by Corbin Burkard, Head Trainer, Burn Boot Camp—Eau Claire
Believe it or not, most people I meet with are terrified to eat! As a personal trainer, I think most would think the majority of people you encounter would be overeating. This could not be further from the truth. Many people I meet with struggle to consume 1,400 calories/day (let alone clean calories)! One suggestion I make is to track your food using an app. See how many calories you are putting into your body and how those calories add up with your macros (carbs, fats, and proteins).
Still, people are afraid of food. It is disappointing that society has taught us not eating is healthy. I have had six-year-old kids tell me that their tummy feels too big and they shouldn’t eat today. How sad is that? Our brains were ingrained from a long time ago with the message that not eating will cause us to be skinny. I am here to tell you that balanced nutrition and consuming at LEAST 1,400 calories/day will help you to be healthier, and lose body fat. Let me tell you how.
When we look at fat loss, we need to think of simple math. How do you burn the most calories in a day? If your answer was exercise, you are actually incorrect! Exercise is an incredibly important component of this equation, and there are numerous benefits to exercise, but the answer I was looking for is: metabolism! This burns anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of your calories throughout the day. There are many factors that contribute to how much your metabolism burns, such as age, height, and gender—things you have no control over. Other factors include frequent eating, consuming enough calories, exercise, drinking water, etc.
When we talk about carbs, people shake in their boots. Healthy, complex carbs are essential to kick-starting your metabolism in the morning, as well as keeping it elevated throughout the day, by eating every two to three hours in small quantities. The omitting of fats is often misguided; they should also be eaten regularly (don’t buy “Fat Free,” buy “Sugar Free”). Healthy fats (unsaturated fats) help with many things from skin health to helping you feel satiated. Finally, your proteins should be over 100 grams/day, especially if you are exercising as they help you burn fat and build lean muscle mass.
At the end of the day, we need to eat to survive, and if you are not eating enough good food, you are essentially starving yourself. So throw something green on your plate, eat breakfast, and start eating consistently!
For more information, stop in at 3529 Gateway Drive, Eau Claire, call 715-214-5678, or visit BurnBootCamp.com/EauClaire-WI.
Comments