakfast," she clarifies.

How to get rid of those extra kilos

By the way, are you in favor or against the famousprotein shakesafter training? "We feed and nourish ourselves with food. Proteins and amino acids are components that we find naturally in food, so with a good eating plan should be enough. I think they are attributed those 'superpowers' we were talking about before, to the point that many people believe that only by taking those products they will achieve their goals, and it is not true". Finally, we asked him to tell us what to eat to get rid of those extra kilos that come after Christmas.

Breakfast

Orange sliced with a touch of cinnamon.black coffee or coffee with milk.multigrain toast with avocado cream, sliced tomato and a slice of ham.

Lunch

0% MG natural yogurt with kiwi pieces.

Food

Ratatouille.roasted chicken.a tangerine.

Snack

Cottage cheese toast with salmon and a couple of walnuts.

Dinner

Prawn scrambled eggs with sautéed green beans and cherry tomato and salmorejo (gazpacho).

After dinner...

Whipped cheese 0% MG.