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10 Diet Mistakes Active People Make
From American Council on Exercise
Though active people typically pay close attention
to their fitness regimen (proper cardiovascular workout,
strength training and stretching) they may be making crucial
mistakes in their diet. Not putting the right nutrients
in your body could ultimately affect the overall fitness
benefits of an active lifestyle. The American Council on
Exercise (ACE)shares the following nutrition mistakes commonly
made by active people.
1) Skipping Breakfast
Experts agree -- skipping breakfast just means
you'll be hungrier later, which can make it more difficult
to control both your diet and your weight.
2) Not Eating Before a Workout
Providing the body with food for energy allows
for a better, more productive exercise session. Try eating
a pre-workout meal consisting of carbs, a little fat and
some protein.
3) Waiting Too Long After Exercise to Eat
One of the best things you can do to prepare for
your next workout is eat a small meal that includes both
carbohydrates and protein within two hours of your last
session.
4) Replacing Meals with Energy Bars or Replacement
Drinks
Many energy bars offer little more nutrition than
your average candy bar and replacement drinks may lack adequate
fiber. There's really no substitute for healthy whole foods.
More: Healthy Meal Recipes
5) Eating Too Much Protein and Not Enough Carbs
The current popularity of low-carb diets has many
people trying to fuel their workouts with poultry instead
of pasta. But carbohydrates are essential to effective workouts.
More: Energy for Exercise
6) Trusting Dietary Supplements Labels and Claims
Because the supplement industry remains largely
unregulated, manufacturers can make unproven and untested
claims about their products. Do your homework before putting
anything into your body.
7) Consuming Too Many or Too Few Calories for Your
Activity
Your caloric intake should be sufficient to support
your active lifestyle, but not so abundant that weight control
becomes a challenge. My calorie calculators include a Calories
Per Day Calculator that can tell you how many total calories
per day your body is burning, plus activity calorie calculators
to determine how many extra you may be burning.
8) Believing That You Can Eat Whatever You Want
if You Exercise
Whether you exercise a little or a lot, you still
need to follow a healthy, balanced diet and watch you portion
sizes.
9) Not Drinking the Right Amount of Fluids
Dehydration can be a serious problem, especially
if you exercise in hot, humid environments. Drinking fluids
before, during and after exercise will help you maintain
adequate hydration levels.
10) Jumping on the Latest Diet Craze to Get an
"Edge"
It's tempting to believe there is some magic formula
out there that will dramatically improve our performance
or lose weight, but the best approach is to stick to the
basics and follow a healthy, balanced diet.
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