I am sure you have heard the saying “Abs are made in the kitchen” and guess
what? It's true. You can workout as much as you want, but if you don’t have a
good, nutrient rich diet to match your hard work in the gym... it will be difficult to see the results that you want.
I wanted to include a snippet about nutrition because personally, I do not believe in fad diets or restrictive eating. I believe in fueling your body properly with foods you ENJOY, that are nourishing and satisfying! Making lasting changes and meeting your fitness goals does not have to be miserable, it just requires some knowledge.
I am here to help, folks!
There is not one plan that works for every person. It depends on your lifestyle, your genetics, your goals, etc. For me, I enjoy tracking macros when I am at home and working towards a specific fitness goal. I think this is incredibly beneficial and very
eye opening once you realize what you are putting in your body (have you ever thought about how much protein your consuming?)
WHAT IS A MACRO?
Macros, AKA Macronutrients, are the nutrients your body can't live without. Also known as carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Whether you want to track them, or not, it’s helpful to be aware of what you are fueling your body with and why.
WHY DO I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEM?
Macros are important because when you have the right combination of them… you see results. You don’t want a diet of all carbs or all protein or all fat, you want a good balance of each. What I am trying to say here is - carbs are not the enemy!
For years, I used to avoid carbs because I thought they were "bad" - I didn't realize my body actually needed them to function properly!
Here are some benefits of each macro group:
- Protein: Proteins are often called the body’s building blocks. They are used to build and repair tissues! If you are wanting to build muscle, protein is essential to see proper results.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. Without carbs, you won’t be able to complete your workouts to the best of your abilities! You want to pay attention to complex carbs (whole grains, sweet potatoes, oats) versus simple carbs (sugars, syrups, white breads, etc) because they take longer to break down and provide more energy!
- Fat: Fats give your body energy, protects your organs, supports cell growth, keeps cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and helps your body absorb vital nutrients.
TIPS TO TRACK:
If you are reading this and you are intrigued… A great place to start and get your personalized macros would be If It Fits Your Macros. This is a website that allows you to generate your own macros that fit your current lifestyle! This is just the tip of the iceberg but it’s a good place to start for beginners.
From there, you can input your numbers in the MyFitnessPal app and you can scan in your foods, or manually input them, and start tracking your macros each day. Again, this is a personal choice and not for everyone but can be incredibly helpful in your fitness journey.
PS: In order to properly measure things out, it is helpful to get a food scale! You can get them from Target or Walmart or Amazon! Here is the one I use.
Here is a general guide I use for personally when I am not tracking my macros (becuase life happens). For each meal you have (breakfast, lunch and dinner!) - Try and choose one food per category for each meal. A good goal is to eat fresh, minimally-processed food as often as possible and include a hearty balance of protein, veggies, smart carbs, healthy fats.
Again, these are just suggestions to help you in the kitchen! Remember... it's okay to be a human and eat the pizza and fries every once in awhile. Everything in moderation and you know what I say...
Progress, not perfection.