Why Nutrition is Just as Important as Fitness

The long-raging debate about whether diet trumps fitness has inspired innumerable theories and conclusions from experts and amateur health enthusiasts alike. “Abs are made in the kitchen,” resounds the familiar aphorism – but just how important is what we put into our bodies compared to what we do with them in terms of a daily exercise routine?

Our muscles are composed of protein (25%, to be exact), making the consumption of that particular food group essential to the growth of new muscle tissue. You’re likely working out precisely so that you can build your muscle stores, so it only makes biological sense that eating foods high in protein – think lean meat, fish, and nuts – will get you the best results fast.

Photo from Pexels under CC0 License

On the other hand, if you’re not eating the right foods, you’re guaranteed to be undoing the good work you do at the gym. We all understand that binging on high-calorie, highly-processed foods after a workout will expunge the benefits of all your hard work, but it’s still an easy trap to fall into. After all, intense exercise makes the body hungry, and our Western tastes for sugar and fat tend to lead us toward a piece of cake or a greasy burger over healthier options. 

Eating unhealthily won’t just unravel your fitness progress, but might stop you from being able to exercise at all. Since obesity raises the risks of hypertension, diabetes, and even osteoporosis, weight loss via diet must often precede any intense effort to embark on a new fitness program. In this case, then, nutrition must be credited with paving the way to exercise – and when you’re able to balance both at the same time, the truly amazing results begin to materialize.

Photo from Pxhere under CC0 Public Domain License

The good news is that healthier post-workout meals don’t have to be devoid of carbs or fat, with the ideal feast composed of whole foods that cross all three major food groups. The popular Paleo diet includes meals composed of lean protein, low-carb veggies, and a “good” fat like avocado or a handful of cashews to replace your lost energy stores and refuel your body for the next workout (as well as satisfying your flavor cravings!). Sticking to a Paleo diet may help you get these proportions right, as foods rich in the wrong types of calories are an automatic no-go.

Once you’ve established a good training routine, nutrition plays a major role in keeping you fit and ready for your new exercise lifestyle. For instance, personal trainers generally recommend that clients adhere to the small-and-often meal rule to speed up their metabolism and make gym sessions more physically comfortable (rather than loading up on three larger meals that take significantly longer to digest). The popular Zone diet, for instance, encourages its followers to eat high-fat, low-carb meals five times a day with the aim of warding against binge-eating. Whether you decide to trial a titled diet like this, consolidating your nutrition and fitness regimes will ensure that you’re consistently moving forward, and will minimize your chances of neglecting either.

Photo from Pxhere under CC0 Public Domain

And lastly, it’s cliché, but true, it really is impossible to separate your fitness routine from your nutrition plan, exercise from diet. Also note that the best diet and exercise plan to lose weight is different for each person, and that some trial and error is perfectly natural in your journey to a healthier and happier self. When you understand that the right diet, exercise options, fitness plan and equipment will get you the best results, you are set on a solid foundation for hitting your health goals.