My philosophy is that diet is the single most important factor in reaching good health. I believe food has the power to affect all aspects of physical as well as mental and emotional wellness. I am often asked about my take on exercise and fitness and where that fits in a healthy lifestyle. Some people claim that with enough exercise, the proper diet is not necessary. Many athletes consume a wealth of processed, chemically-ridden sports drinks and supplements to “improve performance,” or insist on a high protein, meat-based diet for muscle recovery. I’d like to address a few of these issues and also talk about what I believe is an adequate amount of physical activity to maintain good health.
How Much Exercise is Enough?
I think it’s very important to emphasize an active lifestyle. This doesn’t necessarily mean setting aside hours to spend at the gym each day. Making time to use your body on daily basis has enormous immediate benefits. It invigorates you, it keeps your metabolism happily spinning, and it undoubtedly improves your mood. If you’re looking to lose weight, you’ll certainly benefit from a setting a clear routine (more on that below). If you’re simply looking to maintain your weight or improve your physical health, start by finding easy ways to be active each day. Opt to walk or bike to any destination that’s close enough. If nice out, enjoy the weather and go for a leisurely jog. Find some simple home exercises that don’t require equipment (push-ups, crunches, lunges, and stretching) and make time to do them each day. Even a shopping trip will get you on your feet for a few hours!
Which Types of Exercise are the Most Beneficial?
I cannot stress enough the importance of variety. Our bodies are programmed to be as efficient as possible. When we work out the same way every day, like plugging along on the elliptical trainer for half an hour, our body learns to burn less calories in the process. By changing your work out every day, your body stays challenged. You also ensure that you’re working different muscle groups in different ways. If you always work out the same way, you are inevitably neglecting certain muscles or motions. If you have a gym membership, alternate between the elliptical trainer, stairmaster, treadmill, and stationary bike. Try interval training, an extremely effective way to burn more calories and improve your cardiovascular health. Simply alternate between going at an easy pace, a challenging pace, and your maximum pace. By switching between these “intervals,” your heart works much harder and your body stays challenged. Outdoor jogging is significantly different from running on a machine and is worth incorporating into your exercise routine for variety. Just be sure you have good, stable footwear and start slowly. Also, don’t neglect strength training. Strengthening your muscles improves your overall fitness level and speeds up your metabolism. Many muscles can be trained at home without any equipment. A quick google search can give you easy, at home exercises for your abs, arms, chest, glutes, and legs. Remember to always use proper form when doing strength training exercises. Without good form you drastically decrease the effectiveness of the exercise and risk injury.
How Does Diet Affect Exercise?
We all know someone who is very diligent about working out, yet they remain overweight and seemingly unhealthy. As I mentioned, I believe strongly that diet has a much greater affect on weight loss and health than exercise. That being said, the benefits of exercise should not be overlooked, and a healthy diet can make exercise yield better results and be executed with greater ease. Food is our fuel; without quality fuel in our bodies, they cannot perform. If your diet is rich in processed foods, sugar, and conventionally-raised meat, your body will not be nearly as energized as someone with a diet abundant in vegetables and natural, whole foods. If you keep processed foods and simple carbohydrates out of your diet, you will naturally have more energy, making your workouts more effective and less torturous. There is a misconception that we must load up on carbohydrates before exercise. If you’re choosing simple, refined carbohydrates like white bread, you are choosing a nutrient-deficient food. Even if simple carbs offer a quick burst of energy, they are not improving your overall health. The most important “food” to consume before and after a workout is not a food at all; it’s water. Keeping your body hydrated is of the utmost importance. Another misconception is the necessity of protein. Muscles are built from healthy blood. Healthy blood is made from alkalizing foods, namely green vegetables. Why do you think Popeye ate spinach?
Don’t I Need Protein and Sports Drinks and Supplements?
Let go of the conventional ideas about nutrition, even in regard to fitness. In order for your body to repair and rebuild your muscles after exercise, it needs a consistent supply of nutrients. If you’re eating a diet based around vegetables, you are meeting nearly all your nutritional requirements. You can make sure you’re taking in adequate healthy fat by including raw nuts, seeds, oils, and avocado in your diet regularly. Adequate protein can be obtained by incorporating organic eggs, organic grass-fed or raw/unpasteurized dairy, and organic grass-fed meat. With all of these as the foundation for your diet, there is no need for fitness supplements or sugar-laden sports drinks. These are just products covered in marketing and false claims. No chemical concoction can fuel your body like real, pure food. In the past year, I’ve taken to fitness as somewhat of a hobby. I work out, on average, one hour a day, six days a week. I incorporate both cardiovascular workouts and strength training. I eat a diet of mostly raw vegetables, nuts, and seeds. I don’t consume what most people would consider “enough” protein, and I certainly don’t look malnourished (that’s me in the picture at the top of this post).
I hope this gives you some things to remember when considering an exercise routine. If you are looking to add more fitness to your life, or you’re already an avid exerciser, I’d like to point you over to Stay Well, a health and fitness blog that gives great unconventional workout advice with a strong emphasis on natural health and well-being.
As always, thanks for reading. I’m always happy to take your questions and hear your comments.
-Emily
Emily,
Wow you look amazing and this little informational page is very helpful. I think what your doing is great and i am going to go and buy your book. I am so happy for you this is a great accomplishment. I will be taking some of your advice about switching up my routine. I do work out as much as i can during the week and i am thinking about running my second half marathon in January. I hope the family is well tell everyone i said hi. Keep in touch
Felicia
This is a great post!
Came across your post as I was looking for whey protein related info. Very nice post on nutrition. Hope to learn more from you.
hello friend.
you’re ripped.