You Can’t Out-Exercise a Bad Diet

With the holiday season behind us and a new year looming ahead, many of us are taking a cold, hard look at our exercise and eating habits. Perhaps we’ve resolved to hit our favorite Highlands Ranch gym more regularly. Or we’re committed to the latest diet fads, such as Whole30, which is popular for folks to try—especially come January 1. 

The fact is that “abs are made in the kitchen,” and the nutrition component of your health regimen is crucial. If you don’t get your nutrition on point, chances are your workouts will not result in sculpting a ripped or sleek physique.

Your Workouts Are Burning Fewer Calories Than You Think

It takes a lot of burpees to undo the calories you’ll get in a slice of pizza—about a half-hour’s worth, in fact. That’s a lot of work to burn off one piece of pie.

If you are like a lot of people, you wear a fitness tracker that estimates the amount of calories you burn in an average workout—and it’s best to use this as a guideline for workout intensity rather than an actual indicator of how many calories you burn off. Most of these are notoriously inaccurate.

It’s one thing to “carbo-load” before an ultra-race of 100 miles—but it doesn’t make much sense for someone who is going to take a 3-mile run through the neighborhood.

You Can Still Overeat if You Are “Eating Clean”

A lot of people believe that as long as they eliminate processed foods or sugar or carbs, they can eat as much other stuff as they want. But even clean eating can result in weight gain—even if you are diligent about your workouts. And this brings us to the next point.

You Need to Be in a Calorie Deficit to Lose Weight

It’s basic science—and it boils down to calories in versus calories out. 

Accuracy is crucial. Unless you weigh your food portions on a food scale, you are probably underestimating your calorie intake. For example, estimate a tablespoon of peanut butter, which would be one serving. Then weigh it on a scale. If you are like most people, your version of a tablespoon of peanut butter is probably double if not triple an actual serving.

Weighing your food and tracking what you eat each day is very eye-opening.

Join Us at Your Gym in Highlands Ranch for a Free Week

The nutrition portion is up to you, but we’ve got your workouts down at Manic Training. Join us for a free week trial. Manic Training sessions are intense and challenging to everyone—regardless of your fitness level (or lack thereof). Sign up today!