By Mark Wood
So at some point in your fitness journey you’ve made the decision to have a proper look at your diet and what’s actually going into your body.
There’s many reasons to be more conscious of your food:
- Weight Loss
- Performance
- Health
- Better Sleep
- More Energy
Chances are you’ve got one or two on this list that really stand out to you, and fortunately with a little understanding of nutrition you’ll be far better equipped to adjust it based on your goals.
With what seems like an infinite amount of information out there on diet it really comes down to two main things the QUALITY of the food we eat, and the QUANTITY. Neither of these are more important than the other.
FOOD QUALITY
The type of food you eat is extremely important for your health and how you feel. It’s hard to provide a blanket statement of what to eat but the original 100 words of fitness by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman keeps it nice and simple
“Eat meat, vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar..”
Variety of foods provides all the essential nutrients for our bodies so it can function better. By improving the foods we put into our body we can avoid the 2pm slump, drowsy mornings, restless nights and feel far more energised for our day.
FOOD QUANTITY
The amount of food we eat or more specifically the amount of certain types of foods plays a big role in how we perform and look. At a basic level we only get out what we put in, so not feeding your body enough means it cannot function well and you won’t perform in the gym or your daily life.
“Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat..”
We need the right amounts of protein to repair muscle and our bodies tissues, carbohydrates for energy and fats for hormones, insulation and energy.
We don’t need to complicate our diets if our goal is to live a better life and perform better in the gym. Simplicity is the key to long lasting change, so embarking on a restrictive diet that cuts out food groups or has strict timings is likely to start out well but eventually fizzle out once the excitement is gone.
Our recommendation for anyone wanting to start looking at their food intake is the Zone diet. It’s a simple way of calculating the amount of food you need and a great start for any CrossFitter.
DOWNLOAD THE ZONE GUIDE
Of course there are other avenues you can take and finding the right way for you is important. If you would like to chat about your diet or need a total reset just shoot me an email.