Real Food? Do's and Don'ts!

guile · 06-27-2005, 02:49 PM

What real foods do you try to eat when you are on a strict diet. What foods do you stay away from.

I'm not very strict in my diet, but generally I try to stay away from late night carbs. I don't agree with people who are on a low carb diet as carbs are your primary source for energy. They are only stored as fat when you don't use them. I base my diet around this.

I will have plenty of carbs early for energy throughout the day. Just not late in the evening before bed. I try to have proteins later in the evening to help rebuild muscles while i'm resting or sleeping.

So I would say no Pizza, Pasta, or anything like that late at night. Although sometimes I give in LOL.

Crashsti · 06-30-2005, 01:34 PM

i figure if you remain very active food should'nt be a huge concern. for me the key is to eat whole foods that are as unprocessed as possible. Chicken and Tuna are my two main sources of protein and i try to eat tons of vegetables, greens and fruit. i try to keep away from things high in saturated fat and refined sugars(cookies, sweetened cereals etc.). soda should be a banned even though i am drinking one as i type this.

Brandon_Dicken · 07-27-2005, 08:26 PM

Even though I don't watch what I eat I should and know what not too and what I should eat. Stay away from greasy crap bacon and stuff that has no real viatmins in it like candy chips and soda. Try to stick with natural food not that tofu crap just like a sandwichs, lean chicken and meat with some gatorade for a drink or some type fruit juice. No matter what you each really you shouldn't feel like you can't move afterwards you should eat what you need don't try to count the number of calories and junk because they won't add up it will be like you need to take in 8 steaks a day if you want to do that don't use supliments either try the narutal crap but do it everyday only when you need to.

SmashingMachine · 05-16-2006, 05:03 PM

For a good diet plan I recommend everyone check out the Men's health abs diet.

Reildeal · 05-16-2006, 05:17 PM

I have had to increase my carb intake by almost 3 fold for training. I eat a lot of foods that are high in protein as well, eggs, meats, etc. I haven't been too strict on my diet, but I've been staying away from obviously bad foods(ie. fast foods, junk food, etc.)

I had a huge slap in the face a week or two ago where I left training and on my way home got so light headed that I thought I was gonna pass out on the road. I pulled over, and my hands and feet went numb. this lasted for about 20 minutes until i could get a Protein/carb shake in me. The funny thing is that I was already loading on carbs, eating some form of pasta every day as well as other carb sources. It just goes to show how much the body really does need carbs when you do heavy training.

SmashingMachine · 05-16-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reildeal

I have had to increase my carb intake by almost 3 fold for training. I eat a lot of foods that are high in protein as well, eggs, meats, etc. I haven't been too strict on my diet, but I've been staying away from obviously bad foods(ie. fast foods, junk food, etc.)

I had a huge slap in the face a week or two ago where I left training and on my way home got so light headed that I thought I was gonna pass out on the road. I pulled over, and my hands and feet went numb. this lasted for about 20 minutes until i could get a Protein/carb shake in me. The funny thing is that I was already loading on carbs, eating some form of pasta every day as well as other carb sources. It just goes to show how much the body really does need carbs when you do heavy training.

Maybe you should look into Carbo Force. Take it with you and sip on it through out your workout. When your training gets to be really intense your body starts tapping glucose right out of your blood stream to get the immeadiate energy it needs to sustain itself. By taking Carbo Force or even Gatorade, something with good carbs in it, you help your body sustain those glucose levels so you don't bottom out like you said you did.

Crashsti · 05-17-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reildeal

I have had to increase my carb intake by almost 3 fold for training. I eat a lot of foods that are high in protein as well, eggs, meats, etc. I haven't been too strict on my diet, but I've been staying away from obviously bad foods(ie. fast foods, junk food, etc.)

I had a huge slap in the face a week or two ago where I left training and on my way home got so light headed that I thought I was gonna pass out on the road. I pulled over, and my hands and feet went numb. this lasted for about 20 minutes until i could get a Protein/carb shake in me. The funny thing is that I was already loading on carbs, eating some form of pasta every day as well as other carb sources. It just goes to show how much the body really does need carbs when you do heavy training.

holy crap, unless you're a bodybuilder looking to get "ripped" there is almost no reason to limit your carb intake so much that you have an incident like the one you describe. that is seriously dangerous. Carbs are vital to an athletes' performance. certainly you should avoid soft drinks and fast food but there are plenty of clean sources of carbs to keep you going all day long. i just bought a good book and i will post a link to it as soon as i can.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...43401878&itm=3

here you go, this book is wonderful. it gives you excellent descriptions of alot fo foods and also why they are good. its easy to read and i am glad i own it.

Reildeal · 05-17-2006, 01:21 PM

Thanks Smashing, I'll check out the Carbo Force. And Thanks Crashtsti, I'll check out the book. But if you read my post, I wasn't limiting my carb intake at all. In fact, I was loading up on carbs, and my body had still depleted them. I don't know if it's because my metabolism is so high or what, but I don't want that to happen again lol.

Crashsti · 05-17-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reildeal

Thanks Smashing, I'll check out the Carbo Force. And Thanks Crashtsti, I'll check out the book. But if you read my post, I wasn't limiting my carb intake at all. In fact, I was loading up on carbs, and my body had still depleted them. I don't know if it's because my metabolism is so high or what, but I don't want that to happen again lol.

i am sorry i misread your post. you know what, something similar happened to me while at work awhile ago. i had drank alot of carb oriented energy drinks and after a few hours i felt numbness in my toes and fingers. i concluded that my body had just been overwhelmed by easily digested carbs and my body had spike in blood sugar levels followed by a severe drop which led to my problems. you're problem could lie in your choice of carbs. you mentioned you eat alot of pasta, which while a complex carb and better than sugar is quickly digested and quick to enter and exit your bloodstream. you could try whole wheat pasta as an alternative. but again, that book can really help you.

Reildeal · 05-17-2006, 02:17 PM

What you just said about the carbs makes total sense. I'm going to get that book this weekend. Thanks a bunch Crash!

SmashingMachine · 05-19-2006, 12:03 AM

Yeah, whole wheat pasta's the way to go. Avoid anything really starchy. Like white pasta's, white rice, potatoes should even be eaten in limited amounts. Eat whole grain bread too. If it doesn't have something about "made from whole wheat flour or made from grains," keep shopping. Look for 2 or more grams of dietary fiber. Again, the Carbo Force is awesome stuff. I used to buy it by the case when I was serious into power-lifting.

Grande_Mono · 05-19-2006, 10:12 PM

If you're trying to eat on a strict diet or just healthy I'd personally be one to stay clear of all things containing high fructose corn syrup which is an ingredient of carbo force.

I'd suggest just buying some maltodextrin and dextrose (also ingredients of carbo force) and sip them in a shake (or whatever you prefer) during your workout.

That's just what I'd do personally, if you feel carbo force works well don't let me stop you

SmashingMachine · 05-19-2006, 11:27 PM

I no longer train that intense. So, I no longer use it. I was suggesting it to a couple of people or some other sports drink to keep their blood sugar levels replenished while training.

Grande_Mono · 05-19-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashingMachine

I no longer train that intense. So, I no longer use it.

I figured that do to this post

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashingMachine

I used to buy it by the case when I was serious into power-lifting.

I wasn't trying to specifically address you, just trying to throw it out there in general as I personally think of high fructose corn syrup as a "no-no" (if you will

) since it's certainly not the best choice of sugar for your body. And since the title was "do's and don'ts" I found it fitting to suggest

SmashingMachine · 05-20-2006, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grande_Mono

I figured that do to this post

I wasn't trying to specifically address you, just trying to throw it out there in general as I personally think of high fructose corn syrup as a "no-no" (if you will

) since it's certainly not the best choice of sugar for your body. And since the title was "do's and don'ts" I found it fitting to suggest

I agree with you about high frutcose corn syrup, and there may be better alternatives to Carbo Force nowadays too, but it has more than just the corn syrup in it. It's been 10-11 years since I used it regularily...and with the powerlifting/bulking up/keeping replenished...it served me well.

Hbs6 · 07-20-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guile

What real foods do you try to eat when you are on a strict diet. What foods do you stay away from.

I'm not very strict in my diet, but generally I try to stay away from late night carbs. I don't agree with people who are on a low carb diet as carbs are your primary source for energy. They are only stored as fat when you don't use them. I base my diet around this.

I will have plenty of carbs early for energy throughout the day. Just not late in the evening before bed. I try to have proteins later in the evening to help rebuild muscles while i'm resting or sleeping.

So I would say no Pizza, Pasta, or anything like that late at night. Although sometimes I give in LOL.

Late night carbs def should be avoided for people who tend to be more endomorphic. Its one of the easiest way to stay lean imo.

I am just curious about this. I see people recommending things like gatorade and carboforce ect (just high glycemic carbs in general, mostly derived from high fructose corn syrup or dextrose) and then they say dont drink soda. Do most of you guys realize that in a lot of those sports drinks (which I am not saying are bad for high endurance activity) have the same exact carb that is in soda?

SmashingMachine · 07-21-2006, 12:00 AM

Gatorade mix, is only 50 calories a serving. Carbo Force is outta control anymore. I could've sworn it was only 110 calories back in the day, but now it's up over 400...that's ridiculous. I usually only use Gatorade on days that I lose a lot of water and burn extra Glycogen...like after a really hard run or something. I had good results taking it while I lifted hard too. It kept my blood sugars up; which helped prevent further muscle breakdown.

sitnspin · 07-21-2006, 12:11 AM

My main weakness is too much bread (even if it is whole grain), and too much cheese. Also if there's ice cream in the house I can't leave it alone, but I make sure that 99.9% of the time, there isn't.

Hbs6 · 07-21-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashingMachine

Gatorade mix, is only 50 calories a serving. Carbo Force is outta control anymore. I could've sworn it was only 110 calories back in the day, but now it's up over 400...that's ridiculous. I usually only use Gatorade on days that I lose a lot of water and burn extra Glycogen...like after a really hard run or something. I had good results taking it while I lifted hard too. It kept my blood sugars up; which helped prevent further muscle breakdown.

I wasnt refering to the amount of calories. All i was saying is that the kind of carb that is soda is the exact same one that is in gatorade.

And its not so much keeping you blood sugar "up" during you workouts is what kept you from breaking muscle down. It was the fact that you were giving your body constant energy to burn throughout exercise, without having to use amino acids. (becuase you contantly gave yourself glucose but sipping on the gatorade)

SmashingMachine · 07-21-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hbs6

I wasnt refering to the amount of calories. All i was saying is that the kind of carb that is soda is the exact same one that is in gatorade.

And its not so much keeping you blood sugar "up" during you workouts is what kept you from breaking muscle down. It was the fact that you were giving your body constant energy to burn throughout exercise, without having to use amino acids. (becuase you contantly gave yourself glucose but sipping on the gatorade)

That's pretty much what I was getting at. Glucose is in your blood sugars. That's why I ingested glucose. So, it wouldn't deplete my levels and tap my aminos.