Greg Dagnall is an evidence-based nutritionist, as well as a fully-qualified personal trainer based in Qatar. He is passionate about helping people to achieve their aims through bespoke services that help create a diet and training regime.

Get to know more about Greg in this exclusive 1-on-1 interview by Lucas Raven.

 

WHAT INSPIRES YOU EVERY DAY?

I am inspired to help people. To change the health and fitness industry for the better by getting the right information out there so people can improve without the BS that swamps the industry.

 

WHAT MAKES YOUR APPROACH TO FITNESS AND NUTRITION DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?

Firstly I am evidence-based, which means I don’t go by fad or fashion, just tried and tested methods.  Everything I do is backed up by numerous studies which make my methods optimally the best for my clients.  I do not train people to be athletes, because they are not. I train people to reach their attainable goals within their ability.  “No pain, no gain” is not a motto that I use.  Consistently doing the right exercises within a client’s ability is a better approach in my opinion.  I am honest and do not set my client’s goals that are unreachable.  I explain the full facts to them, making sure that they know what we will realistically achieve.  I also educate as I go, my aim is to get my clients to a stage, usually within 3 months, that they can continue without me.  I do not set meal plans or tell my clients what to eat. I educate them on the management of calories and dispel myths to make their journey easier. I empower my clients so that they can make the right choices for themselves.

 

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING CASE AND HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CLIENT TO OVERCOME IT AND ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RESULTS?

 

I had a young personal trainer who came to me to lose weight.  She had a fairly good knowledge of nutrition but needed some guidance.  After her assessment, we worked out a strategy and she started well.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t get past weekends without overeating, no matter what strategy we put in place.  She didn’t weigh herself that much as she knew that weight doesn’t necessarily indicate fat loss.  She is partially right here, weight is not always the best indicator, but it does still show that you are on the right track.  So I suggested that she weighed herself every day and I produced a chart to reflect her progress.  By the end of each week, she saw that her weight had decreased throughout, this inspired her to not binge at weekends and she ended up losing 2kg in three weeks and got to her desired weight within 6, a total loss of 4kg.

 

WHERE AND WHEN DID YOU BEGIN YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY TO NUTRITIONAL FITNESS?

 

It began in Qatar when I turned 40 and needed to get a bit smarter about my nutrition and fitness as my body was not letting me beast myself into shape.  I fell for all of the gurus and charlatans selling BS.  I followed the wacky diets and fitness plans and took the money-wasting supplements.  I then came across the evidence-based fraternity and realized I had been taken for a ride and wasted my time.  Initially, I didn’t like what I heard, it’s difficult to accept that you are wrong and have been fooled but the more I looked into the more I accepted and like it.

TELL US THREE DIET MYTHS AND WHY THEY DON’T WORK.

 

Myth # 1: FASTED CARDIO: FAT OXIDATION IS GREATER DURING FASTED CARDIO.

 

The evidence just doesn’t support this.  Every study ever done has indicated that this is not true.  The energy equation of Energy in/Energy out does not change because you get up at 5 am to run on the treadmill.

 

Myth # 2: ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS – WORSE THAN SUGAR

 

This came from conspiracy theories about Aspartame in the USA in the 1970s-80s and was based on animal studies.  It was backed up by the association of overweight people consuming large quantities of diet drinks.

The studies show that there is very little risk from artificial sweeteners and that they have a positive effect on weight loss.  They do not spike insulin and do not trick the body into thinking there is sugar and therefore will store more fat.

 

MYTH # 3: THE KETOGENIC DIET IS A GREAT WEIGHT LOSS DIET.

 

The ketogenic diet is a high fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate diet.  If followed correctly the body will go into ketosis, effectively burning fat as its main energy source.  This still does not change the energy balance, you still need to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight, even in ketosis.  This fact is often overlooked when people talk about the benefits of the ketogenic diet, it is not magical, you cannot eat as much as you want on it.

 

WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ONE NEEDS TO KNOW WHEN STARTING A FITNESS JOURNEY?

 

Realistic goals and timescales.

 

NAME TWO ICONS YOU LOOK UP TO AND WHY.

 

MARTIN MACDONALD – He is the founder and owner of MNU, the course that I did to qualify as a Nutritionist.  He is completely evidence-based and is determined to pass on the real truth about health/nutrition and fitness.

 

DANNY LENON – He is the presenter of the podcast Sigma Nutrition.  This is the go-to podcast for nutrition.  It covers all subjects, both evidence-based and non-evidence-based.  Danny’s non-biased approach is refreshing and allows guests to get their points across and allows listeners to make up their own minds.

 

YOUR ADVICE TO THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN CHANGING THEIR LIFESTYLE, BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

 

Talk to a professional (me). That is why I am here, to stop others from the trial and error procedure and save them time and money.

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