Finally! A Nutrition Guide that has Everything You Need to Know - All in One Place!

Nutrition Guide

Wow, you are so lucky to have a nice, succinct nutrition guide right here at your fingertips. I wish I had that luxury in the past. Instead of doing all the research yourself, here it is! All to your benefit.

So...congratulations!

Ready? Set? Here we go...

The Nutrition Guide: What is nutrition and why is it important for a strength training program?

We've all caught ourselves staring at that nutrition facts label wondering, "What in the heck does all of this stuff mean?" Now it's time to get you in gear and gain an understanding of all that garble.

First of all, eating healthy is the foundation of all of your training efforts - it's a culmination of the energy currency and essential nutrients needed for normal functions of the body - from the immune system and glutathione to mitochondria! Ignoring this idea certainly spells failure for any workout program. Not only does a lack of nutrition affect your workout, but it could adversely affect your life.

It's unbelievable to see what people will do to make sure they're in great shape for the beach. Don't fall into this trap! Get into good habits while you still can.

Many people have moved in the direction of organic foods - this is a fantastic way to ensure you're getting all the nutrients you need! More on this later.

I've written a more complete discussion of what nutrition is. Hopefully it eliminates any sort of question you may have about the actual meaning of nutrition.

As a final note, always remember to discuss any new workout program or diet with your physician!

Got it? Good! Now we're ready for the good stuff...

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The Nutrition Guide: Macronutrients

Macronutrients are the most misunderstood food chemicals to date. It's as if the media has started a giant game of telephone...

One day, all fats are bad and everyone is throwing all of their meat and dairy products in the dumpster. The next day, "some" fats are good and we should eat more of it (no, don't go digging in the dumpster to get back your milk and cheese!).

The macronutrients are actually the bread and butter of your workout program. Understand them well, and you can't go wrong! Hopefully this handy nutrition guide on fats, carbohydrates and proteins will take care of all your questions.

I've also added a customizable daily diet scheme geared towards a training program. It should be useful to you when starting your own strength training program.

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The Nutrition Guide: Vitamins and Minerals

No strength training nutrition guide would be complete without a discussion of vitamins, right? (at least in my view). In short, vitamins (short for "vital amines" in the old days) are organic chemicals that are required for proper bodily functions.

The issue here is that none of these compounds are created in the human body...and you know what that means...

Vitamins must be taken in from the diet!

This is why your diet is critically important to the proper functioning of your body. After all, how can you expect to improve your health with a strength training program if you're not getting your vitamins?

All Natural or Processed Nutrients?

Many people, including myself, choose to take multivitamin pills to ensure that no vitamins are unaccounted for. This is especially prudent in today's age of quick-fix, cheap, processed foods that sometimes lack essential nutrients. The key? If you can't walk outside and get it, then it's probably not natural. The question is, should you take vitamin supplements?

From the beginning of human existence, we've needed the fruits (and vitamins!) of nature to survive. But all of a sudden, with the coming of the industrial age, cheaper, processed foods and reduced-calorie diets have become more prominent. Therefore, striving to obtain nutrients and vitamins from natural sources is usually more important than taking multivitamin supplements in the form of a pill, but often this isn't possible.

I could ramble on here forever about vitamins, so I'll just direct you to nutrition guide on vitamins and minerals (below) to help you through the labyrinth that is the vitamins. I've also added some information on some important minerals and electrolytes. Enjoy!

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The Nutrition Guide: Water and Hydration

Unless you're a fish, you need to go out of your way to make sure you're getting plenty of fluids into your system. Your body is composed of about 75% water, and a significant amount of it can be lost by perspiration and breathing (even when you're not exercising!).

Studies have recently taken place indicating that you don't necessarily have to guzzle down that recommended 8 glasses of water every day. A lot of this water can be taken from other sources, such as some foods, juices, and even soda...

And no, this doesn't mean that you should drink soda or energy drinks in place of water. They are fluids, but their extreme sugar and caffeine overload doesn't bid well for your body or hydration. The occasional soda or energy drink is not necessarily detrimental, but user beware! They are very addicting and fattening.

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Want Muscle Building Supplements? Try Here.

Good or bad? Safe or dangerous? The bottom line is that most weight loss pills or muscle building supplements are extremely misleading. There're only a handful of items that may actually be beneficial, but even this isn't proven. If you do decide on trying them, do so with caution and with the right information!

This muscle building supplements page is geared towards your understanding of the different supplements.

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Aren't you glad you read through this nutrition guide? Now your in 100% better shape than when you started! Well, metaphorically speaking...

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