The most fashionable approach to getting in shape has always been finagled by the vast majority of commercials. Let me guess, you are sitting in front of your television after feeling guilty about what you ate to only hear that getting into shape is as easy as ten minutes a day or some other oddity.
Here is the real truth. Getting into shape is hard work, so if you are fine with the way you look then please close this article, however, if many are interested in getting a toned physique and sculpted abdominals know it will take your utmost effort and read on.
Getting the body of your dreams, I believe, is at everybody's fingertips, but in order to grasp it you must be dedicated to achieving a realistic goal. Starting off wanting to have a body such as models in Victoria Secret or GQ magazines isn't a realistic approach, but over time is a huge possibility.
One thing I see many people do to try and get into shape is run on the treadmill or elliptical everyday to the point where the bands start to wear off, or restrict their meal frequency to the point where their daily nutrition is enough to feed a mouse. If you fall into this category it can be frustrating to not see results, believe me I have been there.
Nutrition shouldn't be something that is difficult because remember you are trying to be as healthy as possible. Proper nutrition during the day is the single most essential way to get into shape fast. The human body reacts in a way where eating regulates metabolism. How much to eat, when to eat, is the portion to big for my body to metabolize, am I eating enough during the day, what foods should I stay away from are some of the questions you should be asking yourself. Having a well-balanced arsenal of nutrients for your body to work with will only help your chances of success.
JIm Stoppani's 12-week shortcut to size Nutrition Overview
Watch The Video - 14:58
Getting Started
First off before you begin any type of diet, the best way to approach what to eat is figuring out what type of body you have. There are three body types to go by, the ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. I'm sure you have heard these someplace before or just have no idea what I am talking about in general which is okay because knowledge is the first step on your road to a healthier lifestyle.
The ectomorph body type is typically described as a person who is skinnier than most, has a fast metabolism and has a hard time putting on weight no matter what they eat. They can be less active than most and burning calories is like second nature to them.
Mesomorphs are people that generally have decent metabolisms, but nothing too fast like the ectos I had just discussed. Usually regulating their bodies with proper diet is all they need to get themselves going in the right direction but eating in a periodic irregular fashion will cause them to go a little bit overboard.
Endomorphs usually tend to not be as great with holding carbohydrates and tend to be a lot bigger than most although there have been cases where this has been proved wrong. Their metabolisms generally aren't as quick as the other body types and watching what they eat is critical if their goal is to become toned and sculpted.
Writing It All Down
Now that we have gotten that down you might be asking well, how do we know what body types we are. To find this out quicker, run down a couple of short questions on paper such as: what you eat, at what time during the day, are these eating habits making me big, small etc.
Even though it sounds ridiculous, trust me it, can help you get a better understanding of how your body works and what things it can have. Keeping a smart approach by writing it all down can save you a lot of time while motivating you as you see constant progress. Once progress halts, reverting back to these notes can help you see where you might have went wrong.
Knowing When To Eat
Knowing when to eat is a huge part in how much success you will have. The most important time to have a healthy well-balanced meal is breakfast. Now before everybody starts yelling at the screen telling me that they do not have time to eat these meals I'll answer that question for you in a few short words. Make time!
The only way to jumpstart your metabolism is to force it to work faster. Eating three huge meals a day is not a good way to do this. Your body is very smart; eating these big meals slows down your metabolism because you body tells itself it needs nutrients and energy (primarily for brain function) to operate during the day.
Since it needs these nutrients and energy and is not getting enough of it the body starts to hold on to the food it has been given, storing it. This storage is usually in the subcutaneous layer of the skin (what you look at in the mirror that blurs away you muscles) due to your metabolism being slowed down.
The result is your body cannot metabolize huge meals in one sitting and is stored as fat. I'm not saying that you have to lose your job for breakfast but if you really want to approach a healthy lifestyle to get that body make the sacrifice. Wake up an hour early to jumpstart your metabolism with a well-balanced breakfast.
The other two times where eating is going to be crucial is pre-workout and post-workout.
Pre-workout meals are very important because you want to feed your body fuel to be utilized during your workout, preserving as much muscle tissue as possible. Ever wonder why people in the gym are seeing constant progress, well I can assure you it boils down to eating habits pre and post workout.
Eating a good combination of healthy carbohydrates, fats, and protein assures compete muscle security coupled with a post workout meal. Your after workout meal is just as important and has to be ingested within 30 min of workout completion. To be less time consuming and less of a headache this can consist of a shake with the right amount of glycogen, and protein. (As far as food sources, choices, glycogen intake and different meal options for breakfast, pre and post workout stay tuned, this will be covered in detail in my next article.)
Conclusion
Success is in reach so don't let this opportunity to understand the basics slip away. Stay tuned for the continuation of dieting for dummies.