Every single person is bio-chemically unique.   Our nutritional needs and the rate at which our body turns food into energy differ greatly from person to person.   We have trillions of cells in our bodies that food affects in some kind of way every time we eat or drink something.   Our insides are complex bodily systems that work together with other systems to work in equilibrium .   Certain foods and nutrients can cause an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system that can influence health and disease.  

I coach clients to fine-tune their meals to create balance and maintain blood sugar levels within the body using the guidelines and principles of the metabolic typing diet by William Wolcott.   As soon as the individual is able to identify different food groups and learn what symptoms to look out for they are able to prepare meals that will work for the body and not against it, this is the key to optimum health and weight management.   This isn't a diet; it is all about feeding the body the correct nutrients that are required to be healthy.   It may go against fad diets in the sense that you don't need to count calories, weigh foods or omit certain food groups.   The bottom line is that this way of eating is all about getting a balance of a broad range of natural whole food in the correct amounts that works for your body.   There isn't anything complicated about it, all you need to know is what to look out for. I will give you an example below of how eating correctly can help you.  

Following is a testimony from a client who asked for my help with his nutrition in the summer of 2006 prior to the beginning of the football season.   He felt his performance wasn't as good as it should have been so I took him on as a nutrition and lifestyle client and introduced him to a completely different way of eating for Health & Fitness.   We also spoke in depth about training routines for footballers and the science behind programme design.   Since Kevin changed his diet in less than a year ago he has been selected for the England non-league team and beat, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to win the Home Nations Tournament up in Inverness.   Well-done Kevin!

My name is Kevin Nicholson and I am a 25-year-old professional footballer.   I signed with Sheffield Wednesday when I was 17 and after one appearance there I have gone on to play in over 200 games for Northampton, Notts County and Scarborough.

Throughout my career I have always been ultra professional in the way I have looked after myself. The only alcohol I drink is limited to a glass of wine with a meal and that is a twice a month kind of occurrence.   I was always in bed before 12 and never spent time in smoky pubs or clubs. I have always accepted that certain people are naturally fitter than others but it always struck me that despite my lifestyle I never felt as fit as I think I should have been.
As well as a healthy lifestyle I have always eaten what is widely regarded as a very healthy diet. Plenty of pasta, potatoes, salad and veg, a little red meat, chicken and the odd helping of fish. When buying anything from the supermarket I would always go for the low fat versions of everything as it is always said in any health mags and most other sources of media that fat is bad for you and should be avoided.

I would occasionally try the odd protein drink hoping it would help maintain muscle and allow me to heal quicker after games.

I first spoke to Anthony Chapman just under 2 months ago, a week before going back to pre season training with my new club in the hope that I may pick up some tips to help me do well in the build up to the coming season.

As it happened I got a lot more than I expected. Anthony introduced me to the METABOLIC TYPE DIET.   With the use of a questionnaire and a 4-day food diary he discovered that I was basically just overloading with carbohydrates.   When in fact my metabolic type was more suited to a higher protein and a higher fat diet.

Once he had read through my results we sat for an hour and he explained the misconceptions that we have over what is good and what is bad for us and how processed foods and low fat versions of food are actually bad for you and not just that but also the theory that one mans food is another mans poison.
I.e. why should something that is good for me be equally as good for you after all, we are all very different.

Since that talk my diet has changed in a big way, I have eaten more animal fat foods in the last month than I had in the 3 months leading up to the change. Not just any fat but the kind you get from good quality meats, nuts and organic and full fat dairy products. My protein intake has shot up by eating these kind of foods and I have not really touched pasta, bread and potatoes for the last 4 weeks yet I have noticed a massive difference in my energy levels, stamina and concentration levels. I am fitter than I have ever been and as a result I lost a 3rd of my body fat content although this was not something I set out to do. I honestly can't believe the difference and all it takes is eating what is right for my body.

We are all different and it may turn out that your body works better on a high carbohydrate low protein diet but it makes sense that there is no such thing as a universal 'healthy diet' only a diet that will work best for each individual.   It is my job to keep fit, and people who preach that eating this and drinking that is what is best for everyone have always surrounded me. Despite this I have always been well aware of the many contradictions that surround the issue of diet. One 'expert' will tell you one thing yet another will scoff at the idea and tell you to do the opposite.

The difference with the METABOLIC TYPE DIET is that it is not plugging any particular type of food or product it is just telling you what foods your body will thrive on and letting you experiment with how you feel and what works best for you.

If nothing else it is an eye opener to hear how many misconceptions there are and I would highly recommend giving this way of eating a chance and seeing the changes it will make.

It is well worth a go!!

Kevin Nicholson