Uploaded September 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
My Free Fitness Courses: thinkeatlift.com
My article on Best Food Choices: thinkeatlift.com/best-food-choices-when-cutting
I personally really like the IIFYM philosophy and I believe it makes dieting a hell of a lot easier. By having the liberty to include whatever you’re craving into your diet without compromising your results, you remove a big part of the psychological stress associated with dieting.
However, as with anything else some people take IIFYM to the extreme and eat only protein shakes, fast food and sweets because they fit in their macros. Yes, strictly for body composition it makes no difference but the lack of vitamins, minerals and fibre can lead to health problems in the future. In addition, packaged food usually contains small amounts of trans fats, preservatives and other chemicals which can cause problems when consumed in excess.
The right way to use IIFYM is to get the majority of your calories (80-90%) from whole foods and the rest from whatever you want. Eric Helms said it best:
“The truth is there is nothing inherently unhealthy about dirty foods, it’s rather that if they dominate your diet, you generate deficiencies as a result. I tell my clients that their diets should be inclusive rather than exclusive, meaning that provided you hit your macros, get sufficient fruits, vegetables and fiber, and you have some macros left over, then sure, have your snickers bar. In fact I’d hedge a guess to say that results on the diet will be better this way, as you’re less likely to fall off the wagon.”
My Free Fitness Courses: thinkeatlift.com
My article on Best Food Choices: thinkeatlift.com/best-food-choices-when-cutting
I personally really like the IIFYM philosophy and I believe it makes dieting a hell of a lot easier. By having the liberty to include whatever you’re craving into your diet without compromising your results, you remove a big part of the psychological stress associated with dieting.
However, as with anything else some people take IIFYM to the extreme and eat only protein shakes, fast food and sweets because they fit in their macros. Yes, strictly for body composition it makes no difference but the lack of vitamins, minerals and fibre can lead to health problems in the future. In addition, packaged food usually contains small amounts of trans fats, preservatives and other chemicals which can cause problems when consumed in excess.
The right way to use IIFYM is to get the majority of your calories (80-90%) from whole foods and the rest from whatever you want. Eric Helms said it best:
“The truth is there is nothing inherently unhealthy about dirty foods, it’s rather that if they dominate your diet, you generate deficiencies as a result. I tell my clients that their diets should be inclusive rather than exclusive, meaning that provided you hit your macros, get sufficient fruits, vegetables and fiber, and you have some macros left over, then sure, have your snickers bar. In fact I’d hedge a guess to say that results on the diet will be better this way, as you’re less likely to fall off the wagon.”
