How to Assess and Evaluate Your Diet as a Lifeguard
There are a million diets out there. Protein-heavy. Carb-loaded. No meat. Only meat. We have an abundance of choices, which has its pros and cons. On one hand, we have more information than ever to make well-informed choices about the food we put in our bodies. On the other, it can be hard to decide what diet is the right one. Lifegaurds, look no further. We’ve got you covered.
Step 1: Evaluate your current diet.
Whether you’re aiming to make a huge dietary change or you’re just curious about alternative diets, the first step is to take stock of what you’re currently putting in your body. Nutritionists typically ask their patients to create a food journal to document the food they’re ingesting every day. If you can do that, it’s a great starting point. Too busy? Just get a ballpark idea of: 1) How much you’re eating, 2) How often you’re eating, 3) Generally how many carbs, proteins, veggies, and fruits you’re ingesting, and 4) How you’re feeling as a result of your diet.
Step 2: Identify what is and isn’t working.
No surprise here: The ideal diet varies from person to person. No matter how many articles you read, what it comes down to is how you feel. You know your body best. Once you’ve gotten a birds-eye view of your current diet, start documenting (or thinking about) the components of your diet that do and don’t work. For example, if you’ve identified that you drink 2 cups of coffee every morning but you feel jittery after, your body is signaling that you may be ingesting too much coffee.
Step 3: Think about your diet and your job.
Now that you know what you’re putting into your body and what is and isn’t working, it’s time to apply it to your daily life. 
Pay attention to the way your mind and body feel while you’re on the job. Are you tired? Hungry? Low on energy? High on energy? Once you get more in touch with your mind and body in response to your diet, you can start sampling out different diets.
Phew. 3 big steps to put you in the right direction. These steps are just the beginning of your dietary journey. It takes time, introspection, dedication and effort to get your diet to a place that really works for your body. You’re already on the right track — stay tuned for more information on optimal diets for lifeguards.
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