Food concepts seem to be ever changing and fashionable, from faddy diets to what is good for you and what is bad, in an ever changing wash of contradiction and confusion. There is massive information and misinformation on food, regurgitated and recycled with new names, new diets and new fads. But really not much has changed physiologically in humans in my 44 years on the planet, so why so much confusion into how to live a healthy life and how to stay in shape for a life time.

One day a week is not enough to change anything!

With food, as of most things there have to be a constant in order to change and maintain change. If I only eat well once a week, it is not enough to make me a healthy person. As on the other side of the coin if I eat badly once a week, is not enough to make me fat, out of shape and unhealthy.

Food overview

First and foremost I see food and fuel, this for me is the most important thing. This is the key to understanding how the body performs, looks and feels. If I am more active, I eat more, if I am less active I eat less, simple as that. Then I break food down into 3 types: carbohydrates (carbs), proteins and fats. So lets look and each and what they do and then I will take you through how I use them to stay healthy, lean and in shape year round, without living like a monk on so crazy unsustainable diet and yo-yoing up and down with my weight and fat percentage.

Carbohydrates:

This is the main initial fuel source of the body. This is further broken down in 2 forms, simple and complex carbohydrates which come from different types of foods.

Simple Carbohydrate

*Sugar

*Fruit

*Sweets

*Soft drinks

Complex Carbohydrates

*Rice

*Pasta

*Bread

*Vegetables

So what simple and complex carbs do is fuel the body and also the brain. Simple carbs work quicker than complex carbs, which is broken down by the liver and stored in the muscles as glycogen and slow released. On days I train I eat more and rest days I eat less carbs

Protein

Protein builds, rebuilds and repairs all cells in the body. They are the building blocks of the body.

Animal Protein sources

*Meat

*Chicken

*Eggs

*Milk

Plant Proteins

*Pulses

*Nuts

*Seeds

Fats

Fats play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, insulating body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting healthy cell function. Fats are also used as an energy source. To make it simple there are good fats and bad fats

Good fats

*Butter

*Coconut oil

*Olive oil

*Nuts and seeds

*Avocados

Bad fats

*Trans fats

*Any processed cakes, biscuits

*Margarine

*Vegetable oil

*Corn oil

Diet:

A word that is associated with short term solutions to a lifetime of eating behavior. People that tend to do diets, tend to do short term faddy and fashionable diets will loose weight but end up going back to their old habits and so the cycle continues. I prefer to look at what i am going to do for the week ahead and eat accordingly.

So a good balance of carbs, proteins and fats, plus good functional exercise 4-5 times a week is what is key for good maintenance of the body and also a clear mind. Eating accordingly to my output and planning my week will also make a huge difference. Routine and consistency will give results. More food for the days I am more active and less for the days of inactivity.

Once a week on Fridays I will be doing a recap of training I did also food tips and recipes. I will also answer any questions on the Facebook page you can find on the right hand side of the blog

This is me at 44 years of age