This week we focus on nutrition. Here are some helpful tips about nutrition to help you on your journey.

Polar BodyAge Standings Week 6 – Weight Lost
Polar BodyAge Standings Week 6 – Body Fat % Change

A Focus on Nutrition

1. Nutritional Basics

Ask almost any personal trainer and they’ll tell you that regardless of your training goals, healthy eating is the backbone of future success. Food is what fuels your body to reach your goals and without proper nutrition through quality foods, you’re likely to stall. As a result, if possible, eat organic foods and, above all else, maintain a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, complete proteins, and fats including such things as fish oils and flax seeds.

2. Prepare Ahead

Regardless of what you’re doing, preparing gives you the best chance to accomplish your goals. Your approach to nutrition should be no different. It’s best to prepare for your upcoming meals for the day by prepping all your food in advance. This helps ensure you do not eat bad foods or skip meals. This also allows you to get a larger view of what you’re eating and allows you to create some variety.

3. Portion Control

Paying attention to portion size is extremely important. Knowing such things as a serving of chicken breast and other meats (most proteins) should be no larger than your palm or a deck of cards and that spaghettis (and other pastas) no larger than the size of your fist can help guide you. Weighing and measuring your foods is another way since people don’t generally eyeball their portions properly. Yet another suggestion is to use smaller bowls, plates and cups because studies show people tend to serve themselves 20%-40% more using bigger plates.

4. Eat With Purpose

Everything you consume should have substantial nutritional value. You want the most nutritional bang for your buck and everything you eat should serve some sort of nutritional purpose in your body – whether it’s to fuel your workouts, getting the nutrients your body needs – and ask yourself does it help achieve my fitness goals. The foods you put into your body should also be geared towards optimizing your body.