Fitness isn’t just about lifting weights or spending countless hours at the gym – it starts with eating right! While many gym enthusiasts relentlessly focus on protein as the ultimate way to build muscle, the truth is that protein supplements are just an add-on to boost muscle building.
How effective are our workouts, and how do our bodies respond to physical exertion?
- Improved Energy Levels: You are what you eat! When you eat balanced meals and snacks at appropriate times, your body can digest the food better and absorb the nutrition optimally. Your body needs balanced macronutrients – carbohydrates, protein, and fats – and essential vitamins, minerals, and hydration. When your diet and food habits are correct, the food fuels your body, and you feel more energetic, active, and aware.
- Enhanced Nutrient Absorption: “Often, the simple solution to a lot of digestive issues is to be present and aware of your food while you eat it,” says Miten Kakaiya, Fitness and Wellness Coach. Mindful eating means paying attention to the full sound of the food as you chew and digest it properly when fully present. This aids in the absorption of nutrients, ensuring you provide.
- Reduced Cravings and Emotional Eating: Mindful eating involves being attuned to your body’s signals of hunger and satiety rather than in response to emotions and external triggers. You can make nourishing food choices that support your fitness goals by addressing underlying cravings or emotional eating patterns. “When you are following a nutrient-dense diet, you naturally feel fuller for longer, and the tendency to binge-eat or snack at odd times goes away”, adds Miten Kakaiya, Fitness and Wellness Coach.
- Optimized Performance and Recovery: By fueling your body with nutrient-dense food, you provide the building blocks to perform optimally during workouts and recover efficiently afterwards. You can work with more tremendous energy, experience increased strength and higher endurance levels, and are more connected to your body and its response to different workout routines. Moreover, mindful eating helps your body recover better after workouts and overall fitness gains over time.
It’s About How You Eat!
By practising mindfulness while eating, you can harness the power of nutrition to enhance your workout and achieve your fitness goals more effectively. So the next time you sit to eat, take a moment to pause, breathe and savour the taste of each bite – your body will thank you for it in the gym and beyond!