A proper diet is essential if you truly want a lean athletic physique. Many people think all they need to do is work hard in the gym and they will be all set, they are mistaken. Diet is actually more important than the time in the gym and it is where many fall short. If you want a toned athletic body you need proper diet in order to get there, exercise alone is not enough. Follow these 10 nutrition rules and you will be well on your way.
1. Eat Clean
I will start with the most important of rule of all which is eating clean. What does eat clean mean? I like to put it this way, if it is made by Mother Nature then eat it, if it isn’t don’t. Example: Mother Nature makes eggs, chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables – eat them. Mother Nature doesn’t make Twinkies, candy bars, pizzas, Cheetos or soda pop – avoid them. It is as easy as that really. If you stop reading this article right here and just adhere to the eating clean principle you will be pretty well off, but please continue.
2. Drink water
Drinking water has many benefits, the first being that it has zero calories. Water can also help curb binge eating by drinking a glass of water with your meal it will fill you up faster and prevent you from eating more than you should. Your body is also about 60% water with your muscles being 73% water so it is a good thing to drink plenty of it especially if you are exercising regularly. Water also helps in digestion, metabolism, joint lubrication, mineral intake and overall body health and function. Overall it is just a healthy thing to do. Try to get in 8 glasses of water per day.
3. Eat Protein
Eating protein will help build and maintain muscle. You should consume at least 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight per day (This means 180 grams of protein per day for a 180-pound person). Healthy sources of protein include lean meats such as fish, chicken breasts, turkey, eggs and beans. Lean ground beef can also work as well as a lean cut of steak.
