Edgley - The Worlds Fittest Cookbook

While the authors of this work have made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this book is as accurate and up-to-date as possible at the time of publication, medical and pharmaceutical knowledge is constantly changing and the application of it to particular circumstances depends on many factors. Therefore it is recommended that readers always consult a qualified medical specialist for individual advice. This book should not be used as an alternative to seeking specialist medical advice which should be sought before any action is taken. The authors and publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors and omissions that may be found in the text, or any actions that may be taken by a reader as a result of any reliance on the information contained in the text which is taken entirely at the readers own risk. When using kitchen appliances please always follow the manufacturers instructions.

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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2022

FIRST EDITION

Text Ross Edgley 2022

Photography Andrew Hayes-Watkins 2022

Except Simon Howard

Cover design by Claire Ward HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2022

Cover photograph Andrew Hayes-Watkins, Simon Howard (author photo)

Ross Edgley asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Layout: Bobby Birchall, Bobby&Co

Food Stylist: Ellie Mulligan

Prop Stylist: Rachel Vere

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Source ISBN: 9780008465612

Ebook Edition January 2022 ISBN: 9780008465629

Version 2021-11-24

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Eating is easy.
Nourishment is hard.
Dieting is impossible.

Weve forgotten how to eat.

A bold statement, I know, but in 2018 I broadcast this fact to the world in The Worlds Fittest Book only to have it later (unfortunately) supported by more studies and statistics. As a result, the book became a best-seller, was translated into many languages and I was invited to universities around the globe to talk about how we can fix the failing relationship we have with our fridges.

It is now no exaggeration to state that obesity is an international epidemic.

Whats Behind the Obesity Epidemic

Essentially, food is not the issue our relationship with it is. This is because fat is now feared, calories are confusing and the word sugar has become slander. As a result, unscrupulous personal trainers, celebrities and nutritionists prey on the confused and the desperate. They sell diet plans, promises and silver bullet solutions, despite overwhelming evidence showing they simply dont work

There is no single cure or cause for obesity and poor nutritional habits.

Instead, there are many factors at play and each of these is interconnected. This is why the UK Government published an obesity map to illustrate the proverbial minefield that many people find themselves trying to navigate.

Its a mess, right?

Where The Worlds Fittest Book demystified the core principles of fitness and sports science, The Worlds Fittest Cookbook takes you to the next stage of your health and fitness journey by:

• Bringing clarity to your food and fridge
• Teaching you how to bake, roast and flavour your fat loss
• Equipping your kitchen with heaps of incredible nutrient-dense, calorie-controlled recipes

The goal is to make food only as complicated as it needs to be, not as complicated as it can be. This all starts by learning The Foodamentals of fat loss.

We are all born naked.

We arrive in this world without any prejudices or preconceived ideas. We dont care about the calorie content of breast milk. Nor do we wonder if theres a low-fat alternative. Equally, were completely unfazed when the midwife places us on the scales and then announces our weight to the friends and family in attendance.

Yes, life is pretty good!

This is partly because our relationship with food is much simpler. It could be argued that were actually incredibly in tune with our bodies at this early moment in our lives. Untainted by the latest diet craze, we simply cry to make it known were hungry and turn our heads when we arent.

This is why the famous psychologist Abraham Maslow once said, All the evidence that we have indicates that it is reasonable to assume in practically every human being, and certainly in almost every newborn baby, that there is an active will toward health. So where does it go wrong?

Why are so many of us overweight, underweight, hungry, bloated and generally dissatisfied with food?

One possible reason is as we grow older modern society makes it very difficult for us to eat correctly. Were taught:

• To demonise chocolate, yet the Mayan civilization believed cocoa was sacred.
• To monitor our relationship with gravity (weight), when we should really be measuring fat.
• To battle cravings, when we should, in fact, be listening to these key biological signals.

The list goes on, yet studies

How do you do this? You must form dietary habits that appease your inner chef, nutritionist and personal trainer. By doing this you ensure you eat according to the laws of:

Gastronomy: studied by chefs, this field of research ensures what you eat tastes good, with flavours, textures and taste all balanced on your plate and palate, so you form dietary habits that you enjoy and can therefore stick to without any effort.

Thermodynamics: studied by personal trainers, this field of research ensures what you eat is calorie-controlled, as any calories (energy) consumed are balanced and considered with calories (energy) burnt through training, so you manage body fat.