As a personal trainer, there are things you just inherently know about health and wellness—including nutrition.
We know what you’re thinking—yes, nutrition isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing.
Everyone is different, everyone’s goals are different, and there are hundreds of thousands of nutrition methodologies and ideologies out there.
That being said, if you have a client struggling with nutrition and could use a few very general, basic pointers, there’s no reason you should feel uncomfortable detailing a few.
We’re positive that you have some tried-and-true nutrition tips for your clients, but if you’re having a tough time getting the advice-ball rolling, here are a few general nutrition tips that all of your clients will benefit from.
Never Over Do Your Calorie Cutting
For clients cutting weight or “dieting” to achieve a healthy, ideal weight, it’s vital that you stress the importance of proper nutrition and the right amount of restriction.
Calorie deficits are the way to lose weight but cutting too many calories and not focusing on feeding your body properly can actually cause more issues than you might think.
The best way to lose weight healthily is to go slow, be consistent, and do it in a healthy way—that often includes limiting your calorie cuts by about 500 calories daily, maximum. While everyone is different (and it would take a proper study on each client to properly calculate), the best general advice about calorie cutting is to not reduce your daily calorie intake by more than 500 calories.
Water, Water, Water
Not only is a healthy amount of water absolutely essential to, well, living—it also has exceptional benefits for those who are looking to lose a little weight, increase their metabolism, and cut calories. According to a few different studies, drinking water can boost your metabolism by over 24-30 percent (over a period of about 1-2 hours).
Gut Health is Great—But Do Your Research
There’s a hot trend right now that focuses on gut health, and while this can be exceptionally useful for losing weight and regulating your body’s overall wellness, make sure you’re advising your clients to do thorough research before they dive deep into the gut health trend.
Nutrition is important. The supplements and vitamins your clients put into their bodies will directly affect them.
Sleeping Well Goes a Long Way For Your Nutrition
You might be thinking, “well, that’s a health thing, but that’s not exactly a nutrition thing.” Guess what?
That’s not the case.
While getting consistently good sleep is going to ensure you feel better overall, it’s actually a huge driving factor in your body’s nutrition. If you aren’t getting the sleep you need, your body can create insulin resistance, reduce your physical activity (limited exercise), and even confuse your appetite hormones, too. Sleep is one of the strongest factors for your personal nutrition.
Avoid the Sugary Drinks At All Costs
This one is a total no brainer. Want to cut calories, feel better, and overall be healthier?
Did you know that liquid sugar doesn’t get registered by a person’s brain the same way that food sugar does? Because of this, people are more susceptible to drinking a ton of extra calories (not to mention TONS of extra sugar) without even knowing it!
Sugary soda drinks can cause other issues (other than weight gain), too—tooth decay, heart disease, and even type 2 diabetes. Bonus tip: tell your clients it’s about more than just soda. A lot of juices that claim to be good for you are actually just as bad as a 16oz glass of Coke!
Healthy Proteins are a Win for Muscle Building
No matter what your clients’ goals are, advising them to eat a solid amount of healthy proteins is a great way to ensure their building muscle. Before advising the types of protein your client should consume, make sure you’re doing your research on recommendations.
Further, advise your client to discuss healthy protein consumption with their doctor or licensed nutritionist.
