The term “healthy eating guide” can apply to a number of things. A fad diet book could be considered a healthy eating guide. Just because you can stick this particular label on it, doesn’t necessarily make it so. There are hundreds of “diets” out there and many of them aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. Weeding through them often leads people back to the place where they realize the best diet is one that is nutritionally sound and free of gimmicks and fads. For this reason, a truly healthy eating guide is often the simplest.

The right healthy eating guide for you may be different than the right one for me. We are all different and so are our bodies, our fitness goals, and what we like to eat. Finding the correct healthy eating guide that lines up with all of your individual needs can be tricky. But, it doesn’t have to be.

If you are getting involved in a fitness program and seeking a guide to accompany your workouts talking with a personal trainer or nutritionist might be a good idea. However, most of us don’t have the time or the money for this kind of one on one help. In that case, finding a fitness program that has an eating plan included is a great way to ensure that what you are eating matches your goals and your workouts.

The P90X Nutrition Guide has gotten a lot of good feedback for several reasons. This healthy eating guide not only gives you detailed instructions on how to eat with the accompanying extreme fitness program, it gives you options. Nothing is more difficult to stick with than a nutrition plan or workout that doesn’t have some wiggle room or customization features. With the P90X Nutrition Guide you pick the eating plan that fits your lifestyle.

When looking for the ideal healthy eating guide, don’t forget your preferences and needs. We are often lured by what works for someone only to find it is totally inappropriate for us. Find a nutrition plan that allows you to make some customizations and alterations in order to increase the likelihood of your successes.

P90X recipes don’t have to be complex or difficult. They don’t have to include a ton of ingredients or anything that you can’t find at a general grocery store. P90X recipes can be as complex or as simple as you want them to be. You can get them in the P90X Nutrition Guide or you can come up with them using the approved foods on the portion approach.

Some of us are naturals in the kitchen. For us, coming up with new and tasty P90X recipes isn’t all that difficult. We can look at the food list on the portion approach and immediately see some options we may not have thought of before. For us, the meal plan approach may not speak to our creative side. When you are able to wing it in the kitchen and come up with your own P90X recipes, there’s no sense in restricting your creative juices.

For others, culinary skills may not come naturally at all. For those, P90X recipes should be as simple as possible and spelled out step by step. While some of the recipes in the P90X meal plan approach are a little complex, there are several that can be done by just about anyone.

Also, no one said you had to cook every meal. If you’re happy with precooked grilled chicken breasts found at the grocery store and raw vegetables, you can certainly make a no fuss P90X plan that requires absolutely minimal cooking. Just make sure you are sticking with your nutritional approach to ensure you get the maximum benefits from the P90X program.

Here at ExtremeBody Workout we have come up with a few very simple P90X recipes. Check out this one for some quick fajitas or another one for Grilled Chicken Parmesan. Not enough? Try typing “P90X recipes” in the search bar above to get several additional blog entries on P90X recipes.

When you get started with P90X and crack open that nutrition guide, you may be taken aback at the amount of groceries you feel like you need to buy. Don’t worry! This is part of the reason there are a few approaches to the plan. If you have the extra money in your budget and time to spend in the kitchen, the meal plan approach would be appropriate. If, however, you like simplicity and don’t want to have to make multiple trips to the store, the portion approach may be better.

With the portion approach, you decide which foods to eat and how diversified you want to make your diet. If your budget is a concern, limit your food choices. Just because the list is extensive, doesn’t mean you have to buy everything or even close to everything on it.

Here are some simple tips for saving cash:

1. Buy in bulk- Bags of chicken breasts are great for protein just like cartons of oatmeal can last weeks for your breakfast carbs.
2. Limit your choices. For instance, you only need one fruit per day in the fat shredder stage. Buy a bag of apples or bunch of bananas and call it good for the week.
3. Freeze leftovers. Soups and casseroles freeze easily, allowing you to shop and cook in bulk.
4. Always make a grocery list to avoid impulse buying.

We would all love fresh seafood everyday for our protein or even a sirloin every night for dinner. For most of us, however, this is just not financially feasible. Take a look at the available foods and make a grocery list that can get you through the week.

Maybe you can save steak for Friday nights and seafood for on the weekend. Limit your week night selections to more budget friendly choices and simpler recipes.

It is very possible to make the P90X Nutrition Plan work on a budget. It may take some practice but when you get discouraged think of the money you are saving by not eating fast foods and also how good you will look when the 90 days is over!

People do the P90X program for a few different reasons. Some buy it because they have been puny all their life and want to get ripped. Others have gotten a little soft and perhaps gained weight. For them, P90X is an excellent way to shed fat and gain definition. For them, the program is a P90X weight loss plan, a way of losing pounds and getting in the best shape of your life. The average weight loss, on P90X, seems much more great than other programs.

The P90X weight loss plan consists of what every successful weight loss plan should consist of: high quality nutrition and exercise. Approaching weight loss from these two angles increases the likelihood that you will lose weight but also be able to keep it off. Losing weight through starvation diets may be effective but is not healthy and not maintainable.

What makes the P90X weight loss plan different from other weight loss plans is the intensity of the exercise and the dramatic results. When you challenge your body, it will surprise you. By setting the bar high, Tony Horton encourages your body to perform in ways you didn’t think were possible. Pushing your muscles causes them to respond, growing stronger and increasing your metabolism. Pushing your average weight loss on P90X to higher levels!

The P90X Nutrition Guide is the other crucial component to the P90X weight loss plan. Without it, the results aren’t nearly as dramatic and your health won’t improve nearly as much. Food is fuel and when you work out with P90X, the fuel you use is very important. This was understood when the P90X Nutrition Guide was written. It is a guidebook to ensure your body has what it needs to get fit, lose weight, and function optimally.

The P90X weight loss plan is one like no other. In no other weight loss plan will you see the results you see with P90X. You will lose fat and gain muscle. Your confidence will rise and your attitude will change. These are the benefits of a well rounded and effective weight loss program and something you can definitely achieve with the P90X program.

How much was your average weight loss on P90X? Share it with the P90X community, we would love to know.

The P90X Meal Plan Approach is for those people who want no guesswork. This plan is for those who like to cook and don’t mind buying plenty of ingredients. There are many delicious recipes in the P90X Nutrition Guide and this plan is going to have you trying all of them. While the shopping list for this plan may seem a little extensive, once you get your kitchen stocked with the basics, the weekly shopping will come easier. Also, remember you can switch to the Portion Approach if you feel like the Meal Plan Approach wasn’t the right choice for you.

Below is a grocery list to get you through the first half of week one on the Fat Shredder Phase. I am only giving you a half-week’s list because it is extensive. Also, there are many fresh produce ingredients used in this plan that are best bought soon before using.

Meat/Protein
Dozen Eggs
Turkey Breasts
Extra Lean Ham
Salmon
Shrimp
Turkey bacon
Several Chicken Breasts
Halibut
Sesame Seeds
Cashews
Soy Nuts

Dairy
String Cheese, fat free
Parmesan Cheese
Cheddar Cheese, low-fat
Mozzarella, fat free
Cottage Cheese, 1% fat

Carbohydrates
Wild Rice

Fruits
Strawberries

Vegetables
Mushrooms
Roma Tomato
Romaine
Hearts of Palm
Avocado
Asparagus
Shallots
Bag of Onions
Roasted Red Peppers (packed in water)
Celery
Garlic Cloves
Plum Tomatoes
Broccoli
Snow Peas
Yellow Bell Pepper
Green beans
Butternut Squash
Salad Greens
Red Potatoes
Carrots
Several Zucchini

Other (condiments, spices, sauces, etc)
Soy Sauce
Rice Vinegar
Minced Ginger
White Wine
Can Water Chestnuts
Low Fat Mayo
Dijon Mustard
Fresh Dill, Parsley, and Basil
Tomato Sauce
Low Fat Ranch
Chicken Broth
Lemon Juice
Tomato Paste

Yes, this list is quite extensive. Remember that several of these recipes, the chicken soup for instance, will create lots of leftovers that can be easily frozen for later use. Also, don’t be afraid to substitute, within reason, of course. For instance skipping the parmesan cheese and substituting fat free mozzarella won’t be a problem. However, substituting full fat ingredients won’t get you anywhere!

Once you are accustomed to shopping for the meal plan approach it won’t seem so daunting. If making a list is tiresome, take your P90X Nutrition Guide to the store with you.

You are ready to get started and see that daunting list in the beginning of the book. If you have chosen the Portion Approach you probably meal and snack solutions that are quick and flexible. This approach does just that and simply gives you foods to choose from with a daily allowance of portions. 

 Taking the list of approved foods and translating it into a manageable grocery list can seem daunting. There are so many foods you may feel overwhelmed. Try not to be.

Choose the foods you like, several from every group, and buy those this week. If you don’t eat all of them or wish you had something different, adjust next week’s grocery list to fit your needs. Below you will find a sample grocery list for Phase 1 (the Fat Shredder Phase) of the Portion Approach

Fats
Avocado
Olive Oil
Olives

Proteins
Boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts
Eggs
Fresh Fish
Tuna
Turkey Bacon
Fat-Free Ham Slices

Carbohydrates
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Grain Cereal
Whole Wheat English Muffins
Oatmeal
Pasta
Low-fat Refried Beans
Corn Tortillas

Dairy
Low-fat Cheese
Cottage Cheese, 1%
Skim Milk
Nonfat Yogurt

Fruits
Apples
Bananas
Grapes
Kiwi
Strawberries

Vegetables
Asparagus
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Peppers
Tomatoes
V-8 Juice

Condiments
BBQ Sauce
Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Mustard

Remember this grocery list does not have to be yours. It’s just to give you an idea of a good variety for one week on the Fat Shredder Phase of the Portion Approach. You have a much more extensive list of available foods in the P90X Nutrition Guide.

Tomorrow we will look at shopping for the Meal Plan Approach.

The P90X Nutrition Plan is one of the tools that will help you make it through the P90X training program. How to eat healthy is also something that you need to do for the rest of your life. The truth is, eating healthy is not as bad as it might sound. And, the P90X Nutrition Plan is like a road map that tells you exactly how to get to where you want to go. It’s like having your very own nutrition counselor. The key to better nutrition and diet is not cutting out every food you love forever, it’s eating realistically—not skimping on any one food group but choosing which protein, carbohydrates, and fat to eat when. It’s about learning to eat healthy.
 
Healthy eating is actually a balanced approach that doesn’t swing from one end of the spectrum to another. Instead of never having a steak again, you’ll learn how to choose which cut of steak is better for you. The P90X Nutrition plan recommends leaner cuts of beef, poultry, pork and lamb, egg whites, low-fat milks and cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates like multigrain breads and whole wheat pastas, and a variety of snacks and condiments.

When you first start your 90 days of the P90X training program, you will also begin what is called Phase 1 or the Fat Shredder portion of the nutrition plan. The first phase will have you eating foods higher in protein so that you can start to lose fat and build muscle. If you want, you can get a body fat tester to help determine your percentage of body fat.

Phase 2 or the Energy Booster portion of the P90X nutrition plan is a more balanced mixture of carbohydrates and proteins with low fat. This is a phase you can stay in for as long as you want, and really it is the best way of how to eat healthy for life. Food is fuel and this mix of foods will give you just the right amount of energy to workout and live day to day.

The P90X nutrition plan next takes you to the Endurance Maximizer phase. This is the athletic diet you need to eat if you are really pushing yourself in your workouts or your chosen sport. It’s a higher carbohydrate diet needed for energy and endurance. It includes the kind of food selections that runners or cyclists need when they push themselves to go long distances. It’s when you’ve earned the right to eat all the pasta you want without anybody telling you to lay off the carbs.

You don’t have to figure out how to do anything but follow a step-by -step nutrition plan. Every amount of food from each food group is already assigned its number of calories and you just mix and match to get the right food groups and portion sizes. As with most healthy diets, you’ll learn that it is better to eat six small meals each day than two large ones.

Once you start following the P90X nutrition plan through its various phases you will find that you are building a foundation of knowledge about how to eat healthy for the rest of your life. Diets that eliminate food groups simply are not going to work, nor is trying to lose weight and keep it off without exercise. The P90X is a total body training program that took over a year to develop and so far it has helped over two million people meet their health and exercise goals.