Less than one month out. This is a great time to start thinking about nutrition. While we are preparing the gym to open, now is a great time to start forming healthy nutrition habits.
As a trainer, the person I look up to most is Ben Bergeron. There are several aspects of his coaching, inside and outside the gym, that I think place him among the best coaches in this or any sport. One thing he has said about his gym, CFNE, is that “it is a nutrition gym that happens to do thrusters and burpees.” That is one of my goals: Create a gym with a strong emphasis in the importance of nutrition.
One of the basic truths of health and fitness is that nutrition dictates body composition. You very literally are what you eat. There is no magic pill or shake. I feel like most people know what it means to “eat healthy.” It was best summarized by the founder of CrossFit Greg Glassman in the article “What is fitness?” where he wrote:
“Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat.”
It really is that simple. Simple does not mean easy though. Today, people are busy, the world moves fast! We are surrounded by quick, easy food choices that might not be the healthiest options.
Disclaimer: I am an amateur nutritionist. As always, check with a physician before starting any nutrition or exercise program. I’m not a registered dietitian. I have a biology degree, but it isn’t in nutrition (or even human biology). I have read a lot on the topic though. I know of several good resources. I can point people in the right direction and help them educate themselves in nutrition plans that work.
Where to start: Look for nutrition plans that follow the prescription written by Greg Glassman. Watch out of gimmicks. Find plans where the goal is health. Below are a few resources that I feel are great places to start. I’m sure there are others, but this is a list of plans that I have seen work.
Enter The Zone: A Dietary Road Map - May 12, 1995 by Barry Sears (Author), Bill Lawren (Collaborator)
https://www.zonediet.com/
The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom - April 21, 2015 by Melissa Hartwig (Author), Dallas Hartwig (Author)
https://whole30.com/
Flexible Dieting 2.0: A Flexible Nutrition Philosophy for the Modern Athlete - Aug 11, 2016 by Krissy Mae Cagney
Renaissance Periodization
All the plans above focus on health and being sustainable. They are flexible and individualized. They are gimmick-free, and they fit into the CrossFit prescription for nutrition. It is our job to help point you in the right direction and create an atmosphere of support. Check out the resources and ask questions as you have them!
-Bowen
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