Recovery
Part 3 Nutrition:
Rest & recovery are critical components of any successful training program. Rest is time spent sleeping & time that you are not training. Recovery can be referred to as repair. A whole body/mind repair. Overall wellness. Sleep, water, nutrition & posture are at the top of the list.
The old saying ‘you are what you eat’ is relevant. Whole, nutritious foods will help heal our bodies while junk/processed foods produce inflammation & other toxicities that harm us.
I don’t believe that specific diets are the way to go for the average person (unless specified by your health practitioner). What works for one will not necessarily work for another. Eating whole foods, as close to nature as possible is optimal. Many are not in a situation to produce or purchase grass fed beef, pork or chicken, but if at all possible this too is optimal. Organic is no better as far as nutrition goes but it’s more likely to have less pesticides etc.
I had the privilege of having hard working parents who provided the best of everything that they could. Mom cooked whole, hearty meals all the time, it was a way of life. Junk food wasn’t a regular ‘food’ in our house, it was a treat. We didn’t eat frozen dinners or have pop packed in our lunches. We ate ‘real’ food.
Thanks Mom & Dad for nourishing us so well :) Nowadays junk food is included in each day never mind for many each ‘meal’.
To this day I don’t cook like my mom but I am aware of what I eat & I feel much better when I eat foods that are not processed. You too will feel better once you start eliminating processed foods.
If we didn’t associate gatherings with food, we’d be much better off. I would love to see families get together & do an activity together rather than sit around while eating. Everyone will feel so much better, both mentally & physically!
So if you’re struggling to get better nutrition into your body, gradual changes may work better for most people rather than trying to change everything at once. Like with everything else, once it becomes a habit you won’t have to think about it anymore, as it has become a part of your daily or weekly routine.
Here are some tips to help get you started on the right track.
* leave the junk at the store, don’t shop while you’re hungry.
* prepare (shop & cook) ahead for the week, have a meal plan.
* eat fruits or veggies at every meal & include them for snacks too.
* pack your lunch
Is your health & well being important enough to you for you to discipline yourself to make sure you eat in a way that will help you feel better? Now is a good time to get started. If you are feeling blah… cut out the junk/processed foods & prove to yourself that it does make you feel better. Staying well nourished is an important part of our overall wellness & recovery.
Enjoy your R&R
Remember… We really are a reflection of what we eat :)
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