We all know what we want to look like if given a choice.  For the most part, many people even have ideas as how to accomplish this goal.  Some people believe all they have to do is eat a certain way.  Other people believe they just have to spend as much time as possible in the gym, and some believe that they can take supplements to get to their ideal look.

The fact of the matter is that nutrition actually makes up the largest part of achieving your ideal look.  You can work out constantly and take all the supplements in the world, but if you don’t watch your nutrition, there’s a 99% chance that you won’t reach your goal.

In 1992, the Bill Clinton campaign came up with a phrase to explain why Bill Clinton was a better choice than the first George Bush.  The phrase was, “It’s the economy stupid.”  Well, in the fitness world, if you substitute the word “economy” with “nutrition”, you have an explanation to the biggest obstacle in reaching your goals.

This is not to say that working out is not extremely important.  This also isn’t to say that there isn’t value in supplements.  But supplements enhance your progress; they don’t do the job for you.  Creatine, ZMA, and Amino Acids are all great supplements for people trying to build muscle, but finding the right ratio of protein and carbohydrates is absolutely essential.

On the other side, fat burners, fat blockers, and CLA are all great for those trying to lose fat, but eating the right amount of protein, the right kind of carbohydrates, and cutting down the sugars will help you get to your goal so much faster.

At the end of the day, you need to be honest with yourself and do what you need to do.  Cheating on your diet and exercise only cheats yourself.  If you don’t know what you should do, hire a personal trainer that can work with you and tailor a program to your needs.  After all, you only get one life and one body, so make the best of it!