A Healthy Diet Fit For Exercise

by Kathleen Loxton
healthy diet fit for exercise with woman lifting weights

We all know that we should eat more healthily and exercise more, and the majority of us all try to do just that. However, what many fail to realise is the correlation and interrelationship between these two elements. They are not separate elements, they are intrinsically part of the same puzzle, without one, the other struggles. Here we look at how we can focus on our diet to get the most out of our exercise. That way, when we use our gym day pass or flexible gym membership, or even commit to a full membership, we will be much more likely to see the positives, before we are deterred by any negatives. Having the idea that you will be healthier is great, but it is only the start, and here we look at how we can make the most out of our positive intentions.

Balance

Diet, like life is about achieving a balance. If you exercise more, then you will burn more fuel, and if you burn more, you may need more.

Goals

Different exercises and different sports have different targets. There are some of us who get a gym day pass with the intention of pounding away of the treadmill to lose weight. Yet, there are some of us, who want to gain muscle (and thus weight effectively). In order to lose weight you need to consume less fuel than your body burns, and the excess will be drawn on the body’s storage of excess energy, think fat. However, in order to gain weight, and increase muscle mass, you need to eat more than you burn with the excess being stored.

Food Type

But you cannot simply eat more of what you like, you have to eat more of what you need. The type of fuel that you will need is based upon the goals that you are looking to achieve. If you want to lose weight and get fitter, then think of complex carbohydrates, from pasta and rice etc. always looking to cut out processed or refined sources of these foods i.e. white bread (choose brown or rye) or sugar.

Carbohydrates are the fuel that our bodies call upon when exercising, so if you are going to get past your gym day pass, and go running every day, then you will need more carbohydrates to keep you going.

Protein is the food source that helps the body, its muscles etc. repair, so if you are looking to build muscle you will need a higher proportion of protein than say a runner. Because you are resistance training, rest is important to let muscles repair properly before training them again. All athletes rest, just not all of the time.

Is Fat the enemy?

You think that because you want to get rid of fat that all fat is bad – wrong. Some saturated fats are essential, think fish-oils or nuts and seeds. Tissue repair and the general functionality of the body depends on fats, just not deep fried ones!

When to eat?

Ensure that you start the day with a good breakfast. Ensure that you do not starve yourself, as this can have negative results, but then again little and often is better than all at once. If you are training, try and eat a meal not less than 2 hours before, or if you do not have the time, have a suitable healthy snack.

Water

The body loves water, and dehydration can affect your ability to train properly and continuously so ensure that you stay hydrated.

Exercise and diet go hand in hand. It is easier to eat 500 calories less in a day than it is to burn it at the gym, so remember that, but a proper diet will make your gym day pass a worthwhile investment. Think of a lifestyle rather than a diet and exercise. A healthy approach to your lifestyle will alleviate the need for supplements and calm any cravings. By combining these two interconnected elements in your mind will help you see true gains in reality a lot quicker.

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