Now that we are through February, it is safe to say that those who have stuck to their healthy New Year’s resolutions are making progress. Many others went to the gym a couple times in the first weeks after January before admitting defeat and succumbing to another year of less-than-healthy habits.
Maybe it is the focus on exercising that causes so much failure.
Jonah Baker | Argonaut
They say that abs are made in the gym, but revealed in the kitchen. The focus in getting better should fall on nutrition first, and exercise after.
Nutrition is often viewed as a secondary objective, or something to accomplish once good fitness is already established. While that does have some clear benefits, there is still plenty to be gained from eating healthy first.
Healthy eating can boost your mood along with your metabolism. While it may take extra effort to research and prepare foods that have added health benefits, they are often worth it.
There are many different forums and resources available online that provide opportunities to ask questions without fear of embarrassment. The university also offers a wealth of classes like Vandalizing the Kitchen where students can engage in a fun environment and learn new techniques with no cost involved.
Meal prep programs can also save a significant amount of time during the week. With just four or five hours of cooking on the weekend and some reusable container, you can save time during the work week when nobody has any time. Preparing your meals in advance is also an easy way to ensure that you will get all the calories and nutrients you need instead of whipping together whatever possible when the moment comes.
On top of general well-being, eating healthy avoids the drawbacks of a workout regimen. Unless you are particularly bad with a chef’s knife, there is no comparable danger of injury. There are no other patrons judging your form. You are more than capable of attaining your own results and judging your own work with cooking, while you could also work out for weeks but not see results or be able to adjust course.
At this point in the year, we have all had enough of microwaved meals and unimaginative dinners. Our bank accounts are crying out for relief and many of our fitness plans are falling apart.
Eating healthy is one small way to regain a little bit of control during this roller coaster time of year.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker