Second Struggle- Nutrition

Article by Kevin Tamte, CPT, PN, TFW Level 1&2

As I continued working toward my fitness goals, I realized something crucial: no matter how long I spent on the elliptical, I wasn’t going to make significant progress without addressing my nutrition. It became clear that improving my eating habits was the next big hurdle I needed to tackle.

At the start, my nutrition was far from ideal. My mornings often began with sweets—stopping at the gas station for donuts and a pop or hitting a fast-food drive-thru for a breakfast sandwich and another sugary drink. Lunch wasn’t much better, usually consisting of a sandwich, chips, and yet another can of pop. Dinner was often a rushed, thoughtless meal, accompanied by... you guessed it, more pop. Vegetables were almost non-existent on my plate.

I knew I couldn’t overhaul my entire diet overnight. Drastic changes felt overwhelming and unsustainable. So, I chose to make small, gradual adjustments—focusing on one habit at a time. My first step was cutting back on soda. I started carrying a large water bottle to work and made a conscious effort to drink water instead of pop throughout the day. This simple change had an immediate impact: I began feeling better, and the weight started to come off again.

Once I was consistently drinking water, I tackled the next habit: reducing fast food. To support this change, my family and I started preparing more balanced meals at home. This not only decreased our reliance on eating out, but it also encouraged us to include more vegetables in our dinners—something that had been sorely lacking before. It wasn’t about cutting things out completely; it was about making better choices and reducing how often I leaned on unhealthy options. These changes weren’t monumental, but they were manageable, and they worked. I was losing weight, feeling better, and building momentum.

But with every victory comes new challenges. Eventually, I hit a plateau.

Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll share how I navigated that plateau and found a way to keep moving forward!

Do you need a different path for your nutrition? Contact Coach Kevin here and explore options for coaching and making the changes you need to make! Contact Kevin through our website and ask to speak to him personally! Feel free to email Kevin at kevintamte@gmail.com