January 16, 2022: Choosing a Nutrition Plan
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If you were to Google “nutrition tips,” do you have any idea how many results you would get? Millions—billions even. And you’d see a lot of conflicting advice. It’s no wonder people are confused! This week, we’re going to talk about choosing the right nutrition plan for your lifestyle and needs.
When you’re looking to live a healthy lifestyle, your nutrition plan is 80% of the battle. You simply can't out exercise a bad diet. In fact, the better your diet is, the more success you’re going to have in all aspects of your health - from weight loss/maintenance to fitness performance to having plenty of energy and beyond.
So what are some keys to know and understand if you want to get the best from your nutrition plan?
Watch Your Portions
I advise you to measure out your portions using a food scale, measuring cups, and measuring spoons. Wait! Don’t leave! This isn’t a long-term thing. It’s so you can understand how much a portion is. Sadly, most of us underestimated our food consumption by 30-50%, which makes a huge difference when you think you’re being healthy but you’re actually overeating!
Whether you’re counting calories, macros, something else, or just trying to make some smart decisions, how much you’re eating is as important as what you’re eating.
Don’t Go Overboard on Cutting Calories
The go-getters out there can go overboard when trying to eat healthily. Sometimes people, when trying to lose weight (and they are having a hard time seeing results), will cut too many calories from their diet. And when this happens, they often struggle to reach their goal. It feels like you can’t win when this happens.
Cutting calories, eliminating entire food groups, and other drastic behaviors have a negative effect for a few reasons. One, you don’t have enough nutrition to maintain energy to do your workouts or even make it through the day. Two, restriction really messes with your motivation. It isn’t sustainable. This means you’ll likely rebound by overeating and then going far beyond just a treat or a cheat meal or day.
Find the Right Balance
Nutrition is about a balance of the macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) your body needs. And, yes, you need all of those nutrients.
The proportions of your macronutrients can vary depending on your goals, lifestyle, and preferences. In general, ⅓ of each is a fine proportion for health. You can plan with lowering the carb percentage and raising the protein percentage if you’re working out or trying to lose weight.
The right balance of nutrients will stabilize your energy, and get you on the right path to health and feeling great. If you have questions about your needs, I’m here to help!
Next Sunday, we’ll talk about the questions you need to ask before joining a gym.
Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again.
Do you have a friend who could stand to G(her)ST? Feel free to forward this!
I hope you have a wonderful week,
Kelly
Kelly Morgan, Ph.D.
Tsirona - www.tsirona.com
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