Eat for what you want to be is a powerful mindset shift that moves you from reacting to your current body to actively building your future one. It’s about making intentional food choices based on your goals, not your cravings or habits. This simple reframe is the difference between just dieting and truly transforming your physique.
Share Image Quote:Stop letting your current state dictate your diet. Start letting your future goals dictate it instead.
Here’s the thing most people get wrong. They look in the mirror, see a body they’re not happy with, and then they eat in a way that maintains that body. It’s a reactive loop. What Michael is saying—and I’ve seen this play out with hundreds of clients—is that you have to flip the script. You have to eat like the person you aspire to be, right now, today. If you want to be leaner, you eat like a lean person eats, even if you don’t feel like one yet. If you want to be more muscular, you fuel your body like someone who is building muscle. It’s a proactive, forward-looking strategy. The food on your plate isn’t about who you are; it’s an investment in who you are becoming.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Health (243) |
| Topics | discipline (252), goal setting (4), nutrition (32) |
| Literary Style | persuasive (17), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | motivating (311), serious (155) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (131) |
This quote comes straight from Michael Matthews’ 2012 fitness book, Bigger Leaner Stronger, which really helped popularize this concept in the mainstream fitness world. You won’t find it misattributed to some ancient philosopher; it’s a modern, pragmatic piece of wisdom born from the evidence-based fitness community.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Matthews (111) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body (56) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Michael Matthews writes straightforward, evidence-based fitness books and leads Legion Athletics, a supplement and education company. He connects with readers through the Muscle for Life podcast and hundreds of articles on training, nutrition, and healthy habits. He champions simple programming, high-protein diets, progressive overload, and sustainable fat loss. The Michael Matthews book list includes Bigger Leaner Stronger, Thinner Leaner Stronger, Muscle for Life, Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, and The Shredded Chef. He continues refining his methods using new research and feedback from thousands of readers and clients.
| Official Website
| Quotation | Eat for what you want to be, not for what you are |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2012; ISBN: 9781938895302; Last edition: 2021 (4th Edition); Number of pages: 480. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 5: Eating with Purpose, Approximate page from 2021 Edition |
In the book, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s the cornerstone of the nutritional philosophy. Matthews lays out the science of macronutrients and calories, and this quote is the mental framework that makes that science actionable. It’s the bridge between knowing what to do and actually doing it consistently.
So, who is this for? Honestly, almost anyone. But let me give you a couple of concrete scenarios.
First, the office worker aiming for weight loss. Instead of grabbing a sugary pastry because they’re tired and “that’s just what they do,” they choose a protein-rich breakfast. Why? Because that’s what an energetic, healthy person would do. They are eating for the energetic person they want to be.
Second, the skinny guy trying to build mass. He might not feel hungry for another large meal, but he eats it anyway. Not because his current body needs it, but because the muscular body he’s building demands the fuel. He’s eating for the bigger, stronger version of himself.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Theme | Advice (652) |
| Audiences | athletes (279), dieters (17), students (3112), trainers (231), wellness coaches (18) |
| Usage Context/Scenario | diet workshops (3), fitness programs (22), goal-setting talks (3), health awareness (2), motivational campaigns (9) |
Question: Isn’t this just another way of saying “go on a diet”?
Answer: Not at all. A diet is often a temporary restriction. This is a permanent identity shift. It’s about changing how you see yourself and how you make decisions, which is far more sustainable.
Question: What if I don’t know what the “person I want to be” actually eats?
Answer: Great question. That’s where the learning comes in. You have to do the research. If you want to be a marathon runner, learn about carb-loading. If you want to be a bodybuilder, learn about protein timing. Your goal dictates the nutritional strategy.
Question: Does this mean I can never eat my favorite foods?
Answer: Absolutely not. It means you schedule them strategically. The person you want to be is healthy, sane, and enjoys life. That person probably has pizza sometimes—they just don’t have it for every meal. It’s about the overall pattern, not perfection at every single bite.
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