Robert Ferguson: 'It's A Lifestyle... Not a Diet'

CONQUERING THE MUNCHIE MONSTER
Robert says the “Munchie Monster” is the inner voice of temptation that negatively influences us to eat unhealthy foods or snacks.

Robert steers clear of the word “diet.” “Diets don’t work and they never will,” he says. Although the word “diet” is defined as how one eats, in our culture, “diet” takes on a different meaning. Dieting means restriction and deprivation when wanting to lose weight. A diet-free life is an “inside” job. “It’s a way of living,” says Robert. “You come to realize you have a choice in every situation in life to include how and what you eat.” Instead of referring to how we eat as a diet, Robert recommends referring to how and what we eat as nutrition habits.

He also refers to losing fat as releasing fat. “Like my keys, if I lose them, I will probably find them. But like a balloon, when I let go, it will never come back. That is what I think of when releasing fat from my body,” says Robert.

Diets don’t work because they often manipulate food groups, such as taking out carbohydrates and encouraging more protein. “Dieting never results in long-term weight loss or improved health,” says Robert. “Instead lasting success comes from being competent as far as knowing what to eat and enjoying your food choices.” There is a misconception, Robert believes, that healthful living is boring, bland and difficult to maintain. Many people feel like they have to walk away from their cultural identities and give up fried chicken to eat steamed broccoli and salmon.

LASTING RESULTS
When Robert made the decision to improve his health, he realized he would never eat his favorite foods again. Even though he knew these foods were unhealthy, Robert didn’t want to spend a lifetime of dieting and feeling deprived. He asked himself, How can I have delicious food without jeopardizing my health or interfering with my weight loss goals? He says there are certain obvious foods to avoid: foods where sugar is the first through fourth ingredient, white and enriched bread flours, deep-fried/breaded foods, and anything with added sodium. Robert says there are alternatives to these foods like sugar substitutes (evaporated cane juice, Stevia, etc.), bread made with 100 percent whole wheat or stone ground flour, grilled or broiled foods, etc.

“There’s an internal battle between being healthy and being accepted,” says Robert. Friend and family are often the biggest stumbling blocks to living a healthful lifestyle.

Robert was raised in church and moved to California after joining the Marine Corps. He trained the boxers for the reality series, The Contendor. Currently he is working with two-time World Boxing Champion Fernando Vargas who is training for his last fight scheduled for June 2007.