Again yesterday we had someone who has been trying to get in shape for over a year express frustration that they were not seeing the effects they wanted in their body. It only took Jake a few questions to determine that he was not eating the proper foods to fuel his body for his desired results.
There is A LOT of information on food and nutrition available to you at any given moment. There are very few absolute truths when it comes to nutrition though. The best thing you can do is find a professional, be honest with them and then LISTEN to their advice. The best people will tell you that it is a journey and that it changes depending on your lifestyle and your goals. You have to listen to your body, be willing to go against some of what you have been taught and challenge yourself to change your habits.
A few truths:
- Eat breakfast! It turns on your system and wakes up your metabolism. Oatmeal with blueberries and eggs (more whites than yolks) is a great breakfast choice.
- Eat small, balanced meals every 2-3 hours. To keep your metabolism going you need to eat regularly throughout the day.
- Fruits and veggies are good for you. They fill you up, give you energy, keep you regular and provide nutrients and minerals that your body needs.
- Drink water. If you are not peeing enough that you find it annoying, then you are probably not drinking enough water.
- Don't eat or drink fake food. The biggest favor you can do for your body is to give it real food. Read the labels. Do not put anything that contains the word "modified" into your body. Look for whole ingredients and short ingredient lists. If you don't know what something is, then look it up. Think about if what you are buying could be found at a farmers market - if not, don't buy it.
- Working out and lifting weights has specific nutritional needs that may be different from your standard healthy diet. If you are working towards a goal at the gym, do yourself a favor and make sure you get professional advice on proper nutrition.
- Allergies to food are more common now due to changes in the way food is grown and manufactured. Educate yourself on what you are eating so you can identify the many ways that an allergic reaction can adversely effect your body. For example, corn is now grown with a pesticide inside of it. Therefore corn and all bi-products of corn (e.g. corn syrup) can cause negative reactions in the body. For a great educational video on changes to the food chain you can go to this link.
I have learned that everything I was taught was either incorrect or only partially true. The difference that proper nutrition can make in your life will impact everything you do. Take the time to learn how to properly nourish yourself.
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