Soropa Blog

It’s possible to learn HOW to better your health in only 4 steps
and this article will show you how. Each step is a bite-sized
nugget of healthy living information you can actually use.

Let’s get started…

Step 1: Nutritional Supplements

In my opinion, they are very necessary and very beneficial-
especially when combined with healthy eating habits. It’s very
difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs through food
alone, but combining proper nutrition with nutritional
supplements is very powerful.

That being said, the one supplement everyone should be taking is
a good multi vitamin/mineral. Look at it as added insurance-
eating well is crucial, but now that you’re also taking a multi,
you can rest assured you’re getting the nutrients your body
needs.

Step 2: Nutrition

Good nutrition is SO important. You are what you eat…remember
that. Make a conscious effort to gradually improve your eating
habits, eating more of the good foods (nuts, berries, peanut
butter, olive oil, greens, chicken, whole grains, etc.) and less
of the bad foods (fried food, saturated fat, fructose corn
syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc.). Reading the label of what
you’re eating will tell you a lot.

You may think you lack the needed will power, but you’ll be
amazed at what happens when you start to gradually improve your
eating habits.

Step 3: Exercise

Exercise is the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to
better health. There are so many benefits of exercising,
including stronger bones and improved libido- it’s a no brainer
to start doing it. Your goal should be to exercise 3-5 times a
week with a combination of cardio exercises and strength
training (but no more than 1 hour per workout session).

It’s been measured that if you add 3 pounds of muscle to your
body, this added muscle will burn as many calories as if you ran
1 mile. Muscle burns calories!

Step 4: Stress Management and Sleep

Stress management and getting good sleep each night round out
your path to better health. Until you find a way to manage your
stress, it will continue to do damage to your body. Two tips you
might want to implement include prioritizing your day each
morning and practicing deep breathing exercises (yes, you
probably already knew this, but have you tried it?).

Getting enough sleep each night is equally important when you
consider your body uses this time to repair itself. You should
aim for 7-9 hours each night. Two tips you might want to
implement include exercising and avoiding late night eating.

Now that you have the basics, expand on this information. Step 1
research more about Nutritional Supplements, Step 2 research
more about Nutrition and so on. I guarantee after the 4 steps
you’ll feel more confident about reaching your health & fitness
goals.

I get a lot of comments and questions regarding nutrition. Most
of them have to do with time. In other words, people feel they
are too busy to eat 5 or 6 nutritious meals a day, whether their
goal is to burn fat or build muscle.

Another time factor is the preparation of these meals,
especially when you factor in trying to get the proper macro and
micro nutrients in each meal - protein, “good” fats, the “right”
carbohydrates, enough vegetables, enough fruits, etc.

People get very frustrated with all of this and end up taking
shortcuts, such as eating only 2 or 3 meals a day. In addition,
they have no idea if they are getting enough (or too much) of
the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, etc.
that they need.

Then they don’t understand why they aren’t building muscle or
losing fat. While training properly is extremely important, a
lot of people who do so, don’t make the gains they should
because their nutritional program is out of wack.

Here are some tips to help you overcome these nutrition
obstacles and put you on the correct path toward your health and
fitness goals.

Eat 6 Meals A Day

Meal Frequency (i.e., the number of meals you eat each day)
could be the most important aspect of your nutrition program. If
you do this right you will build muscle, burn fat, and with a
proper resistance training program, be well on your way to
achieving the body of your dreams.

The thing is, most people know about it, yet few actually follow
through with it and put it into action because of the reasons
mentioned above.

It takes motivation, persistence, planning, and a little bit of
sacrifice. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s not.
But as I’ve stated before, nothing worth achieving comes easy.
Don’t get me wrong, it is simple, it’s just not easy. But it can
be pretty painless, if you have the right mind set.

Reason number two - eating six proper, nutritious meals a day
takes work. It takes a time commitment, among other sacrifices.
And it’s not just the time it takes to make the meals, or the
time to eat them. It also involves other aspects of your life.

For example, socializing, going shopping, playing sports on the
weekends, etc. If you eat six times a day, you need to eat every
2 or 3 hours, tops. What are you going to do, sit home all day
every day so you can be near your food? Of course not.

But you will need to plan ahead. This could mean shopping and
then cooking most of your food once a week, putting each meal in
a microwaveable container, and then carrying meals to work with
you.

You may need to invest in a high quality thermos (or two or
three) and make your favorite protein shakes to take with you
when you are going to be out and about for a while, or bringing
some protein bars with you instead.

This, more than anyplace else, is where supplementation is an
absolute life saver. I don’t know how I’d get proper nutrition
day in and day out without supplements like meal replacement
powders and protein powders such as Muscle Meals and Pro-Fusion
by Muscle Link and Optimum Nutrition’s Whey Protein.

I know, eating right may not be easy, but it is necessary if you
truly want to achieve your best body, and in the shortest amount
of time possible. If you’re like most people, you already eat
breakfast, lunch and dinner. So, for starters, consider just
adding two snacks to this, preferably a protein or meal
replacement shake, or bar. My favorite bars, that recently one a
contest in Men’s Health (for nutrition and quality as well as
taste) are Tri-O-Plex bars.

You could also consider bringing certain foods with you for
snacks, such as fruit, raw veggies (carrots, cauliflower,
celery, broccoli and so on). Seeds and nuts like almonds and
walnuts are excellent snacks while providing the healthy fats we
all need. Cottage cheese and yogurt also make great snacks
(preferebly the low fat variety, so that you keep your calories
in check). I usually add a few pineapple slices (the natural
juices variety, not syrup), to my cottage cheese.

Plan your daily (or weekly) menus. Planning is a crucial part of
success for any goal you want to achieve. Your nutrition plan is
no different.

Yes, it can be a real pain in the you know what to eat 5 or 6
times a day, but it’s not impossible, and it’s simply a part of
the price you pay for a great, healthy body. In fact, don’t even
think of it as paying a price. Intead, think of how you’l be
enjoying the benefits of being healthy and in shape.

However, with these tips I’ve given you, it can become easier
than you think.

If you think planning your nutrition is paying a price, wait
until you start having serious health problems from eating
improperly and being overweight - heat disease, diabetes and the
list goes on. Really, if you think it’s difficult to be healthy
and fit, try being fat and sick for a while!