Whilst researching the importance of diet and key
components of a ‘balanced’ diet, I realised more and more how it really is a
balancing act-one that can become quite complicated if you let it. Not too
little, not too much, bit of this, bit of that, increase this and decrease that,
lots of those and tiny amount of them, it can all get a bit overwhelming if I’m
honest!
So here are a few tips to help you out:
Be
individual! Firstly, you need to assess what it is
you are trying to achieve.Whether it is to improve your health, lose weight or
increase your performance. It is important to remember that everyone has
individual goals, individual requirements and differences therefore no one diet is going to suit everyone.
You
are what you eat! I believe it’s important to understand
what your bodies’ requirements are. As well as the uses of the food you consume
every day, for example the main function for carbohydrates is energy.However,
large amounts of carbohydrates will cause fat storage. White carbs (simple carbohydrates)
are quick releases of energy and brown (complex carbohydrates) are slow release
which take longer to break down. Protein builds, maintains, and replaces the
tissues in your body.
Julian Dominque ,
SportsDock fitness instructor said ‘it’s quality of food rather than quantity
of food’.
Calorie
counting! Although I personally despise calorie counting and
crazy diets, I do advise keeping a record of your food intake for a short
period of time. Investing in a heart rate monitor is another really good idea
that I often recommend to women who want to lose weight. (A heart rate monitor
can tell you directly how many calories were burnt during your workout
according to your height, age, weight and beats per minute) or track your
progress with Preva on all the machines in SportsDock.But why?! If you monitor your calories IN and calories OUT just like a factory, business or
machine then you can get the best return on investment. If losing weight is your goal then you want a higher number going out
than you do coming in to lose weight.
Finding your balance! Lastly through personal
experience of training, eating healthy and managing my weight, I really would
advise trial and error. I believe that your health journey is about finding YOUR
balance. Find which exercises works for you and which ones you enjoy (monitor
your personal progress by pictures, measurements or the good old mirror). Find
out which foods you like that are healthy and good for you, find recipes that suit
your lifestyle, whether you’re a student or working-it is about balancing this
around your life and income. You may find that you can manage 3 days a week at
the gym or 3 evening exercise classes around your schedule. You may find that
increasing your breakfast portion makes you fuller for longer and swapping
those snacks for healthier options helps you to lose weight. Remember find your
balance!
By Jasmine Wing
