Tweaking Your Taste Buds

There is a common saying amongst personal trainers as well as bodybuilders and that saying is,

"you train to build muscle, and you diet to show the muscle and lose the fat".

The reason this saying is important is because it is absolutely true. Changing your eating habits for the better is the key to real changes not just in your physique but also in your lifestyle. You'll be able to have more energy as well as have a healthier body. Everyone knows this, it's no big secret anymore, but a lot of people still struggle with the concepts of changing their eating habits and giving up the "munchies".

Why is it such a struggle? Because anyone-and I mean anyone-man or woman can go to the gym and hit the weights and all the aerobic classes available out there consistently for days on end with no problem. But only a few, those who are strong willed with motivated minds, will have the consistency to be able to maintain eating healthy with proper nutrition.

It is a fact that a good number of people will have a hard time staying off the munchies, cakes, chocolate bars and chips, because those people have developed a false sense of security about their eating habits when they first started on their workout programs. This is because during the first few weeks of the program fat seems to come off rather easily, usually higher than the normal 2 lbs per week and this due to the fact that the body is in shock and is going through changes.

However, what most people don't realize, or fail to realize for that matter, is that as the weeks go by the body progresses and gets use to the stresses of lifting weights and aerobic exercise. It's going to need fuel to build muscle, to burn off the fat and maintain the metabolism. And we all know what the proper fuel is-protein, complex carbohydrates and low fat, small meals, five to six times a day - and not donuts, chips and burgers that we've gotten used to in the past.

The concept is simple, if people (you included) want to maintain the progression, you'll have to change your eating habits and be a little more strict with what it is you put in your mouth. This is because it is those last 5-10, even 15 lbs that are the real battle. The strictness and the willingness to try and change will be the difference between victory and defeat. People can suck in their waist all they want and try to look lean and buff as much as they can, but that only last as long as they can hold their breath. So why go through that entire ordeal when they don't have to? It comes down to choice, whether you or that person wants to get rid of those stubborn remaining pounds bad enough and have the willingness to sacrifice and change ones eating habits to achieve a goal.

Diet Busters
It is a given fact that if you are like most people you will have a harder time staying away from treats such as chips, fries, chocolate bars, cakes, and shakes rather than burgers and pizzas. This is the diet part of the equation that most people will struggle with. So, in order to satisfy the cravings of those taste buds you will need to modify your eating habits slightly. And while it is true that "moderation" is the answer to suppress cravings and avoid binging, some people's definition or idea of moderation goes beyond its actual meaning. Some people's idea of moderation, in terms of ice cream or a chocolate bar, is one or two of each in a single day along with a big fat juicy burger. And for good measure, just so that there is something what they call "healthy" in there, they wash it all down with a diet cola.

Moderation is eating something that you're really craving once or twice a week. Therefore, think about having a free day when you can eat whatever you want but for the rest of the week eat smart. Do you wonder why some of the people you see in the gym have minimal or no change in their physiques whatsoever? That's because for those people everyday has become a free day.

Another common mistake is to totally ignore the cravings for junk food and sweets. This is a mistake because even if you have the willpower to avoid junk food and put it aside for a while, when your hunger for the taste kicks in you will more than likely eat more and binge on that junk food.

Tweaking the Taste Buds
One of the reasons why junk food is bad is because of the calories that they pack, so one way to tweak this problem as well as to satisfy your craving is to be "food sensible". What I mean by this is to choose an alternate that has lower calories as well as lower fat. And even if it does have fat, make sure that it contains the good kind of fat. One well known example is instead of snacking on potato chips, which are high in fat, salt and calories, try snacking on pumpkin seeds which are far healthier. They contain high protein amounts, and are rich in fiber and other nutrients such as zinc and phosphorous. Now, doesn't that sound better than potato chips?

As far as beverages and desserts are concerned, no one can really resist a good milkshake or cake. However, milkshake also come with tons of calories (400 on average) as well as fat (10). Cakes contain just as much if not more. One way to tweak this dilemma is to be patient in the grocery store and be creative in the kitchen with the blender. Choose skim milk or soy milk along with low fat yogurts blended together with your favorite fruit to create a nice healthy smoothie. Not only are you cutting the calories and fat, you're also consuming a lot of protein and other nutrients that the body needs to build muscle and burn fat.

There are now desserts available that cater to health conscious people; all you need to do is ask. For those who like to bake or make their own desserts, spend a little bit of time reading the labels of your recipes. Instead of counting the amount of fat per serving, count the amount of calories because it is the excess calories that put on the weight. Also, there are many protein and carbohydrate snack bars out there that taste really good. These can also be a great alternative if you ever want a replacement for that chocolate bar.

Remember that it's okay to cheat now and then because getting rid of your cravings will be that much more beneficial for you. But if you are going to cheat, know that you have choices and alternatives to satisfy your cravings while still eating healthy. And now that fitness and well-being is becoming the mantra of a health conscious society, more and more companies are making it a priority to offer people healthier alternatives to the gluttonous old "standbys."