If you’re looking to set yourself up for optimal health, focusing equally on exercise and nutrition is the best way to get there.
Although it’s often suggested to start with small lifestyle changes, studies have actually shown that changing your diet and exercise routine all at once increases the chances of sticking to your goals.
So, why is it so important to think of exercise and nutrition as a package deal? Why can’t you just work out to tone up or eat less to lose weight?
Think of Food as Fuel
One of the main ways exercise and nutrition go hand-in-hand is that our bodies need proper fuel to get through a workout. Without adequate amounts of calories and energy, you’ll feel lethargic during your workouts and they won’t be as effective.
Eating less will definitely help you lose weight, but if your body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs, you’ll end up feeling irritable and tired, making it difficult to stick to your diet.
Properly fueling your body will help it perform its best during workouts and throughout a normal day.
Utilizing Nutrition and Exercise Can Help You Achieve Certain Body Types
To achieve a certain body type by gaining muscle or losing fat, it all comes down to the relationship between what you eat and how you exercise. For instance, if you’re trying to gain muscle, you’ll want to increase your calories and start lifting weights. The surplus of calories is necessary to build those muscles.
On the other hand, if you want to lose weight, you would eat less and exercise just a bit more. Of course, you can do one without the other, but the combination will ensure your body is burning those calories and reducing body fat at a quicker pace.
Overall Health
We all know it’s important to exercise and eat well for overall health. The combination of health benefits from working out and eating nutritious foods can do wonders for your mind and your body.
For example, micronutrients that are plentiful in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other whole foods provide our bodies with necessary vitamins. Getting the proper nutrients in the right portions greatly reduces the chances of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and other ailments.
Aside from nutrition, exercise also helps to reduce stress, increase energy levels, build strong bones, and reduce the risk of developing certain diseases. When used together, a healthy diet and exercise routine can positively influence your quality of life and help increase life expectancy.
At Cause and Effects Fitness, we can develop a nutrition plan and exercise routine that’s perfect for your needs and lifestyle. If you’re ready to get started, reach out to us for a free consultation! We can’t wait to work with you and help your meet your goals!