There’s a fine line between ethical and unethical marketing.
I’m a firm believer that anybody marketing to you from the perspective of “eat whatever you want while still losing body fat” is myopic.
Just to be clear, you can lose body fat while having a cheat day if other aspects of your lifestyle are dialed in, but I’m honest with myself.
This isn’t what the evolution of conscious marketing within the health industry looks like.
That game has been played countless times in the public forum and has left most people worse off from where they started this health journey because we all age and metabolic function declines as time passes.
Outside of the outliers, you can’t have a cheat day when you’re 65 years old within the context of the standard American diet and lifestyle (and get away with it).
Ethical versus Unethical Health Marketing
The difference between unethical and ethical marketing in this space is honesty.
Most fitness influencers play on your hamster brain.
Here are two sentences which get on my nerves:
“Eat the foods you love while staying healthy”
Why assume the only satisfying food is the objectively unhealthy processed garbage?
Nutrient dense meals and ingredients are incredibly satisfying and there’s nothing stopping you from creating dessert with healthy ingredients.
“Eat junk food while losing body fat”
Again, another phrase loaded with assumptions which creates the wrong framework for people who are just getting started on their health journey.
You can show me client results all day.
I still won’t give a fuck because that’s 0.1% of the population.
What I’m attacking here is the complacent philosophy which the majority of people have in regards to their health.
Sure, you can lose body fat with the strategic use of a cheat day.
But that approach has its limit.
You cannot exploit it for long, especially if you’re the average American.
Another point of contention I have with this type of marketing from fitness influencers is the focus on ‘appetite suppression.’
You don’t need diet soda and all sorts of weird tactics to suppress your appetite.
Eating real, nutrient dense food solves the issue altogether because it has a self-regulating mechanism. Try eating 10 bananas or 3 steaks in one sitting. It’s not going to happen.
Modern Health Marketing Needs A Change
We must move past the cringe marketing gimmicks into a more holistic model which gives people a realistic perspective of the process.
One that’s based on a sustainable lifestyle which steers us away from the shitty conventional food system and ideologies.
It’s one thing to say we’re human beings with the desire to enjoy ourselves occasionally, but it’s an entirely different one to add eating shitty food as a part of your “sustainable” health protocol.
Frankly, I’m just sick of the stereotypical marketing around health.
(FYI: You can disagree with me. We’re adults here. I have no problem with that because this is my perspective based on my personal experience).
Now if you want a system which actually gives you wise advice over the long term through 1-on-1 coaching, consider joining The 80/20 Health System.
You’ll never find me recommending cheat days as a part of your plan because it’s a bullshit cop out designed to cater to the complacent areas of your psyche which created the health issues you struggle with in the first place.
Let’s talk and see if you’re a good fit.
Much love,
Zaid