Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

gaining 20 lbs of muscle in a few months is tough, especially on your regime of running X miles on a daily/ weekly basis. You might have the genetics for it, I don't know. But looking at your pictures, getting to 185 lean will be some work.

A method I have heard of , and tried, is called squats and milk, or 20 rep squats. its VERY grueling, and even I didn't make it through the 6 week cycle, but I put on somewhere between 5-10 lbs of lean mass doing it. My testosterone levels went through the roof too, by a lot. The idea is you find out your ideal 5 rep squat level now, and that will be what you do for 20 in 6 weeks. You are also supposed to consume a good deal of calories and protien.

Simply lifting and running probably won't give you the lean weight gains you want. Some people have the genetics for it, but most don't. Putting on solid muscle is difficult. At the very least, in order to make good gains, you have to incorporate deadlifts, squats and the like.

Well, it's taken a lot of work, but I've also changed my diet. I never started to gain weight until I declared that I'd quit the fat free junk and start eating real food. I've read up on the Paleo/Primal diet, and while I don't want to do that, I've grown quite fond of organ meats, Greek yogurt, rustic breads, and keeping raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts around for me to snack on. I've gained 25 lbs since November 2009, my calves and shoulders are defined, and I think I have a butt now. At the very least, I look like a human being instead of a ghost.

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Well, it's taken a lot of work, but I've also changed my diet. I never started to gain weight until I declared that I'd quit the fat free junk and start eating real food. I've read up on the Paleo/Primal diet, and while I don't want to do that, I've grown quite fond of organ meats, Greek yogurt, rustic breads, and keeping raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts around for me to snack on. I've gained 25 lbs since November 2009, my calves and shoulders are defined, and I think I have a butt now. At the very least, I look like a human being instead of a ghost.

Sounds good... I assume you're at 165 now? So, are you gaining weight because you want to have your appearence to fill in? Are you doing it for strength? Are you looking at weight training as complimentary training to running? The answers to these should dictate what you are looking to do. There is a standard novice program and book I would recommend if you want to do weight training... but, really, its a matter of your goals. Generally, there is limited compatability between distance endurance running and weight training... but strength improvements can help... along the lines of what unh_hockey suggests.... build up a base strength for a period and then switch to endurance style weight training.

I think Paleo is probably the best diet to strive for... carb minimization etc. It certainly is for weight training... not being a runner I would guess that you would still carb load before long endurance runs... body still needs fuel etc... but for most of us cube dwellers there isn't a dramatic need for a large amount of carbs... except that they are tasty

Anyhoo... these are my thoughts... I'm still scraping the barrel of physical understanding. If you do go the weight route as an accessory to the running work I will probably recommend a book to make sure you get the form right... squats are a particular thing... 100 people will do 100 different things where it comes to the squat... half-squat, quarter squat, keep the knees in, use a foam pad, use a smith machine, and a whole sort of other bad ideas.

As for muscle mass... again... echoing unh_hockey... to build size for the sake of size (and hell, this is also true for strength as you will still need to increase muscle mass) it will take a fair bit of calories and you will gain fat.

But for a lot of this... spell out what you're looking for because that will shape the options for getting there.

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

while I'm at it... no specific progress reports to mention... stagnation yet progress... meh. I'm doing a good job of keeping the explicit **** out of my diet... still have to run into some of the fried stuff as I've decided that chicken tenders are the easiest way to eat well (in protein terms) at lunch and I still do other things from time to time. I wonder if I'm taking in too much non-horrible things... and I have had a "slip" once in awhile (had a 23oz Yeungling while being angry with myself after the dentist)... but I'm doing fairly good.

The first week of the year I missed the Wednesday gym session because i forgot my shorts... so I came in Thursday and I decided to see what I could pull off in terms of 1 Rep (power) snatch... i should point out our gym does not have bumpers and I don't own a home yet Anyhow... I blasted out a 110 pound (50kg) snatch. Not spectacular but I had never gone for a one rep max. There's a gym down the street that has bumpers but I don't want more than 1 gym membership and I have a USAW certified co-worker that I'd prefer not to lose. Honestly though, if I had my own house with a basement I would have sprang for some nicely colored bumpers.

Other than that... struggling but progressing... just did 225x5(rep)x4(sets) squats last monday... my form is much better than the last time I was doing 2 plates... I pulled a 245x6 on Friday... could have been x7 but I chickened out... and then immediately got upset with myself for it. Switched back to doing the bench press... I don't care for it... but my body is proportioned for it... 177.5x5 2 fridays ago... if we had kept these in I'm sure I would have had 2 plates for sets by now... but I'd rather overhead press... still dealing with those... before xmas I had gotten to 102.5x5 behind my head... did 130x2 presses on Friday.... could probably do 122.5x5 from the front but it had been 3-4 weeks since I had done a standard press. Deadlift is back up to 260... 270 this Friday I figure... gotta get that number up.

Its funny to feel that I'm middling along but I still feel like in some ways I'm getting better. Generally, though... its time to stop dalliing and get the squat and deadlift number up... for not being injured in any major way and having this much time into this... there really is no excuse... I did have those form issues and we did switch to front squats for awhile... but I should be pushing 3 plates on that squat and somewhere in the 350s on the deadlift. Either way... can only hack away at it one week at a time.

 

[moose97]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I've been doing an average job of my goal of getting to the gym. Went once the first week, twice the next, three times the next, then only once last week since I wasn't feeling very good. Now this week I went today, with plans on going Wed and Fri.

As an aside, with my daughter off school, she came with me (she's 9 - turning 10 next month), and she really wanted to do the rock wall they have there, but wanted me to do it first. I hadn't done any climbing since high school (I'm 35), so was a bit worried about how it would go. I was thrilled with the work-out (shoulders especially) and my daughter was so proud that I made it to the top. I have to admit - I wasn't sure I would, and i know I wouldn't have if I had tried a year ago before I lost the weight...

 

[nmupiccdiva]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I've been doing an average job of my goal of getting to the gym. Went once the first week, twice the next, three times the next, then only once last week since I wasn't feeling very good. Now this week I went today, with plans on going Wed and Fri.

As an aside, with my daughter off school, she came with me (she's 9 - turning 10 next month), and she really wanted to do the rock wall they have there, but wanted me to do it first. I hadn't done any climbing since high school (I'm 35), so was a bit worried about how it would go. I was thrilled with the work-out (shoulders especially) and my daughter was so proud that I made it to the top. I have to admit - I wasn't sure I would, and i know I wouldn't have if I had tried a year ago before I lost the weight...

This is awesome!

So, I got brave and finally did an outdoor run yesterday. I just did an easy 3 miles, and I think if nothing the time off was good for me. The area where I ran was beautiful, too, but I bet it gets nasty cold there if there's any wind off the big lake.

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Wild, I totally thought I responded to this thread. Oh well.

I think Paleo is probably the best diet to strive for... carb minimization etc. It certainly is for weight training... not being a runner I would guess that you would still carb load before long endurance runs... body still needs fuel etc... but for most of us cube dwellers there isn't a dramatic need for a large amount of carbs... except that they are tasty

I have been doing Paleo for the last couple of months, strict for the last week. I feel 1000 times better. I kind of eased myself into it, eating a little more fruit than I should (because I have weight to lose, if you are at ideal weight, too much fruit is no problem with the paleo).
Before I went strict paleo I noticed something that I was not eating as often, dairy and grains, turns out are not at all my friends. So it will be interesting after 90 days of strict what I can or cannot add back in.
I also have to say the inflammation in my shins has improved greatly and I recover pretty darn quickly (which I have usually had pretty good recovery).
Crossfit is going well, and it is always interesting where I see the results come up.
I had to play forward for my hockey game this week; I haven�t played forward since my first year of hockey, (10 years ago) and certainly not at this size. I was FLYING up and down the ice. I was amazed at how much energy and stamina I had. Other than over thinking how to play defense as a wing (I had to translate through my defensive brain), I had a great game!
Which is good, because I have started the Wendler 5/3/1 strength program. So I have had to adjust my Crossfit WODs accordingly. I haven�t done IRM maxes in a while, but yesterday was my off day for the Lifting program, so I did the whole Crossfit WOD. Jerks were part of it, and I put 155 over my head! So I guess the program, the diet, etc is working. That is a 25lb PR.
Once I complete one more cycle I am going to max out to see where I am. Right now I am focusing on this strongwoman competition that my trainer has signed me up for! YIKES!
I think come March, I will progress out of the strength stuff, and go back to a more even crossfit program and start throwing in some crossfit endurance workouts too. If my shins are cleared up for real, I would love to have an actually running season this year.
So my goals:
1) Legit pull-up. I am progressing on the assisted ones, and I am getting there.
2) Flip the giant tire in the gym. It weights 750 lbs, I can almost do it. I want to be the first chick to do it.
3) Run a half marathon. I have signed up for covered bridges in June; I am hoping to do one in April/May as well.
4) Lose 60lbs. I have lost 20 since starting crossfit, which I had been disappointed with, until I did measurements. I have lost 16 inches, so a lot of fat is going into muscle. So I am excited to see what happens with dialed in nutrition.
5) Stretch goal: Sprint Tri. I found a masters swimming coach but with my travel schedule it is hard to find a time to do lessons. I think once I get a handful in the bag and I feel comfortable with the whole swim portion, I would be comfortable enough to struggle through the rest. The nice thing about my gym is I have access to some great tri resources. A couple of amateur athletes and one pro workout at my gym.

 

[bostonewe]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Wild, I totally thought I responded to this thread. Oh well.

I have been doing Paleo for the last couple of months, strict for the last week. I feel 1000 times better. I kind of eased myself into it, eating a little more fruit than I should (because I have weight to lose, if you are at ideal weight, too much fruit is no problem with the paleo).
Before I went strict paleo I noticed something that I was not eating as often, dairy and grains, turns out are not at all my friends. So it will be interesting after 90 days of strict what I can or cannot add back in.
I also have to say the inflammation in my shins has improved greatly and I recover pretty darn quickly (which I have usually had pretty good recovery).
Crossfit is going well, and it is always interesting where I see the results come up.
I had to play forward for my hockey game this week; I haven�t played forward since my first year of hockey, (10 years ago) and certainly not at this size. I was FLYING up and down the ice. I was amazed at how much energy and stamina I had. Other than over thinking how to play defense as a wing (I had to translate through my defensive brain), I had a great game!
Which is good, because I have started the Wendler 5/3/1 strength program. So I have had to adjust my Crossfit WODs accordingly. I haven�t done IRM maxes in a while, but yesterday was my off day for the Lifting program, so I did the whole Crossfit WOD. Jerks were part of it, and I put 155 over my head! So I guess the program, the diet, etc is working. That is a 25lb PR.
Once I complete one more cycle I am going to max out to see where I am. Right now I am focusing on this strongwoman competition that my trainer has signed me up for! YIKES!
I think come March, I will progress out of the strength stuff, and go back to a more even crossfit program and start throwing in some crossfit endurance workouts too. If my shins are cleared up for real, I would love to have an actually running season this year.
So my goals:
1) Legit pull-up. I am progressing on the assisted ones, and I am getting there.
2) Flip the giant tire in the gym. It weights 750 lbs, I can almost do it. I want to be the first chick to do it.
3) Run a half marathon. I have signed up for covered bridges in June; I am hoping to do one in April/May as well.
4) Lose 60lbs. I have lost 20 since starting crossfit, which I had been disappointed with, until I did measurements. I have lost 16 inches, so a lot of fat is going into muscle. So I am excited to see what happens with dialed in nutrition.
5) Stretch goal: Sprint Tri. I found a masters swimming coach but with my travel schedule it is hard to find a time to do lessons. I think once I get a handful in the bag and I feel comfortable with the whole swim portion, I would be comfortable enough to struggle through the rest. The nice thing about my gym is I have access to some great tri resources. A couple of amateur athletes and one pro workout at my gym.

I was checking out the Whole 30 website the other day ... what DO you eat when you're doing Paleo?

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Sounds good... I assume you're at 165 now? So, are you gaining weight because you want to have your appearence to fill in? Are you doing it for strength? Are you looking at weight training as complimentary training to running? The answers to these should dictate what you are looking to do. There is a standard novice program and book I would recommend if you want to do weight training... but, really, its a matter of your goals. Generally, there is limited compatability between distance endurance running and weight training... but strength improvements can help... along the lines of what unh_hockey suggests.... build up a base strength for a period and then switch to endurance style weight training.

I think Paleo is probably the best diet to strive for... carb minimization etc. It certainly is for weight training... not being a runner I would guess that you would still carb load before long endurance runs... body still needs fuel etc... but for most of us cube dwellers there isn't a dramatic need for a large amount of carbs... except that they are tasty

Anyhoo... these are my thoughts... I'm still scraping the barrel of physical understanding. If you do go the weight route as an accessory to the running work I will probably recommend a book to make sure you get the form right... squats are a particular thing... 100 people will do 100 different things where it comes to the squat... half-squat, quarter squat, keep the knees in, use a foam pad, use a smith machine, and a whole sort of other bad ideas.

As for muscle mass... again... echoing unh_hockey... to build size for the sake of size (and hell, this is also true for strength as you will still need to increase muscle mass) it will take a fair bit of calories and you will gain fat.

But for a lot of this... spell out what you're looking for because that will shape the options for getting there.

Right now, I weigh roughly 175. Basically, I'm still trying to fill myself out after the years of self-abuse (going from gluttony to borderline anorexia). When I left the gym on Wednesday, I looked in the mirror, especially at my shoulders, sighed, and said "it will come." And yes, I am looking at weights as a complement to running. Even if I only gain a few lbs of muscle, I know it will help my running in the process.

At the very least, I like looking like this as opposed to this or this.

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I was checking out the Whole 30 website the other day ... what DO you eat when you're doing Paleo?

Well I eat 3 eggs and some bacon almost every morning. Which depending on where you land on the Paleo/Whole 30 fence that is alot of eggs. I dont seem to have any egg allegies and really I have bigger fish to fry right now so I leave that one.

I actually have been good with breakfast since I started thinking/learning about crossfit. And when I eat that for breakfast as opposed to a bagel or something I am good right up until lunch. Sometimes I have a little fruit mid morning if I have meetings that are around noon and I dont think I can make it through.

Lunch is generally whatever left over protein I had the night before, and then some veggies. Frozen steamer bags of veggies are my absolute best friend. I have a couple of bags at work, and at home. So whenever I get lazy, 3 mins and BAM tastey veggies. During the summer, I eat more locally, but right now I am eating more of those steamer bags.

Then dinner, I am usually not that hungry. I will have a little protein post workout and some more veggies for recovery. I will say overall I end up eating alot less, because I simply dont have the insilin spikes that make me crave more of those quick carbs.

For me the meals are real simple, but I get together with 3 other girls from the gym every other week and we take turns cooking for each other. This week she made this stirfry tomato, zucchini,squash, adavacto thing that was absolutly delicous. She roasted the tomatoes with olive oil before hand, I had never had tomatos like that before, they were so sweet and tastey, I could of eaten a whole bowl of them. Then she made some sort of meat, stuffed pepper, that were a little hot for me. but I tried it.

When, I cook it is usually some sort of protien and it is pretty even between beef, chicken, pork and fish. When I can I get my meat from a grass fed place, and buy the wild fish. That happens maybe 70% of the time. But I am also pretty exhausted from work when I get home, and the one thing about paleo is that you end up having to cook alot. And you know what I am pretty satisfied with hunk of meat, some sort of seasoning and veggies. I am not really an adventurous eater and well it is not all that different than how i ate before.

All in all it wasnt that much of a switch for me. The pasta was suprisingly easy to dump, I really dont miss it (dumped that no problem in the summer). The thing that is hardest for me to get rid of was refined sugar. Which really had nothing to do with my regular meals, it was more about me walking around with a pepsi in my hand. So switching to paleo for meals, wasnt that hard.

I think with the whole 30/paleo/whatever. The big thing is sort of dumping the big internal inflamatory foods, then add stuff back in to see how your body reacts. And the other reason why I like this way of eating is it something I can do long term. There is no measuring, or counting calories.

I had a friend over break give me alot of crap about eating this way. I was so confused, because I am like "it is meat and veggies and good healthy fats???". You would of thought I was doing the diet coke and grapefruit diet. And the most fustrating part was that I dont do alot of diets. I did Weight Watchers 10 years ago, and that is more portion control, you still make your own food choices. So she was all up in my face like I have tried every diet on the planet. And I dont, because I dont want to do something for 6 months and then stop doing it and have all the weight come back. This way of eating just made sense to me, and to be honest, the last year and a half was the way I was heading anyways.

After the seminar I will do a follow up post for people who are interested.

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Right now, I weigh roughly 175. Basically, I'm still trying to fill myself out after the years of self-abuse (going from gluttony to borderline anorexia). When I left the gym on Wednesday, I looked in the mirror, especially at my shoulders, sighed, and said "it will come." And yes, I am looking at weights as a complement to running. Even if I only gain a few lbs of muscle, I know it will help my running in the process.

At the very least, I like looking like this as opposed to this or this.

That is the hard part with struggles with food. Because you HAVE to eat to live. You will get there Bob, I know it!

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I can't buy into Paleo because its to adamantly against carbs... which I think its a difficult transition except for those who can completely put themselves to that kind of rigor.

Right now, my diet, roughly and not accounting for weekends, looks like this

Morning...

Protein shake (water), small bag of nuts.

Lunch

3 pieces of fruit (or veggie), 6 fried chicken tenders (yeah, not the best... but I don't like to cook and bring in food)

Mid-Day

protein shake (milk... half pint)

Post-workout

protein shake

Dinner

Subway (tuna... usually), Boston Market (1/2 chicken, mashed potatoes, corn) OR

a couple of pork ribs, 1 cup of Wild Rice (pre-cooked single serving bowl), bbq sauce...
occasionally chicken is subbed for pork.

Snacks

Apples and Oranges

There are many sins to paleo above... fried is probably a sin... rice is a sin... bread is a sin... but right now, I think its managable considering my life style and my protein intake. I am not forsaking eating out but I'm biasing in favor of meats against starches. I've cleaned out most of the alcohol (averaging about 1 beer a week right now), all of the sugars (after xmas stocking ), and all manner of junk food. I've also been reasonable about avoiding gratuitous milk but it does hit me from time to time.

Weekends aren't much different... for some reason I'm much lighter on the protein but not necessarily at the expense of other things... and I have this weakness that makes my buy grapes on grocery day.

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

Right now, I weigh roughly 175. Basically, I'm still trying to fill myself out after the years of self-abuse (going from gluttony to borderline anorexia). When I left the gym on Wednesday, I looked in the mirror, especially at my shoulders, sighed, and said "it will come." And yes, I am looking at weights as a complement to running. Even if I only gain a few lbs of muscle, I know it will help my running in the process.

At the very least, I like looking like this as opposed to this or this.

Are you working with a trainer? My coach started me off on a program based on this book

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Stre...5421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295631816&sr=8-1

If you are largely on your own I'd say that your best bet is to keep with your running protocol (since that is your priority) and take the beginner program to its limit. I would also flat out ignore any dietary advice given within the book.... I think you're learning what your activities require of you and the dietary advice within the book is aimed at indestructable 17 year olds who get their nutritional advice from popular culture (pop culture is usually trying to advise 40 year old sedentaries). Like anything else... if you can ease into dietary changes then you can find what works. After a run through a beginner progression then things like endurance work (20 rep sets) at a lighter weight would become a good idea. These are my thoughts.

If you are working with a trainer who is knowledgable with the barbell then just do what he/she says. My perspective at this point are that barbells are your all-in-1 super tool... dumbells are for working up those who are not yet strong enough and those who are emphasizing specific body muscles (body building, body sculpting) and the machines are for people who don't know what a barbell will do for them.

 

[walrus]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

There are many sins to paleo above... fried is probably a sin... rice is a sin... bread is a sin... but right now, I think its managable considering my life style and my protein intake. I am not forsaking eating out but I'm biasing in favor of meats against starches. I've cleaned out most of the alcohol (averaging about 1 beer a week right now), all of the sugars (after xmas stocking ), and all manner of junk food. I've also been reasonable about avoiding gratuitous milk but it does hit me from time to time.

Weekends aren't much different... for some reason I'm much lighter on the protein but not necessarily at the expense of other things... and I have this weakness that makes my buy grapes on grocery day.

The biggest sin is non stop processed food. Read the ingredients of what you are really eating. Look at a box of Morton Salt, its got sugar in it. Paleo isn't going to do anything for you if you don't get away from processed food. Not easy I know

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I can't buy into Paleo because its to adamantly against carbs... which I think its a difficult transition except for those who can completely put themselves to that kind of rigor.

It is not against carbs. There are carbs in veggies and fruit. I think the better way to say it is against foods that cause inflamation (which are dairy, grains, sugar and that varies to what degree based on your own personal chemsitry). And it really isnt all that more rigorous than mixing up protien shakes. Regardless of what eating plan you take, you will need to plan your day out and not just walk into a convience store and get a candy bar.

The biggest sin is non stop processed food. Read the ingredients of what you are really eating. Look at a box of Morton Salt, its got sugar in it. Paleo isn't going to do anything for you if you don't get away from processed food. Not easy I know

I agree with this whole heartly. That is why switching to Paleo for me wasnt that hard for me because I have been moving out of the center of the grocery store and shopping on the outsides anyway. And I will tell you now that I don't eat grains and dairy and if I have a slice a pizza, my body is ****ED. Food is fuel, if it has that kind of effect on your (and it varies based on your chemistry) then it probably isnt good for you.

But you are right, there is pretty much sugar, corn and/or soy in just about any process food you eat. And now there are feeding corn to farm raised salmon in some places. Are you kidding me???? Where the hell does a salmon find corn in the wild!!! (which is one of the reasons i dont eat as much fish as I would like, I have a harder time finding out where it came from, where as I have great access to local butchers).

I think the biggest adjustment is how I think about getting good healthy fats in and really that makes a huge difference.

I will tell you this, I am alert, I have a ton of energry, I have not experience the winter blues, I am cheerful, performing well in the gym and having fantastic results. I think I was pretty much tired the last 10 years. Now I am not! And trust me, this time period at work is beyond stressful right now. If I wasnt eating this way and had a support system in the gym, I would of easily gained a ton of weight, been mopey as heck and would be looking for another job. But now I am able to manage my stress, workload and outside life with realtive ease.

And other than I have to think a little when at the grocery store and plan a little ahead on my meals it really isnt inconvient.

I am not here to wax the poetic about Paleo, I only mentioned something because Sarah asked about it. Eat how ever you want, what ever works for you.

 

[walrus]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I
I agree with this whole heartly. That is why switching to Paleo for me wasnt that hard for me because I have been moving out of the center of the grocery store and shopping on the outsides anyway. And I will tell you now that I don't eat grains and dairy and if I have a slice a pizza, my body is ****ED. Food is fuel, if it has that kind of effect on your (and it varies based on your chemistry) then it probably isnt good for you.

But you are right, there is pretty much sugar, corn and/or soy in just about any process food you eat.

I'm doing something similar to Paleo but I'm doing it for Gut issues more that weight issues(even though I'm overweight). Its tough making everything you eat, but when you start to read labels carefully you see whats in the food they push on you. My idea of lunch was a couple of pizza slices, a bag of chips and a coke. A sure fire way to gain weight. No soda, no grains, no taters, no sugar, no guar gum, carragean, Xanthan gum, no rice, no soy,no sugar etc etc. Its not easy and I'm glad I like to cook but when on the road, lunch time sucks. Apples and cheese sticks, hard boiled eggs, avacados seem to be a main stay right now. If you don't know your way around a kitchen Paleo would be even tougher. There is another diet thats similar called GAPs. slight variation

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I'm doing something similar to Paleo but I'm doing it for Gut issues more that weight issues(even though I'm overweight). Its tough making everything you eat, but when you start to read labels carefully you see whats in the food they push on you. My idea of lunch was a couple of pizza slices, a bag of chips and a coke. A sure fire way to gain weight. No soda, no grains, no taters, no sugar, no guar gum, carragean, Xanthan gum, no rice, no soy,no sugar etc etc. Its not easy and I'm glad I like to cook but when on the road, lunch time sucks. Apples and cheese sticks, hard boiled eggs, avacados seem to be a main stay right now. If you don't know your way around a kitchen Paleo would be even tougher. There is another diet thats similar called GAPs. slight variation

I will admit with the travel I do it can get hard. I try to get hotels with a little kitchen and the usually are no more expensive then staying at a regular hotel (and for my trip next week it is actually 65 dollars cheaper a night, which will save the company alot of money on a 9 night stay). But I will admit, I end up just snacking through lunch until i can get something better to dinner, and I can eat some things on the no no list and not feel like I had hit by a bus (like pasta is ok with me)

I think that is why long term, I prob will be on the more 80% paleo diet, which also gets pretty good results (once you have sort of cleaned everything out).

 

[bostonewe]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I am not here to wax the poetic about Paleo, I only mentioned something because Sarah asked about it. Eat how ever you want, what ever works for you.

Thanks for the info, Winger! It has been popping up on my radar for awhile now. I don't know that it's for me (I'd want to do it 100% and I can't make that commitment right now), but I did want to know what the basics are. We too are mostly outer-rim shoppers in the grocery store. Our new goal is to substitute brown rice for pasta since we're pasta fiends. Next step will be incorporating more veggies (looking forward to maybe splitting a CSA with the bf this spring/summer).

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

CSA is a great first step. I love getting veggies I have never had and trying to figure out how to make something tastey out of them (plus I love getting local tastey veggies I love!)

I would say a year ago I was probably heading more towards becoming a vegitarian, not so much because I didnt want to eat meat, but especially beef it was more on how they were raised commerically. But with the access to affordable grassfed beef (and other meats) that concern has been taken care of.

I think bottom line, eat real food.

If you ever have any questions let me know. And if you are going to sign up for a CSA i would do it now, they sell out alot sooner than you think.

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

PR deadlift! (270x5) Back in the game folks! The great thing about a personal record is that they beget other personal records. Man that summer diversion cost me some time. It was heavy... but they're supposed to be. I didn't have to struggle for the last one other than keeping my hands working On to 280 next week... keep pumping out 10 pound gains until they stop.

 

[nmupiccdiva]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2011: Better Than This.

I think bottom line, eat real food.

I couldn't agree with this more.

For the most part, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and yogurt* are the pillars of my diet. If they're wrong, then I don't want to be right.

*and not that "Light and Fit" crap, either. I mean real, actual yogurt. Usually plain low-fat or non-fat, but sometimes a plain Greek style. I cut down on sugar by buying plain and adding my own fruit and such to it.