One quick snack that I’ve started to really like recently is to bring some frozen veggies to work (like peas or broccoli) along with some butter and salt. If I’m a little hungry and it’s not lunch time, I’ll just throw about a cup or two of veggies in a bowl, add 2-4 tbs of butter, salt, and throw in the microwave until the butter is melted. It’s C+F, yes, but at least it’s very low-glycemic veggies. Very satisfying, IMO.
I do also keep some beef jerky type things at my desk. Beef jerky with bacon grease put on it is gooooood…
I won’t mention my other snacks, because then people will REALLY think I’m nuts
I agree with what seminole chick said…you just have to ween yourself from sugars.
Corey,
Yep…I am eating up until bedtime. My last meal of the night is a cup of non-fat cottage cheese with a scoop of low carb Grow and some fish oil capsules.
Breakfast (7AM) P+C
Mid-Morning (10AM) P+F
Lunch (1PM) P+F
Train 3PM (half serving of Surge)
4 PM (other half serving of Surge)
Post Training Meal (5PM) P+C
Post Training Meal (6:30-7PM) P+C
Dinner (9PM) P+F
Before Bed (10-10:30PM) P+F
For me, having a detailed plan is key. I work out exactly what I’m going to eat, and when, the night before, and bring everything prepared with me to work. Eating becomes mindless. It’s when I have to cast about for something that I get in trouble. I’ve never cheated when I’ve been adequately prepared.
I’ve also found a meal that I really like, and look forward to. For me, it’s cashew butter on a low carb tortilla (with a separate protein shake). Yum.
Cheat days are also invaluable. My goal on them is to, without being a complete glutton, satisfy pent-up cravings and leave myself feeling just slightly sick (not hard to do when you’ve been calorie/carb restricted all week). The feeling of overindulgence helps me coast through dieting Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday. And by the time Thursday rolls around, I can talk myself into deferring just about anything to the next cheat day.
I also really like the taste of Surge. That’s like a treat, too.
And then it’s about desire. I set goals for myself with rewards attached for completion–goals both in terms of body comp and athletic performance.
corey, my problem exactly. I am usually very good with my diet during the day, but when I get home I am foraging for food. Sometimes it’s a quality issue and sometimes it’s a quantity issue. I keep my house free of most bad foods; unfortunately, I can be pretty creative in the kitchen. I find that deviled eggs can hit the spot or be a good bridge until I prepare my next healthy meal. Depending on how you like them, you can use some Splenda to give them a hint of sweetness too. Besides that, water and other diet liquids are a must for me, and since it’s summer, I have an ice shaver that I use with sugar free flavorings after my meal for a light, but filling treat. Diet colas can give you fullness, but sometimes at the cost of irritating digestion. For me, I need to improve on enjoying the food I do eat (eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, not getting so totally distracted that I don’t realize I have inhaled most of my meal and didn’t really enjoy it…) and not rush through a meal already thinking about what I will be eating next. Sometimes I get so focused on the number of meals, what they will be and when I will eat them that I start obsessing about food and am far too anxious to eat again. Having a more relaxed attitude of being prepared with clean foods and sometimes allowing hunger to be a part of the process has helped me overcome an over emphasis on food. Of course, staying busy with just about anything to help take your mind off eating is an obvious choice.
Thanks ironic, that helps. My biggest cravings are for starchy foods like potato chips. I usually don’t crave sweets unless I have a diet soda. Sounds strange but it’s true. What does everyone have cravings for sweet or starchy? And what do you eat that’s clean to curb those cravings?
I guess I’m one of the lucky ones who don’t really have problems with self-control and resisting cravings. This is especially true when I’m on a schedule. Mondays through Fridays are extremely easy for me because I work on those days and I prepare everything for work and all my meals are timed exactly. I follow this immaculately and totally ignore all cravings.
My MAIN problem is weekends. On weekends I tend to sleep in and it is random what time I wake up. My schedule is rather haphazard and consequently my diet suffers. At work I know exactly what my schedule is for the day so i can plan it all, but on weekends… no such luck. Usually I tend to hang out with friends and go places too and it makes it MUCH more difficult to maintain diet. First, I have no idea what I’m eating since I don’t know the nutrition information of random foods. Second, it’s hard to have foods timed perfectly. Finally, when all your friends are eating pizza and cheeseburgers it’s much harder to order something healthy to fit your diet.
I could use tips on how to maintain composure on weekends. Also, weekdays when coworkers go out for lunch pose a problem as well since it just screws everything up
Great stuff! It seems many of us (if not all) can relate to some extent.
Fresh ideas can make a major difference!
Just went to the store and stocked up on the following:
-Mixed RAW nuts
-Eggs
-Turkey Jerky
-Turkey Breast
-Sardines
-Sea Bass
-Frozen green beans
-Asparagus
-Low carb bread (thought I’d give it a try)
-Oatmeal (just the plain old rolled oats)
-Kalamata olives
-Tuna in the tin w/olive oil
Plenty of whole foods with no processing. Tonight the eggs will be hard-boiled and the turkey jerky goes in the work bag. It’s coming together nicely.
Most of the people I work with eat crap all day long. So it’s always good to hear how others go through the day (what they eat).
I know you are trying to drop bodyfat, but it is going to be pretty hard to do that eating those types of foods and snacks. Just something to think about.
Eat 8 meals a day and you don’t have time to feel hungry, or crave sugary foods.
I bring shitloads of meat, veggies, nuts, shakes, and other goodies to work with me. And I just keep eating throughout the day. Once you get accustom to the snide comments from co-workers you have no problem doing it.
Rather than eating a bar, eat some food! Jerky and nuts, or hamburger patty or can of tuna, find real food!
Sounds like I was eating a couple of years ago the same way you are eating now. I had great success with it but then hit a brick wall. IMHO, diet has to be cleaner if you want those single digit %.
No offense, but what on earth isn’t “clean” about my diet? I’m afraid to use hot sauces because of what’s in them. Heck, to me, Surge would be considered dirty. I don’t even use protein powders. For the most part, I would be willing to bet that I have one of the healthier diets of anyone on this board.
I’d love to see how well I could do on this diet, but I have to start a new one next week. I’ll let everyone know what I did and the results once I’m done, because I know I’d get lip for saying what it is now. It will be a step back for sure, but hopefully it will help me out in the long run (I will lose lots of fat and muscle).
It would appear that you eat way too much fat…saturated fat at that.
Why would you not consider Surge clean?
I prefer solid foods to Protein Powders myself, but they sure are convenient.
I ate very much like that a few years ago but since I switched to whole foods, Fruits, veggies, more unsaturated fats, etc. I feel much better and see a lot better results.
If I used pepper on my veggies, I’d starve to death. I can’t think of something less satisfying than peppered peas. Butter is good for you. It’s a real food, provides vitamins and minerals, and also helps absorption of certain plant nutrients while also providing fullness and slowing digestion to provide a better insulin response. What’s not good about that?
Not to bash anyone here as this is not my purpose but I have to also wonder:
NeilG said:
One quick snack that I’ve started to really like recently is to bring some frozen veggies to work (like peas or broccoli) along with some butter and salt.
How is this a good “snack”? Unless it’s a trivial amount of fat (why even bother), the sat. fat content in butter is a no-no. And there isn’t any protein w/this either.
My thinking: a good alternative to this would be veggies/salt with some sardines/chicken thrown in on the side.
Too much fat is a bad thing to say. That would be like me telling you that you eat too many carbs. The amount that is good for the person needs to be determined by the individual. I do well on the amount of fat I eat. And it’s only natural fats.
The reason I consider Surge “dirty” is because of the nature of the sugar, “artificial flavors”, and sucralose. Dirty to me, yes, but it does the job well. Although it’s quite clean as far as supplements like these go.
NeilG - It’ painful to see you pass out such bad advice. You seem to have this real desire to be a “guru” of some sort, but kid, you just don’t know enough yet. Hell, you’re a newbie as I recall! Stop embarrassing yourself and read the back issues of T-mag before you post again. You’re muddling up this great forum with nonsense and bad info.
How is this a good “snack”? Unless it’s a trivial amount of fat (why even bother), the sat. fat content in butter is a no-no. And there isn’t any protein w/this either.
Yes, you’re right there’s no protein with this. I thought you were asking how to avoid cheating, not for an ideal meal. IMO, this is a very satisfying snack that takes a couple minutes to make. Much more filling than something like beef jerky.
For two cups of veggies, I usually use 3-4 tbs of butter and then sprinkle sea salt over it. There’s no need to worry about the saturated fat, it’s actually good for you. The amount I personally eat could be too much for many people, but it works for me.
