[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Pt. 2
re: tracking food macros. When I was dropping weight some years ago, I tracked my food religiously. It was a great exercise to learn portions and what PFC they contained. I encourage everyone to do that for at least some months and memorize certain things.
For fun, I’ve started recording what I eat. To be sure, I’m not giving myself macros, then fitting meals to it, I’m just recording what I eat.
Guess what? I’ve essentially been maintaining the same weight for many months, actually slightly losing scale weight just eating what I naturally want to eat. I’m hitting about the same macro/calorie breakdown all week, except for a little extra here, a little less there (usually less when I’m traveling for work).
I know naturally (after having gone through the exercise of visually learning portion sizes and macro breakdowns) that all I need to do is add another slab of meat during the day and another potato, and I’m going to gain. Up the cardio and drop the cream in my coffee and a serving of rice and I’ll lose. It’s that simple.
I know if I buy 0.6 lb strip steak, it’s going to grill down to 1/2 lb (close enough amongst friends). Quick-- anyone-- withough googling-- Calories/Fat/Protein in 1/2 lb of steak… Anyone? If you can’t answer that, or at least know that at the end of the day approximately what 2 lbs of steak, 2 cups of rice, 6 eggs, and, I don’t know, 2 Tbs of PB comes to, then maybe you should track your macros. If you can’t do that, but know whether you will generally lose or gain on that, you’re probably experienced enough to pull it off. If you’re getting close to contest day for BB, then you’re already doing something similar on paper or in your head.
Some guys need a list. Some don’t. Some guys need a program. Some don’t. Sometimes the ones that do, don’t. And sometimes the ones that don’t, do. This is only shit you learn by doing.
My first couple years lifting, I used published templates. I learned what works for me and what doesn’t. I’m still learning that. It’s the same with diet.
The real crux of the buscuit is you have to be honest with yourself. You know if you pussied out on that last rep. You know if you justified that donut. You know if you had another set. If you’re not happy seeing the abs smooth over or you really shouldn’t go down that path, because you will become miserable then start blaming your failure on other people (That fucking SteelyD said just fucking eat and I’d get HYOOGE but I just got fat. He ruined my life..). You know what? Fuck you, dumbass.
If you don’t mind it go as far as you can. Own it. Just have a plan and be honest. Weigh your options.
Goals:
- 405 bench by the end of the year and you’re at 365 BP? Then do what it takes.
- 405 bench at 220 by the end of the year and you’re at 365 BP and you’re at 220 BW? Well, that’s a MUCH different path, diet wise.
The goal sets the approach (IMO). Period. You can’t serve to masters. Well, you can, but none will be optimal. I’ve said before, my pure lifting numbers have suffered because I’m NOT willing to just pile food in my pie hole. My physique isn’t contest condition because I am, in fact, racing the clock and I mentally am not hindered by “looking like a powerlifter” (TN code for ‘fatass’).
TL;DR – Mmmm. Cheeseburger.[/quote]
I don’t disagree with most of this Steely.
You used to track things meticulously and now you know.
THAT is what many have advocated here, I even remember Brick giving examples of learning portioning based on eyeballing size “handful of veggie” “palm sized price of meat” etc. etc.
You can do this because you are not a beginner and are know what you are doing because you DID track and built that base.
I honestly would be surprised if 1/4 of te people reading this thread knew the answer to your macro question with looking it up.
Although most probably wouldn’t admit it, I doubt many know how many calories are in a gram of protein/carb/fat much less how many grams of protein are in specific foods.
This is based on personal experience but I whole heartedly believe that most people think they know but really don’t.
The key thing I think you said in your post was “own it.”
I see a lot of people, not you, making excuses for the extra weight they carry around.
Just own it, don’t force it down others throats and share your experiences like you do.
This place would be much better off.
I’m hungry now after reading that steak and rice part.
