With the new year in full swing we all know the amount of people that will choose to change their lifestyle by wanting to lose weight or start a fitness routine.
As I have always written about previously, it is crucial for success to think of it as a daily goal, and not a quick-fix solution! If you can change the way you approach this goal as not just a new year’s resolution but a lifelong habit, you will find greater success. Changing a lifestyle can be a lot of work and daunting in the beginning, but in no time, changes occur and success fuels motivation and inspiration.
Nutrition can be the biggest key to long-term success and many are missing some important steps during their fitness journey such as nutrition timing. Pre-workout nutrition should give the individual enough energy to sustain them through the activity, minimize fatigue and reduce recovery time. Everyone trains at different times of the day so that plays a role in what they can eat prior to their workout.
Dina Mostat, certified nutritionist and owner of Full Circle Nutritional Consulting who follows the Precision Nutrition guidelines, recommends the following.
“Proper nutrition timing (carbs, proteins, fats) can build an athlete/individual’s energy system, giving them a greater capacity for work,” she said. “An example would be a smoothie, oatmeal with add-ins such as almonds, raisins or fresh fruit.
“What is also very important to note is eating an appropriate meal within the first hour after the workout. This post-workout nutrition will start the recovery process immediately”.
Why is all this important? Because the timing of your nutrition will play a role in many things such as: body fat reduction, increased muscle, improved immune function, improved recovery and so much more. It is not just what you eat but when you eat!
How can you be successful? Get educated! A greater success rate is achieved when a proper balance of fitness and nutrition is met. A solid fitness program does not give you the ability to eat what you want. Find a nutrition professional that can help. Education is so important to stay on track and learning what is true. We can be overloaded through fitness magazines that are selling the greatest tag line, so don’t be fooled.
Rhonda Catt is a certified personal trainer in the North Okanagan and co-owner of Excel Fitness in Vernon.
