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How to strike the right balance between diet and exercise

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 4:02 PM

The start of a new year is a popular time to embark on a health and fitness campaign in an effort to lose weight, but there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to designing the ideal diet for this. Read on to learn more about the foods that best complement your training.

Diet and exercise can help you to achieve a range of ambitions, such as improving your overall health levels and building muscle, in addition to shifting pounds. However, it is likely that if you are using home exercise equipment in order to drop a clothing size the last thing you want is to add bulk to your muscles, which is where careful diet planning comes in.

Bodybuilders are able to counteract the burning of calories they do weightlifting by consuming meals that are carbohydrate-rich and also contain protein. This is what helps them to convert fat into muscle.

However, if you want to get a smaller and trimmer figure, you should avoid sitting down to huge meals justified by the fact that you will work it off.

Conversely, it is also vital that you do not restrict your diet to the point that you are consuming only a very small amount, as it is vital you give your body the energy it needs to fuel it when you exercise.

It may seem tricky getting the balance right, so perhaps the best way to achieve this is to not limit your normal portion sizes, but to replace what you are eating with a healthy and high-energy alternative.

Start off your day with a bowl of porridge as this releases its energy slowly over several hours, helping you to stay feeling full up and avoid snacking. Other complex carbohydrates offer similar benefits so make sure your cupboards are stocked up with wholegrain pasta and brown rice, as well as lots of vegetables and salad.

If you are going to reduce something, make it your intake of protein and dairy foods, although you can still tuck into both of these in moderation as that is what makes a balanced diet.

In addition to what you eat, it is important you carefully plan when you eat it as you embark a health and exercise regime.

Depending on your last meal, you should leave anywhere between one and four hours between eating and exercising. Should you prefer to work out in the morning, choose a meal that is easily digestible, such as porridge oats, or a smoothie.

If you eat too soon before exercising, you could get indigestion, which may force you to end your session early.

Once you have finished working out it is important your body is allowed to recover and it is better able to do this if you provide it with the boost of an energy drink or snack. Don't worry about immediately consuming all of the calories you just worked off, as your body will continue to burn energy for a while, even after you have stopped exercising.

Remember, your body needs the fuel provided by food to function and when you are exercising it requires it even more, so it is vital you get the balance between the two right.

Keep in mind that if you are new to regular exercise it is advisable to get recommendations from an expert or speak to your GP. If you are planning to use gym equipment at home, investing in SD training cards could be ideal, as they have been created by personal trainers and will guide you through a workout specifically designed to help you achieve a certain goal, be it weight loss or muscle building.

Take the time to carefully plan your new health and fitness regime and you will find it is easier to stick with it. It won't be long before you start seeing the results you want.
 

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