Changing Body Composition through Diet and Exercise

Confused by so many conflicting messages about nutrition and exercise? Learn the latest from the field of performance nutrition, with scientific research backing up every concept presented. Clear, easy-to-understand explanations will provide all the information you need to set your personal body composition goals - and reach them.

If you want to feel, look, and perform better - whether that means lifting the grandchildren with ease or running a marathon - your weight is no way to chart your progress. Learn why your proportion of fat to muscle is a better gauge of health, and see how that ratio can be measured.

Learn about the chemical reactions involved in digestion and absorption and the mechanisms of nutrient partitioning - how nutrients are moved into specific storage areas in your body. Armed with this knowledge, you'll understand why exercise is the best way to use your food to improve body composition!

What we eat affects the functionality of every microscopic process inside each of our 30 trillion cells. Learn how the nutrients absorbed from our food protect cells from damage, provide the fuel used by the mitochondria to produce energy, and continually create new cells to replace old or damaged cells.

Bioenergetics, the process of converting food into a usable form of energy, is directly related to overall metabolism. Learn about the chemical work of the body's three energy-producing systems, the fuel each uses, when each is activated - and how your fitness level significantly impacts your body's use of fat as a fuel source.

While the breakdown of carbohydrates provides the energy needed for all human functions, excess carbs can significantly disrupt good health. Exploring the complex relationship between carbs and the hormone insulin, you'll learn which carbs are best eaten at certain times of the day based on your individual total nutrition and workout schedule.