I just reread “Berardi’s Kitchen” last night and it inspired me to think about the food I have in my kitchen, and thereby my diet. A little background first: I’m 21, just graduated UConn, working in NYC for the summer as an intern, backpacking Europe in the fall. I’m 5’ 11", 220. I would guess that I’m around 20% bodyfat, give or take a few percent. Last summer I competed in powerlifting and pulled 425 in the meet. Last school year I mostly gave up on lifting and just hiked and climbed a lot. I dropped like 15 lbs, but about when I turned 21 I gained it all back.
So that takes me to where I am now. My fitness goals are hazier than they ideally should be, largely because of Europe coming up. I powerlift some with a friend from work, I climb some, I go on some long distance (4.5 mi is long distance to me) runs, I sprint some. I’m shooting more for general fitness/not being a fatty more than any specific goal, like pulling 500 lbs. The way I see it, any gains I made in a specfic sport, i.e. powerlifting, would all be lost while I’m in Europe for three months. Therefore my dieting goal is to lose fat, maintain lean mass. That will also help in Europe, so I won’t need as much food. I was on a bulking diet for a long time and though it was fun, it’s time to get rid of that excess fat.
Now to what’s in my kitchen. I sincerely believe what Berardi says, that temptation starts at the grocery store, and if you buy it you’ll eventually eat it. So when I grocery shop I don’t buy anything I view as unhealthy. The only problem with that is that I live in Brooklyn and the only grocery stores around me are awful, like the only leanness of ground beef they have is 85%. All I have in my kitchen/pantry is some marinaded chicken breasts, tuna, oatmeal, carrots, whole wheat bread, cottage cheese (might be bad now, hehe), whole wheat pasta, salsa (to put in the tuna, much tastier and healthier, though more expensive than mayo), whole grain rice pilaf, and I think one beer in the fridge. I’ve been drinking a lot less, more so because of the price in NYC than because of the health reasons.
I know I should do a food log, but I don’t. And I don’t see myself starting one this summer. But I’ll take yesterday as an example of a good day. Breakfast was 1/2 cup to a cup of oatmeal. I had a carrot for a midmorning snack at work. Lunch was about a quarter lb of whole wheat pasta with between a quarter lb and half a lb of chicken thrown in there. I put in some hot pepper and it was some tasty Chicken Fra Diavlo. Another carrot for a midafternoon snack, then I went and climbed in the evening. I was up in the Upper West side and I live down in Brooklyn and it was late, so no way I was cooking. I bought a smoked salmon sandwich at a deli, but I didn’t get much sandwich for the $7 I paid. Didn’t taste great, but it was pretty healthy. And that’s what I ate for the day. Now like I said, that’s a good day. Today’s lunch will be probably a wrap from the cafe that I believe is healthy, then out to dinner with friends. Again, I’ll try and order healthy, but it’s a crapshoot. As a sidenote I drink about 100 oz of water a day, so I have the hydration thing down. I don’t drink anything else besides a beer or two occasionally.
So does that sort of eating plan fit with my hazy goals? Am I getting enough calories, too much calories? I get as much protein as I can, though I know I could do better. I also know I need more vegetables, but it’s so hard to make and eat salads living alone. Vegetables go bad before I can finish them. Anyone have any suggestions/comments on what I eat? Thanks a lot guys.