Fuel the Fire

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are."

- Brillat Savarin 

In my previous writings, I discussed the importance of motivation, dedication, perseverance, and accountability.  What I will tell you today is that, what you eat, will either maximize or minimize your results in the quest towards Finding Fitness.  A most often overlooked subject is diet.  Nutrition is what fuels the body.  Without proper nutrition, how can you ever expect to live a full life?

In the most basic terms; food is our fuel.  Without food we are unable to create energy.  Without energy we are unable to perform.  If we are unable to perform, we will never move forward towards our life long pursuit of finding fitness.  

NOT ALL FOOD IS CREATED EQUAL!

This is where the debate begins:  What to eat.  When to eat.  How to eat.  

I want to make things as simple as possible for you.  Nutrition is extremely important! The saying "you are what you eat," was created because it is a defining characteristic in how you are portrayed to others.   Bottom line, when your diet is in order, you look, feel, and act like you are full of life.  When your diet suffers, you suffer.  Your body becomes an empty shell, of the once vivacious person you were.  

I preach the carryover effect of the Finding Fitness lifestyle because it is amazing how quickly you will see the positive effects in every aspect of your life.  During this pursuit, you will begin to notice your decision making skills vastly improve.  You get to bed at a reasonable hour, so you are ready to take on the challenges of the next day.  You avoid drinking alcohol excessively, because you are in the "getting stuff done" mentality.  Even without the proper knowledge of diet, you will begin to eat the way your body wants to eat, and avoid indulging in the things your body does not need.

What to eat.  This subject matter could be broken down scientifically, and I could bore you with thousands and thousands of reports, but in the end, Keep It Simple! Food is found in nature, so eat natural! Avoid eating anything that is processed.  If the food comes with a label, you begin running a risk.  If that label has a single word on it you do not know, put it down! Meat, fruit, vegetables, and nuts are the building blocks of a healthy and balanced diet.  Think of these 3 major things when you want to set up a basic diet routine for yourself.  1.)  Know your proteins,  2.)  Know your carbohydrates, 3.)  Know your fat sources.

Below is a quick list, that if you stick to, you will see immediate benefits in both physical and mental qualities.

Quick List

*These are the foods I suggest to make up the basic building blocks of a healthy diet.  Add fruits and veggies, and you are off to a great start.*

Protein - Fish, Chicken, Eggs, Beef, Turkey, Bison, Whey Protein, Cottage Cheese

Carbohydrates - Brown Rice, Quinoa, Steel Cut Oats, Kidney Beans, Black Beans, Sweet Potato, Gluten Free Bread, Gluten Free Cereal

Fats - Walnuts, Almonds, Avocado, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Brazil Nuts, Flax Oil, Fish Oil

When to eat.  This is quite possibly the most debated subject ever.  Remember from my earlier writing, I said to always seek balance.  Diet is just the same.  Eat regularly, and your body has a much easier time of processing, creating, and maintaining balance.  The rule of thumb is to consume the aforementioned foods in the "quick list" every 3 hours.  We want to improve our quality of life with our diet, not detract from it.  Keep it simple.  Stick to the basics, and you will begin to feel more energetic, powerful, attentive, and satisfied.

How to eat.  Balance, balance, balance! Forget the idea of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Your food is there to fuel you and propel your forward in finding fitness.  Each meal, and you are eating approximately every 3 hours, should be of equal portions.  When you do this, each meal is small, simple, and satisfying.  You never wait too long to become "starving," and you never eat too much to become "stuffed." Seek balance in everything, and you will promote that quality of life you are searching for.

We want the most from our lives.  We do not want to simply go through the motions.  We are here to make the most of it, enjoy it to the fullest, and pass on the knowledge of the Finding Fitness lifestyle.  Maximize your efforts by taking the time to eat properly.  

Go Eat.  Go Live.