The quality of your nutrition has a direct impact on the quality of results you get from your workout routine. No surprise there right? However, time and time again, I see guys falling short on their eating plan. Usually because they don’t know what it takes to stick with it. So here are some tips you can use to keep you on the straight and narrow path:

Come to the realization that this is a life change, and decisions are made one meal at a time – You can’t view a healthy eating plan as a short term gig. You must see it as a lifestyle change, and commit your mindset and perspective to it as such. However, you can also become overwhelmed by looking at things this way. So to balance it out, you also must understand that you only need to make the right choice one meal or snack at a time.

You need to plan prep time into your schedule - A healthy diet requires more time in meal preperation. It’s very easy to throw some processed food into the microwave or go to the drive-through. But when you’ve prepped your  healthy meal in advance, you will follow through and cook it. Also keep fresh veggies and fresh fruit chopped up and ready to eat.

You gotta keep junk food out of the house. PERIOD, POINTBLANK, NO EXCUSES! - If you have the bad stuff in the house you will eat it. Don’t try to kid yourself into thinking you have the restraint to resist and fight this habit of poor eating that you’ve been practicing for years. Make it impossible to pick the wrong thing. Once eating healthy becomes effortless, you can keep a little bit of junk food around.

Allow yourself one cheat meal per week as a reward - Eat whatever you want; dessert and all. It’s ok to treat yourself. Just be sure to keep your portions in check (no seconds). Of course, this is assuming you are combining a good workout routine with a healthy eating plan. That way, your metabolism will be able to burn off your cheat meal.

Until next time, train hard and train smart.