Talking Fitness

 Today, we’re going to talk about nutrition.

Do you ever feel like there are so many things you should or should not eat? Do you ever feel mislead? Or overwhelmed?

–       Don’t eat carbs. Don’t eat fat. Only eat for 8 hours a day. Don’t eat after dark. Wait until noon to eat your first meal. Only eat raw vegetables. Don’t eat fruit. Eat 1400 calories a day or less. Drink apple cider vinegar before every meal. Drink water after each bite of food. Don’t drink water 30 minutes before or after OR while eating food.

How do you know what to believe? What’s the truth?

The truth is, IT DEPENDS.

It depends on YOU. You are unique. Your genetics, your childhood, your digestive tract, your hormonal cycles, your fitness level, your goals, your lifestyle preferences… the list goes on.

What may work for a friend won’t necessarily work for you.

So, let’s start with some basics:

When it comes to your health and fitness, fueling your body with good food can be a huge asset… but, what does good food really mean? The answer to that differs from person to person. Ideally, good food is not processed and does not have added sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and/or additives. It is typically food without labels that can be grown versus created.

The three main ways you may have heard to categorize your foods are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source and they contain fiber that contributes to your digestive health. Protein is essential for the growth and repair of your muscles as you exercise. Fats help your body store energy, help keep you full throughout the day, and assist your body with absorbing some vitamins. The key to fueling your body with good food is to keep a balance of all three categories. 

Carbs: Fruits, vegetables, beans, oats, rice, bread, pasta 

Fats: Nuts, seeds, nut or seed butter, avocados (yes, I know they’re a fruit also, coconuts (yes, I know they’re a fruit also), cooking oils, butter, egg yolks, cheese 

Proteins: meat, egg whites, dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese), Soy Products, Quinoa, Barley, Ezekiel Bread, Nut/Legume + Grain (this is a whole topic on its own – feel free to reach out to discuss this further!)

This is only a very small glimpse into the rabbit hole that is nutrition. Stay tuned for future blog posts – we will keep unfolding the inner workings of this overwhelming topic.

In the meantime, if you are interested in starting your nutrition journey with a coach, please reach out to us at emilywick@c5.fit – I (Emily) am currently taking on new nutrition clients, whether that be for meal planning, individual guidance, and goal setting, or simply analyzing and understanding how food impacts our bodies.  

It is our goal as an individualized functional fitness facility to help each and every member develop the consistency and the discipline they need to support their individual lifestyles and their individual goals.

Until next time!

Emily “Wick” Wicklund

Owner/Operation C5 FIT