By: Kim Hayes
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/sfl-diet-mistakes-070909,0,5966079.story
Can't afford a personal trainer? Here's some advice from trainer Jose Ruiz:
Nutrition plays a HUGE role in how our bodies look and feel and also in
the results we get from our workouts. It does not have to be a hard
thing to master, but for most people nutrition seems to be the only
thing standing in between them and their fitness goals. I would like to
clear up some of the most common mistakes that people make when trying
to diet:
1. Not eating enough: Not consuming enough food, or enough of the right foods, can hinder your fat loss goals in many ways.
2. Eating too much: Eating too many calories or the wrong types of food can be just as bad.
3. Not eating frequently enough: I cannot emphasize how
important this is going to be. Not just for metabolism, but for energy
balance and to provide your body with a steady state of nutrients so
that it can continue to change.
4. Thinking in terms of 24-hour energy balance: What I mean by
this is that just because you may need to eat 200 grams of
carbohydrates per day, it does not mean that all your meals should
contain the same number of carbs because your body will only use what
it need at the time and store the rest. For example, you need more
energy from carbs in the morning when your body is going to be using
them for energy throughout the day, than you do just before you go to
be when you will be sleeping and storing all that energy as fat!!
5. Not paying attention to meal and nutrient timing: This goes back rule No. 4 and will make a big difference in the way your body burns calories and fat.
6. Not consuming enough fats: Fats are essential for the
production of nearly every hormone. They are important for metabolic
function, skin health, immune health and many other things. Essential
fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, are largely responsible
for many of these benefits. Fish oil, which contains the omega-3 acids
DHA and
EPA, can provide some outstanding benefits for anyone trying to get the best possible body for summertime.
7. Not drinking enough water: And this does not mean only when you are thirsty. If you are feeling thirsty that means you are already starting to dehydrate.