Achieve Fitness Success with These Five Food Tips

No matter what your fitness goals, whether it's to lose fat and reshape your body or pack on some serious muscle, you need proper nutrition to get there. According to Scottsdale Personal Trainers, about 90% of your success is going to depend on what you put in your mouth. Nutrition is the number one deciding factor of whether or not you're going to achieve your goals. There are a few "rules" you can follow that can make things a bit easier and make your diet easier to stick to throughout the year. Tip #1 - It's All About Calories When it comes to fat loss, the success formula is pretty simple. Eat less, move more. In other words, you need to burn more calories than you take in. Scottsdale Personal Trainers suggest one great tip to make sure you're creating a calorie deficit is to weigh everything. If a meal calls for 4 ounces of chicken, grab a food scale and weigh it. You would be surprised at the difference between what you think 4 ounces looks like and how much it actually is. Tip #2 - Focus on Protein at Each Meal Whether you're eating 3 times a day or 6 times a day, each meal should be centered around a lean protein. Great choices are chicken, fish and turkey. Eggs are good too, despite some of the negative things you hear about them. Having protein with each meal will leave you feeling fuller, boost your metabolism to burn more fat, and help keep your blood sugar and insulin levels from spiking too much at any given meal. Tip #3 - Drink Water or Unsweetened Tea Scottsdale Personal Trainers say one of the easiest ways to get way too many calories in a single day is through liquids. Sodas, juices and soft drinks are full of calories. The best alternative is to steer clear of all those empty calories and instead drink water or unsweetened tea. Just drinking water or tea may not be as exciting to you, but your waistline will thank you. Tip #4 - Avoid Packaged Foods Stay clear of foods that come in a bag or box, like donuts, chips, cookies, etc. These foods are all incredibly high in calories and devoid of any worthwhile nutrients. Tip #5 - Reward Yourself Once a Week Once you're eating healthy on a regular basis, Scottsdale Personal Trainers believe it's important to reward yourself with a "cheat" meal once a week. This is a meal where you can have ANYTHING you want. Having this once-a-week break from your diet helps you stay on track, keeps you sane and lets you indulge in any cravings you may have had throughout the course of the week. In all, it's a crucial part to being able to stick to a healthy nutrition plan long-term. Follow these simple yet effective five food tips, and you'll be in great shape for the rest of the year! Read more health and fitness articles by Scottsdale Personal Trainers here.