The Last Pillar
Hey friend!
It's time for our final pillar: Nutrition. Today I just want to share with you some basic knowledge and we'll talk about more details in the future.
(Disclaimer: I am NOT a registered dietician or medical professional. I cannot prescribe a food plan or give medical advice. All information I share is simply general knowledge for the average individual. Take your medical condition and needs into account when making your own food choices.)
I want you to know that nourishing your body does not have to be complicated. You do not have to follow a strict meal plan, manipulate macros or starve yourself to get results. As a matter of fact, I believe you shouldn't do any of these things!
Let's start with taking the mystery out of macros. "Macros" is short for macro-nutrients. These are the three main categories of food: Carbohydrates, Protein & Fat. I teach how to recognize and categorize these in my Macro Mapping Workshop. Each macro-nutrient has an important role in nutrition. Here are some basic (not all-encompassing) points about each:
Fat: essential to give your body energy and to support cell growth. Fats help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones, too.
Protein: helps repair and build your body's tissues, allows metabolic reactions to take place and coordinates bodily functions. In addition to providing your body with a structural framework, proteins also maintain proper pH and fluid balance.
Carbs: your body's main source of energy. They help fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. For instance, fiber is a carbohydrate that aids in digestion, helps you feel full, and keeps blood cholesterol levels in check. (Read the role of carbs again...note that no where does it say "they make you fat" - stop believing such nonsense!)
Do you see how each macro nutrient has a distinct role? Yet for some reason protein tends to be the "nutrition darling" while Fat and Carbohydrates can be marketed as though they are the enemy. The truth is, we need each of them, in the proper proportion, to be our best.
Calories can also be used to confuse, but are actually quite simple. A calorie is a measurement, more specifically, a unit of energy. When something contains 100 calories (for example), that describes how much energy your body could get from eating or drinking it. When you consume more calories than your body needs, it stores that excess energy on your body as fat. Fun fact: 1 pound of fat is approximately 3500 calories.
Understanding nutrition labels is also a key to unlocking long term results and helps decode macros and calories. It's one of the first things I teach my clients in my 30 day coaching program. Once you get the hang of them they are simple, I promise!
Let's finish up for now. All the pillars of health (Exercise, Sleep, Stress & Nutrition) are important and you need them all for a healthy lifestyle. If you are missing even one, your foundation is not as strong as it could be. Think about it this way: if you eat well, exercise, and manage your stress but only sleep a few hours a night - you're not going to feel your best. Likewise, you can't "out exercise" a poorly nourished body. You get the point.
Here's to a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Your Friend,
P.S. - Every person who places a product order through www.TJandCasey.com from now until 12/31/20 will be entered to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! The drawing will be held 1/1/21!
P.P.S. - If you refer a friend who places a product order through www.TJandCasey.com you will be entered to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card (also drawn on 1/1/21)!!! Be sure to email me who you referred to be entered to win when they order. 💛