This is basically most of the nutrition equation yet most people struggle with minute details. The beginning points don’t necessarily have to be those specific values/percentages that you pointed out, but the general concept holds true almost always. This isn’t rocket science however no matter what you tell people, they’ll still ask if x food or x habit will make or break their diet.
This is so true; Brick this topic will be another great one.
[quote]waylanderxx wrote:
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Is it hard? Of course not. Does it take a little bit of work to sit down and crunch a few numbers, look up a few values, and figure out the proper placement of specific nutrients for optimal performance? Sure, and apparently it’s more than some people can handle.
That’s perfectly okay with me though. I’ve got very limited time to train clients during the week after my ‘real’ 9 - 5 job, so I’ve been making some pretty nice $ just writing up diet plans for people who can’t do it for themselves (and the price went up after I became a “pro” -lol)
Some people just feel better about trusting someone else though. How many people with personal trainers don’t even want to know why they’re doing what they’re doing? I had one of my clients last week describe working with me as being similar to taking a college class (guess I’m doing my job then!)
Sadly, people who forgo doing their own work will never feel the power of trusting themselves with their physique goals, and will constantly be questioning everything they do (you’ll see the same themed posts on here every couple of weeks).
S[/quote]
Ouch Stu, ouch…[/quote]
C’mon Way, you know you agree! -lol. Competitors are different though, they NEED an outside pair of eyeballs. No one can be 100% objective of themselves when in a pre-contest situation, even the top IFBB guys (and this way they can blame whatever ‘guru’ they hired when they don’t win!)
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]waylanderxx wrote:
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Is it hard? Of course not. Does it take a little bit of work to sit down and crunch a few numbers, look up a few values, and figure out the proper placement of specific nutrients for optimal performance? Sure, and apparently it’s more than some people can handle.
That’s perfectly okay with me though. I’ve got very limited time to train clients during the week after my ‘real’ 9 - 5 job, so I’ve been making some pretty nice $ just writing up diet plans for people who can’t do it for themselves (and the price went up after I became a “pro” -lol)
Some people just feel better about trusting someone else though. How many people with personal trainers don’t even want to know why they’re doing what they’re doing? I had one of my clients last week describe working with me as being similar to taking a college class (guess I’m doing my job then!)
Sadly, people who forgo doing their own work will never feel the power of trusting themselves with their physique goals, and will constantly be questioning everything they do (you’ll see the same themed posts on here every couple of weeks).
S[/quote]
Ouch Stu, ouch…[/quote]
C’mon Way, you know you agree! -lol. Competitors are different though, they NEED an outside pair of eyeballs. No one can be 100% objective of themselves when in a pre-contest situation, even the top IFBB guys (and this way they can blame whatever ‘guru’ they hired when they don’t win!)
S[/quote]
It seems the only top guy who never hired help was Dorian.
another thing which gets my goat is when your trying to help someone and your explaining about diet ( macs or cals or whatever ) all you get is " yea but " or " thats boring man " or some other crap . i stopped trying to help people a long time ago . sometimes ( very rarely and for very short time ) i envy those people who eat with shear abandon and dont give a second thought of what their eating or what their next meal is gonna be and the affect it will haveon their bodies . also if someone dosnt take the time to learn about diet they will never or very rarely stay the course . i wonder how many 20 year olds who are on these forums will still be pushing/lifting iron in 20+ years time.
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk. I just force feed beef all day (gotta love being a butcher), and now I’m finally gaining. Man I love T-Nation. I’ve arrived at 220, headed to 230 
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk.
[/quote]
Why don’t you tell what bullshit it is to Dorian Yates and Skip Lacour, two of the most meticulous bodybuilders who’ve ever lived and tracked everything for training and nutrition.
Actually, counting macronutrients and calories is anything but bullshit as it gives the most accurate representation of where adjustments need to be made or if someone is responding to the diet with intended results (muscle gain or fat loss or maintenance).
Thanks. I can force feed too. Many here have done that with disastrous results.
[quote]
Man I love T-Nation. I’ve arrived at 220, headed to 230 :)[/quote]
I like T-Nation too, hence why I post here.
I weigh 198 now. I can get up to 208 in two weeks from now if I choose to. And anyone grown adult can gain this amount of weight in such a short amount of time. What does this have to do with anything?
I don’t count calories as I’ve said before.
I do portion control. This DOES work for body composition and weight manipulation, but it is not as good as counting calories and macronutrients. For many, it’s the best way to go, and it works if people have a clue in what they’re doing.
For example, here’s some of the foods I eat most often:
eggs
egg whites
various fruit, fresh and dried (mostly raisins and craisins for dried fruit)
lean meats (pork, beef, chicken, tuna)
oily fish (salmon and canned sardines)
pasta
rice
potatoes
oils
I know that two egg whites have 7 grams of protein; 1 oz of lean meat has 7 grams of protein; 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes has 15 grams of carbs; 1/3 cup rice has 15 grams of carbs; 1/2 cup pasta has 15 grams of carbs; 1 tbspn of oil has 15 grams of fat; and other contents of those foods listed and others.
So mentally, I know how to construct a meal, but it will not be 100% accurate because I “eyeball” portions. I can use this for weight gain or loss.
Professor X is someone who has built a huge physique without calorie counting but with portion control (whether he calls it that or not).
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
(I could’ve written and explained this better, but I can’t seemt to do it right now.)[/quote]
Good post Brick. You wrote it great and gave good perspective.
I am all for hiring a professional to help. Regardless of how much I’ve read there is a strong level of assurance of working with a professional. And not just any professional one that has achieved results. People talk about the $$ involved in doing so, but if you analysed where they threw their $$ into now I’d pick up at least 3 to 5 expenses per month that they didn’t need to spend on, that they spent on to ease their ego or feel good. So I don’t buy into the the “it’s too expensive” argument. If people had their priorities straight they would know where to spend their $$.
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk.
[/quote]
Why don’t you tell what bullshit it is to Dorian Yates and Skip Lacour, two of the most meticulous bodybuilders who’ve ever lived and tracked everything for training and nutrition.
Actually, counting macronutrients and calories is anything but bullshit as it gives the most accurate representation of where adjustments need to be made or if someone is responding to the diet with intended results (muscle gain or fat loss or maintenance).
Thanks. I can force feed too. Many here have done that with disastrous results.
You’re ignorant. And a douche bag.
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk.
[/quote]
Why don’t you tell what bullshit it is to Dorian Yates and Skip Lacour, two of the most meticulous bodybuilders who’ve ever lived and tracked everything for training and nutrition.
Actually, counting macronutrients and calories is anything but bullshit as it gives the most accurate representation of where adjustments need to be made or if someone is responding to the diet with intended results (muscle gain or fat loss or maintenance).
Thanks. I can force feed too. Many here have done that with disastrous results.
You’re ignorant. And a douche bag.[/quote]
Ignorant of what? Explain please.
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk.
[/quote]
Why don’t you tell what bullshit it is to Dorian Yates and Skip Lacour, two of the most meticulous bodybuilders who’ve ever lived and tracked everything for training and nutrition.
Actually, counting macronutrients and calories is anything but bullshit as it gives the most accurate representation of where adjustments need to be made or if someone is responding to the diet with intended results (muscle gain or fat loss or maintenance).
Thanks. I can force feed too. Many here have done that with disastrous results.
You’re ignorant. And a douche bag.[/quote]
That response however clearly proves that you are not…
If he’s getting away with what he’s doing (gaining muscle and little fat gain), then that’s fine. I speak in GENERAL terms and about the application of nutrition practices.
There are very few people who get away with his approach, especially those age 25 years or older with sedentary jobs.
[quote]XanderBuilt wrote:
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
(I could’ve written and explained this better, but I can’t seemt to do it right now.)[/quote]
Good post Brick. You wrote it great and gave good perspective.
I am all for hiring a professional to help. Regardless of how much I’ve read there is a strong level of assurance of working with a professional. And not just any professional one that has achieved results. People talk about the $$ involved in doing so, but if you analysed where they threw their $$ into now I’d pick up at least 3 to 5 expenses per month that they didn’t need to spend on, that they spent on to ease their ego or feel good. So I don’t buy into the the “it’s too expensive” argument. If people had their priorities straight they would know where to spend their $$.[/quote]
Thanks!
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
I think weighing food out is bullshit on a bulk. I just force feed beef all day (gotta love being a butcher), and now I’m finally gaining. Man I love T-Nation. I’ve arrived at 220, headed to 230 :)[/quote]
its only BS if youve been in this game for a few years and you can more or less know by the food and amount what cals n macs youre putting away.
i think all the expirienced people track their cals n macs more or less subconsiously .
but when dieting being meticulus is what get results.
Ok, I guess I was unclear. Yes you need to find YOUR starting point. I just got to the point where I eat pretty much the same stuff every day, so eyeballing it is sufficient. And force feeding usually ends up at the right amount of calories. Yes, I am making LEAN gains. I lift heavy carcass’s all day so I need about 5500 cals and don’t have time to be eating 6 meals a day. I eat 3 times.
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
Ok, I guess I was unclear. Yes you need to find YOUR starting point. I just got to the point where I eat pretty much the same stuff every day, so eyeballing it is sufficient. And force feeding usually ends up at the right amount of calories. Yes, I am making LEAN gains. I lift heavy carcass’s all day so I need about 5500 cals and don’t have time to be eating 6 meals a day. I eat 3 times. [/quote]
I wasn’t even trying to start stuff with you in the first place.
Your post here is much clearer and you’re not calling me a douchebag or ignorant (kind of surprising you did considering I speak of real application of nutrition).
You just wrote force feeding winds up at the right amount of calories and you DO “eyeball” stuff. That’s a lot different than just picking at whatever you like all day or eating completely indiscriminately.
I eat three or four meals per day also and have made threads about infrequent eating here.
Hell yeah, real men separate the yolks!
Great post, I vote for this to be stickied.
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]ritzgooch23 wrote:
Ok, I guess I was unclear. Yes you need to find YOUR starting point. I just got to the point where I eat pretty much the same stuff every day, so eyeballing it is sufficient. And force feeding usually ends up at the right amount of calories. Yes, I am making LEAN gains. I lift heavy carcass’s all day so I need about 5500 cals and don’t have time to be eating 6 meals a day. I eat 3 times. [/quote]
I wasn’t even trying to start stuff with you in the first place.
Your post here is much clearer and you’re not calling me a douchebag or ignorant (kind of surprising you did considering I speak of real application of nutrition).
You just wrote force feeding winds up at the right amount of calories and you DO “eyeball” stuff. That’s a lot different than just picking at whatever you like all day or eating completely indiscriminately.
I eat three or four meals per day also and have made threads about infrequent eating here. [/quote]
I see your point. My apologies.
What is a viable alternative to weighing food, for somebody who is used to the American diet? Is it enough to know calorie-values of food items and plan meals that way…Or how about looking at it in terms of energy supply & demand? If demand is nutritional requirements brought about by physical activity, the supply must be tailored to match or surpass the demand (if building muscle).
My point is that if you put a potato in the microwave for 4 minutes, it will burn your soul.
(FTP - fu** this post, It’s Christmas)