Many people don’t realize the importance of nutrition. Without proper nutrition, you won’t see dramatic changes in your body. I would say that the relative importance of nutrition versus exercise is 70% : 30%. In other words, nutrition is more than twice as important as exercise for getting great results! You need to look at nutrition as the fuel mechanism for your body to function and look its optimal best.

Here is my Top 10 list of important nutritional tips. If you are not following these habits now, and you implement them, you will be amazed at the transformation of your body within three months!

	Drink at least ten 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This helps to detoxify your body, makes you feel full so you are less likely to snack, and keeps you hydrated and full of energy.
	Eat 5 or 6 small meals per day. Eating every 2.5 -- 3 hours creates a better balance of energy intake with the energy you burn. If you eat a big meal, your body doesn’t need all that energy, so it stores the extra energy as fat.
	Each meal should consist of equal amounts of protein and carbohydrates, and half the amount of fats. For example, 20 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of fat.
	Choose lean proteins, fruits and vegetables as carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
	Try to avoid sugar. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that gives you a sudden burst of energy that your body typically can’t burn off quick enough and the excess energy often gets stored as fat. It tends to cause a roller-coaster effect with your blood sugar levels, which will make you feel lethargic.
	Avoid eating past 7:30 pm. This allows your body to burn off the energy you have consumed before going to bed.
	Don’t eat protein before a workout. Leave two hours after eating protein before you start your workout.
	Pre-strength training nutrition should include a carbohydrate (e.g. tangerine, apple, pear).
	Post-strength training nutrition should include mostly protein (e.g. cottage cheese, eggs, protein shake). This should be consumed within one hour of completing your workout.
	Allow yourself a cheat meal once per week. Enjoy! If you would like me to design a personalized meal plan for you, please contact me.