The triangle of support. Three things that make you achieve your fitness goals

By Neil Perkins

I still refer back to 2011 when I launched my 6-week body transformation package and remembered the lessons that I learnt. I had an A+ student who lost 6kg of Fat, gained 1kg of muscle and consequently transformed his physique. I had another few studies who dropped body fat and a couple of ‘crash and burns’. My A+ student followed the nutrition because the other sides to the triangle of support were in place.

Nutrition is one of the key elements in achieving your goals, but there are factors that affect this. The triangle of support consists of…
Nutrition
Sleep
Stress Factors

Nutrition
Nutrition is hotly debated subject but regardless of your route or plan, you’re likely to impair your judgement and slip off target if your Sleep and Stress Factors aren’t appropriately managed.

2. Sleep
In 2016 it was published that sleep deprivation costs the UK economy £40 billion per year.
“Sleep deprivation not only influences an individual’s health and well-being but has a significant impact on a nation’s economy, with lower productivity levels and a higher mortality risk among workers.”
Sleep is not only key to training, but productivity in your every day life. Quality nutrition will help you sleep as will training. If you lack sleep, your more inclined to procrastinate from attending the gym and more likely to make poor food choices. There is also another side to this, very often stimulants such as caffeine are used to ‘improve performance’. Without adequate rest and nutrition this is likely to stress the adrenal glands causing at best an elevation of cortisol (stress hormone) and may cause even worse metabolic damage long term. You can’t make gains in the gym without adequate rest and sleep.

Quality of sleep and depth of sleep is equally as important. This again relates back to stress and training.

3. Stress Factors
Managing stress is something that many of us struggle with. Stress relief’ is a key reason for many people exercising. The vicious circle of not appropriately managing stress and lifestyle means that we miss trips to the gym, we also have the results from our training significantly diminished. Stress not only elevates our cortisol levels, we make poor choices in relation to nutrition. I’ve heard of clients who ate 10 ‘Chomp’ bars or overdosed on chocolate when they’re stressed, I’ve never heard of a client that ate two bags of celery when stressed.
Nutrition, Sleep and Stress management are key to you achieving your fitness goals. Be mindful of your sleep and stress along with your nutrition to achieve your goals and remember this quote that I love.
‘Failure to reach your fitness goals tastes like cake’