You Are What You Eat...What Does That Make You?

Though I cannot stress enough how important exercise is, another necessity is diet and nutrition. The pursuit of food is no longer our primary goal in life, but making the best food choices provides us with sustenance to become victorious in our journeys. Ever since the days we were escaping predators and seeking prey, it's been about balancing energy in and energy out to optimize the performance of the human machine—in other words, striking the right equilibrium between the food we consume and the activity that keeps us strong.

A comprehensive and dynamic nutritional and hydration program is important to prevent problems, optimize performance, and facilitate self-care when you are sick or injured. What that program looks like depends on your individual requirement and needs, which change on a daily, and even minute-by-minute, basis.

Do you have a balanced diet? Or have you given in to the readiness of processed foods? Are you overweight? Underweight? Are you taking vitamins and supplements that are specifically relevant to you and your health?

Do you even know what your body needs? We all remember the "Food Guide Pyramid" from our elementary years. Although it has changed over the years, it still requires grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins every day. To find out if you are eating the rights foods, you can visit the website of the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an organization of the US Department of Agriculture, at www.choosemyplate.gov.

Is your diet out of whack with this standard? If so, what can you do to improve the quality and quantity of the food you eat? Remember—you'll have a much harder time summoning your inner victor if you're not giving your body the fuel it needs (or giving it too much poor fuel).