"I love sweets, so if I went without and never ate them, I would eventually cave and eat boxes of them."
You can still eat stereotypically 'unhealthy' foods and get in shape, according to popular fitness influencer Matt Morsia.
Better known by his 'MattDoesFitness' moniker, Morsia boasts a following in the millions on social media.
We spoke exclusively to him about all things diet and nutrition.
Why you can eat 'unhealthy' foods and still get in shape
Matt has just launched his own Strawberry Laces-flavoured
Clear Whey Protein with sponsor MyProtein, largely borne out of his own love of sweets.
This might strike you as surprising, given the unhealthy connotations associated with anything high in sugar, but you don't need to eat a religiously strict diet to reach your desired fitness goal.
When it comes to nutrition, Morsia says: "There are two elements that are important.
"Firstly, if you're looking at it purely from a body composition standpoint [ratio of muscle mass to body fat], within reason as long as the protein is high, the other stuff doesn't really matter.
"These 'bad' foods are fine in moderation so long as you regulate your calories."
There's also a psychological benefit, too.
Morsia says, "I love sweets, so if I went without and never ate them, I would eventually cave and eat boxes of them."
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Can you build muscle and burn fat at the same time?
Building muscle and burning fat have long been viewed as distinct goals, diametrically opposed to one another.
But it may be possible to undergo both simultaneously in rare circumstances, according to influencer Matt Morsia.
He says "it's best to have the mindset that you can't do them [build muscle and burn fat]" at the same time, but there are exceptions.
"The exceptions would be if you're a complete beginner, because you'll build muscle so easily and quickly with very little stimulus.
"The other exception is if you're on a sh*t tonne of drugs. This cocktail of hormones gives you the ability to retain muscle while getting lean."
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There's no such thing as a 'superfood'
Morsia also takes issue with the concept of 'superfoods'.
Turmeric, Manuka honey, Himalayan pink salt and various berries have all been marketed at one time with purported life-affirming benefits.
But you needn't believe the hype.
"In terms of body composition, no, there's no such thing," claims Morsia.
"Macros are macros - protein being the most important. But there is no food you can eat that has such a powerful, direct impact on your body composition."
While certain foods do contain compounds beneficial to your skin and liver, for example, the impact isn't enough to warrant the 'superfood' label.
"That's how people make money. They prey on people's lack of understanding. There's so many ads, and the fact you see the ads means they must be working on someone.
"This idea that you can 'eat these three foods and lose belly fat' is a lie, it doesn't work."
Myprotein has teamed up with Matt Morsia to launch a limited-edition Strawberry Laces Clear Whey. Shop the Myprotein x Matt Morsia Limited Edition Bundle here.
