Ten No-No's to Healthy Nutrition

Ten No-No's to Healthy Nutrition

So you've been hitting the gym hard during the past year or so. You're even trying aerobic exercises to burn more calories and yet you only have seen little improvements. Frustration starts to set in and your motivation level dips down ever so slightly every time you look in the mirror or when you step onto that scale. If you are the person described above, do not worry, for you are not alone. There are thousands or maybe even millions of people out there who are in the same situation. These people put in a lot of hard work but never seem to lose that stubborn tire that sits in their midsection.

This is a wall that a lot of people hit - they get to a point where they think they are stuck with the body that they have or decide that some people are just genetically gifted and don't have to work half as hard as others to shape their body so beautifully. Is this true? The answer is that no person is stuck with the body that they have. Yes, some people are genetically gifted but that doesn't mean that they don't have to work hard to achieve the body that they have and maintain it.

As well, just because a person has a nicely toned and muscular body it does not necessarily mean that it's all based on good genetics. Actually, most people attribute their success of building a healthy and better body to good nutrition. Most people out there who have found success in shaping their physiques will tell you that everyone can go to the gym and do their thing day in and day out, but not everyone can eat right. 85-90% of people who start a new program to change their bodies do not succeed because they have poor nutritional habits.

These are habits that for some reason people have a hard time saying no to. After all we are what we eat, right? So if you want to succeed try kicking some of your bad habits one at a time, at your own pace, so that you can get rid of them for good. Below are 5 of my top 10 no-no's to healthy nutrition. They can help you reap the rewards of your hard labor in the gym. Note: these are in no particular order.

1) Skipping Meals
I know that you've heard this probably a million times, you're supposed to eat 5-6 small meals a day. But you know that people still skip meals. The #1 meal that people skip is breakfast. Why? Because there is still this myth going around that skipping breakfast will help shed some pounds. That is a big no-no. If you read 'breakfast' carefully it should actually tell you something that is very obvious. It reads BREAK - FAST as in you've been sleeping for 8 hours therefore you haven't eaten so break the fast and eat something. By skipping meals you are not giving the fuel that your body needs to function and repair itself from the pounding that it takes at the gym. What happens is no muscle growth.

2) Fat Phobia
A lot of people are scared of fat and as such they can't get enough of fat-free food. Although avoiding fat might make sense - avoiding fat is actually bad for you because fat(as hard it is to believe) makes food taste better and helps us feel satisfied. Also while you think that you're not gaining pounds from eating all the fat free food - you are actually gaining more weight by consuming high calorie foods like cookies, ice cream, pretzels etc. You're better off keeping your fat intake to about 30% of your total calories and enjoy small portions of your favorite foods once in a while.

3) Night Life - Bar Scene
No matter how you look at it, alcohol can sabotage your progress when you're reshaping your physique. Whether it's wine, beer, or spirits, alcohol packs on the calories, 7 calories per gram to be exact. Not only does alcohol dehydrate your body, it's also a depressant and has the effect of making you eat more during a meal. Having a drink now and then or on special occasion is fine but watch how much you drink because it can easily get out of hand. Just to be on the safe side, for every glass of beer take at least a glass or 2 of water to re-hydrate your system.

4) Late Night Snack
This is probably one of the most common culprits of not being able to get rid of those extra pounds, because we often eat more high caloric and high carbohydrate food at night than they do during the day. This is bad because all those carbs are just going to sit there when your sleeping, where it is being converted into fat. Solution: if you're going to eat at night, have a salad with chicken or a meal replacement product.

5) Caffeine/Soda
Seriously, there are people out there who drink about 4-8 cups of coffee a day and only 1 glass of water. Why is that? Caffeine is a stimulant and it also dehydrates the body. The same can actually be said with soda. Not only does coffee give you bad breath, it dries up your skin giving you more wrinkles, making your skin more vulnerable to acne. Solution: for every cup of coffee or soda take a glass of water or more.

So that's part one of out 2 part guide to no-no's to healthy nutrition, the next article will focus on the 5 remaining no-no's. Do your best in changing your nutritional habits and when you do you should be able to start seeing changes not only in your physique, but also in your outlook on life as a whole. Good Luck!