People ask me all the time, “What do you eat?” and “How should I eat?” My response is pretty consistent: how you are fueling your body? What are your performance goals? If your performance is lacking or plateaus, think about what you’re putting into your body. If you aren’t happy with your body composition, think about what you’re putting into your body. If you’re energy level continues to tank, think about what you’re putting into your body.
Sound nutrition is the foundation of health and physical performance. Think or your body as a precision instrument; it will tell you what it needs to operate at optimal levels of performance and functionality.
Everyone is looking for some kind of secret weapon when it comes to nutrition and performance. People are always looking to a new diet trend or secret supplement for that little edge that could take them to the next level. The truth is there is no secret, no special supplement, and no magic bullet. The best way to govern your eating is to make mindful, well-informed decisions that relate to your individual lifestyle and goals.
Diet and nutrition need to be as individualized as training. We each have our own unique genetic signature, athletic goal, lifestyle, and training history. To think we can all eat the same because a website or book says we should is completely absurd.
A friend once told me, “You gotta eat big to get big; and you’re training won’t progress in the right direction if your diet isn’t leading you in the right direction.” You know that saying about “Not being able to out-train or out-exercise a bad diet.” Well, it’s true.
Food is a drug. And your brain responds to your dietary decisions just like it would any other drug. Its effects can be manipulated to achieve a specific goal. So consider your food decisions wisely.
We tend to want to make things so complicated. Yet, the simplest solution is often the best solution. So keep things simple: eat real foods, eat a good balance of protein, carbs, and good fats, eat frequently, and listen to your body.
The CrossFit prescription for nutrition is pretty simple: 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.
In the end, the best judge of whether something works or not is you and how you feel. Educate yourself, make your own decisions, and be your own person. It’s simple and easy advice that anyone can follow to help get, and stay, on the path of good nutrition and health.