fitness Tripod part 3

Nutritional habits and lifestyle

Nutrition or rather ‘sports nutrition’ is actually very big concept. Everybody has written about their opinion and experiences on nutrition. There are also many scientific studies on nutrition. How much protein to eat, how much carbs to eat and which and how much fat to eat are already written by many researchers and fitness experts. So I m not writing anything about that. So if you are looking for how much to eat for your macro nutrients this article is surely not for you.

Why nutrition is important for fitness

Nutrition is one thing that concerns everybody. Fitness freaks, athletes and also persons who don’t workout at all or hate to do so. Each of them is more or less concerned about their food. Nutrition is very important in achieving fitness goals. Some people achieve weight loss by working only on food habits. Nutrition is something which is important in any conditions. Weather a new born baby, grown adult, person who is ill, geriatrics everybody needs nutritional guidance in their age.

Why I state it as Sports Nutrition?

Sports nutrition is the study of nutrition for improving athletic performance. All of us want to improve performance and lifestyle. Unless somebody who is ill and is on a special medically advised diet plan everyone else who is looking at food for fitness should have the primary goal of improving performance. So sports nutrition is basically nutrition which consumed to improve performance.

What should be your attitude towards your food and drinks?

 There are many researches, studies and ideologies on what are the requirements of macro nutrients relating to the goals and bodyweight. Also written about calories counts and their benefits. Although I agree with calorie restricted diet and the results and it is important to some extent but if you have busy lifestyle you cannot possibly track your calories.

However I agree to it that calorie window is important for achieving fitness goals it is certainly not the most important thing. We tend to make food habits mechanical whereas it should be spontaneous. Off course with basic ground rules.

Eat big to get big

This is the old school concept that ruined many young fitness lovers including me. I had this concept that if you want to get big you have to eat till you explode. This is definitely not the case. This will only make you fat and lethargic. Your nutrition should be according to your training. If you are training heavy and intense, your hunger will also increase so eat according to your hunger. And to satisfy this hunger chooses right options.

Difference between hunger and appetite

Learn to distinguish between them. Hunger is when you are really hungry and need food and appetite is when you sense something which induces craving. E.g. you haven’t eaten anything for 10 hours and feeling hungry this is hunger. After having extensive lunch you are full but you see ice cream or you see a loaded cheese burger and you are craving for it this is appetite. I m not saying to not let go of yourself but most of the times choose the right option.

Plan on long term goals

If you are thinking that eating your favorite mutton biryani in the night or binge eating on ice cream tub at 3 am is the only reason you are fat check yourself. The human body is very smart and we tend to think that eating at particular time will make the difference. What we eat in the 24 hour window is more important and rational. I m not saying you should let yourself indulge every now and then. But plan weekly or for 10 days rather than what to eat when.

Mindful eating

This does not mean cheating your health. When you are eating focus on what is on your plate, enjoy the taste. Avoid screen or books. This is not practical for many of us but try to practice this as much as possible.

Fitness should not overshadow your profession.

This happened with me too in the past. I did everything possible to achieve strength and muscle mass. I was so preoccupied with eating, planning meals and calculating calories that I was separated from actual life. Don’t let it happen to you. Check if you are preoccupied with food and training 24x7. I am fitness professional; obviously I am going to claim that how fitness is most important thing but my clients are not from the same profession and they might going to attend a meeting after training or might have to work on a project all night. I cannot always give them intense training. Plan your workouts and meals in a compatible way with work and social life.