At CrossFit Actus, we know that fitness results aren’t just built in the gym—they’re built in the kitchen, too.
You can’t out-train a poor diet. We really wish you could but we would be lying if we said otherwise. However, you don’t need a perfect diet either… but you do need a solid one. This means being good 80-90% of the time.
So what separates the people who talk about eating better from the ones who actually do it consistently?
It all comes down to three simple keys:
Be Prepared. Be Consistent. Make Small Sacrifices.
Let’s break each one down.
1. Be Prepared
Solid nutrition starts before you’re hungry.
Because let’s be honest—when life gets busy and stress runs high, the easiest option will win. And that option is usually Uber Eats, not a balanced plate of protein, veggies, and carbs. I wish you could eat delicious food, be cheap and super easy but you can’t have it all. Therefore you need to be prepared.
Here’s how to stay prepared:
- Plan your meals ahead of time—even just 24 hours in advance helps.
- Batch cook your proteins so you always have chicken, beef, tofu, or eggs ready to go.
- Keep “lifesaver” foods on hand, like frozen veggies, protein shakes, or pre-chopped salads.
Being prepared doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen. It means having good choices easily available—so your environment works for you, not against you. If you open the fridge and can’t see anything you like you’re much more likely to fall off the wagon.
2. Be Consistent
One “perfect” day of eating doesn’t change your body. But 30 “pretty good” days? That’s where the magic happens.
Solid nutrition isn’t about eating clean 100% of the time. It’s about doing the right things often enough to make a difference. That means being good 80-90% of the time:
- Hitting your protein target most days.
- Prioritizing whole foods.
- Eating slowly and stopping when you’re satisfied. Personally I have the hardest time with this one. Not eating past full is a real struggle for me.
- Avoiding the all-or-nothing mindset.
At CrossFit Actus, we track your gym attendance because we know showing up consistently leads to results. The same principle applies to your food choices: it’s the average of what you do over time that matters.
3. Make Small Sacrifices
Let’s be real: changing your body means changing your habits. And that usually requires giving up something—but it doesn’t have to be everything tasty forever.
Small sacrifices might look like:
- Skipping the second glass of wine.
- Swapping takeout for a homemade meal.
- Choosing sleep over late-night snacking.
- Saying “no thanks” to treats that don’t actually excite you. I don’t have a sweet tooth but if you put a bunch of cookies in front of me, I’ll likely have one. I do my best to avoid a tasty treat unless it’s something I really enjoy. These days that’s usually dark chocolate covered almonds or salt and vinegar chips.
You don’t have to live like a monk, but you do have to decide what matters more—short-term comfort, or long-term progress. You can have some of each but not all of each if you regularly overindulge.
Solid nutrition is about making just enough sacrifices to move the needle… without feeling miserable or deprived. This allows you to do it for so much long without feeling like you’re missing out.
Your Next Step
If you’re training hard but not seeing the changes you want—look at these three areas:
✅ Are you prepared?
✅ Are you consistent?
✅ Are you making the small sacrifices that lead to big results?
Dial in those habits, and your workouts will start working with your nutrition—not against it.
Need help and accountability to building a plan that’s realistic, sustainable, and actually fits your life?
Reach out today—we’re here to help.