Shaping Up

When we think about shaping up, the gym is the first thing that comes to mind. For most of us, the gym is where the success of the pursuit of great physique is hinged; we see it as the place where we can sculpt our bodies into the shape that we desire. But it is important to know that you will never achieve what you would like to achieve with your body if you do not understand the role of nutrition in transforming your body. Proper nutrition should be observed if you want to achieve that great figure you are dreaming about. But how do you know that you are receiving proper nutrition? Knowing the common nutritional mistakes helps a lot in understanding good nutrition. Here are some common misconceptions about good nutrition:

1. We can get every nutrient that our body needs by eating a lot of good food (like veggies and fruits) everyday. This is not always true, the food that we take everyday is not always enough to get all the nutrients that a body that is being built needs. It may be important to have supplements, but you need to know exactly which  supplement you should take. It is good to have the advice of your doctor with what kind of supplement you need to have. The guidance of a nutritionist is also a big help here.

2. Consumption of  fat will make you fat. This is not necessarily true because there are fats that do exactly the opposite of what you think they always do. Flaxseed oil is an example of a fat that helps in losing weight. If you need to cut on something from your diet, it is more beneficial to try to focus on cutting on some carbs first.

3. Carbs are really bad and should be avoided. This is not always true because your body also needs carbs, the good carbs. The correct way to cut on carbs is to avoid only the wrong types of carbs like what you get from pastries, sugars, fruit juices, flavorings, and preservatives. How will you know the good carbs?  When it has not been processed or altered by machines, it’s a good carb; good examples are whole grain breads, fruits, and vegetables.

4. Animal products are the best source of protein. This is not entirely correct because protein is also present in almost all foods, especially vegetables.