In honor of Saint Patrick's
Day, I thought it would be nice to give you a few reasons why
"green" is best when it comes to fitness & nutrition. What
exactly does being green mean in the fitness world? It's eating clean, avoiding
highly processed foods and supplements, and truly listening to your body's
response to certain foods or workouts--- it's a true holistic
approach to staying healthy. If you're ever wondering what the secret
to staying "fit", this is my secret weapon.
EATING CLEAN
Eating clean doesn't mean
throwing out everything you own after reading this, it's a reminder that just
because something is labeled "low fat", "low sugar",
"low sodium" etc. doesn't mean it's good or healthy for
you.
Pre-packaged
Goods
Pre-packaged foods are packed with chemicals and additives that can wreak havoc
on the body including a host of allergic responses you might never associate to
the foods you are consuming. Headaches, digestive issues or even 'season'
allergies can be exacerbated by the processed foods you're eating.
Choose Meals Wisely
There
is a reason why diets like Paleo and Atkins seem so "faddish."
It's because they omit a lot of the food groups that many people tend to
over-indulge in. Realistically, our bodies have no nutritional need for things
like bread or pastas. Stick with proteins (fish, chicken, steaks etc.), veggies
(spinach, asparagus, carrots- to name a few) and starches (sweet potatoes are
my favorite, but potatoes and white rice's are good too!). Find foods that
meet your fitness and nutritional goals and stick with them. No one diet is
tailored to everyone, but eating right and eating healthy certainly is!
SUPPLEMENTS
Because we have evolved to
be humans who rely on an 'industry' that provides foods for us, instead of the
good land we live on like that of our predecessors, all of us have a need to
supplement important vitamins and minerals needed for the body to function
properly. For those in the fitness industry, it's easy to get in the rut of
overloading with these vitamins (also capped under the supplements
category in the fitness world). How do you supplement
wisely?
Proper
Dosing
Take
the recommended dosing as prescribed by your doctor or nutritionist
Cleans
From Time to Time
Pretty
self-explanatory, but coinciding with the holistic approach it's important to
take yourself (making sure to consult with your doctor!) off your supplements
from time to time to really understand how they are working. In other words,
going on and off supplements you will likely feel a certain effect, weather it
be more or less energy, muscle fatigue etc.
HOLISTIC?
Holistic doesn't mean seeing
a voodoo doctor (a Holistic Wellness Practitioner, although I do see one and
they are FANTASTIC!). It does however mean that you should take the time in
your busy life to stay in tune with yourself. If you've been having a lot of
stomach issues, take a closer look at what you are putting into your body (i.e.
eating!). The same goes for your workouts. General soreness is expected, but if
you're experiencing that combined with fatigue, take a knee. Sometimes a forced
rest day is just what the doctor order (No pun intended!)
