There are a number of steps in the pursuit of specific goals for one’s health and physique. There are three specific aspects of nutrition that aren’t professed by many trainers and “internet gurus” to the people they assist. A great deal of the blame for this is lack of education, as many people who are expected to know this information do not, and they therefor pass on incomplete information to those they work with. Here are three of the most overlooked aspects of dieting that will accelerate anyone’s pursuit of any given fitness goal beyond their previous rate of change.
Understanding the Function of Estrogen and Testosterone
Hormone balance is something that most people are simply not aware of and wonder why they can’t achieve certain goals with their physique while they may be doing everything else that they should. Understanding the importance of the role of estrogen and testosterone is vital when embarking on a journey to any fitness goal. Simply put, estrogen promotes fat storage and the growth of breast tissue while testosterone is what is required for the acceleration of fat burning and muscle building. Next, it is important to know what you are consuming, as many foods have properties that encourage the production of either estrogen or testosterone. Dairy and soy products are two of the most commonly known sources of estrogen friendly foods. If your goal is to elevate your ability to burn fat and build muscle, staying away from dairy and soy and opting for more foods containing indole, the estrogen fighting compound; indole can be found in foods such as kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli. Try implementing more indole rich foods and see if what you are able to experience with your physique.
Disown IIFYM
In recent years, many people have adopted a dietary lifestyle known as If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM). This method of dieting for any purpose is something I cannot believe has continued to be defended as an effective means for developing a physique. This form of dieting only asks the individual to meet their daily macronutrient count for the day, allowing one to eat whatever they desire as long as they don’t exceed their daily fat, protein and carb intake. I personally do not believe this form of diet is conducive to great developing a great physique because of the loose allowance of foods one would not eat while on a real diet, such as pizza, sandwiches, burgers, or anything else one can think of. There is a reason why diets consisting of lean meats, quality fats and low carbohydrates yield better results, because they exclude the foods containing copious amounts of sugar, saturated fat and foods that may also encourage estrogen production. Someone using an IIFYM approach is also likely to exclude vegetation, super foods and other healthy sources of nutrition. There is a reason why successful bodybuilders are successful, and it is not because they ate pizza or a donut to satisfy their carbohydrate needs for the day.
Fat is Good
I cannot explain this enough, fat is absolutely necessary for muscular repair and for fat loss. When one does not consume enough dietary and essential fat, the body will hoard fat and not repair efficiently. Essential fats (omega 3 and 6) compose the outer portion of the muscular cell, making essential fats responsible for a huge part of the cellular repair process. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats must be consumed daily. In the absence of these fats, the body hoards fat and it makes the fat burning process extremely difficult. Of course, saturated fats should be limited to very low amounts, while there a select few that may be able to get away with taking in a bit more of this particular type of fat than others without experiencing dramatic effects to their heart health and body fat percentage.
