11 Tips for Meeting Your Nutrition Goals

Saturday, Clear Lake CrossFit held a nutrition clinic after a 9 a.m. Community WOD. (Burpees were involved.) Contrary to the rumors, learning nutrition goals at CrossFit isn’t going to mean you come away with a Paleo plan. As Josiah Hartley of HartleyFit explained to us, there are simple principles to help us reach our goals, whether it’s to lift heavier, run faster, or lose weight.

The most important thing to know about nutrition is that it’s the foundation for everything. Holly Lynn, the owner of Clear Lake CrossFit, explained it in a handy pyramid:

Basically, at the top is the sport you love: swimming, running, triathlons. The middle part is CrossFit, which supports your sport. But at the very base is nutrition, because as Holly said, you can’t out-train a lousy diet. Setting goals – and sticking to them – can be difficult, but Josiah gave 11 tips that can help.

1. Keep track of everything you eat. I think everyone I know uses MyFitnessPal for that (including me). It certainly makes staying on top of your macros easier.
2. Eat breakfast. Josiah is a big fan of Van’s gluten-free waffles and egg whites (plus whole eggs).
3. Avoid getting hungry. That’s when bad decisions are made.
4. Underestimate your workout. You’re probably not burning as many calories as you think.
5. Reduce your alcohol intake.
6. Share your goals with friends, gym buddies, family, etc. so that you stay accountable.
7. Stay out of the danger zone at night – the kitchen.
8. Sleep is of the utmost importance. (I use the Sleep Cycle app to track mine.) Make sure you’re getting enough.
9. Weigh yourself, take pictures of yourself, and measure yourself. This will help you track progress across the board.
10. Enjoy sweets, but not sugar. Fruit can be a fantastic treat.
11. Don’t give up, and don’t treat it as a diet. It’s part of living a healthier lifestyle.

How do you stick to your nutrition goals?