I have been receiving a lot of e-mail lately about diet. In the past, I was never concerned about what I ate. I just went to the gym, trained hard, and that was the extent of my routine. Not until recently did I realize the power diet has over the way your body looks and performs. I believe that diet is at least 75% of the fitness equation. In this article, I'm going to describe in detail what I have learned about diet during my 12-week transition period.
When to Eat and How Often
This might sound strange, but you have to eat more often to lose fat and gain muscle. During my transition period, I never ate less than 6 meals a day.
• Try to eat every 2 to 3 hours.
• Do not eat complex carbohydrates after 6:00 p.m. or four to five hours before going to bed.
• Try to eat one gram of protein per pound of lean body mass on lifting days and .8 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass on non-lifting days.
• Never eat more than 70 grams of protein in one meal.
Carbohydrates
When I think of carbohydrates, I think of energy. Carbohydrates supply our bodies with the energy it needs to make it through a workout. Without an adequate supply of carbohydrates, the body goes into carbohydrate deprivation. This is called a state of ketosis (meaning our body is using protein as energy). This is not a good state to be in for long because it will rob the body of muscle tissue in an effort to create energy. On the other hand, if too many carbohydrates are consumed, they convert into stored fat. The idea is to consume just enough carbohydrates to make it through our workouts with sufficient energy. I have broken down carbohydrates into these three categories:
• Simple carbs: These are sugars, or quick energy. They are absorbed very quickly into the body. Ex. Anything with sugar, also fruit
• Complex carbs: This is where you get long-term energy for the day. These are long chained carbohydrates that brake down slower, giving us energy over a prolonged period of time. Ex. Oatmeal, potatoes, pasta, rice, breads
• Fibrous carbs: These are things like vegetables. I think of them as roughage in order to stay regular. Make sure you include them in you later meals when you can't eat complex carbs. They are also a good source of vitamins. Ex. Leafy vegetables like lettuce.
Protein
Proteins are the building blocks of our muscles. Without a sufficient amount of protein in our diet, our muscles will not have the raw materials that they need to build up, or even hang on to what is already there.
Net protein utilization: Not all protein is created equal. Different foods are absorbed more than others. For example, egg white protein is absorbed at 88%. That means we get about 9 eggs to our muscles. On the other hand, chicken breast are absorbed at 68%, meaning we get about 7 breasts to our muscles. It is imported to eat a wide verity of protein foods though; no one protein source has all the amino acids we need.
• Whey protein (100%): the best source of whey protein is from protein supplements. It is also absorbed very fast by the body, so it is best to take this when your body needs amino acids quickly: like right after a workout or when you first get up in the morning.
• Egg whites (88%)
• Fish (78%)
• Chicken breast (78%)
• Soy protein: My one bit of advice would be to try and stay away from soy protein. It is not absorbed very well by the body.
Fats
We normally think of fats as being bad. The fact is certain fats are essential to building muscle and carrying out various functions of the body. There are 2 fat types we need to be concerned about:
• Saturated fats: these are the bad fats. Avoid these fats as much as possible. You will find these types of fats mostly in meats
• Unsaturated fats: these are the good fats. They are a good energy source and help us build muscle. You can find from plant oils. Peanuts are also a good source.
Water
Do not under estimate the importance of water! If you are looking to get lean, water will be your best friend. Drink as much as you can and as often as you can. Also, it is very important to drink lots of water when you're eating large amounts of protein to clean urea from the system.
Vitamins & minerals
As resistance training athletes, we have a greater need for vitamins & minerals. When we workout and bring blood to our muscles it is important that our blood is full of those essential vitamins & minerals if we want to grow.
Supplements
Supplements are just that, meaning they are used to supplement your diet, not replace it. Don't ever think of it that way.
Hierarchy of supplements:
I developed this hierarchy of supplements based on what I thought were the most important and also by price.
• 1. Proper diet: Without proper diet you are just wasting money on supplements. Start here! Do not think that supplements are going to do it for you alone.
• 2. Multi-vitamin & mineral: It is very important to have all your vitamins & minerals when resistance training. Most of us are lacking in some areas, make it a priority to make this your first supplement.
• 3. Protein powder: It is usually very hard to get all the protein you need from real foods. Powders make it much easier. Also, these powders are absorbed fast by the body making them ideal after workouts or before and after sleep.
• 4. Creatine: This is great for harder workouts. It also makes you muscles hang on to water, giving them a better environment to grow.
• 5. L-glutamine: This is an important amino acid in muscle recovery
• 6. Branch chained amino acid: These are great before and after workouts along with L-glutamine because it gives your muscles all the amino acids it needs to repair and grow.
• 7. ZMA: This helps you release more growth hormone while you sleep, increasing your size and strength.
• 8. Thermogenic: These really help in the fat loss process. They also help you hang on to more muscle while dieting due to the fact you can eat more.
• 9. Meal replacement: Although very expensive, meal replacements make it much more convenient to get some of your meals in. Also, you can get in more meals than if you were to eat only real foods.
"The golden hour"
Remember "The golden hour" because it will make things so much easier for you. "The golden hour" is a window of opportunity we have to get everything we have depleted in our body back in a short amount of time. Think of your muscles as a gas tank: When you workout, you use gas for energy or in this case glucose. After a workout, our muscles are in a unique state. They are able to fill back up very quickly leaving you full for the next workout. If you wait to long, your muscles don't fill back up as easily and the carbs you eat are more likely to be stored as fat. Doing this will also let you take advantage of insulin's muscle building effects from the simple carbs you have ingested. You want to ingest 50-75 grams of simple carbs right after a workout. Also, this is when you want to take your protein shake because it will absorb quickly and supply your muscles with the amino acids that they need.
Insulin
This is a very complicated subject, but all we need to know is that insulin can help us build muscle or can make us fat depending on the timing. Insulin is released by the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels. We can achieve a high blood sugar level by ingesting simple carbs. Like "the golden hour" we have a window of opportunity to take advantage of the muscle building effects of the insulin without getting fat. We have about 4 or 5 hours after we workout to take advantage of insulin. If we take in too many simple carbs out of this window, we are very likely to store fat.
Cheat day
The theory behind the cheat days is you take one day every 2 weeks to eat anything you want and actually get leaner. It might sound crazy, but it worked for me. When you eat low carbs for a time for body begins to think it is not getting all the food it needs (because your not storing any fat) and begins to slow down your metabolism. When you bombard your body with food on that one day, it tricks your body into thinking it has all it needs and speeds your metabolism back up. I can tell you from experience, every day after a cheat day I felt leaner and looked better.
Ketosis
This is when your body uses protein for energy. This happens when we have too few carbs in the body or when we over train. I went into the state of ketosis for only the last week of my 12-week transition for a couple of reasons: (1) I wanted all of my muscles to shrink down so when I carbed back up, my skin would be tighter. (2) When you go into ketosis it seems to bring the water out from under the skin. Don't go into this state to loose fat. Without carbs your body can not burn fat effectively. You will loose weight rather quickly, but only because you don't have as much glycogen in the muscle. Also, you are simply loosing water. Remember that proteins are the building blocks for muscle and that means they are fair game for energy when in the state of ketosis. I would not recommend going into this state unless you are trying to get into a super ripped state for a short amount of time, like for a bodybuilding contest.
2007-11-16 05:29:27
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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No.
But here is some help.
You need to understand weight loss.
Here are my articles on the subject of weight loss and weight gain.
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Tips for Loosing Weight
By
minootoo
You must count calories and at least in initial stages write down what you are going to eat and when then stay on that list. Your total calories for the week must not exceed, 1500 x 7 = 10,500 calories this will give you leave way to indulge at special occasions like wedding and parties, but you must write down what you eat and account for the calories latter and adjust the total intake next week.
Please read my article on this subject and follow them.
While at it build your body too, while reducing by doing body parts specific exercises.
If you are not too old, then best way to reduce your weight is to increase your height.
Vegetarians have a big advantage, in loosing weight, it cost less and they can satisfy the hunger more easily, some vegetables have only 1 calorie per pound, so they can fill themselves up with it before enjoying each meal, and never go hungry.
Most people should take one a day water soluble multi-vitamins when on this program; they can be purchased at the pharmacy near you.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi....
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Life Style Change Program for Loosing Weight
By
minootoo
Who needs to loose weight?
Answer is simply not every one, only the over weight person.
Who is over weight?
This is simple, it is easy to find out and it is available on line, it is call Body Mass Index, and calculations are simple. According to this calculation if you find your self say only 10 pounds more, you may not be over weight. Remember every one is slightly different and you can just watch it, on your own and not let it get out of hand.
What is the reason for being over weight?
This is also simple, have doctor check you out for any physical or hormonal abnormalities. The doctor should be advising you of your ideal weight even though you have already figured out the ideal weight and you are seen a doctor because your weight is not where it should be according to BMI.
Basic understanding of loosing weight.
Every one uses calories at all time. There may be some exceptions to this rule, for most of us; the rate of use, even when we are resting, we use 65 calories per hour minimum. This comes to1560 calories per day. The actual range is between 65 and 100 calories per hour. This is consistent with heart rate of 60 to 80 bits per minute.
Simply put any person eating only say 1500 calories a day will not put on any additional weight. At this level of calories consumption the person should loose some weight over long haul, depending on the individual rate of metabolism.
What is a healthy weight loss?
When one tries to loose weight, one should loose excess fat; there should be a healthy loss of weight. Loosing muscles tissue is unhealthy.
How much is one pound of body fat?
One pound of body fat weight is approximately same as one pound of butter. If you look at a one pound package of butter, you will see it contains between 3200 to 3600 calories. This means that each time a person burns 3600 more calories then what the person takes in, the person will loose one pound.
How many pounds should a person loose in a month?
Any one that is trying to trim down can figure out how long it took to put on the excess pounds. The fact is; it did not happen over night. It usually creeps up, but the person realizes one day suddenly.
This is why a person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Do not wait for New Year.
Taking above in to consideration a person should not loose more then 2 pounds per month. If a person looses any thing more then that, chances are that the person will not be able to maintain the weight loss. It will take extra efforts to loose and it will take extra efforts to keep it off. Remember slow and steady wins the race.
When an overweight person should start loosing weight?
At once. The person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Again do not wait for New Year.
How does body react to weight lose?
Any time there is depletion of fat beyond certain level, the body reacts by slowing down metabolism, so that it can build up fat. If the body is use to say 2000 calories per day and detects only 1500 calories per day for considerable length of time it reacts to the situation by reducing the rate of metabolism. When this happens one need to help body by increasing activity. Usually takes about four weeks for body to react.
What is the relationship between body and body fat?
Under ideal condition fat act as a reserved energy source for our body. Certain level of fat is good for healthy living and even may save our life in certain life threatening situations. Every one should have minimum required level of fat on their body.
What if there is no weight loss at 1500 calories in take level?
This is a rear occurrence. Do not panic. The body has slowed down the metabolism to such a great extent that you must help it. The only way to help is to increase activities, this means you have to exercise. You do not need to join Gym but you can go on an an half an hour walk every day or batter still engage in a power walk for same duration. Power walk burns 250 calories per hour and walk burns 100 calories per hour approximately.
What is the importance of body fat for a female?
Females require little more body fat then men. In the absence of certain required level of body fat, females are not able to function properly; in particular they may not be able to conceive. You can find lot more about this on internet.
At 1500 calories intake per day what one must drink and eat?
Drink
One gallon of liquids most of witch should be in the form of water (zero calories).
Calories should be accounted for all other liquids.
Why water?
Water is a universal solvent, means it dissolves almost every thing at least in very minute quantities. This helps purification of body.
Eat
What should be your proportionate in take of fat, Proteins and Complex Carbohydrates?
This depends on what your need are.
1. Need to reduce fat.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 30 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
Proteins: 60 percent of 1500 calories per day = 900 calories.
2. Need more energy.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 40 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.
3. Need to reduce weight only.
Fat: 25 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 375 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 25 percent of 1500 calories per day = 375 calories.
Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.
4. Need to increase muscles bulk, but still reduce weight.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 15 percent of 1500 calories per day = 225 calories.
Proteins: 75 percent of 1500 calories per day = 1125 calories.
Exercise the muscles you want to develop, you can find right exercise on line, recommend use of light weights.
Foot note: To take fat is so important, while reducing even fat, that it is included in all cases. If the fat is completely cut out, body will think of producing the fat, and will produce the fat by reducing metabolism, without fat in take, you may actually again weight even at lower than 1500 calorie level. You will feel run down and lethargic.
How one must, drink and eat?
Drink
Every one may not be able to follow this regime.
A 16 oz glass of water fist thing in the morning will be very healthy start.
If you need to stabilize your stomach before eating, you can have a glass of water just before each and every meal. This is the easiest way to meet your quota of gallon of liquids.
Eat
To day almost half the world is starving.
In western culture. Standard healthy practice for long time was three warm square meals per day. No eating in between, but children were allowed night cap.
All that has changed, present thinking is 5 to 6 times per day. Any way what practice one follows is up to them; to each his own.
Another best practice will be a glass of water before bed time, nothing to eat for two hours before bed time.
How do I know the calorie count for various drinks and food?
If you are buying packaged items it is on the package.
Go on the internet and find the calorie information.
Lots of cook book now a days list calorie per serving.
Use your best guess, in this method use higher figure then you have guessed.
References:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-mdp&p=Calories+chart
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm
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Increasing the Height
By
minootoo
In rear cases, you can increase the height up to age 30.
Cycling is good exercise and fun too.
You need to adjust the seat so that when you paddle from seating position you will actually stretch your legs, it is a difficult position but doable. For safety you need to be on track and not in traffic, safety first.
The FEW things I did at least helped me.
Swimming.
Not just playing in water, but serious laps type swimming, do not try to beat the clock but steady full strokes swimming. Remember slow and steady wins the race.
Stretching exercises on floor.
Find them on line.
Chin ups.
Full stretch type.
Swinging from a rope.
Full stretch climbing.
In other words do things that require stretching.
STRETCH-STRETCH-STRETCH-STRETCH
PS
In the morning after good night sleep every one is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch taller. This is because the soft tissue between the bones recovers during the time when there is no weight on them.
Older people loose height due to bone loss. I was 5', 7'' I am only 5', 5".
Issue of Genes:
You know only the active genes but genes can stay dormant for generations.
I believe that every one has some tall height genes, dormant or active; I again believe that certain exercises can activate those.
Again Swimming:
You will start out with half a lap and build up day by day, half a lap at a time. Then you will swim non stop for 1/2 an hour.
The speed is not important but you must use various strokes and do them correctly, completely, slowly and perfectly. This way you will have full stretch, and its benefit.
Eating healthy foods and taking rest as specially sleeping soundly at night is very important. Most people need 8 hours of good sound sleep per night, some need more and few get by with 4 hours only.
In the mean time use high hills and take advantage of hair-do, wardrobe can do wonders too; vertical striped clothing can create a taller look for most people.
Hormones:
Under strict supervision of a doctor they do wonders but the side effects are delayed and unpredictable so doctors do not like to use them.
Surgical Procedures:
There are surgical procedures but most doctors will not do them till the person is 30 years or so. They also have to be very short.
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Tips for Gaining Weight
By
minootoo
You must count calories and at least in initial stages write down what you are going to eat and when then stay on that list. Your total calories for the week must exceed, (Calorie per BMI+ 500calori =Y) Y x 7 = Z calories this will give you a weight gain of approximately 1 pound per week. But you must write down what you eat and account for the calories so that you can adjust it slightly up ward if necessary.
Please read my article on this subject and follow them.
While at it build your body too, while gaining by doing body parts specific exercises.
If you are not too old, then best way to gain your weight is to increase your height.
Most people should take one a day water soluble multi-vitamins when on this program; they can be purchased at the pharmacy near you.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi....
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Body Building
BY
minootoo
You are blessed.
Most people put on weight after age 40.
Any way before you try any thing, see a doctor to rule out any abnormalities (Hormone, Pituitary).
Remember it is ten times easier to put on the weight then to take it off.
Body building is opposite of weight loss. But you must understand weight loss in order to build body.
I will include my article on weight loss also.
Most people eat protein reach food and complex carbohydrates, with one thing in mind, that they have to exercise 6 days a week and they have to eat more than what they burn off each day.
If you eat about 300 to 400 more calories per day then you burn off, you have a weight gain of slightly less than one pound per week.
You need to eat about 4000 calories per day minimum.
If that does not work than slow down your exercises routine.
In extreme case you will not exercises for two weeks at all, followed by vigorous exercises routine for six weeks. Repeat this cycle again and again till you reach your goal.
References:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-mdp&p=Calories+chart
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm
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2007-11-15 16:50:09
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answer #4
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answered by minootoo 7
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