DojoDC recently caught up with 2x National Physique Champion Burnett Crawford to discuss his healthy lifestyle. Check out the full interview below:
DojoDC: What does dieting actually mean to you?
Burnette: Balance.You have things you want to eat sometimes, but realistically, you know what's good for you and you know what's bad for you. The concept of dieting is just eating better and knowing what you're supposed to do and doing it.
How do you deal with cravings while trying to maintain a healthy diet balance?
There's so many different foods that are healthy for you that can hit those cravings. Let's say you're craving something sweet; you don't automatically have to go to something processed. You can have a banana or an apple. You'll be surprised that you hit those cravings. More often than not, food cravings are usually a nutritional deficiency. I know for a fact, craving chocolate can mean you have a magnesium deficiency.
What is your mindset for staying disciplined when trying to achieve long-term body fat or weight loss goals?
Constantly seeing the goal in front of me. Seeing what I'm preparing for. (For example) If I have a photoshoot and it's a month and a half away. Telling yourself you don't have a choice and not giving yourself any other option. Your mindset has to switch over. [You’re] not asking how am I going to do this and instead saying I AM going to do this. Everything is consistency, you know? That's everything. Whether it’s consistency in your nutrition, consistency in your training, consistency in your sleep -- that's where results happen. It's in staying consistent.
What are your top tips for getting down in body fat and staying the course?
On a broad scale: nutrition and sleep. Having an accountability partner is really huge, too. It's tough but if you have an accountability partner like a trainer, a workout partner or a coach, that's gonna keep you accountable. Goals [shared] keep you on track. [However], there's nothing more important than sleep. Absolutely nothing. Your training is not more important than sleeping. Your eating is not more important than sleeping. That's where your body is actually making its most progress.It’s making the most gains during your sleep. Optimizing your sleep is really huge too in terms of making sure you're sleeping at the right temperature in your house. All those things make a huge difference.