Anyone concerned with their fitness knows to focus on two main ideas: loose fat and get fit. In order to do both, the body has to endure a combination of diet reduction and physical exertion. Exercise more, eat less, right? Consuming fewer calories than one burns seems like a simple formula, but the reality is much harsher. The more you restrict the food your body consumes, the more you exercise and the healthier you try to be, the more aggressive food cravings will become!
People are organic creatures. We need food to survive so our bodies are hardwired to seek out nutrients. Throughout evolution, the human body has developed cravings for consumption that ultimately satisfy the body's needs. Our bodies desire carbohydrates and sugar for quick energy, fat and protein for strength building, and an excess of food to guard against future hunger. Unfortunately after decades of successful agriculture and intense marketing, the supermarkets are saturated with food that is essentially useless and harmful to our bodies. So when the body strikes out with some ravaging hunger cravings and demands satisfaction, more often than not we consume trash instead of nutrient-rich sustenance.
Anyone pursuing a healthier lifestyle should expect to feel some rather aggressive hunger pangs. Severely reducing caloric intake while increasing physical exercise triggers the body to crave food. For survival, the human body is programmed to seek, consume and hoard a food supply. Hunger is natural! It's the body's way of communicating what it needs in order to survive.
Unfortunately, if the calorie consumption is too low, the body enters a safety mode. It thinks, "I'm starving!" and instantly clamps down on its metabolism to safeguard any fat reserves, i.e: it stops burning fat and begins to shut down. That's why it is very important not to restrict calories so much that the body flips a starvation switch. If you're on a diet plan that drops intake below 1,200 calories and has exercise requirements at the same time, this is a short term solution and not a healthy option for lifelong benefits.
Eating is necessary. Eating smart for a better body can be challenging. There's a lot of information and misinformation out there. While a diet can be daunting, food is nothing to be afraid of. Learning what and when to eat is important for everyone who wants a better quality of life.
After an intense workout, your body is primed to utilize calories for the most good. Undergoing all the stress and exertion of intense exercise leaves a body hungry and vulnerable. Reward it with smart food choices! Protein is an absolute must for building muscle and helping physical recovery. Despite popular diet ideas, animal fats (like the fat on meat) are nothing to be afraid of. Humans evolved while eating animal fats and our systems are best designed to consume those fats versus over-processed vegetable fats that break down during cooking and consumption to become trans fats in the body. After a hard workout, it is nearly impossible to eat too much protein. Not eating enough, however, will throw the body into starvation mode and shock the system.
If you're working out, you will have cravings. There is no way to avoid the signals your body sends out when it's wanting sustenance. The trick lies in choosing healthy foods (like a piece of dark, dark chocolate or fruit for sugar cravings; wild rice, sweet potatoes or quinoa for carb cravings) instead of sugary, starchy food with no food value. Eager dieters might begin to think that no food is good, but that idea is ultimately detrimental to their health. No one can run ten miles and eat nothing but salad without wasting away. Starvation isn't sexy; it's disastrous and wimpy.
If the body cries out to be fed, it's important to remember that it isn't only the quantity of calories that matters, it's the quality of those calories. Think about what is in the food you're about to eat. If it says "Fat Free" is it full of chemicals and crap? Better to leave that and enjoy a meal that will ultimately benefit your health. The cleaner your diet becomes, the fewer cravings you'll have. When the hunger strikes (and it will) do the right thing and satisfy those cravings with good, wholesome food that provides constructive nutrients to your body. You deserve the best!
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