You've done it, as has everyone else. You log online, and search for the new hot diet that works wonders in the shortest amount of time possible. Don't laugh, you know it's true! But why? Why do we do this? It's simple actually. We lack what we need most when it comes to proper diet prep. I am going to break down what you actually need to focus on in order to make your diet work.
1st and foremost, preparation is key. Without proper preparation, your diet will fail. Plain and simple. If you are not willing to prepare for what it takes to tackle this challenge, you have already failed. We are all busy professionals, and more often than not, we are eating on the run. When this happens, poor food choices are often what we go to. If you simply take the time to prepare your food the night before, you will not find yourself in this predicament. Preparing all your food on a Sunday evening for the week ahead is something I ask my clients to do; if the food is already prepared, there is no excuse for not eating it.
The 2nd key to success is holding yourself accountable. We all give in to peer pressure, that’s part of life. However, to get to where you want to be, you must not indulge. If you think a small cheat meal here or a drink there won't hurt you, you may be wrong. More often than not, this happens by the 3rd or 4th day on a diet plan. If you cannot simply say no to these things, you are sabotaging your success and your results will vary. I'm not saying you cannot get to your goals, but it will slow your progress.
What does one eat? I get this one all the time. One thing I always tell people, “If you don't think it's good for you, chances are, you are right and you shouldn't eat it”.
So, what should one eat? Here is a list of excellent sources of all micro-nutrients:
Proteins – Lean meats (grass-fed), chicken breast, fresh fish, turkey and eggs.
Carbohydrates – Rolled oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and beans.
Fats – Extra virgin olive oil, almonds and pecans, avocados, natural nut butters and coconut oil.
The key to every good plan is to get a variety of each micro-nutrient. There are many diets out there that like to focus on only 2 of the 3 micro-nutrients. I'm not saying this cannot work, but results will hinder after some time. Remember, you can still gain weight and fat if you are consuming too much of a good thing. It's true, it does happen. We are all different, and our bodies react differently to all types of foods.
1st plan of attack is finding out your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). This is what your body burns at rest. When this is figured out, you can then prepare your new nutrition plan to the specifics of what your body needs in order to either gain muscle or burn fat. Remember, calories in vs. calories out.
Take note, you cannot out-train a bad diet. It doesn't matter if you are working out 6-7 days per week. If you cannot get your diet down, you will not get the results you want.
Plain and simple!
