It may come as a surprise to some, but your diet is as important (or more) as your physical activity. If your goal is to get a 6-pack, without a balanced diet, no amount of crunches or sit ups will make that happen. You’ve heard your “body is a temple.” When it comes to your health, it couldn’t be more true.
While it’s fine to have the occasional “cheat day,” you need to realize early on that in order to get healthy you have to commit to a healthy lifestyle. This includes the foods and snacks that you eat.
Nutritionists and fitness experts will be the first to tell you to avoid junk food, but even when you might think you’re consuming good stuff, some of it might still still be considered junk food. If you start with a proper breakfast, which some saying a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you’ll provide the necessary fuel to start the day and help you maintain a balanced diet.
Adding fruit like bananas or strawberries is a good start, or if you’re having cereal or eggs, consider this a good time for carbs.
Throughout the day there are all kinds of ‘power foods‘ you could be eating to provide yourself with nutrients and vitamins to get lean. The many benefits of quinoa, spinach, and kale has appeared in many recent studies. Kale is high in iron, vitamin A, C, provides calcium, and full of antioxidants carotenoids and flavonoids. Spinach has a wide variety of phytonutrients, magnesium, folate, and a great source of vitamin K. Quinoa is high in protein, with all the essential amino acids. Referred to as a Super grain, contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains.
When it comes to meats, variety is the name of the game. While you should limit your beef and pork intake, salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids, which is found in very few foods. Another smart choice with lots of health benefits is avocado. The nutritional value includes monounsaturated fat (also found in olive oil) and can actually help you lose weight.
While more are switching to a plant-based diet, maintaining a balanced diet is about being selective, variety, and making healthy choices.
But when it comes to your fitness regime, stick to your workout routine by keeping it interesting. Trying new things such as a couples workout or new exercises like pendlay rows, kettle balls, or try plyometrics. And if you think you’re man enough, give the MMA workout a try.
For a list of nutritious super foods, refer to the following chart for more info:
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech