Whether you are a professional athlete or playing on team at your local YMCA or aiming for a personal best in your next workout, what you eat and drink day-to-day will affect how well you can train.

If you don’t eat well you may lack the energy to train with intensity and duration, break down your body’s lean tissue (muscle) for energy, lose bone strength, or get sick or injured.

In today’s post, we take a look at the importance of three key ingredients (carbohydrates, fat and protein) in your daily caloric intake and provide estimates on appropriate amounts for those individuals who have established a regular exercise routine.

Carbohydrate

Why do we need it? Everybody, from marathon runners to body builders, need carbohydrates. It provides quick energy for your muscles

The sentence above was actually blurted out loud by one individual to another in my local gym changeroom. I glanced over hoping to see a coy smile or a sarcastic eyebrow raise, but nothing. I don’t usually eavedrop on other conversations but the exchange continued with the following defending remark:

Downing an energy drink on the way to the gym is the best way to keep your energy levels up for a workout. *snicker*

Really? What happened to healthy eating and consistent chunks of sleep being the keys to long lasting energy to get you through your day and your workout? Contrary to the numerous ads and the abundant gas

In order to reach your fat loss goals or improve your performance, people are often tempted to turn to supplements. Ever flipped through a fitness magazine? You are bombarded with glossy before/after pictures, medical and chemical diagrams, all the while trying to convince you that your efforts are going to waste without their products.

Sometimes supplements can be helpful when you have established appropriate eating habits and exercise regularly. However, sometimes they can be harmful with risks ranging from mild nausea to organ damage or even death. There is no shortage of supplements on the market. Unfortunately, many of them don’t work as claimed and haven’t