Weight Loss and Weight Gain

Diet is an extremely important factor when it comes to exercise! Get it right and you will see the results you have always wanted, get it wrong however and you will be left wondering why all your hard work in the gym isn't paying off. The old saying goes 80% diet and 20% gym, it couldn't be more true.

Losing Weight: Set yourself a daily limit of calories and slowly taper this down as you lose weight. It's important not to set the limit too low as we don't want to starve the body. You still need to get all the important nutrients and goodness from food. A high protein diet will help you to feel fuller for longer after meals and by eating meats like chicken and turkey breast and fish you will be getting high quality nutrition from your meat sources. As well as protein you will need some good carbohydrates, these can be found in the form of wholegrain and wholemeal. Just don't over do the carbs. A sensible portion will be enough. Fish will provide you with some of the good fats you need but don't avoid fats completely, you should be monitoring them but not wiping them out your diet.

Gaining Weight: If you want to gain lean muscle then you still need to follow a fairly strict diet. On the flipside however, you can be more generous with the portions and protein is your new best friend. Chicken, turkey, fish and high protein foods should be at home in your fridge and to make sure you're getting enough protein to repair your muscles after a workout supplement your diet with protein shakes and/or protein bars.

Breakfast is extremely important when trying to gain weight. This is because you have been without food for the entire time you have been asleep, meaning your body is desperate for nutrients. A good breakfast should consist of fruit, wholegrain and protein.

Exercise: Losing weight or gaining weight, either way you should have a plan and targets to reach. Be realistic when you set yourself goals and always follow a workout routine to get the best results. Try a few to see what works best for you.

Every now and then you may miss a session but try not to let this demotivate you as having a negative mind set will really hamper your progress. Try to stay positive and just work a little harder the next session.

Exercising can be fun, try it with friends or in a group and change your routine frequently so you don't get bored. And just remember - Rome wasn't built in a day!