It's not until you embark on a body sculpting journey like mine that you realise how important food is.
Not only to give you energy for all that heavy lifting, but also to rebuild muscle and actually get that toned physical look you're aspiring to have.
I've seen a good few guys at my gym who work out religiously and have great upper body strength. I'm very impressed. But then I start shifting my gaze towards their abs and realise that it's all gone a bit pear-shaped.
That's because as my trainer Tony says, "Abs are made in the kitchen."
There is no point training so hard if the food you put in your mouth is all wrong. A staggering 80% of the body composition is down to what you eat and with this in mind, I have started to take extreme note of what is in my shopping market.
People often think that just because you have a massive goal like mine, you have to chomp on boring bland food.
They think meat, fish, eggs, some fruit, bit of carrot and a few sprouts chucked in for good measure. So okay, I've kicked out wheat and gluten out of my diet. Rice, pasta, noodles and the alike have indeed all vanished.
But that has not stopped me from shopping for foods that are good for me and will help me in my body sculpting journey. What I've learned is that I have to plan a bit more and experiment with foods that are allowed on the menu. And I've found that there are lost of foods out there that can make meal times a lot more interesting.
I eat quinoa, sweet potatoes and I drink almond milk. They are all delicious.
But by far one of the best products I have come across is the mighty coconut and I'm not talking of the 'taste of paradise Bounty' bar here. I am talking about coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut flour and coconut water. This one food has amazing properties and it tastes great too.
But things are never simple when you're trying to eat healthy and this is why most people just give up. You see even when you learn a food is good for you, you have to read the ingredients and make sure it's not made from concentrate.
So after doing my homework, I've settled on the Tiana range because it's 100% organic. And since its discovery, I've adopted the lip-licking antics of Nigella, each time I'm cooking with bit.
At the risk of sounding my own horn, I've become quite a good cook actually. I make pancakes and cakes with the flour, I mix coconut milk in with my protein shakes, I make curries with the coconut oil and I swig the water straight from the can. I never once feel I'm missing out on any indulgent food.
It's just made me more aware of that there are so many food choices out there and being healthy does not mean having to compromise on taste. Yes it means I have to take time out to prepare my meals but that is nothing compared to what I will achieve at the end.
My only wish is I had discovered my passion for cooking last year before my appearance on Come Dine With Me. I'm sure with my new found skills of cooking, narrator Dave Lamb would have given me the £1000 cash reward himself.
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