Before you hit the gym, take a look in your pantry

Before walking into the gym or wherever it is that you like to work out, you have probably already made 4-5 decisions far more important than whatever you are about to do. Let’s talk nutrition for a minute. Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, I am not a doctor, or a certified trainer; all of these statements are solely based on my experiences, both good and bad.

You may remember from my intro my previous life as a college soccer player. When I was playing I was able to eat anything in sight; 3-4 hours of practice/weights will do that to a person. After graduating and exploring different aspects of fitness and exercise, I settled into the weight room. I did months of workouts and wasn’t getting the results I wanted. The fact is, no matter what you do for the hour you are at the gym, it will not overcome the other 23 hours in a day. Once I got my nutrition in check I started to see the results I was hoping for. Here is what I have learned:

--People will tell you to lose weight you must eat multiple small meals throughout the day. I can’t disagree with this more. Eat when you are hungry- if you are not hungry, don’t eat. Simple enough.

--Cut out the processed nonsense. If you can’t pronounce the word, you probably shouldn’t eat it.

--Focus on clean sources of protein: chicken, fish, etc.

--All fats aren’t bad; don’t avoid the good ones. You should understand the difference between the fat in a candy bar and the fat in an avocado.

--Carbs aren't the enemy, as long as you get the important carbs. This goes back to the processed comment; focus on whole grains.

--Track your macros (carbs, fats, protein) but don’t obsess over them. I only suggest tracking them so you can really get a glimpse of what you put in your body. If you have to write it down, you have to be more aware of what you are eating.  Don't let this become obsessive to the point where you also cannot enjoy food.

--Plan out meals. It’s easy to grab something unhealthy when it's 6pm and you want dinner, but if you already have your meal planned you're much more likely to eat something in line with your health goals.

--Diets are temporary, change your lifestyle.

--MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you are going to have a cheat meal, whether it is cake, candy bar, whatever, then make sure you satisfy the craving. Enjoy the indulgence and then get past it.

 

Hopefully you can incorporate as many, if not all, of these into your routine. Whether you are trying to gain weight, lose it, or just maintain, nutrition is number one. Don’t forget, your body keeps a journal that everyone can read. Next up on my list of posts is supplementation! Until next time, work hard in the gym and get in the kitchen!