When it comes to nutrition we have all heard how important eating right is to our weight loss efforts.  We know that in order to achieve significant results we must watch our caloric intake (by not eating to many or too few calories) we must watch our sugar intake, not skip meals, etc.  All of this is absolutely 100% true.  But there is another reason that eating right is so important to our fitness and weight loss results.  I call this the “other side” of nutrition.  This reason may seem obvious, but I can assure you that very few people take this into consideration when thinking about nutrition and exercise.

When trying to lose weight, it is important that you burn more calories than you consume.  Many people do this by cutting their caloric intake very low.  These same people struggle with weight their entire lives because cutting calories too low will cause you to hold on to body fat and burn muscle and water instead.  As opposed to creating a caloric deficit by eating fewer calories, it is best to create the deficit by burning more calories through exercise.  That means either exercising more frequently or exercising with more intensity.

This all sounds good in theory, but finding the energy to exercise more intensely or more frequently is difficult for many.  This is where the “other side” of nutrition comes in.

If you have ever gone to the gym and tried to exercise on an empty stomach, or after you have eaten poorly throughout the day, then you know how difficult it can be.  You feel lethargic, you get light headed or nauseous, and more often than not you slowly and reluctantly finish the workout, or you quit the workout all together.  Many of us confuse this lethargic feeling with “not getting enough sleep”, or the run down feeling that a lot of stress causes.  Though this may be the case with some, most of you could increase your energy output tenfold by simply making the nutritional changes that I preach every week.  Forget about exercise…wouldn’t you be much happier and productive if you could just get through your day without nodding off at your desk?

The problem is when you don’t attack your workouts with a high intensity, you cut the workouts short, or you simply don’t work out often enough the result is your overall caloric expenditure (how many calories you burn during your workout) goes way down.  When your caloric expenditure is way down then it is very difficult to create a caloric deficit through exercise.

I guess what I’m trying to say is…Eat well to work out well.  If you can’t work out well, then what’s the point of working out?

So, the question becomes, “how do I get the energy to increase workout intensity and/or frequency”.  As you have probably guessed by now, the answer is through our food intake and overall nutrition regimen.  Food is not only used to feed the body in a way that maximizes fat loss, it is also our body’s fuel…and frankly, when you are in the mindset of losing fat and weight, you should look at it as such.  The fuel we use to make it through our hectic days and the fuel we use to maximize our workouts to create the caloric deficit we so desperately need to burn body fat.  And sorry folks, coffee does not count as fuel…tasty though it may be.

Trying to embark on an exercise routine and expecting to excel while eating poorly is akin to dumping sand into the gas tank of a Ferrari and expecting it to perform optimally.  You and the Ferrari will just end up broken down and out of commission.

So, if you are currently on an exercise routine and the results aren’t what you want them to be, take a second look at you nutrition. (or a first look for those of you who are blowing it off)  Be sure that you are eating enough calories, be sure that you are eating your lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and sprinkling in some whole grains here and there.  Make sure you are eating frequent meals throughout the day and limiting your sugar intake to keep your blood sugar levels stabilized and your energy high.  This will enable you to maximize your workouts every single day you train and the result will be a huge spike in your caloric output.  And a spike in caloric output means lower numbers on the scale.  Booyah!

See ya soon,

Christopher

Chris Buckley, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified Fitness Trainer and exercise physiologist, graduate of the University of Florida and fitness professional located in Roswell, GA. Buckley is the owner of BodyBack! Women’s Fitness Boot Camps…serving Roswell, Woodstock, Milton, and NE Marietta, and has posted more information on his website, www.RoswellBootCamps.com.  To try a trial week of his fat churning, calorie burning boot camp…click on the registration link at http://www.roswellbootcampsforwomen.com/roswell-boot-camp-registration.html

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