Carl Daikeler says a straightforward daytime eating routine helped him lose 15 pounds while preserving room for pizza, doughnuts and other favorites. At 63, the founder and CEO of BODi says the approach has helped him reach the best shape of his life.

The Los Angeles based executive has led the health brand formerly known as Beachbody for 28 years. Yet despite his work in fitness and nutrition, Daikeler readily acknowledges that wholesome foods do not naturally excite him.

“I eat like a third-grader, okay? Pizza's a food group,” Daikeler joked during an interview with Fox News Digital. He said he continually looks for ways to improve his habits without completely reorganizing his life around strict health and fitness rules.

When Daikeler turned 57, he struggled to shed 15 pounds that had accumulated around his waist. Instead of embracing an extreme diet, he changed what he ate for breakfast and lunch while leaving dinner open to whatever he wanted.

His first adjustment was replacing a conventional breakfast with a nutrient dense shake. The drink contains protein, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics and greens and totals roughly 250 calories.

“I got rid of breakfast, or I changed my breakfast to this shake that we've got called Shakeology,” Daikeler said. “I put some spinach in there and I put a banana in there.”

Lunch became a substantial salad built around baby spinach, carrots and chicken. Daikeler adds several flavorful ingredients that help mask the taste of the vegetables, making the meal more appealing to someone who does not particularly enjoy healthy foods.

“I hide it with some cheese, some nuts, some sliced strawberries, and it's delicious, and I put chicken in there ... I don't feel like I'm eating a bowl of vegetables, but I am.”

With breakfast and lunch following a consistent structure, Daikeler allows himself much greater flexibility in the evening. “Now I've got a 'day pass' for everything else ... I eat whatever I want at dinner.”

Alcohol is the one part of dinner that comes with a firm personal guideline. “I'm careful not to drink too much,” he said.

Daikeler credits the combination of his breakfast shake, large lunch salad, flexible dinner and limited alcohol with producing lasting results. “Once I did that — Shakeology for breakfast, a big salad for lunch, total freedom for dinner, limited alcohol — the 15 pounds just got wiped out. And it stayed off.”

His strategy is rooted in the belief that highly restrictive nutrition programs can become too difficult to sustain. When a plan interferes excessively with everyday enjoyment, he said, people may ultimately abandon their health goals.

“If you're trying to be too restrictive, I don't think that's life,” Daikeler said. “The whole point is living ... So if it's too restrictive, it's going to break.”

Rather than prohibiting indulgent foods, Daikeler relies on smaller portions and mindful eating. His goal is to enjoy the taste he wants without continuing after the food has stopped delivering additional satisfaction.

“I love pizza. But I've learned that I can enjoy pizza without eating the whole pizza,” he said. “I like doughnuts. I've learned that I can have literally a quarter of a doughnut and be like, that was delicious. But I get no additional satisfaction by eating the whole doughnut.”

Daikeler sees that balance as part of a broader focus on health span, which prioritizes quality of life and the ability to remain active while aging. “I'm all for longevity, but it's really about quality of life — a way to live and enjoy life that is balanced with maximizing your time on earth.”

The approach reflects Daikeler’s personal experience and is not presented as a universal solution. The National Institutes of Health says different eating plans can support weight loss, but the most effective choice depends on individual health needs, preferences and the ability to maintain habits over time.

People are generally advised to consult a doctor or registered dietitian for personalized guidance. For Daikeler, however, structure earlier in the day created enough freedom to keep favorite foods at dinner while maintaining his 15 pound loss.