Overview
The fields of nutrition and fitness are quite complex and loaded with misinformation and false claims.
Often, the amount of information you find online can be overwhelming, especially for beginners who are just starting their fitness journey.
Unfortunately, there are many nutritional mistakes that newbies make when they first start a fitness programme, which can be the reason they fail to witness any result… and eventually, quit.
In this article, we will cover the top nutrition mistakes that people make when they start a fitness programme.
This way, you will be aware of the things you shouldn’t do to reach your fitness goals faster.
Top nutrition mistakes
Overcompensating yourself
After a long and tiresome exercise session, you may feel the temptation to compensate yourself with a favourite food.
Perhaps indulge in that delicious chocolate bar that’s just sitting in the fridge or maybe order a big Mac and Cheese to reward yourself.
However, this could be a big mistake!
In a 2010 study, researchers asked participants about the number of calories they think were burnt during their exercise.
Most participants answered between 600 to 800 calories, while in reality, they were burning 200 to 300 calories.
This issue can lead to unexplained weight gain and the delay of any potential results of your workouts.
Unrestricted ketogenic diet
While the ketogenic diet is a fantastic plan to lose fat and reduce body weight, this doesn’t mean that you can consume fat without any restrictions.
You see, keto gurus will tell you to eat as much fat as you want since your appetite will be suppressed due to carbohydrate deprivation, and you’ll end up in a state of caloric deficit either way.
However, not all people have powerful satiety signals, which can lead to overeating fats and ruining your fitness goals.
In fact, many people on a keto diet who exercise rigorously don’t seem to lose weight.
To avoid this from happening, you need to precisely calculate your macronutrient needs to maintain the state of caloric deficit.
Here’s a website that will help calculate your daily macronutrient requirements.
Not reading the label
Many products seem very healthy at first glance, which appeals to people who want to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
However, and before you buy any new product, you must read the label attentively to unveil any harmful substances and/or hidden macronutrients.
In a 2013 study, experts found that 31% of all marketed products do not meet the claims showcased in their advertisements.
Conclusion
Nutrition is a very wide field that’s constantly evolving, with hundreds of studies published every year.
For this reason, it is important to carefully choose your source of information and stick to high authority websites, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Hopefully, you are more aware of the mistakes that beginners make when starting a new fitness program to avoid them in the future.
If you want to learn more about nutrition and have a passion for Personal Training, you should consider a Personal Trainer qualification.
The ‘Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training‘ includes a section on nutrition, along with other sections involved in Personal Training.
If you want to speak to us about our Personal Trainer courses, call us on 0203 794 9250… or complete the form below.
BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER
EDUCATE FITNESS – HOME OF THE UK’s TOP PERSONAL TRAINERS
