The problem in "making foods fit"...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion for training and nutrition, however when people just aim for hitting certain NUMBERS (carbs, fats, protein, calories) I question this.

I personally do not track my macros… how many carbs do I eat? No clue. Fats, proteins or calories? No idea, I don’t enter my food into a calculator.

When people just aim for numbers, they find ways to MAKE THINGS FIT those numbers. Usually when they aim to make things FIT, they neglect thinking of the vitamin/nutrient content as their attention is paid more towards; “if I fit this here, I’ll just subtract that there or lessen that then.” So if a donut fits into their day – they subtract the brown rice from another meal – voila, their numbers are fine for the day.

Where this doesn’t settle well with me is your body is still starving for the vitamins and nutrients that more wholesome foods would have supplied. One of the large ones being Magnesium (lifters listen up).

Firstly Magnesium plays a large role in more than 350 enzymes in the body and it is involved in virtually every metabolic process. It’s also involved in the modulation of glucose transport as well (lifters, think insulin sensitivity). A magnesium deficiency interferes with the tyrosine-kinase activity of the insulin receptor and can increase the calcium concentration within the cell. These factors are all associated with impaired insulin sensitivity. So not only could it interfere with your performance, recovery, growth, and overall physique; it could also play a significant role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

So instead of lessening the foods that your body requires in order to “fit in” other foods, allow for yourself to enjoy a reasonable sized portion of that food and continue with your day. Your body will actually thank you – your cravings might actually lessen so you’re not wanting them every day.

Some of the foods that are high in Magnesium that you might be neglecting in order to “fit in” your treats include: beans, nuts, brown rice, green leafy vegetables such as spinach or swiss chard, avocado, pumpkin seeds.

Numbers don’t equal health.

Natalie Gagnon