Hey to all…THANK YOU SO MUCH for the feedback…you guys are terrificly helpful. So, yesterday, instead of cottage cheese and PB, I used (forgive me if this grosses anybody out) fat free pasta sauce in my cottage cheese (different strokes, for different folks). I hope that was a better choice (if not gastronomically, then at least nutritionally). Also, I took TWO cups of the cottage cheese before bed…one cup wasn’t enough. Is that cool? thanks again.
YUCK!!! I have never heard that combination before. You know, even though that pasta sauce is so called “fat-free”…I can guarantee that it has a bunch of sugar in it and has about 15-20 grams of carbs in it! IF you dont mind the added carbs, try adding a small carton of yogurt in with your cottage cheese. Man, the thought ot pasta sauce with cottage cheese just makes me cringe!
to all: thanks for the advice again…I’ve started eating cottage cheese at bedtime with an apple. Your advice on letting me know of its low glycemic value was great…now don’t feel back eating some fruit at night, and sounds like it’s a much better option than PB (or pasta sauce!)
Hi Terry: Firstly, THANK YOU!! for getting back to me earlier this week…I’m sorry it’s taken me more than a few days to reply to your own response. I really appreciate the interest you showed in my questions, and especially your willingness to help me out further with the diet thing. YOU ARE RIGHT…ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!! I am NOT taking in enough calories…I know that, I can tellthat. I guess I’m afraid (believe it or not!) to eat a lot!! Yea, sounds crazy…but it’s true. I mean, I eat regularly, spaced out 2-2.5 hrs apart, and eat clean, but don’t eat enough.
RIght now I’m doing HST…just finished my first two weeks on 15 RM’s…killed me…I should be eating “BIG” on this diet (yes?) and I"ve been meaning to start JB’s Massive Eating program, but have been swamped with work and other obligations and haven’t done it yet…I know that is affecting my results. Becuase I also use a bicycle as my main means of transportation, I am using up even more calories than normal, and so even more reason for me to be eating more…but I’m just not. Anyway, at 42 years of age, I keep thinking if I eat more, I’ll just get such a gut on me, that it’ll be impossible to strip off later…perhaps you can disabuse me of this false thinking? Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate it. KEep motivating us. You’re doing a great job!
Hey, there, Lorne. It’s a lot to juggle – work, family, social obligations, working out AND eating clean?!? It’s not easy. But I tell you what, I think I see the problem here: You seem to be stepping on the gas and putting on the brakes – all at the same time.
Loren, you have to make cutting your goal or bulking your goal. You can’t do both. You can’t “eat big” and drop BF. And eventually you need to pick a program that complements fat loss. You have, of course, chosen a bulking program.
I could help you with either goal, but if I remember correctly, you’re running, what, 15% BF? Your focus needs to be single-minded: DROP BF! Cardio is done with that purpose. The workout you choose (and do) is done with that purpose. And more importantly, how you eat and what you eat and when you eat is all done with that single goal.
So, when you come up for air, let’s kick things 'round. But what I need from you, Lorne, is a food log. I know you’re busy, and I know what I’m asking, but it’s the only way we can make the SUBTLE changes we’ll need to make to ensure positive results and continued progress.
So what do you think? Of course all of this is moot if you are currently making satisfactory progress. (grin)
A quick comment about the cottage cheese and pasta sauce. It may seem weird to some, but it is often used by many cooks in pasta dishes, especially lasagna. If you crave pasta (my biggest weakness) toss in some cottage cheese to up the protein content. Using protein enriched pasta also helps of course.
With enough meat this could easily become a great post workout meal.
Hi Terry:
You are so great. thank you so much for again offering your advice and support. I am really very appreciative of your willingness to help out.
I only have a brief moment to reply…but will have more time tomorrow for a longer response. But you are very right. Firstly a food log is essential…i"ve started one probably about 5, 6 times in the last three months, and get so bogged down by miniscule details that I drop it.
I’ve been under a lot of deadlines these last two weeks, but next week should be easier, so I will try it once again.
IN the meantime, when I reply with a lengthier response, I’ll address specifically the issues of my trainingprogram and fat loss/bulking dilemma. In the meantime, i simply wanted to say thank you for being so willing to help this newbish person out. Have a great day!
i hear everyone talk about natural pb. What brand is natural PB? and what is the diffrence? No vegetable oils? I have Reg PB, but i only have 2 servings a week.
Many a different brand of Natty PB exist. If they don’t carry it at your local grocer, go to a health-food or whole-food store. The difference is basic, but I think marked. That is, natural peanut butter is simply ground peanuts…no added sugar, preservatives or processing chemicals. Some may add some salt but nothing else.
As a matter of fact, many whole-food stores allow you to grind up peanuts freshly!
Now, you've got to go with crunchy, that's the bottom line. I also suggest trying almond butter. It's Quality.
Ryan, what’s REALLY important re PB is whether or not hydrogenated oils (a really, REALLY bad thing) have been added. Smuckers is one brand you can buy in the grocery store that does not have this highly-toxic fat added to its product.
Lorne to Tampa Terry:
HI Terry: hope you’re well. Wanted to get back to you again regarding your willingness to help me out with my diet/training program. I will try to keep this brief so as to not bore you…I"ve been training t-mag style for about 4 months now. First did EDT phase one then phase two, then a month of 5x5. THen I decided to do HST for hypertrophy. Being new at this, I assumed I should EAT BIG, if I want to do a hypertrophy program. So, I started HST, have finished two weeks of it, but haven’t really been eating big at all - maybe about 2200-2300 calories at maximum. (Stats: 42 years old, 15% BF, about 5’8" and 160 pounds.) SInce I commute everywhere by bicycle, I get all my cardio in that way, and it’s quite a bit of cardio at that. So, that’s where I am at. I know that you said I should first drop BF…I am hoping I can stay on HST, as I already started it. Anyway, that’s it in a nutshell. Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to proceed would be great. Thanks so much. Take care
Hi, there, Lorne. Glad to see you finally come up for air. I know you’ve been busy and juggling a lot. So if you tried to keep it brief, I’ll try to keep things simple for you. There’s an article I’d like you to read, “The Missing Ingredient, A simple tool that will allow you to pack on the pounds.” If you do a search on “missing” on T-Mag, it will come right up.
If you want to stick out HST, go ahead. Diet, after all, is what you have to focus on, more than what you do in the gym. Your diet will help you get cut and ripped, or your diet can help you to get HYOOGE. As I’ve said before, my recommendation is that you drop BF first. But having made that recommendation, what do YOU want to do, cut or bulk? Once you’ve picked one, yo have to ignore the other. Your workout has to complement your goal, your cardio has to complement your goal and your diet has to complement your goal. It’s not that you can’t switch after you’ve reached your goal, but you can’t do both, and you can’t go back and forth. The article I asked you to read (about how to keep a food log) will help you to do either and is a CRITICAL component to your achieving your goals.
I just wanted to talk about food logs for a bit. I keep mine in an Excel spreadsheet. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or even pretty. But it keeps me honest and keeps me thinking (about how to fine-tune things) and gives me feedback. It allows me to see trends. The thing is that I tend to eat a lot of the same things, so all I do is cut and paste. I rarely have to look things up anymore. And at this point (I’ve been keeping one since October), it takes me less than five minutes a day to maintain. So there’s my sermon on food logs. (grin) It doesn’t HAVE to be in an Excel spreadsheet, but as I said, it IS a critical tool to your managing your body composition. Without a food log, any advice to you can only be general and guesses at best.
So when you have the time, tell me about your goals, your diet and about your progress thus far.