It’s all about alkalising, kick-starting the metabolism and cutting out acidic foods.
You know about the ubiquitous F45 fitness phenomenon and have seen the jaw-dropping results those high-intensity, functional sessions promise, but outside the four walls of the gym, the program also recommends an eating plan to clients – as we all know, barbell curls and bench presses don’t work alone. F45’s nutrition team shares with us details on the eating plan – which is “designed to define your body.”
“The program is eight weeks and the eating plan is broken down into three phases; the ‘Alkalising Detox Phase’, the ‘Define Muscle Phase’ and the ‘Fat Shredding Phase’. These phases maximise fat burn, develop muscle tone and support fitness development,” according to F45’s nutrition team.
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The first phase is rooted in the alkaline diet because this is one of the best ways to “stimulate fat burn, reduce inflammation, enhance calcium and magnesium levels, improve cellular health and increase energy production in the body,” which is effectively the ‘building block’ for the rest of the challenge – the program works harder if the body has alkalised efficiently. So if you’re after a pre-summer detox, listen up.
“The science behind alkalising is focused around the pH levels in the blood and cells. The body’s blood measures at a pH of 7.3, which is slightly alkaline. A diet rich in acidic foods or poor lifestyle habits can alter the pH of the blood, which can result in two important minerals – calcium and magnesium – to be leached from the muscles and bones to buffer the acidic pH back to slightly alkaline.
“Consequently, low magnesium and calcium storage in the body can result in symptoms such as fatigue, low mood, poor sleeping patterns, muscle cramps and spasms and increased fat storage,” which, of course, is not ideal if you’re undertaking an intense fitness program – especially for the first time.
The ‘Alkalising Phase’ is therefore focused on cleansing, eliminating, preparing and stimulating specific areas of the body, according to F45’s nutrition team.
“During this phase the body will be cleansed from a build-up of toxins while enhancing liver function, promoting healthy bowel movement, kick-start the metabolism, remove fluid retention and begin the process of eliminating sugar cravings,” and a typical day looks like this:
- Breakfast: Chilli tomato scrambled eggs
- Morning-tea: Protein almond shake
- Lunch: Turmeric cauliflower with chicken pieces
- Afternoon-tea: Garlic snow peas with almonds
- Dinner: Salmon and zucchini noodle bowl
It’s packed with lean white meats, fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates, healthy oils and raw nuts and seeds – this supports the body’s detoxification process, and is packed with rich nutrients, which, F45 Challenge or not – is something we can all do more of.
For more on the F45 Challenge, head here.
If you are concerned about your weight or the state of your health, book an appointment with your GP who will be able to advise a correct treatment plan.
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