You are what you eat!

A saying that has been around forever, yet no one seems to take it seriously.  You indeed are what you eat.

Countless times have people complained to me about how they are working out but have not lost any weight.  These are usually the same people that took no action to change their diet, most likely assuming that working out is ALL that they needed to do in order to drop some pounds.

The truth is, exercise comes second to nutrition.  I always say that "junk in equals junk results," meaning that any performance gains, weight loss, or general toning will always be sub par if you are not putting the correct calories and fuel in your body to begin with.  I am not saying that exercise alone won't help you, but merely stating that proper diet coupled with exercise will pay you back in dividends.  If you want to make the most of a health and fitness regimen or really are just looking to drop a few pounds then work efficiently keep diet AND exercise working hand in hand; the correct calories and micronutrients supplied by fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lowly processed foods will give you the extra jump start needed to achieve your goals.

Juice, juice, juice.  I cannot stress it enough.  Drink your fruits and vegetables if you cannot stand eating them.  Don't waste money on commercial and processed vegetable and fruit juices, make them from scratch with raw produce to be sure you are getting the nutrients, antioxidants, and other benefits.  Make smoothies with low fat milk.  Add nuts and beans to your snacks and lunches.  Ditch the chips and take up a healthier alternative like hummus and edamame.  Drink water! Often times, thirst is mistaken as hunger, therefore we eat excess calories to satiate ourselves when all we needed was a glass of water.

Take a good hard look at your daily eating habits and weigh it against your physical activities and health goals.  Just remember, you are what you eat!