My Life-Long Struggle With Food and How I Finally Overcame It

[@DreGodwin]

The king. I know I wouldn’t be where I am with fitness if it weren’t for Matt. Definitely changed my life by finding this content. I’m going to eat with Purpose for productive reasons.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thank you very much for mentioning it TRBR, I'm very happy to have been of some help along your journey.

[@3dflyer87]

This real-talk is incredible

[@RedDeltaProject]

Much thanks Colin!

[@Wayf4rer]

Honestly, nothing helps you appreciate good food like fasting. Our society today is so gluttonous it's hard to snap out of these established norms.

[@pajaroprofeta]

I naturally fast and I still have a tendency to junk food (particularly sweet stuff) I'm in a good shape tho, so I guess it kind of helps, but just as matt says there's not a magic rule that works for everyone. Stop believing that what works for you it's some kind of universal truth, life is way more complex than that

[@pajaroprofeta]

Also I fast more often when I'm depressed, so it's not always a good sign.

[@Wayf4rer]

@@pajaroprofeta There's a distinct difference between not eating because you're depressed and actually fasting.

[@pajaroprofeta]

@@Wayf4rer yeah, your emotional response to it, and that's what this is about. You can fast all you want without actually improving your diet or lifestyle at all

[@pajaroprofeta]

@ZenGainZ Again thinking that sugars are the only reason people are depressed is just not real. I have long periods of my life without depression and still eating a good amount of junk foods

[@petrakupka2839]

Hello Matt, I cannot thank you enough for your openness and honesty, I FEEL you and every single thing you say, and I must admit it hurts hearing outspoken by somebody else what I have always thought "owning" alone. And though you posted this clip one year ago, it sort of reached me at exactly the right time 🙂 I've just turned 43 and, for the first time ever, have the feeling I might have actually finally understood where my life-long disordered eating habits, weight struggles and the terrible longing for control (and yes, as sad as it is, one piece of cheesecake can really push you off the tracks if you're in this state of mind! ) might stem from. Understanding that the struggle will remain until actually overcoming a certain habitual behaviour, TRANSCENDING ... And while picking up Calisthenics about one year ago has already made a big difference for me both physically AND mentally, THIS might have been the eye-opener I so desperately needed. Sending you a huge hug from Germany! 🤗

[@paulbrewer6276]

Yeah, low carb, high carb, vegetarian, vegan , low protein, high protein, keto, fasting, tried everything twice, and felt like crap. Too much hassle and negative association with food. Three meal times when ever, what ever, avoid harmful/processed crap and enjoy the meals. Not eating on the go! give your body a chance to realise it's getting food! Great talk much, needed thanks.ATB

[@divyamgoel6629]

☝🏻☝🏻 this is it

[@Joannabanana1989]

I am so glad you were able to see your true importance, Matt! Having a good body is nice but doesn’t bring you happiness if maintaining it is living hell. I went through something similar in my teens and twenties all because my boyfriend at the time said I needed to “tone up.” That one comment lead into an eating disorder and over exercising for many years. I was so miserable and after lots of therapy, I realized that I wanted to be free more than I wanted to be thin. I felt like my mind was in a prison and I couldn’t do it anymore. It is years later and I am much happier eating how I do now than being a hangry skeleton all of the time.

[@RedDeltaProject]

I can so relate here Joanna, It's funny how so many emotional tipping points come from the seemingly most benign comments or moments and BAM! you're headed down a dysfunctional path for years to come.

[@bowantoia8536]

Matt, My daughter is suffering from anorexia and what you said helps further resolve something I have only learnt since her struggle begun, it is the struggle for control. Thank you for sharing your experiences, it has helped me to continue to learn to help and to understand my daughters current state of mind. I have been slow to understand but fortunately my wonderful wife has . We will get there 💪

[@RedDeltaProject]

Best of luck Bowan, the struggle is real, but as a father, you can be a big help in just supporting her as much as you can.

[@sohamsengupta4268]

3:10 After hearing this you became my hero Matt😭😭😭

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thank you for watching Soham!

[@ddangerton4229]

The is the end-all, be-all of talks, seriously. After 20+ years of struggling with capturing my "ideal physique" that would magically make everything I touch turn to gold, this is the final, reasonable, logical conclusion. If you're watching this and you're struggling in the way Matt is describing, and you feel like your head has been crammed full of rules and doctrines and prescriptions about how to live your life, please let what he's saying sink in. Treat yourself kindly. Listen to yourself. Be your own friend. Nothing is a better teacher than you. ❤️

[@grumblekin]

If I had a brother like Matt, I could have unf*cked my life a long time ago. Thanks for this video! This is the moment that my life changes. I'm in my 40s as well and needed to see this after 25 years of control issues.

[@robertjoycetraining3126]

So important…This kind of idea would provide a lot of freedom and happiness for so many people but it’s almost one of those concepts that’s too simple to grasp at first without going the long way-Like the Bruce Lee a punch is just a punch quote!

[@RedDeltaProject]

So well put, simple ideas often go unnoticed until they are necessary

[@cristianocaruso8677]

I appreciate your openness, Matt. I, too do think that especially in a fitness context the psychological aspect (of nutrition) is oftentimes neglected. "Eat this to gain muscle." "Eat that many calories to lose fat." "Blablabla is killing your gains!" That's fine and all, but first and foremost, before even thinking about training, bulking, cutting or whatever it is that your planning, you have to be in a stable mental state. And besides of the sheer nutrients that exactly is what nutrition can provide. And let's be honest: the human body can deal with a lot more than a cookie or ice cream from time to time ... Letting go of dogmas and all too strict rules is pretty hard to master (and very much related with how you were raised) but can lead to unexpected freedom. In fitness and life as a whole.

[@RedDeltaProject]

You so right Christian. one thing I've learned is that many diet dogmas treat the body like it's some sort of fragile thing that will break with the slightest discretion, but the mind is ever resilient and can endure anything. If nothing else, it may be the opposite. The body can handle a lot, but when under chronic stress, the mental and emotional state can crack like an egg with the slightest pressure.

[@Catherine-f8i]

Dude, I knew I liked you for a reason! I have struggled with an ED on and off over the years, and the way you speak about food and exercise resonated with me immediately. You are speaking in the same positive, encouraging voice I’ve been trying to use with myself for the last ten years, finally feeling free here in my thirties. So so good! So vital, never stop spreading this message. Thank you!

[@olotiv]

Great video! Matt always comes up with awesome perspectives towards healthy and fitness. This is one of the most overlooked and under-talked about topics in the industry.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thank you David, it's funny what you can discover when you become obsessed with a topic like health eating.

[@ddangerton4229]

Also directly to Matt, much love to you, man. Thank you for opening up about this. Hopefully this will be the tonal change the fitness industry will be able to achieve one day.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thanks Derek, maybe it will maybe it won't but the way I see it, I just need to help helpful to one person to turn the tide.

[@ddangerton4229]

@@RedDeltaProject Mission accomplished, sir. :)

[@xenotbbbeats7209]

I've struggled with Orthorexia since menopause and wors in post-menopause. This was awesome and honest. Most people don't even discuss Orthorexia because the diet industry is a multi-billion dollar one. It's tragic that so many so-called health and fitness related products feed off of anxiety and self-loathing. Our character and mental health should always be #1 on the list. Thank you for your honestly.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Happy to hear you've overcome that Orthorexia, and you example is one that I'm sure many people will find inspiration from. Lead by example!

[@to6955]

Love how you do one clip straight through without editing to make yourself look more “polished.” Smart guy, and probably an awesome guy to hang out with.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thank you, although, there's actually quite a lot of eating going on and I did about 14 separate takes to get this one video. it's all in the editing ;)

[@to6955]

@@RedDeltaProject LOL, right I gotcha.

[@callumbeale3750]

I felt this was specifically applicable to my life at the moment especially business

[@farhanhussain_]

I gave up on sugary drinks and colas many years ago, no deep fried foods either, but sweat items are still my weak point and really a test of my nerves. Chocolates, biscuits, cakes, etc. Really difficult to give up on these, but I have drastically reduced them.

[@__Diego__Aguilar_]

Matt. I've been following you since a couple years back, and i must admit this is your most "honest" video. Sometime ago, i use to feel guilty if i ate some cookie, some burguer, some pizza etc. Nowadays, i'm still eating junk food from now and then but i know you need to have certain "balance" with things so this video is so relatable. Keep it up.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting Diego, be sure to check out the follow-up to this as I talk about overcoming my obsessive compulsive exercise habits too!

[@stephenbaggott2815]

Thanks for a common sense approach to food

[@TheSQLPro]

Thank you for sharing your journey, this is what I learned from this video. The negative things our brains feed us - that's the top thing to cut from our diets. Too much stress is a heavy, lethal, burden to carry around. And the expecations of others on you... ughhhh... you need to be around good supportive people, but it starts with yourself.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Amen to that, the most supportive person in your life should be yourself. If you aren't supportive of yourself, all of the support from the rest of the world won't matter one bit.

[@Travelbu9]

Listening to the book on Audible now. Thanks for the video.

[@papapepepepepapa4599]

That was a great video, a lot of people are battling such eating disorder including myself, i feel like when im at home its kind of easier to control but on a social event of any sort i feel like i gotta eat everything in front of me and end up feeling guilty and bloated... Can you make a 'what i eat in a day' video and make a comparison to what you were eating back while having the ed?

[@Gabriel-ds6ru]

This is a good idea

[@RedDeltaProject]

Not a bad idea, a comparison video would be a refreshing idea in both diet and exercise methods. Thank for the inspiration!

[@papapepepepepapa4599]

@@RedDeltaProject ey keep them coming king!

[@judah4578]

Brother this video is spot on! My fitness went to another level when I let go and kept it simple

[@radercalisthenics]

Brilliant, Matt. I hope we hear more about this from you.

[@RedDeltaProject]

That you will Stephen! The follow-up will be about how I overcame my struggles with obsessive compulsive exercise.

[@radercalisthenics]

@@RedDeltaProject Looking forward to that. I do remain convinced that this video has one of the most important messages any fitness person can convey. I feel like I have my exercise game dialed in but am more than a little lost and desperate when it comes to knowing what to do diet-wise to complement the workouts. I do think the intuitive approach is really the only legitimate one. However, can you make a video on how you would approach weight loss using the intuitive approach? I have 10-15 lb to lose and want to do it in a way that is not extreme.

[@Lance54689]

Good stuff. It is helpful to hear that we all have some kind of struggle. We are all normal in our flaws.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Amen to that, perfection is an illusion.

[@atmosphericpressure3560]

Matt, I have been seeing your thumbnails and videos for a long time. You are a calisthenics master.

[@RedDeltaProject]

I appreciate that very much, thank you, still much more to learn and grow from!

[@lexroet1215]

Cutting out soda was one of the better decisions I made it isn't easy but my teeth are much cleaner and it did help to loose some weight even though that was the reason for me to quit

[@jasdeepsidhu2631]

Hi Matt, it'd be great if you could delve deeper into what was it in the 'Intuitive Eating' CD that changed your whole mindset.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Goash, it was so long ago, I would have trouble even remembering it. but I do remember the speaker talking about chocolate chip cookies and how you can potentially eat them and feel great, or not so great depending on how you eat them rather than wether or not you eat them to begin with.

[@Paralung]

This video couldn't have been more timely. Thank you.

[@RedDeltaProject]

'Welcome Javier, and thank you very much for watching

[@bex3928]

So glad i found your channel.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Me too! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my stuff. And here's a little something for free, a link to one of my free ebooks, on my simplest approach for building muscle with 3 basic calisthencis exercises: bit.ly/2T8Kd1H Enjoy!

[@TanBlow3R]

Extremely helpful. Gonna be ready to take notes from now on. & re-read Fitness Independence a bit slower this time!

[@RedDeltaProject]

Glad I could help, and thank you so much for watching!

[@jameswoods6385]

Hey Matt, Just the video I needed to see today. Great content as always. Thank you for sharing your evolution over the years and showing there is light at the end of the tunnel. I appreciate your candor

[@RedDeltaProject]

Glad you enjoyed it James, here's to many satisfying meals for you my man!

[@meatsjoerd6235]

Thanks fr saving us fifteen years of struggle :) Gonna go get that damn cookie i've been ditching the last months.

[@mazeofthemind560]

At times you catch hints from other fitness-tubers that they recognize the mental pathologies that drive people to the extremes of physical culture, and that they feel professionally obligated to fuel those pathologies. I'm not trying to throw shade, we all have our hustle, and a sucker is born every minute, but I have to respect you saying the quiet part out loud, even if you might ultimately be less popular and wealthy for it.

[@wesleyangel777]

The interesting thing about diets is that everyone wants one that will work magic and make them look a certain way that fits society's model. However, some folks, due to natural, biological factors will never look that way. At the same time, people often overlook the amount of work it took for someone to overcome poor eating habits or disorders. They see how those people look, and if it fits their idea of how they want to look too, they make judgments without facts. Honestly, there are so many factors that go into healthy eating and fat loss (not weight loss). Most of them are overlooked too. A person could intermittently fast or eat one meal a day, and still be very unhealthy. Also, a person could eat six times a day and only have green vegetables and fish and still get completely fat. How? Glad you asked. If a person doesn't move often, get outdoors occasionally, get enough of sleep, hydrate, do something to reduce stress, and etc., he/she will still put on body fat. "The right foods" isn't the issue, it's the lifestyle. The lifestyle shapes the body and the body will inform you what to eat - if a person is mindful with it. It's how I learned times at which I eat don't work for me, not when I was told to eat or how often. The same as what I put into my face hole. Certain foods affect how I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. In the end, it's not what a self proclaimed KZbin guru, a magazine article writer, or blog poster tells you. It's trial-and-error, common sense, and being mindful. It really is that simple.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Well stated Wesley, there's just no single simple answer to the complexity of health and fitness.

[@thedon9670]

It's not rocket science people. Eat healthy, only eat when you're hungry and don't eat unil you're full.

[@pajaroprofeta]

It's not rocket science people. Just do everything right in your life and you'll be totally happy.

[@ienjoyapples]

I disagree. I always eat until I'm full, but I only eat once or twice a day. It's when you eat until you're full many times per day that you run into problems.

[@dollarstoremakeup8945]

no youre supposed to eat until youre full thats eating to satiety just dont eat past that point

[@AmitPatel-jj7xw]

Great video

[@phoenixcoachingandperforma4775]

The whole idea of intuitive eating freaks me out. That’s my anxiety and whatnot speaking, I’m sure. It as someone who has struggled with the last 40 lbs or so, learning the proper life skills has escaped me.

[@RedDeltaProject]

It can be a daunting thing to try, especially when so much for the dietary rhetoric is based on the idea that the diet will "save" you and protect you from the "sinful desires of the flesh" that are the devil within. But that's sort of like riding a bike with training wheels, and becoming dependent on the supports which actually hold you back in the long run. You become content to crawl because it feels safe; unaware that you have the potential to fly.

[@locoh0bo]

The struggle to not struggle is real

[@xNickTheBrickx]

I agree 100% but i still count calories esp for fat loss- i just try to lose weight slow. As intuitive as i can be, it sucks to feel like crap when you accidentally go too low in calories and it sucks to go too high in calories and not lose any fat. Losing much more than a pound a week feels too cruel now that i am low body fat, but whenever i was obese i could easily lose 2lb a week.

[@FedericoRodriguez-sc3gv]

Thanks for these lessons Matt!

[@RedDeltaProject]

You're more than welcome Federico!

[@justinlagman7754]

Love this!

[@alfredkaizirege]

Nutritious (nourishing food, wholesome foods) 80%, Junk ( guilty pleasures, comfort foods) 20%, Exercise + plenty of water. Thank yourself later.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Hard to go wrong with a forula like that. now the only challenge is trying to figure out what foods fall into each of those categories. These days, there are even people claiming that vegetables are junk food (Sheesh!)

[@elliotgregory3356]

Agreed. And make your own meals.

[@alfredkaizirege]

@@RedDeltaProject yes that's why it's crucial for someone to get to know his body and what it needs to get to his optimal. physique. Much research should be done whilst listening to your body and needs. With goals and good informed planning you will get there eventually.

[@ienjoyapples]

It's really hard to have a healthy relationship to food in the modern world. Most people either overeat junkfood or they're overly restrictive with their diet. Finding the balance is hard because we aren't adapted to live in a world where getting food is as easy as walking to your fridge, and what's in the fridge is processed junk.

[@RedDeltaProject]

.....And I'm out to change that. I've learned that it' never been easier to eat in a healthy and balanced way than it is now. We just need a few simple skills and it can become so easy, it's almost effortless. That's the goal anyway. I'll keep ya posted

[@markw.2441]

Your experiences sound way too familiar to my own life. Please continue to post your thoughts and experiences concerning OCD, intellect vs. emotion, and especially, re-framing one's view(s) to break free of the cyclical thinking that can trap an individual.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Happy to share Mark, plenty more to come for sure.

[@isaiasguilarte]

Has anyone told you that you look a bit like the first Cyclops from the first couple of x-men movies? Great video as usual

[@RedDeltaProject]

Yea, I had hair when it first came out and my girlfriend at the time kept referring to me as "Scott" whoever she saw me in sunglasses.

[@isaiasguilarte]

@@RedDeltaProject 😂😂😂 keep it up, professor X💪

[@CJ-uf6xl]

Sorry to hear about your struggles and glad you turned it around, but... You still haven't told us how you became One Punch Man!

[@RedDeltaProject]

Ah that's another story for another day. It involves a long and arduous training process, plus 4 gallon-sized jugs of Jell-o

[@CJ-uf6xl]

@@RedDeltaProject Love your work Matt, been following you since the beginning, you're a real inspiration and have helped me in my fitness journey with some of the best advice I've ever come across on YT. Plus! You actually have a sense of humour! Thank you! And all the best to you my friend.

[@mhurley782]

Thank you for this. Your recommendation is to work toward intuitive eating?

[@RedDeltaProject]

partly, the great thing about IE is that it helps break out of the diet mindset and opens the mind to the possibility that there are other, more balanced ways to approach a healthy diet.

[@e.e.8589]

What about emotional overeating? If I am stressed out, I eat until my stomach hurts and I get sick.

[@RedDeltaProject]

A lot of overeating is emotional-based. After all, the body certainly isn't asking for that much food from hunger. The trick is to handle those emotions with something more productive than food. Part of the reason why you may overeat is because food isn't doing a good job at satisfying that stress. That's why you keep eating and eating. When we handle stress in an effective way, the level of stress decreases rathe quickly. I suggest using some form of physical activity or other outlet to relieve the stress if you can.

[@boogerie]

I've been hearing a lot about intuitive eating but I'm puzzled as to how someone could incorporate it if they are prescribed a restrictive diet for a health condition e g celiac inflammation hypertension diabetes

[@RedDeltaProject]

Great question! Naturally, yes, you should respect the challenges your body faces like if you have an adverse reaction to something like Gluten. The key is to recognize that that dietary requirement alone isn't enough. Your diet isn't automatically going to be healthy and productive just because you avoid Gluten. intuitive Eating, and the Healthy Eating Strategies here at R.D.P is all about setting a higher standard for yourself than the low brow approach of eat-this-don't-eat-that. Sure cutting back on junk food and alcohol can be great, but most diets actually set a very low standard that isn't good enough for most people. So basically, yes cut out things like Gluten, but know that's just the first step, there's a lot more to be had beyond that.

[@craigwheaton2506]

Outstanding

[@Guts_Brando]

Was that picture with the woman and kids your family?

[@RedDeltaProject]

That was my host family when I was studying abroad in Japan.

[@igneous061]

.....there is no finish line.... (thank you for that line.....)

[@RedDeltaProject]

I must admit, I got that one from a Nike Poster that was hanging in the shop I used to work at that sold home exercise equipment. but it is a good line nonetheless

[@dsterry74]

"We eat until we have consumed enough amino acids." - Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist, Standard University. Check out his podcast.

[@reginaldonunes5673]

Sensacional!

[@user-js5ly2wx4l]

So liberating.... Off to mcdonalds now for my third double quarter pounder with extra fries and coke. Feel better already 😅

[@RedDeltaProject]

Only 3?! I'm on my fifth run of the day, and it's only 10am ;)

[@pajaroprofeta]

Why Is it that every time matt says that dogmatic approaches doesn't work, the comment section becomes full of people's dogmatic solutions??

[@RedDeltaProject]

lol! But the world needs to know that what works in theory will most certainly always work in the real world for everyone! (Said with the thickest of sarcasm)

[@-_--_-2106]

Wow

[@mattsuran1270]

The person who's walked through the desert with the devil knows best of the temptations , or something like that?

[@RedDeltaProject]

Makes sense to me. Understanding comes through experience.

[@OrbRider]

Just cut carbs and eliminate seed oils...

[@OrbRider]

@Unstoppable Specimen it's true, if body can't go on fat, can't make ketones for brain.

[@blobo4455]

Workouts suffer without carbs. Atleast for me.

[@St3veWK]

I lost 30 pounds over covid by eating plenty of rice/potatoes/pasta....lol. Yes....I counted calories, but it kept me from overeating my nutritional requirements :)

[@thedon9670]

Let me correct it: cut calories not carbs.

[@OrbRider]

@@St3veWK lost 50 without counting one calorie ever.

[@psvrdann4341]

Who are the two ex-girlfriends of Matt's, who always give a dislike to his videos? Move on with your life haha!

[@RedDeltaProject]

What can I say; I'm a tough guy to get over lol.