Nutrition and Losing weight..what is it going to take??

Nutrition and losing weight...what is it going to take??!!

I used to think losing weight and getting fit involved 3 things....cardio, strength and nutrition...and that each were equally important.

After countless clients and hours spent at the gym, I no longer believe they are equal.  For someone to be healthy and strong, yes....to decrease fat from fat cells...no.

If my clients do not have their food intake at the right level and eating healthy
, the scale will usually not budge.  Of course, all human beings are unique and this does not apply across the board, but generally speaking, this is what I'm witnessing.  In myself and in others.

I read numerous books and articles, watch documentaries and check in with other sites from trainers and across the board it is apparent that we are fighting a war against food/chemical dependencies (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, msg) and it can be demoralizing and difficult to win.  Food companies want people to buy their products so often these foods are laden with additives to engage our senses and keep us coming back for more.

Each of us has to decide that enough is enough.  The mindset has to be on tackling the cravings and addictions.  I have found that food addictions usually take between 10-20 days to overcome.  Like other addictions, we need to turn off the deep rooted desire by staying away from the food or additive that is causing our problem. 

And that isn't always easy.

I advise reading labels, researching nutrition facts for each food online and checking caloric, fat, and sodium levels of restaurant offering prior to leaving the house.  Getting fit takes more effort than just working out at the gym.  It has to involve research on your part.  You have to be interested and knowledgeable about what is in your foods. 

Once you are "in the know" about your food...you can start to make healthier choices.  Find out how many calories are entering your body and what is in those calories.  Do you need to increase healthy calories?  Or decrease sugar/sodium/saturated fat? 

Keep working out...keep moving and training but remember that if your goal is losing stored fat in your body it is essential to focus on your clean and nutrient dense food intake!