We all know at least one person who hits the gym five times a week, tracks their every set and rep but is still struggling to see their desired results. Does this sound like you? What do you think is holding you back?
The truth is that fitness is not just obtained in the gym. Instead, it is something that you also have to work on in the kitchen.
While workouts condition and tone your body, meals are what fuel your growth. In fact, studies by Healthline suggest that the secret to a healthy and long-term weight loss and management solution is a blend of diet and exercise.
That may sound surprising, but once you see how food has an impact on energy levels, metabolism, muscle development, and recovery, you will be able to see things much more clearly.
So, let’s find out why eating is just as important as hitting the gym for your dose of therapy and fitness.
Why Should You Blend Diet and Exercise Together?
1. Your Body Runs On More than Motivation
Exercise stresses your body out. When you lift weights or perform intense cardio, you are essentially breaking your body down, and the way to rebuild it is to eat nutrient-rich food. Since this requires a lot of planning and preparation, the best bet is to invest in reliable meal prep services to streamline your routine.
Keep in mind that without the right balance of macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, your progress will likely stall.
In addition, research by the Mayo Clinic Health System suggests that you should consume around 10 to 35% of proteins each day as part of your daily calorie intake. This is especially important if you do not miss a day of gym and want those before and after pictures to make everyone’s jaw drop.
2. Consistency Gets You Results
You might be eating healthy at least once or twice a week. But if you fail to be consistent, all the effort is going to go down the drain. Life tends to get busy. You may have late nights and early mornings, which make it difficult to maintain a clean lifestyle.
Remember, consistency will help you regulate your hunger, keep your blood sugar levels stable, and improve how your metabolism functions. Balanced meals throughout the day enable your body to become more efficient at burning fat and processing nutrients. So, you can be sure that your leg day will not be in vain.
3. Weight Management Begins With A Fork
Have you ever considered that you may be overestimating the number of calories you burn during a gym session? Similarly, you might be underestimating how much you consume in one meal.
For example, a 45-minute run may help you burn 400 to 600 calories, but if you have fast food for dinner because you do not have the strength to cook, those calories will come on right back and then some. This is why you need to develop mindful eating habits and stay within a particular calorie range.
Studies indicate that people who plan their meals ahead of time are more likely to display better diet quality and maintain a healthy weight. Simply put, if you want to manage your weight, you need to do more than burn calories.
Think about the energy you are taking in and build eating habits that align with your everyday and long-term goals.
4. Better Nutrition Leads To Better Performance
The food you are eating has a direct impact on your focus, performance, as well as your energy levels. This is not just true for the gym, but your everyday activities as well.
You may not be aware but complex carbohydrates ensure sustained energy, healthy fats aid with hormonal function, and lean proteins help with muscle repair. So, if you neglect any of these nutrients, you will hinder your progress.
On some days, you may feel sluggish halfway through your workout. On others, you may feel like you have hit a wall halfway through a busy day at work. The culprit may not be your workload or your workout routine. Instead, it may be your poor nutrition.
Make sure to take in a balanced meal to keep your body healthy, hearty, and active all day long.
5. Your Mental Health and Meal Habits Are Connected
Eating well does not only affect the body. It also influences mood, focus, and emotional resilience. Various studies show that balanced and consistent eating plays an important role in supporting your mental health as well.
Eating healthy and regularly can prevent drops in your sugar levels. As a result, you will not feel irritable, foggy, or tired. However, if you choose to skip meals to manage your weight loss, you may experience mood swings and low energy. Daily tasks might just become more difficult than they are.
On this note, hydration is just as important. Even mild dehydration can deliver a blow to your ability to concentrate. Thus, it is necessary to make it a habit to drink enough water throughout the day. It is just as important as consuming healthy foods.
Moreover, your brain also requires healthy fats to function. You can easily find these in foods like avocados, nuts, eggs, and olive oil. But beware of trans fats that can creep up on you through heavily processed foods!
6. Meals Support Immune Health
Your workouts are surely strengthening your muscles and improving your cardiovascular health. But what is your food doing? It plays an important role in keeping your body resilient and your immune system functioning to the best of its abilities.
Intense training may place stress on the body, and if you do not consume the right nutrients, you may experience slower recovery.
But all of this can be prevented by way of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. These nutrients can also help with the soreness and inflammation that you feel after exercise. As a result, you will not miss a day of gym, ever.
Final Word
When you hear the word fitness, your mind automatically drifts off to the gym. But there is more to a healthy lifestyle than just jogging on the treadmill or lifting weights.
If you want to build and maintain a lifestyle that allows you to have a summer body all year long, you need to work on it in the gym and the kitchen. This is only possible if you make consistent and intentional food choices that actively support your goals.
So, what are you waiting for? Start today with regular eating plans. Update your lifestyle with the best options and develop a proper mealtime schedule. You can rest assured that your effort will pay off.
