Clean eating

Strong seems to be the new skinny; actually, I think that lean is the new skinny, but strong is in the mix so woo hoo!

Getting lean doesn’t happen because you get strong, being lean has very little to do with what you are doing in the gym, it is about what you do in the kitchen.  Getting lean means eating clean, step away from the pizza and beer and head towards the broccoli and chicken.  Here are some simple steps to get you on the right track for being lean.

Cut out the crap

Processed foods contain a lot of crap; added sugars, oil, flavours, preservatives and fillers. Most of the things you find in processed foods are there to pad out the ‘food’ or make it last in the packet; these are things that are not items you want to include in your diet.  A simple rule to live by when buying anything a packet or can is if it has more than 3 ingredients on the label leave it alone.

Watch out for that meal in a cup

We often get caught out with what we drink now what we eat, that cup of coffee has calories in it than you might think. That medium flat white is the equivalent of eating a salad, and that mocha is the same as eating a portion of French fries.  Before you order up that milk laden coffee remember it is a meal and adjust what you eat around it.

Eat real meat, fruit and vegetables

Eating whole food is the best approach to eating clean and getting lean. Picking foods that have not been processed means you minimise the chemicals you expose your body to and you are fuelling it with foods that it knows how to handle.

Eat little and often

Eating 3 big meals in a day may work for some people, but for most of us, it is not ideal. Eating 4 to 6 smaller meals across the day is much better.  Having more meals will help keep your metabolism humming, and the small portions will help you not to overeat because you should never be starving hungry/hangry.

So remember when you are looking to get lean and eat clean

• Remove processed foods
• Avoid added sugar, fats and chemicals
• Remove alcohol
• Drink black tea and coffee
• Eat whole foods – meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Eat smaller portions more often
• Eat breakfast every day