The Designer’s Diet: How Eating Clean Keeps Me Agile — In Body and Business
Jul 21, 2025
I’ve spent most of my life struggling with my weight. Like many creatives, I have what you’d call a “sit-down job” — actually, make that two. By day, I’m a Creative Designer working across marketing, web, and visual design. By night (and weekends), I serve as a pastor — which I’ll dive into in a future post.
But how do you manage a busy, complex life and still maintain a healthy diet?
It all comes down to input and output. In other words: you are what you eat. Sounds harsh, but that’s the unfiltered reality. If you love food, you probably love to eat — and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s part of being human. The key is learning how to balance your appetite with your aspirations — especially if you want to stay agile, creative, and energized.
Over the years, I’ve swung between extremes. I’ve learned what works — and more importantly, what doesn’t. The hardest part isn’t the diet itself… it’s keeping a consistent routine.
So here’s what actually works for me:
Set a daily rhythm you can stick to. Don’t go overboard. Keep it realistic. Routine beats ambition when it comes to diet.
Invest in whole foods. Prioritize veggies like broccoli and silverbeet, healthy fats (nuts, seeds), and natural sugars from fruit.
Try intermittent fasting. Set a start and stop time for eating. Late-night meals and snacks are usually the silent killers. Eating after 9pm? That’s where most of the weight creeps in.
Move daily. As a designer, it’s easy to stay glued to a screen. Break it up: go for a walk, run, skip, stretch, or even try desk-based mobility exercises. Movement sharpens the mind.
Look after yourself. Health isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Time doesn’t slow down for anyone.
Repeat. Every single day. There are no shortcuts, just rhythms.
Where you might fall off…
School holidays. If you’ve got kids, your routine shifts — big time.
Personal holidays. Travel, rest, new environments — all throw a spanner in the works.
Unexpected changes. Sickness, projects, events — anything that disrupts your day-to-day flow.
This is where agility kicks in. When life throws a curveball, don’t ditch the routine — adapt it. Can’t go for a morning run? Play tag with the kids. Can’t prep your meals? Choose the best option available and skip the soda. Staying consistent doesn’t mean being perfect — it means staying intentional.
In just a few weeks, I’ve already lost 4 kg, and I’m on track to drop another. Hitting that first 5 kg loss is a real milestone — your clothes fit better, your energy lifts, your mindset sharpens. From there, it’s just a matter of tackling the next 5, and the next, until you hit your ideal zone.
The Positives? Let me count the ways:
Your clothes will start fitting right again (and yes, that’s a confidence booster).
You’ll feel less sluggish and more focused at work.
You’ll be more agile as a designer — not just in body, but in mind and creativity.
This journey isn’t about vanity — it’s about vitality. Staying healthy gives you more creative energy, more mental clarity, and more drive to do what you love — whether that’s designing, leading, or living well.
Stick around — I’ll be sharing more health insights, real progress, and honest reflections as I go.
Because when your body feels lighter, your ideas fly higher.