(BlackFitness101.com) When some of us think about getting in shape we realize we are going to have to get our body moving. Many of us don’t expect to lose weight or better our health without adequate exercise. To many people one of the hardest parts of living healthy is acting on the decision to work out on a regular basis. We feel if we can just master the discipline to get in the gym and commit to good workouts we will be able to shed those pounds, get strong and improve our overall health. There is some truth to that thought pattern, however we must couple the discipline to workout with the discipline to eat right.
Living a life that incorporates a healthy balanced diet can prove to be more of a challenge than the commitment to work out. Some of us cheat more on our diets than our workouts. However, when we don’t see the results we think we should in the gym we must be honest 
about what we are putting into our body. If we want to lose weight we must burn more than we eat; yet the quality of what we eat is just as important. If we are working out hard on a regular basis but we have a trash diet our workouts can actually hurt us.
The body requires adequate nourishment to give us the energy necessary to get through our workouts, and the rest of our day. While exercising energizes some…it depletes others. The body requires certain vitamins and minerals to be able to function at a high level of activity. Furthermore, we require adequate water and fluids to replace what we lose via sweat in a workout. Diet is essential to the success of a workout regimen.
When we are not mindful of our diet we run the risk of rendering certain aspects of our workout ineffective. “Our beliefs guide our actions, says study co-author Brent McFerran, PhD, an assistant professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Think about it: If you think exercise is the key to weight control, you might move more and focus less on what you eat. While exercise can definitely support weight loss—and make you feel awesome, among other benefits—people tend to overestimate the amount of calories they burn while working out and compensate for the extra activity by eating more, says McFerran.”
We cannot trade one for the other. Granted if you are unable to work out eating healthy and minding calorie intake can keep weight down until you can get back into the gym. It is important to regulate diet, and exercise to get our bodies to function at their maximum potential. Although it’s tough to slim down with exercise alone, staying active does help with weight control—and it’s absolutely crucial for your health, says Keri Glassman, RD, a Women’s Health weight loss expert.
Care for our overall wellness helps us achieve our health goals. So while you are consistently hitting the gym, be sure you are giving your body the proper fuel it needs to maximize your workouts. Balance is very important to our health.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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