With the rise of the Media over the last 20 years, and the instant results world we live in, so much false information is circulating out there about Nutrition. Who among us hasn't heard that you're not supposed to eat after 6? Carbohydrates are bad? Cut calories to a minimum? These statements are all results of the media, and people wanting to see results as soon as possible. Well, I'm here to tell you...those are all wrong. Now, I'm not a Nutritionist. My degree, however, provided me a lot of study and focus on Physiology and Nutrition, and how the body works. Let me debunk a few myths for you, and hopefully you will see better results!(Remember, the following are just suggestions...in no way am I telling you that these are the end-all-be-all...everybody has a different body, and everyone will react differently. Any questions, please contact your physician.)1. Eat Breakfast as soon as possible after you wake-up.- This one is becoming better known, but there's a reason...there may be no bigger key to success with your weight than eating a solid, well-balanced meal right upon rising in the morning. Our Metabolism is the engine that keeps our body revving all day long, and it gets turned on by that first meal in the morning. A good balance of protein, fiber and carbs will start your day off right, and allow you to be at your best all day long!
2. Learn your BMR- BMR, or Basal Metabolic Rate, is the number of calories(energy) that your body burns everyday, simply from living. If you laid in bed all day, and didn't move a muscle, your body still burns a lot of calories. By learning your BMR, you can begin to learn how to effectively count your calorie intake throughout the day. And you know what? I guarantee you that your body burns way more calories than you think. Guess what that means...you get to EAT more calories than you think.(And, when you sign up for personal training at EA, I will give you a free BMR reading!).
3. Eat before you go to bed.- Bet you've never heard this one before. Our bodies, as mammals, are designed for survival. Yet, as humans, we eat for pleasure as well. Because our bodies are trained to survive, they will do whatever is necessary to do so, including holding onto anything it can if it feels it's not going to be fed. Our bodies go into what's commonly called "Starvation mode" after roughly three hours. When this happens, our body begins to store the fat the we possess, because the brain is sending signals that it is not being fed. Along with fat storage, the body will begin to eat our muscle away, in order to feed itself. Obviously there are many, many other factors that go along with this premise, but this is what you really need to know....eat every 3-4 hours, eat smart, and make sure to get a nice, light snack in as you tuck yourself in. You're working out hard during the day...make sure you make your nutrition as effective as possible!
