Working out? What’s Your Fitness Eating Plan? Here’s What You Need To Consider
Starting a workout plan is a great accomplishment. But for those who are serious about improving their fitness, working out is only one part of the equation. You also need to have a great eating plan to accompany your workout regimen. How should you structure and plan your meals if you already have a workout plan? Keep the following points in mind to make this process easier.
Your Fitness Goals
Everyone has a different goal for what they want to accomplish when incorporating working out into their lifestyle. For example, someone with a sedentary desk job may want to work out so that they can stay at a healthy weight. On the other hand, a professional or student football player might want to get stronger and faster on the field.
Just as these goals require different workout regimens, they also require different eating routines. Be sure that you plan your eating habits around your goals. Generally speaking, people who want to lose weight will need to burn more calories than they consume, while people who want to gain muscle must do the opposite.
Your Body Type
The first big difference to consider when it comes to body type is whether you are male or female. Men generally need more calories each day to maintain their body weight. According to information from the Harvard Medical School, a 125-pound woman who is moderately active will require about 2,000 calories each day to keep a stable weight. A 175-pound man with the same workout habits will require 2,800 calories each day to maintain his body weight. Your age matters as well; the older the body gets, the fewer the calories required for the body to maintain a specific weight. Keep in mind your current age, weight, and gender when you are creating an eating plan.
Workout Timing
While when you eat generally isn’t as important as what you eat, it still makes a difference. If you are going to be training for an intense competition or sporting event like a triathlon or soccer tournament, it’s important that you provide your body with the fuel it needs to perform at the highest possible level. Athletes competing in these types of activities should eat strategically by loading up on nutrients like carbohydrates, which are the body’s preferred source of energy for muscle action.
Although there are experts who will advise you to eat smaller meals more frequently for weight loss, this is a myth; scientific research has disproven the idea that eating smaller meals more frequently will help you lose weight. Instead, time your meals based around when you will be working out and when it is convenient for you to eat. This way you will not feel pressure to conform to a rigid schedule, yet you will still have the energy you need to train and compete.
With the right mindset, a clearly defined set of goals, and a willingness to continue learning, it is possible for anyone to create an effective eating plan that brings them closer to their athletic and physical health goals.