How Do I Know If What I'm Eating Is "Right"?
If there's any one question I've been asked no fewer than a bazillion times, it is: "How do I know if what I'm eating is 'right'?"
Simple.
Look to your energy levels.
I’m gonna take a wild stab here and point out the obvious: that probably isn't the answer you were looking for or even expecting.
Having received your same blank stare of confusion and disappointment with that answer countless times, here’s what I mean:
When you're adequately hydrating AND eating "right," you will have stable and predictable energy levels.
Improper or insufficient hydration/nutrition will leave you feeling sluggish, apathetic and/or sick. It will also keep you plateaued.
Now for those of you who have aesthetic goals, here’s the lynchpin that’s gonna help you: Aesthetics Follow Function.
Meaning: When you do the right things nutritionally and with your physical training, the aesthetic benefits follow in suit.
STRAIGHT TALK FROM YOUR COACH: If you want to get the right answer, you've got to be sure you're asking the right question.
Everyone wants the "secret sauce" of "What should I be eating?" Eating for a unique sport or event is one thing. Knowing what "clean" nutrition is or the "right foods" to eat is another.
Ask Yourself, “Am I truly dealing with a knowledge deficit?”
But I gotta be honest: In my experience, most-if not all-people know what they "should" be eating. The REAL question is, "Why aren't you doing it?"
I utilize a tiered strategy with every single one of my athletes, ranging from the "I haven't worked out for 20 years" athlete to the teenage High Performance extreme athlete.
Whatever their starting point, the focus is on muscular development, rather than fat loss. (Honestly, which one sounds more fun: eating to grow or eating to shrink? I said shrink, not shred).
Most people do not consume the types of foods which NOURISH their bodies, even though they maintain an adequate/high caloric intake.
The result? Energy crashes and plateaus-physically and performance wise..
Breaking any athlete of bad habits such as radically cutting calories for mere aesthetic appeal, prolonged periods between meals, or consuming empty calories during the adolescent years in favor of re-calibrating the metabolism with stronger nutritional habits takes consistent effort on both parts.
The Overall Branching Goal Is To Eat For Energy.
This means we eat to supply the 3 phases of athletic energy demands to maintain anabolism and enhance our gainz. This isn’t just the foods, THIS IS THE HABITS OF GREAT NUTRITION.
Step 1: Fueling For Efficiency. This is your meal timing, this is meal planning, this is discipline, this is paying attention to your body and your moods, this is also the beginning of training your metabolism.
Step 2: Fueling For High Performance. This is how to take your Gainz to the next level. Now that we’ve got your metabolism cranking, we can have a lot of fun building on the solid habits you’ve established. This is always so exciting, and everyone is often astonished at how much food they GET to eat and they still get leaner and tighter. Everything I do begins with a Consultation. If you’re at a point where you’re stuck, plateaued and frustrated, hit me up and schedule a Fitness Consultation.
