The Magic Ratio For Fitness Practice The 80/20 Rule

The Magic Ratio for Fitness Practice the 80/20 Rule

by

Eric Flores

If you re like most people, you ve probably rationalized over-eating by telling yourself, It s ok, I worked out today. Thinking like this is the same as saying, Well, I went to class today, I don t think I ll do the homework. What most people don t understand is that it s about 4,000 times more difficult (not an exact calculation) to exercise enough to burn off the calories we consume than it is to eat or drink them.

Next time you want to reach for that Dr. Pepper, realize that each bottle has roughly 250 calories, depending on which variation you choose. For most people, that takes 20-25 minutes of jogging on a treadmill to burn! In another example, the average blast from Sonic has around 700 calories. And while it s achievable to burn off those calories with a long and intense work out, it s much smarter to avoid whatever food it is that you re craving, or eat a smaller portion of it in place of a usual meal that you would have eaten.

Because of this, I m convinced that the magic ratio for fitness is 80/20 80% being diet, 20% exercise. While exercise is definitely a component that s necessary to achieve the body you want, nutrition definitely has a stronger impact on how you end up looking. You can build the most impressive set of abdominal muscles that you want to, but if a layer of fat hides it, no one will ever see them!

To be clear, I m not saying you can t eat the unhealthy foods you love and not look good! The key is to eat clean at least 80% of the time, or 90% of the time if you think you can manage it. Cheat meals definitely have benefits both psychological and physical. Some studies have shown that having an occasional higher-calorie day can jumpstart stalled fat loss, and the mental relief of eating unhealthy foods that you shouldn t enjoy every day can help you continue to eat clean in the long run.

Another method with cheat meals is to consume roughly 10% of your daily calories from whatever unhealthy source you d like. So, if you happen to be shooting for 2,000 calories per day, a can of Coke or a couple small cookies a day would be within your daily allowance.

Remember, fitness isn t a thing you do for a month to get in shape it s a lifestyle choice. It s far more effective to gradually transition into a healthier lifestyle than it is to go the newest fad diet for a month, lose 10 pounds, then gain it back the next month.

You can stay connected with my fitness ideas by going here: http://www.nextphasefitness.com/blog/

Eric Flores is a college student who has achieved physical fitness and wants to share his knowledge of training and nutrition with others. Through years of trial and error, Eric Flores has become proficient in designing exercise and nutrition programs for all fitness goals; functional or aesthetic.You can stay connected with my fitness ideas by going here: http://www.nextphasefitness.com/blog/

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