Abs, we all want them, right!? That beautiful linear definition along our midsection, the flat smooth tummy, sounds so intriguing doesn’t it!? The great news is, guess what, you already have those abdominal that you want. The bad news is, there are a few layers hiding them and you need to put in the work to shed those layers 🙂 As you strive for your fitness goals, and to obtain that beautiful strong body you have always dreamed of, remember that it all starts in the kitchen!

So often people make up for their food choices by overexercising or consciously OR unconsciously make food decisions based on their workouts. Ever wondered why some people who are training for a running event actually gain weight during their training? I always found this interesting but it makes perfect sense.  This is a perfect example of rewarding yourself because of how hard you have worked or how many calories you have burned. I specifically recall one morning, after completing a high intense bootcamp class. I was walking out, sweaty and hungry as all get out. My metabolism was revved up and I felt amazing for pushing myself and digging deep.  I couldn’t wait to get home and make a delicious veggie omelet with a side of fruit and a big bowl of oatmeal. I was starving!! As I was walking to my car, I overheard a group of ladies talking about meeting at a local bagel shop for bagels and coffee. “That was a killer class and we burned so many calories, let’s grab bagels! We burned so many calories, a bagel and mocha will sure hit the spot!” I thought to myself, I wish these ladies knew that all the hard work in bootcamp is completely being washed away by the choices they are making “in the kitchen”.
The great news is, it is post workout and their metabolism is on fire so this is the best time to eat a bagel, if any, but even still, the amount of calories in such a meal will easily wash away all the calories burned during a 60 minute bootcamp class.
Imagine, the girls, head to the bagel shop and are still aiming at making “healthy” choices. They go for a whole grain bagel with low fat cream cheese and ask for non fat milk with their large mocha.  Unfortunately, these choices are still outweighing the amount of calories burned during that hour workout. I am sure that the “healthy” choices, didn’t stop here.  This one particular meal added up to around 650 calories and that was just one meal out of several meals consumed that day.
Bagel: >250 calories
Light Cream Cheese: ~ 100 calories
Large non-fat Mocha: >300 calories
Total Calories: 650
I am sure that “feel good, I had a great workout” mentality drove their decisions to treat themselves throughout the day. Imagine how many calories all those “treats” add up to?
Now consider this post workout meal:
Big bowl of oatmeal (1/2 cup): 150 calories
1/2 cup fresh berries (1/2 cup): ~100 calories
6 egg white/veggie omelet: ~105 (remember veggies are FREE)
Cafe Americano : ~20 calories
Total Calories: 375!
You see the dramatic difference in calories but not even about the calories, look at the quality of food choices. Whole grain oats, fresh fruit (perfect post workout) and a giant fresh vegetable omelet. You not only feel light and energized after eating such a meal but there is absolutely No guilt. This is a great way to refuel and replenish your glycogen stores while taking in ALL the benefits of your hour intense workout.

Now, absolutely was I proud of the ladies for their attendance at the bootcamp class, they were taking action!  At the same time, I knew their goals were along the lines of health AND obtaining their weightless goals. They have part of the equation right, get out and workout! The unfortunate part of the equation, the most important part (food choices) were going by the waste side. It is such a shame to put in all the work and then eat it away within minutes.
This certainly isn’t downplaying ALL the healthy benefits of working out and burning calories  but to reach your goals you have to have both parts of the equation in check, workout out and eating right!
It is about creating those habits that will equate to your desired results! The next time you have a killer workout, remember, it is all about your choices that can make or break all that hard work.