Nutritional Resolutions for a Healthy New Year

karate classes in Raleigh NCWhen it comes to the nutritional needs of MMA fighters or martial art practitioners the needs of each athlete are unique. Making resolutions that involve changing your diet should not be taken lightly. Consulting your physician as well as taking into consideration your body’s calorie needs based on your training load and lifestyle is essential. Choosing resolutions you can stick to and being realistic about your goals and expectations will help you find success as you change the way you eat in the New Year! Skip the karate classes in Raleigh in 2018 and try something different. Call Gracie Raleigh to learn more about our free martial arts classes.

Before you begin to change your eating habits, be realistic about what your strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to eating healthy. If you know that you are limited on time to prepare meals because of work or family commitments then choosing to have a diet that allows you to make food ahead of time may be beneficial. Also, be sure to look at how much sleep you get each night as well as the amount of water you consume each day. Both sleep and being adequately hydrated are essential for boosting your metabolism and helping you lose weight.

Keep Track of Your Food: Logging what you eat can help you identify foods that can be swapped out for healthier alternatives. Tracking your diet can also help you track trends in your food consumption that could be leading you to make poor food choices.

Skip the Refined Sugars: Fiber, vitamin, and mineral absorption are impacted by consuming refined sugars. These sugars hide within many processed foods and can weaken your immune system as well as impact your body’s ability to fight bacteria by destroying your white blood cells.

Avoid Synthetic Sugars: Synthetic sugars can cause inflammation and increase the production of acids in your body. These acids help produce more fat cells which store these extra acids.

Pile on the Greens, Veggies, and Fruits: Brightly colored berries, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, garlic, and onions can all boost your body’s intake of antioxidants as well as omega-3s. These nutrient-rich foods help you feel fuller longer and can provide your body with much needed zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

Skip the Packaged Bars: Many of the nutritional bars on the market have minimal whole ingredients or nutritional value. Making your bars at home allows you to control what is in them as well as customize the flavors to suit your tastes. Energy gels are another popular nutrition item that is packed with less than healthy ingredients. Recipes for both bars and energy gels can be found online. Be sure to choose recipes that rely on whole natural ingredients.

Don’t Skip Meals: Fueling your body with small meals and frequent snacks will help keep your metabolism working properly. Feeling full and eating nutritious foods will help fight cravings and make sticking to your new eating routine easier.

Best Alternative Karate Classes in Raleigh for 2018

At Gracie Raleigh, we don’t offer karate classes in Raleigh. However, we can help you meet your fitness and martial arts training goals by giving you access to some of the finest martial arts coaches in the area. Our family-friendly approach to training makes learning new skills and achieving a healthier lifestyle within reach for everyone in your family. We offer no contract martial arts classes for children and women’s only classes.

The new year is a great time to begin learning something new. Call or stop by the gym today and learn how Gracie Raleigh can help you meet your martial arts and fitness goals.