You know the sayings… “You can’t out train a bad diet” or “abs are made in the kitchen”… Changing your nutrition plays a huge role in your weight loss journey. With the hundreds of different diet and nutrition plans out there, it can get confusing when you are trying to get serious about which plan in right for you.  So below are my 5 favorite tips to help you get your nutrition on the right path.

1. Eat Lean Proteins

  • Changing your protein intake from fatty protein to a leaner protein will make a big difference.  Try to stay away from fatty ground beef, pork and fatty steaks. If you eat ground beef or steak try to stick with 90% – 95% meats (with ground beef it will list the % right on the label and with other meats, you can ask your butcher or a quick google search will do the trick) Fish, turkey and chicken are also great lean protein options.  If you like to use yogurt as a protein source just make sure you check the label for added sugar. ( I like plain greek yogurt with some fruit mixed in)  For eggs, you should stick with mostly egg whites instead of whole eggs.

2. Eat Whole Grain Carbs

  • Carbs are not the enemy.  They are essential for your body to have energy especially if you are working out throughout the week.  Whole grains will be your best option, just be sure to keep your portions under control.  Whole grains as part of a healthy diet help reduce the risk of heart disease and provide the body with many important nutrients.  Whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal and whole grain bread. Make sure you choose whole grain or whole wheat instead of “multi” grain. When you see the word “whole” in the ingredients it means they have left in healthy components like endosperm and bran which is where most of your nutrients are.

3. Eat More Veggies

  • This one is pretty simple!  You should have 1- 2 cups of veggies with each meal.  Not only will it supply your body with vitamins and minerals but it will also help you feel fuller.  Stick to your green veggies like broccoli and green beans. Steam, boil, saute, it doesn’t matter how you cook them. Just don’t drown them in butter. Seasonings, seasonings, SEASONINGS!

4. Stop Snacking

  • I know this is a hard one especially for people with young kids, but you must stop snacking.  You may think that a handful of goldfish is no big deal but those tiny delicious cheese fish add up.  I like to chew on gum and drink lots of water when I’m at home because it keeps me from eating my daughter’s snacks. 

5. Don’t Buy Junk

  • If you don’t buy crappy food you probably won’t eat crappy food.  Real talk, if there is a bag of Oreo cookies in my pantry you better believe I will eat all those cookies.  If there are no cookies in the house, then I won’t eat them.  Don’t make things harder than they should be.

A very successful professor and strength coach once told me, “There are no ground-breaking discoveries in this industry” —meaning the nutrition industry and it has always stuck with me because I have found it to be so true.  If you are unhealthy and need to lose 10, 20 or 50 pounds, look to your nutrition and make some changes.  Keep it simple, make small changes and remember, it’s a lifestyle change not a temporary change.