Through the years within the fitness/coaching industry as both a client & trainer, coach & athlete, there were many “DIET FADS” I either experienced or heard about though peers experimenting. To continue to help you break through some of these myths of these fads, I wanted to pass along some short, simple & direct information to you that you can utilize throughout your healthy lifestyle!
I have chosen to focus on 10 nutritional guidelines that must be queued in to aid the loss of fat, encourage lean muscle tissue building, and improve your overall health. This, in turn, will perpetuate additional healthy lifestyle and nutritional choices.
The 90/10 Idea. Follow these guidelines 90% of the time & “treat yourself” the other 10%.
We never want to create an environment of potential failure. We want our nutritional lifestyle to be feasible and attainable, so adopting the “you can never have that again” option is not an option at all. Deprivation is not the answer to a healthy eating process. Choose a meal on a given day that will be your splurge meal. Go ahead have some pancakes, a slice of cake, wings with bleu cheese – because tomorrow you are right back into your 90% nutritional behavior!
Eat breakfast every day & eat at least every 3-4 hours throughout the day
Breakfast along with small, frequent meals throughout the day raises your metabolism & keeps your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. This helps avoid cravings & instead helps with satiety over the course of the day.
Consume some type of protein with every meal
Protein aids in muscle building & in turn when we create the addition of lean muscle tissue onto the body, we will essentially burn more calories, even while we are in resting states. Choose eggs (even with the yolk!), nuts, cheese, yogurt (Greek yogurt is packed full of protein, w/ less sugar than other yogurts), lean meats, & protein shakes.
Choose a fruit or vegetable & add to meals & snacks
Vegetables and fruits are part of the carbohydrate family of preferred foods that you want to make part of your daily nutritional intake. Vegetables and fruits are low-carb, low-calorie, and full of nutrients to keep you satisfied and on track with your macronutrient intake.
Enjoy healthy oils & fats!
FAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAT!!! In fact, your body needs fat as energy to rid your body of unwanted fat tissue. Introduce olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, raw nuts and seeds, avocados, and omega-3 fish oils to your dietary intake.
Substitute processed foods containing carbohydrates for whole-grain foods containing carbohydrates
This means eliminating “white”, “refined”, and “processed” foods and replacing them with choices such as whole-grain corn, popcorn, whole oats, brown rice, whole rye, whole-grain barley, wild rice, buckwheat, cracked wheat, millet, quinoa, and 100% whole wheat flour to your dietary intake. Reap the benefits of added micronutrients and soluble fibers
PS: Try EZEKIEL BREAD – 100% Sprouted Grains (added protein too).
Sugar-Infused Beverages Are a NO! NO!
Get away from soda, even sucralose, aspartame-infused diet soda, fruit juices or sports drinks, etc.
Water. Water. Water
In my experience based on earlier readings, a beneficial target to reach for daily water consumption is 1/2 your body weight in fluid ounces. Hypothetically speaking, If an individual weighed 200lbs, consuming 100oz of water per day would be an efficient amount of consumption. FYI: 1 Gallon of Water = 128 fluid ounces. Drinking water will aid in body fat reduction and help facilitate the body’s normal everyday functions.
Choose a multi-vitamin & fish oil to supplement your daily dietary intake
Vitamins can help make sure you are getting your necessary micronutrient intake to help support everyday body functions. Fish oils can aid in joint care and in the prevention of many diseases.
Track Your Food Intake
Keep yourself accountable. When you cannot tangibly look at what you have ingested through the course of a day, it is very easy for your justification system to take over and make just about anything you choose “OKAY” to eat. Ex/”well I raked the leaves…so I can have this cupcake.” Eat it, Write It. Own it.
Nutritional Accountability = Nutritional Understanding = Nutritional Control.
OH!! And just one more thing:
STAY OFF YOUR SCALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO NEED TO WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY DAY!!!!!