Weights
The best way to shed extra pounds is to combine exercise with a healthy diet. Cardiovascular workouts are good for burning calories, but you should also focus on strength training to burn fat and build muscle. Lean muscle boosts your metabolism and burns off more calories. All that work in the gym should be accompanied by a solid diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food. There are also some other healthy food alternatives that will enhance the effects of your workout.
Carbohydrates
Cutting carbohydrates is a popular fad diet, but it is not the best approach for burning fat while using a weight-lifting program. Eliminating simple carbohydrates is essential. This means no more pasta, potato chips, white bread, cookies, bagels or soda. However, your body relies on carbohydrates as a primary source of fuel, especially when you are strength training. Complex carbohydrates give you hours of energy. They are also less likely to be converted into fat deposits. Eat foods such as oatmeal for breakfast, whole-grain bread for lunch and brown rice for dinner.
Protein
Protein is essential for muscle building when you are weight lifting, but all-protein diets, those that ban all foods except for those high in protein, are not the answer. Eating bacon and sausage all day is not the healthiest option, and that certainly will not give you all the nutrients you need for a good workout. When you are trying to lose weight with a strength-training program, it is important to eat protein regularly along with complex carbs and other food groups. The amino acids in protein are the essential building blocks for muscle tissue, and they give you an energy boost, but certain foods are better than others for your body. Stay away from red meat. Eat hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, turkey or chicken breast for lunch, and snack on cashews or almonds before dinner.
Fat
Generally speaking, a low-fat diet is conducive to weight loss. Avoiding fatty foods should be a top priority. However, not all fats are bad. Omega-3 fatty acids play a key role in boosting metabolism and reducing the risk of heart disease. Eat salmon for dinner as an excellent source of omega-3. Other seafoods as well as soybeans and walnuts are also good sources of healthy fat. Eat a single serving of healthy fat with each meal or as a snack throughout the day for maximum performance in the gym and optimum weight loss.
Tags: strength training, weight loss, your body