Diet plays an important role in achieving your fitness goal. And here is the good news — it is not all about cutting your carb intake, which is the common notion. People would always ask me what my diet is but I do not follow a specific one. I usually go for calorie count, but I’m not very strict about it. I would like to enjoy my fitness journey and not stress about it. But here are some of my diet tips to achieve your fitness goal.
First, determine your fitness goal – is it to get leaner or build muscles? The fact is it is hard to build muscles at the same time lower your body fat. Therefore, choose. Personally, I find it unhealthy to be lean all year round. This is why in the fitness world, there are terms such as bulking phase and shredding or cutting phase. Bulking phase is the time to gain muscles, which means I go a little (emphasis on the word ‘little’) over than my usual calorie intake. This also means I have to eat more carbs so I can lift heavy. When it is time to be lean or to shred, then cut calories. It all boils down to calorie intake and proper nutrition.
Balanced diet is the key no matter what your fitness goal is– make sure to have portions of veggies, meat, carbs and fruits throughout the day. By the way, veggies have a lot of carbs too so make sure to count those calories.
Do not to skip meals, even if you want to lose weight. Skipping meals will just slow down your metabolism or worse, eat the muscles you’ve worked hard for — which happens when you do not have enough nutrition in your body.
Personally, I still prefer home-cooked meals so I know every ingredient that goes into my food – even the cooking oil. Yes, it matters! Some fitness enthusiasts completely avoid oil or fried food. In my case though, there are fried foods I cannot live without therefore, I go for healthier options. One of the healthiest oils in the market that nutrition experts recommend is canola oil. It contains heart-healthy nutrients called phytosterols, which lowers the risk of diabetes, some types of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases as it helps reduce 15% cholesterol when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. I saw it being offered by NutriAsia’s Golden Fiesta. It is also rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 and low level of saturated fatty acids and bad fats, which are essential in achieving your fitness goal.
There are various kinds of diet gaining popularity these days — Ketogenic, Vegan, Atkins, Paleo… and the list goes on. I cannot tell you which is the best because at the end of the day, it all depends on how your body responds to it. I believe that there is no specific diet that works for everyone. We have different lifestyles and if you prefer to stick to a diet, choose one that is sustainable – not just for a week or a month. Remember, consistency is the key.
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