Everyone dreams of having the perfect body: well sculpted arms, a wide chest, shapely legs, and strong shoulders. However, when most of us try to transform our physique, we’re faced with a lot of confusion. This is because working out and fitness can be tricky, at least in the start. Most people jump into exercising without really thinking about it. There is a general misconception that exercising is all about being hard headed. Exercising and fitness require tact, understanding, and passion. If you want to transform your physique, then you need to start off with doing your homework. One needs to understand what does their body need in order to improve and maintain its health. You also need to realize that becoming fit requires a two-prong strategy. One needs to include exercise into their routine and they need to focus on their diet. You would be surprised to find out that the latter holds far more weight than the former. The key to any physically fit person’s physique is their diet. Diet management is the key ingredient to leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Today, we’re going to be focusing on the diet aspect of physical fitness. We are going to talk about what kinds of eating habits one needs to develop. We are also going to talk about the kinds of meals that are ideal for getting the most out of your workouts. For a better idea on what kind of meals we are talking about, you can check out ActivEats. So, where should you start your physical transformation? The first step is to develop and understanding of your body’s nutritional needs. The human body is like a machine that runs on fuel. It needs to be given high quality fuel to make sure that it functions well. High quality fuel means nutrition that gives your body energy so that it can keep up with regular exercising. Now, what does your body need in order to keep up with regular exercising? As you work out, your body’s muscle growth accelerates. When your body is building muscles, it needs proteins and a variety of nutrients in order to fuel this growth. Basically, your diet needs to be protein rich. However, protein is not all that your body needs. There are a number of other nutrients that are just as important as well. Developing an Effective Diet When you being working out, you need to plan out your diet carefully. There are certain food items that must be avoided. The same goes for certain eating habits. Your diet needs to be organized and it should be followed religiously. The ability to stick to a diet is what sets fit people apart from the unfit. We have already talked about the importance of nutrition above. Another really important thing is to know what nutrients to take at what time. Your body’s nutritional needs change throughout the day. At breakfast time, your body needs different nutrition than what it needs after your workout. Your diet should be designed with this variation in nutritional needs kept in mind. Think of it in this way; a proper diet will distribute all the essential nutrients evenly throughout your day. With all of your body’s nutritional need being met throughout the day, you will notice that you feel energized throughout your day. Let’s do a quick rundown of everything that you need to do in order to have the perfect diet. The Do’s of Healthy Dieting
- Your daily diet should consist of 60% to 70% of proteins and carbs. The proteins are essential for helping your body build and repair itself. Healthy carbs are your body’s primary source of energy. It is important to note that you consume healthy carbs which can be found in starchy vegetables and unprocessed foods.
- Your diet should be balanced and diverse. You should eat vegetables, fruits, meats, and grains throughout the day. A diverse diet ensures that your body gets all the essential nutrients throughout the day.
- You should also drink plenty of fluids. And by fluids we mean water; make sure that your body stays well hydrated.
- Many people do not give a lot of attention to calcium in their diet. This is a mistake that you really don’t want to make. Calcium is an essential nutrient that not only strengthens your bones, but also reinforces your muscles. You should include foods in your diet that are packed with calcium as well.
The Don’ts of Healthy Dieting
- One of the most solid rules of any healthy diet is to get rid of processed foods. Basically, you need to avoid any sort of food that comes in a can. Processed foods are loaded with preservatives and artificial ingredients. They have very minimal nutritional value and only provide your body with harmful substances.
- You should also make a habit out of avoiding over eating. Increase the number of portions you have a day and make sure that each portion is moderately sized.
- Avoid saturated fats and sugary foods. Ideally, you should try and completely remove free sugars from your diet. Free sugars are any kind of sugar that are added artificially to food. Sugar wreaks havoc throughout your body and should be avoided thoroughly.
Conclusion Transforming your physique through healthy eating is a slow yet rewarding process. And there is a lot more to it than simply lifting weights. One needs to be fully aware of their body’s nutritive needs and know how to fulfill them. Having a set diet is a really big aspect of improving one’s physique. It sets the very foundation for your workouts and it also makes you feel so much more energized. Its takes effort and in the beginning, it may feel like your effort is not paying off. But with enough dedication, you will eventually start seeing results. And once that happens, you will suddenly become addicted to working out and keeping your body in great shape.