Days To Fitness
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Blog
    • Newsletters
    • About
    • Contact
    Days To Fitness
    • The Best
      • Choosing the Best Blender for Smoothies
      • Best Superfood Powder
      • Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss
      • The Best Protein Bar for You
      • The Best Blender for You
    • 21 Day Fix
    • Recipes
    • Workout Plans
      • 21 Day Fix
      • 21 Day Fix Extreme
      • P90X3 Complete
      • Home Workout Routines
    • Eating Healthy
      • No-Sugar Days Diet
      • Meal Replacement Diets
      • Healthy Protein Bars
      • The Easy Low Carb Diet
    • Motivation
    • Resources
    Days To Fitness
    You are at:Home»Healthy Eating»You are What you Eat
    you are what you eat cover

    You are What you Eat

    0
    By Sarah on August 10, 2016 Healthy Eating, Nutrition Guide

    It’s hard to say who first uttered the words “you are what you eat” but whoever it was really hit the nail on the head. The smart money is on Hippocrates, the ancient Greek who is attributed to kick starting the concept of modern medicine but, whoever it was, they were one smart cookie!

    Assuming this utterance predates our knowledge of biochemistry, it’s quite amazing to think that someone figured out the effect that food has on our very molecules.

    When you eat, the food you consume is broken down into its constituent parts. Protein is broken down into amino acids, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, and fats are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.

    Once broken down to their base level, the nutrients can then be utilized by the various systems of your body. In essence, whatever you eat becomes part of you hence the truism you are what you eat.

    If what we eat becomes part of us, surely it makes sense to eat the most nutritious foods possible and keep the consumption of nutrient-devoid junk food to a minimum. Lots of us put the best quality oils and fuels into our cars in an effort to promote performance and longevity and then routinely fuel our own bodies with food that supplies energy but nothing else.

    Poor fuel or oil in a car can result in mechanical breakdown which results in expensive repair bills necessitating the need for spare parts. Unfortunately, when our bodies break down, it’s not so easy to just slot in a new part. Poor nutrition can affect any number of the systems that support life – it’s a case of eat junk, look, feel and function like junk.

    Does this mean you have to live a life devoid of junk food and can never enjoy a Twinkie or candy bar again? Of course not! However, if you want to eat for health and/or performance, you should endeavor to eat well at least 90% of the time.

    This 10% leniency means that once or twice a week, you can enjoy the foods that are commonly thought of as being unhealthy safe in the knowledge that they will have very little impact on your health or fitness. This doesn’t give you license to over indulge in junk food – remember 10% is 10% of your total food consumption for the week.

    This type of strategy means that no food is ever taboo and, as such, means you should have no trouble sticking to a healthy eating plan 90% of the time. Plan your treats, look forward to them and then really savor and enjoy them – you’ll deserve them!

    To further minimize any potential damage from your 10% indulgencies, time your treats so that you exercise hard before your chow down on Pizza on Friday night. If you have trained hard enough, your body will be literally craving food and will make use of the calories you ingest. This means you can really have your cake and eat it, contrary to the popular expression that says you can’t!

    This 10% rule makes sticking to a healthy eating plan much easier. No one likes being told they cannot eat certain foods and doing so is all-but guaranteed to cause cravings. As soon as you are told “you cannot eat this food”, that’s the exact food you crave – even if you didn’t want it in the first place. This is human nature and is as common in kids as it is in adults.

    The secret to long term dietary success is embracing a pattern of eating that is sustainable and, in my opinion and that of numerous nutritional gurus, allowing yourself 10% latitude per week allows just that.

    No food is permanently off the menu, merely consumed in moderation. If nothing else, giving yourself a break from time to time means that you can err, like all humans do, and not feel bad about it.

    And don’t even think of these 10% breaks as being cheating; that suggests you are doing something wrong. Instead think of them as treats that you have earned for good behavior. Calling a meal during which you eat some unhealthy food a cheat gives it a very a very negative connotation and that isn’t a healthy attitude to have about food or nutrition.

    Conclusion

    You really are what you eat but, that being said, food is supposed to be enjoyable. Enjoy your 10% but remember, you have to earn it by eating nothing but nutritious food 90% of the time. Like my mother used to say, if you don’t eat all your vegetables, you can’t have any ice cream!

    Nutrition Facts Cover
    Nutrition Facts- My Nutrition Guide
    Opt In Image
    Subscribe to my Newsletter
    Get Your Free Copy of The Meal Shakes Book

    My weight loss plan using Meal Replacement Shakes

    15 Meal Replacement Shakes Recipes

    Available in 2 Formats: PDF and iBooks

     

    One email per week, exclusive content, no ads, and, of course, you can unsubscribe anytime you want.

    nutrition nutrition guide what you eat
    Previous Article10 Nutrition Myths
    Next Article Summer is Better with Smoothies
    Sarah
    • Website

    Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m so happy that you’re here! I've shared my story here

    Related Posts

    Nutrition Guide – What, When and How Much to Eat 

    Some Foods Raise Insulin More Than Others

    How Stress Make Us Fat and How to Relax

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    ideal shape meal replacement shake
    Guides
    February 2, 2023

    How to lose weight with Meal replacement Shakes

    October 19, 2018

    Nutrition Guide – What, When and How Much to Eat 

    October 11, 2018

    How to Lose Belly Fat – The Complete Guide

    August 10, 2018

    Running Guide for Beginners 

    July 4, 2018

    Walking for Health – Workout Included

    September 21, 2017

    Inversion Therapy

    April 27, 2017

    Slow Cooking – Quick Start

    February 4, 2017

    Days to Yoga Bliss – A Yoga for Beginners Guide

    September 8, 2016

    My Superfoods – My Superfood Guide

    August 1, 2016

    Nutrition Facts – A Practical Guide About Nutrition 

    July 27, 2016

    Welcome to 20 No-Sugar Days Diet

    July 16, 2016

    What Are Carbs ? A Beginner’s Carbs Guide

    December 5, 2015

    Start your Smoothie Experience

    September 4, 2015

    Beginner’s Guide to Protein Powder

    • Popular
    August 18, 2015

    21 Day Fix Eating Plan

    July 27, 2016

    Welcome to 20 No-Sugar Days Diet

    April 4, 2015

    Shakeology alternatives

    August 10, 2015

    Get Your Copy of Days to Fitness Recipe Book

    March 15, 2023

    Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss

    April 3, 2015

    3 Approved Breakfast Recipes for 21 Day Fix

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    One Email Every Friday

    1 Article + 2 Healthy Recipes

    Lose Weight and Boost Your Well-being

    Days To Fitness
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    One Email Every Friday

    1 Article + 2 Healthy Recipes

    Lose Weight and Boost Your Well-being

    Copyright ©2018 Days to Fitness | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Designed by Plus Attitude|Newsletters

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.