5 Food Tips for Fitness Success

Achieve Fitness Success With These 5 Food Tips

January 12, 2011

No matter what your fitness goals -- whether it's to lose fat and reshape your body or pack on some serious muscle -- you'll need proper nutrition to get you there.

In fact, I'd say that 90% of your success is going depend on what you put in your mouth.

That's right... Nutrition is the number one deciding factor of whether or not you're going to achieve your goals this year.

That being said, there are a few "rules" you can follow that can make things a bit easier and make your diet easier to stick to over the course of this new year.

Tip #1 - It's all about calories

When it comes to fat loss, the success formula is pretty simple.

Eat less. Move more.

Put differently, you need to burn more calories than you take in.

One great tip to make sure you're creating a calorie deficit is to weigh everything.

If a meal calls for 4 ounces of chicken, then grab a food scale and weigh it. You'd be surprised at the difference between what you think 4 ounces should look like and what it really is.

Tip #2 - Focus on protein at each meal

Whether you're eating 3 times a day or 6 times a day -- each of your meals should be centered around a lean sources of protein.

Great choices are chicken breast, fish and extra lean turkey.

Eggs are good too, despite all the negative things you hear about them. Egg Whites are even better!

Having protein with each meal will leave you feeling fuller, boost your metabolism to burn more fat, and help keep your blood sugar and insulin levels from spiking too much at any given meal.

Tip #3 - Drink water or unsweetened tea

One of the easiest ways to get way too many calories in a single day is through liquids.

Sodas, juices and softdrinks are chock-full of a calories.

The best alternative is to steer clear of all those empty calories and instead drink water or unsweetened tea.

Outside of having a planned protein or meal replacement shake....DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES!!!

I know the thought of just drinking water or tea isn't too exciting but believe me -- your waistline will thank you.

Tip #4 -Avoid packaged foods

Here's something to ask yourself when making a food choice:

"Was this food available to cavemen?"

Think about it. If it was, that means it's a pretty natural source of nutrients. If it takes more than a couple of steps to get from it's natural state to your plate, it's probably best to not eat it. That means staying clear of foods that come in a bag or box.

Most (if not all) of our packaged foods are either incredibly high in calories, high in additives and preservative, devoid of any worthwhile nutrients, or all of the above.

Tip #5 -Reward yourself once a week

Once you're eating healthy on a regular basis, it's important you reward yourself with a "cheat" meal once a week.

This is a meal where you can have ANYTHING you want.

Having this once-a-week break from your diet helps you stay on track, keep you sane, and lets you indulge in any cravings you may have had throughout the course of the week.

It also keeps your metabolism from growing accustomed to the same amount of calories and the digestive enzymes from adapting to the same types of foods over and over again.

All in all, it keeps you from growing stale both psychologically and physiologically which is all a crucial part to being able to "stick" to a healthy nutrition plan long-term.

So there you have it. Follow these 5 food tips and you'll be in good shape for the rest of 2011.

One more thing - If you're aren't already a Cutting Edge Client, you live close by, and you are serious about taking control of your health and physique, then make sure you take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation (an $89 value).

During this consult, you'll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that's tailored to YOUR body.

There's no obligation and it's totally and completely free. To sign up, click here.

Yours in good health,

James Cipriani - CFT, NS

PS - If you would like these tips sent directly to you, sign up for my Cutting Edge Body Breakthrough Newsletter. Each bi-weekly issue is filled with readily usable training, diet, and supplement secrets as well as a healthy, yet delicious, recipe for you to try.