A change here in Bonertown as a few topics I addressed on Twitter & Instagram expanded into multi-post extravaganzas.
This week it’s banana bashing. Next week it might be about lean gaining vs. bulking vs. getting fat cause you don’t know what you’re doing.
I’m doing occasional deep dives on individual topics on Instagram stories, so follow @bryankrahn on IG.
Plus you get to see my dogs. They’re far more popular than I am.
1. What’s with the banana hate?
Gurus, please. In the war against escalating waistlines and declining health, bananas aren’t the problem.
Sure, there are better choices if you have fat to lose. But even that assumes the rest of the diet is very good and that pesky banana is the sore thumb sticking out.
And I can tell you, that is RARELY the case.
Just look at the average person’s 7-Day food log — the lonely banana is often one of the few natural, unprocessed foods they eat.
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2. Typical New-to-Fitness Diet:
Breakfast. Cereal/toast, 2 eggs (maybe), juice, coffee with cream & sugar.
Snack: Granola bar
Lunch: Subway or Chipotle, diet coke
Snack: Banana, yogurt, coffee
Dinner: Pasta, meat of some kind, two servings of dessert
Snack: Wine, chips, sofa, self-loathing
So given that grease-fire, would you make scrapping that banana priority #1?
Remember the average person is basically clueless nutrition-wise.
And when “bananas are bad” starts trending, best believe there are people reading who eat every meal out of a box or drive thru that will take it as “better cut out that banana at work, so I can get healthy.”
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3. Context is King
Before attacking single foods (especially natural foods), you need to consider context:
– the health/bodyfat level of the person
– the composition of their overall weekly diet
– their goal
– how much of the offending food they’re even eating? One banana after the gym 4 days a week, or four bananas a day?
Furthermore, the perceived positives (or negatives) of single foods often don’t even matter that much in the grand scheme of things (i.e., overall diet).
“Bananas are high in carbs.”
Sure. So track your carbs, and maybe save the banana for after training.
“Bananas are low in protein.”
And meat, eggs, and dairy are low in fiber. White rice is low in essential fat.
But we wouldn’t avoid these foods for such reasons. Different foods bring different qualities and we eat (or at least should) a variety of foods every day and every week.
“Bananas aren’t satiating.”
True, apples & oranges are better. But bananas beat yogurt, candy bars, and most travel-friendly snacks. (See the Satiety Index).
Again its context. During dieting phases bananas aren’t great.
But for someone wanting to build muscle on a budget?Grabbing a couple bunches of overripe bananas on sale to freeze and then add to shakes or oatmeal is pretty tough to beat.
Context.
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4. The Daily Post Workout Selfie?
I’ve seen it recommended to take a post-workout selfie after EVERY workout.
Careful.
If you’re brand new to fitness and want to keep a record of making it to all your gym sessions, that’s cool I suppose.
But for monitoring progress? TERRIBLE idea. The worst idea since Karaoke. And possibly even harmful.
Change takes time and a watched pot never seems to boil. And if you make “daily visible progress” the standard then your disappointment is guaranteed.
Rather than clicking a pic every day, keep a check-list and every night check off your daily to-dos and NOT to do’s; the ones that performed consistently WILL eventually lead to an impressive after pic.
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5. More on the Daily Selfie:
The best part of this race isn’t when you cross the finish line, it’s when you experience totally unexpected recognition.
Like trying on a suit or dress that used to be snug but now needs tailoring. Or running into an old friend who can’t get over the changes you’ve made.
Now of course these things can still happen while taking a daily selfie.
But if your expectation is near daily progress and you’re VERY likely NOT seeing it, these little moments might not seem that meaningful.
“It’s just an old suit or jacket, who cares. I sure don’t see progress. And that old friend is probably just bullshitting so they can pitch a slim-tea.”
What a negative, cynical way to see things. And it doesn’t have to be this way.
Focusing squarely on what you can control (like your effort) and letting the outcome chips fall where they may is not only the best approach mentally and physically, it’s the also the most fulfilling path emotionally and spiritually.
And in an industry so petty and superficial that it sucks the joy and passion and self-esteem from so many, a little emotional and spiritual fulfillment is a very good thing