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Nutrition
At Xclusive Fitness we don’t recommend specific diets. Fad diets DO NOT WORK! As soon as you deviate, the weight comes back on. Instead we recommend LIFESTYLE CHANGE.
In the context of an active, healthy lifestyle, we need to think of food in a new way. Food is not the enemy in determining your body weight. It is fuel to allow you to achieve your fitness/health goals. Calories and activity levels are inextricably linked, so many people believe that what you eat doesn’t matter as long as you burn as many calories as you consume. Yes, the total number of calories you consume does matter, but the truth is that some foods provide better fuel than others. And quality fuel provides us with more physical and mental energy. Just as you would not put sludge into your car, you can’t fill your body with inferior fuel and expect it to function properly. So, how do you know what foods to choose? By selecting foods that are nutrient-dense, that provide you with high quality calories and vitamins and minerals.
The best way to do this is by selecting whole, natural foods rather than pre-packaged convenience foods. Eating natural foods allows our bodies to better absorb the nutrients we need. And eating fresh food also provides more fiber and vitamins and minerals. Fresh, whole foods do not sap your body of energy but give you energy!
So here is the “A” grocery list:
*beans—black beans, pinto
*chicken
*dark chocolate
*eggs
*frozen or fresh mixed berries, especially blueberries
*lean red meat—sirloin steak
*low fat yogurt
*mixed salad greens
*nuts—especially almonds/walnuts
*oatmeal
*oranges
*salmon
*sweet potatoes
*whole grain bread
*whole grain brown rice
*vegetables—the more colorful the better!
You are going to perform and feel your best by eating 4 to 5 small meals a day. This keeps your energy at a constant level and actually helps to speed up your metabolism due to the fact that your body does not think it is starving. Food is better absorbed and you will have better energy not only in your workouts, but in your activities of daily living.
