Weight Loss is 70% Nutrition

Several times over the last 15 years I have tried to get back into shape. I would go to the gym, bike, run, or do Insanity or some other workout program. What I found was that I would lose a few pounds initially, but I would quickly reach a plateau. I was never as successful as a I wanted to be.

The concept of losing weight is actually relatively simple. You consume a certain number of calories each day. As you go through your daily activities, you burn calories. When you exercise, you burn more calories. If you burn more calories than you consume, you give yourself a chance to lose weight.

Taking that a step further, the kind of calories you consume further enhances your weight loss. When you consume certain combinations of calories and nutrients you give yourself a better opportunity of losing weight.

Here are a few things that have helped me immensely in my weight loss journey, and these may help you as well. First, is cutting down on salt. When we have more salt than we need, our bodies sometimes will store excess water. This leads to bloating and can cause us to carry an extra couple of pounds of weight. When I cut down on salt I tend to have better weight loss results.

Second, is healthy start to each day. Starting with fruit and water is an excellent way to start your day. I try to eat only fruit before noon. Another great choice is to drink Shakeology. It provides super foods and nutrients in a single shake. As many of you know I am a coach for Team Beachbody, the developers of Shakeology. I would be remiss if I didn't include a plug. If you are interested in learning more about how Shakeology can benefit you, shoot me an email or comment below.

Third, is portion control. Instead of eating a 16 ounce steak, I now eat a 6 ounce steak. Instead of eating a 1/2 pound hamburger, I get a 1/3 pound burger. This helps to reduce the number of calories I eat while still allowing me to eat the foods I love.

Finally, eat salad and vegetables. Eating salad and vegetables gives you a great source of nutrients, while helping you feel full on very few calories. Broccoli is a great vegetable as it gives you a very satisfied feeling with very few calories. Celery is another vegetable that makes a great snack. Celery takes more calories to burn than it provides.

The numbers tell the story. I started my most recent weight loss journey at 226 pounds. I am now at 198 pounds. I am doing the three things mentioned above, along with working out for 25 to 30 minutes, four days a week. When I only work out without diet changes, I lose some initial weight, but eventually peak. If I just diet, I tend to have a slow but steady weight loss that can be sustained as long as I diet.

When I exercise AND eat healthy, however, my weight loss results are much greater and tend to last longer. The best part is, is that it is really not that difficult. I have a shake in the morning with a couple pieces of fruit. At lunch I eat a salad and have a small portion of meat and vegetables. I eat my normal dinner, just a little less of it. When I snack I avoid too much chocolate and foods with high sugar content.

If you want to make great strides with your health and fitness, make sure you include some changes in your diet. These are not major changes. Small, simple adjustments can help you to lose more weight and gain more energy!