The word "diet" is often misused and misunderstood. Whatever you eat during the day is your diet. This consists of all the calories you choose to consume in the form of liquids and foods. If you are trying to lose weight or train, you are actually not going on a diet, you are changing your diet.
Features
Weight loss and training diets have similarities and differences. They are both low in saturated fat and they consist of multiple food groups such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish, seeds, nuts and whole grains. Foods that are deep fried, processed and high in sugar are avoided. The big difference is the calories. Weight loss diets can be as low as 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day. Depending on an athlete's needs, training diets can be in excess of 4,000 calories a day.
Function
In both weight loss and training diets, multiple meals are often eaten. But again, this is done for different reasons. People who are losing weight, eat small meals to keep themselves from overeating and to increase their metabolism, which can lead to more overall calories being burned. Athletes eat every few hours to keep their muscles well supplied with nutrients and to maintain high energy levels. They are also usually training at high intensities so they need to constantly replenish what is being lost.
Obesity
Obesity is a condition where there is an excessive amount of body fat. This can cause many problems with the body, both inside and out. It can lower self-esteem, cause depression, place a lot of pressure on the joints and increase risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. A weight loss diet can help with all of these situations.
Multiple Meals
Athletes put their bodies through rigorous and grueling workouts and competitions almost every day of the week. It is vitally important for them to be well fueled before, during and after training to avoid "bonking." A training diet for an athlete is high in carbohydrates because they are used for energy by the body. Their diets are usually 60 to 70 percent carbs, 12 to 15 percent protein and 20 to 30 percent fats. This applies especially to long-distance athletes, like runners and cyclists.
Identification
Supplements are often called upon for weight loss and training diets. People who are losing weight use fat-burning supplements to increase their metabolism and curb their appetite which can lead to fewer calories consumed and more calories burned. Athletes use protein supplements and recovery supplements to build muscle and to heal faster from hard workouts.
Expert Insight
If you are trying to lose weight by changing your diet, incorporate exercise into your daily routine to get more bang for your buck. Also, if you are going to use weight-loss supplements, be aware of the side effects they can cause and do not use them in excess.
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