Nutrition Info I Wish I’d Known Sooner
Have you ever had to cut back on your physical activity for one reason or another and thought to yourself: "I'll really have to watch what I eat?"
That used to be my thought process.
When I had a stress fracture back in 2008 and wouldn't be able to do any weight-bearing activity, I remember thinking: "I'll just try to eat as little as possible until I can exercise again."
Kind of like that line in A Devil Wears Prada, where one of the characters describes her diet plan as "I don't eat anything, and then when I feel like I'm about to faint, I eat a cube of cheese."
Just so I'm absolutely, positively, crystal clear: Neither of those ideas is remotely smart or healthy. They are examples of how harmful and dangerous diet culture can be and you should not ever consider doing either of those things.
I've been thinking about this a lot the last few weeks, because I've had some pain and injury flare-ups that have kept me from doing many of my workouts and teaching some of my classes.
What I know now that I didn't before is that proper nutrition is key for healing.
I got really frustrated at how long it took my stress fracture to heal all those years ago. I had a walking boot I wasn't allowed to walk on and had to stay on crutches even after that, and I remember my doctor commenting on how long it was taking me to heal.
I didn't realize until years later, when I was studying for my nutrition coaching certification with Precision Nutrition, that I'd been unknowingly hindering my own healing process when I was restricting calories to avoid gaining weight while I couldn't exercise.
Our bodies need the nutrients in food to rebuild skeletal and muscular tissue when it's damaged through injury or exercise, and the healing process itself requires energy, aka calories, to occur.
According to Precision Nutrition, where I got my coaching certification, metabolism can increase from 15-50% when the body is repairing from injury, so it's important to take in adequate calories and a range of nutrients.
Many people equate "good nutrition" with "calorie control" or "calorie restriction," but that's incorrect.
"Good" nutrition includes a balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in the right amounts for your body.
The "right" amount can vary based on your needs and goals.
If you're otherwise healthy and want to lose weight, you'll need to be in a small to moderate calorie deficit, but it's still important to take in enough energy overall and to get a wide range of the nutrients that keep your body functioning as intended.
There is so much emphasis in our society on losing weight and calories in vs. calories out that many people unintentionally mess with their overall health in a quest to eat less, just like I did all those years ago.
A "healthy diet" doesn't always mean eating less. Often, it means eating moreof the foods that will support your physical and mental health and well-being.
We don't usually get this kind of messaging from articles or social media or tv — I literally had to get an entire nutrition certification before I figured it out!
I know that navigating "healthy eating" is tricky and confusing, and I also know that not everyone has the time or the energy to take an entire course about it!
That's why I coach nutrition. It lets me share the information that I wish someone had given me long ago, so you can nourish and fuel your body well. If you need help with that, email me at coachjustineh@gmail.com. I'd love to support you.
