Fitness & Strength
Q & A, What to eat? 05/30/2010
Dear Jessica, I want to know how to figure out what to eat in regards to my daily workouts. Do I eat less on days when I work out less? Ratio of proteins, carbs, fats? What if I want to be vegetarian? Raw? Any advice? Sure! I'd love to help you with this question. Regarding eating different amounts on non-workout days vs. workout days: I would say no. Remember that on your non-workout days nutrition is equally important. This is when the real growth and change occurs. It's called adaptation. Essentially the workout breaks down muscle fibers and revs up the metabolism so afterwards you become hungry and in need of protein. If you stay on a consistent diet, the body will thank you for it. Don't go into deprivation mode when the body is trying to heal itself. And as far as the "ratio" I would advise that you don't worry about that. At each meal make an effort to see balance and variety on your plate but don't count everything. I used to be a counter. this feels like a confession! haha I used to count calories and keep a food journal and be obsessed with my needs vs. expenditure ratio. I can tell you now that it was a great learning experience for me. I learned how to estimate how calorically dense certain foods are and how to be AWARE of what I was feeding myself. But to live that way? heck no. The truth is, different things work for different people. The best way to find out what works for you is to try one way for a good amount of time and then assess the results and make adjustments if needed. No matter what advice I give you the only truth will come from observing your own body and habits. You can tell by looking at yourself right now what your current eating/workout plan are doing for you. If you are satisfied with your physique, energy level, and emotional satisfaction then don't change a thing. Remember the old saying "It takes a change to make a change" If you change your diet even by a little bit, you are almost guaranteed to see a difference in your body. Because change equals change Pay attention to the whole picture. The change needs to be a change rather than an exchange. You can't swap your morning egg yolks and butter for a night time sundae and expect to lose weight. It all comes down to total caloric intake vs. total caloric expenditure. Not that I'm saying count calories, but to be AWARE and be truthful. you may think you're being sneaky or that the little bit of chocolate or cookie isn't going to make a difference but when the difference is cumulative eventually it will! This is why consistency is so important. Don't be a yo-yo dieter. Going super strict on egg whites and rice cakes and then later crashing with burgers and french fries is way worse off then sticking to a balanced plan all the way through. Going super strict is not healthy for the body or the mind. Don't torture yourself! Whether the change you want in your body is big or small, if you allow it time to happen and make the right amount of adjustments to your plan it WILL happen. Also, as always, believe in yourself, your strength, and your will to change. YOU CAN DO IT! and I can help! Add Comment We are what we eat 04/20/2010
Food Matters. It's as simple as that. We can't ignore what we eat. I'm a little obsessed right now with learning everything I can about farming, agriculture, and nutrients. There's so much information out there. I'm soaking it up like a sponge. Check out some of these movies if you are interested in the subject: Food Inc. Food Matters King Corn Bad Seed Also read books by Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle. I'm also into how our hormones effect our physical state and how what you eat and do effects your hormones. Interested? Read into Jillian Michaels "Master your Metabolism. Its time for all of us to stop eating whatever and start caring about what goes into our bodies. We are what we eat. Check out this link for more info: http://www.foodmatters.tv/ |    JessicaFitness competitor in training ArchivesOctober 2011 CategoriesAll  |
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