Eat to…Lift?

Fad workouts and fad diets often go hand in hand: CrossFitters skew toward “caveman”-like Paleo; yoga and vegetarianism are like two peas in a pod. But Boston sports nutritionist Nancy Clark (nancyclarkrd.com) says syncing your workout and diet is unnecessary for either optimal health or performance. “Diet is a lifestyle,” she says. “It’s not a right or wrong.” What’s most important is finding one you can stick with—which generally means avoiding fads. “The bottom line is that you should never embark upon an eating plan you really don’t want to maintain for the rest of your life,” says Clark, who recommends three general diet rules: Plan meals based around the time of your workout, and eat every four hours; eat .5 to .75 grams of protein per pound of body weight a day; and compensate with more fluids and calories if you’re doing intense workouts. —Jamie Ducharme

Check out more of our winter fitness package, “Stronger, Faster, Dirtier.”