Tag food

How Much Protein I Eat

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protein sourcesLet me begin by stating that I am an unapologetic carnivore, which is unusual since I am a massive animal lover. I will eat just about any muscle meat except veal, and I consistently eat beef, chicken, and turkey. On average, I consume between 150 to 200 grams of protein each day, which is equivalent to between 30 and 40 ounces of chicken. Yes, I eat the equivalent of about 2 pounds of chicken per day, split into 6 or 7 meals evenly spaced throughout the day. In an effort to mix up protein sources for the sake of variety, I also include egg whites, whey protein, P28 High Protein Bread, salmon, tilapia, and orange roughy in my meal plan.

Why so much protein? For one thing, my body craves and responds well to a high protein intake. Secondly, I need to consume sufficient protein to offset the natural propensity for muscle loss that begins to assert itself after age 40. Lastly, my training is structured to help me build muscle, so I must eat sufficient protein in order to ensure maximal muscle growth. It is difficult for me to eat a meal which lacks a decent protein source because I know that doing such a thing is a disservice to my body.

You may be asking if you need to eat the same amount of protein as I do, or more than that if you are a man. Let me be very clear: if you are dedicated to a regular resistance training regimen, and your goal is to build muscle, then you probably should be consuming more protein than you are currently taking in. Though the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance is set at 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for adults, I consider that quantity of protein an absolute joke. In fact, the U.S. RDA guidelines are so completely lacking in a true reflection of OPTIMAL values for people that I honestly believe that they shouldn’t be taken that seriously.

I would recommend an intake of about 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight in individuals who perform resistance training consistently, and over 2 grams of protein per kilogram body weight in athletes. I push the envelope and employ a ratio of around 3 grams per kilogram body weight. When I consume less protein, I look flat, my energy lags, and my skin loses its glow. As a disclaimer, I caution anyone with kidney issues or any other medical issues which would be exacerbated by a high protein intake to consult with their primary physicians before implementing an increased protein intake.

I CAN’T EAT THAT! – BALANCING HEALTHY EATING AND NORMAL LIFE

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Original post can be found at: https://www.p28foods.com/i-cant-eat-balancing-healthy-eating-and-normal-life

There are countless challenges and roadblocks which can derail us from our efforts to follow a healthy meal plan, especially when we are faced with the indulgent foods that emerge during the holidays. Whether you are a seasoned competitor who is accustomed to following a strict meal plan, someone who wants to adopt healthier eating habits, or battling excess body weight, it can be very difficult to pass up regular restaurant meals, fast foods, and holiday treats. However, it IS possible to stay on track even in the face of such temptations.

The first and most important thing is to remember your GOAL, whether it is improved health, weight loss, or getting into contest shape for an upcoming event. Your goal should serve as a tangible mark which you are aiming for. I always tell my patients and weight management clients to post images of people who possess the type of physique they covet in a prominent place (such as a refrigerator) so that they can be reminded of their specific goal.

Here are other effective strategies to help you follow a healthy meal plan:

Keep forbidden foods out of the kitchen so that the temptation to eat something unhealthy is removed. This means that you need to avoid purchasing chips, crackers, cookies, ice cream, packaged pasta dinners and whatever other unhealthy foods you tend to gravitate towards. If unhealthy foods are not in your kitchen cupboards, you won’t be tempted to grab them and indulge.

Prep your meals at home beforehand. Meal prep can be tedious but it is well worth it when you consider the control you will have over what goes into your body. You can control ingredients, cooking method and portion sizes and maximize your chances of maintaining healthy eating habits. Once you have prepared your food, you can store single serving sizes in individual storage containers which are easy to pack when you need them.

Invest in a great food cooler bag. Trust me, you NEED one of these!

Make sure your meal plan is balanced. The best meal plans have lean protein, healthy fats and slow digesting carbohydrates. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that all fat is bad! You need certain healthy fats to maintain normal cellular function.

Avoid fast food restaurants. Fast food restaurants (and most restaurants for that matter) feature extremely unhealthy options which can completely destroy your efforts at reaching your health and fitness goals. You will also save a ton of money by avoiding the calorie and saturated fat laden options found at such establishments.

Don’t cave in to peer pressure. I don’t know what it is about friends and family, but it seems like they get some twisted thrill out of convincing others to eat forbidden foods. If you find yourself in such a situation, you need to ask yourself if it is worth unraveling your healthy eating habits in order to appease a relative or buddy. I have heard, “Awww, come on, a couple of bites won’t hurt ya!” from people who usually mean well but who are unaware of the psychological torture they might be putting me through. I honestly don’t want to be pressured into consuming something that will make me feel guilty or will not digest well . It isn’t worth it!

I’m Fit Possible

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I'm Fit Possible

I am very happy and honored to be an ambassador for I’m Fit Possible, which is a great social fitness community! You can visit their site and read inspiring and informative blog entries which will keep you on track and will lend support ad you go through your own fitness journey.

Click on the logo above to be redirected to the I’m Fit Possible site.

Guys Like Ladies With Hearty Appetites

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Food and DrinkWith the exception of an incredibly stupid and weak period in my life when I was anorexic, I have always brought a hearty appetite to the dinner table. My dad used to brag about the fact that his slender daughter (ME) could go to an all-you-can-eat buffet and polish off 5 or 6 plates of food. Think of the sheer value of a young girl mowing down such massive quantities of food! That was one way I made my dad proud, perhaps even more so than when I got good grades or won some award.

I also recall a very amusing incident which occurred when I was hanging out with my very first boyfriend. I was 14 years old, 5’4″, 98 pounds, and could put away food like no one’s business. We went to a local hot dog stand and my boyfriend ordered four bratwurst dogs which he then brought to the car for us to to eat. He and I polished off two dogs each, then looked over at my boyfriend expectantly.

BF: “Are you okay?”
ME: “Yeah, but I’m still hungry.”
BF: “Me too. about if we get regular hot dogs?”
ME: “Sure.”
BF: “So, one for you?”
ME: “Two.”

My boyfriend gave me a concerned look but exited the car, returning several minutes later with four regular hot dogs. I wolfed two down while he did the same with the two remaining dogs.

BF: “I’m gonna get one more, be right back.”
ME: “I’m still hungry.”
BF: “Are you serious?”
ME: “Yep. Just one more.”

When my boyfriend returned to the stand to get the third round of hot dogs, the guy working the counter was so astonished that he had to see what enormous girl looked like who was demolishing so many hot dogs. The guy walked to the car, peered in, and was in a state of disbelief. I just sat there with my girl’s size 14 skinny white jeans, giggling over my gustatory feat.

That was a long time ago and I would never eat hot dogs now, but I have a very big appetite which I occasionally give in to when I can relax and have a fun meal. One of the rituals which my last ex-boyfriend and I would engage in was to split an extra large pepperoni pizza, then have Snickers Ice Cream Bars or slices of German chocolate cake with red velvet ice cream once we got home. I also seem to shock my friends with whom I venture out for a fun meal on occasion. They expect me to order a salad, but I usually go full guns and order a burger and fries, plus dessert, or I pound down a LOT of sushi and sashimi. I am not afraid of food and I make sure to enjoy the experience of eating food when I have some freedom with food choices.

My male friends have told me that they find a fit woman with a hearty appetite very sexy, and I can see why. Where’s the fun in taking a princess type out to a steakhouse, only to watch her timidly peruse a restaurant menu, then predictably order a salad? If I am at a restaurant that specializes in steak, you’d better believe I am ordering a steak! The same rationale applies if I am at a burger joint or pizza place and am planning to lift all dietary restrictions for that meal. Besides, eating a hearty meal every now and then, especially if you follow a calorie restricted contest prep plan, will help to rev up your metabolism.

Take home message? Dig in, ladies!

How White Rice Ruins Me

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I grew up on glutinous white rice as a result of my Japanese heritage and never thought twice about it. Then when I began competing in 2009, I had to cut out the white food and actually went through a bit of separation anxiety. In a sense I was probably feeling more guilt than anything else, but I eliminated it from my daily meal plan and suddenly noticed that my physique leaned out rapidly. It’s not like I had started out with a weight problem, but I certainly did not have the chiseled appearance of someone who stepped on a bodybuilding stage regularly.
Oh no cellulite
Though it has been relatively easy to avoid regular bread, sweets, and other contest prep busters, I still find myself pining for sticky white rice, because it is the bosom buddy of the lovely raw fish slices that characterize sushi. I absolutely love sushi and sashimi but only indulge in it on rare occasions when I can afford it and when I know I can have a fun meal. What drives me nuts is the fact that all-you-can-eat sushi places require you to eat all the rice you are served, which means that you are almost force fed a large quantity of high glycemic index starch. It’s wild to think that people frequently negate the health damaging effects of the rice, only concentrating on the fish being served. Truth is, the insulin-spiking effects of white rice can wreak havoc on general health and can certainly set one back on contest prep. So if you consume sushi frequently, you may be setting up your body for insulin resistance over time.

Another thing I have noticed personally whenever I eat sticky white rice is that my hamstring region holds water. The following morning is always disappointing because I wake up to waves and ripples, and sadly, they aren’t the kind you would see in the ocean. It takes 24 to 48 hours to get rid of that too, and also requires me to hydrate aggressively to flush everything out. It’s dramatic and it’s very upsetting. My body has actually gotten more sensitive over time too, and my body struggles to digest white rice. To be honest, I am not sure it’s really worth indulging in the white rice I used to love to much because it sets me back so much health-wise.

Craving Protein

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eating meatEver since I can remember, I have been a protein craver. As a child, I looked forward to consuming beef, lamb, chicken, tuna, eggs and turkey. While other children were begging for sweets, I would happily gnaw on a lamb shoulder bone at dinner, never thinking that dessert was something I was supposed to want after I had filled my belly with meat. I regarded chocolate as something other kids liked, but never went nuts trying to get to it. The sweet treats I preferred were always fruity and sugary, like fruit gems and Sweet Tarts, yet I never really craved those items either.

It’s funny to me how people just assume that women are carb cravers. Not this woman! As an adult, my protein cravings are stronger than ever. When I say that protein food sources are the foundation of my daily diet, I mean it. Given the choice between pasta, sweets or meat, I will pretty much always go for the meat. A common scenario is for me to suddenly crave chicken breast or egg whites while I am doing work on my computer at night. This can hit me like a ton of bricks in as little as 30 minutes after I have eaten my last meal. My body also responds very well to a high protein intake so I make sure to eat a considerable amount for my size (currently between 150 to 200 grams per day).

Even before I began competing, I was never the type of person who would go on a donut run or make huge bowls of pasta. However, the one carbohydrate source which was a staple in my diet was glutinous white rice, but it was always accompanied by a solid protein source. The primary reasons why I kept this in my diet were 1. my Japanese heritage almost required an adherence to daily consumption of white rice, and 2. it stretched my food budget. Once I began competing, sticky white rice was banished from my kitchen. I literally did a sweep through every cupboard in my kitchen and threw out every single white and processed food I owned, then never looked back.

I have seen patients, clients and friends who had previously craved carbs who, when bumping up their protein intake and cutting out sugars and processed foods, suddenly began to appreciate and crave protein. Without getting into the physiology behind such a dramatic shift, suffice it to say that protein rich diets can indeed do a body good.

No Time To Cook? Use A Slow Cooker!

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crock-potThere is a funny story about how I acquired my first slow cooker, and one which resulted in some resistance to using it for a number of years. I was living with a boyfriend who thought it would be a brilliant idea to give me a Crock Pot for Christmas that year. I am sure many of you know what a faux pas that was! I was so pissed that I refused to even unpack the item for several months, then finally relented and used it. I actually loved the convenience it afforded me, especially since I was expected to cook dinner for my man on a nightly basis. I made stews, soups, chicken, jambalaya, and didn’t have to make much of an effort to create these wonderful home-cooked meals.

Thankfully my resistance to using a slow cooker has passed! Whenever I have no time to broil or grill chicken or beef, I use my slow cooker and am always rewarded with moist, perfectly cooked meat with minimal effort. It’s a snap to throw meat into the slow cooker, add liquid, chopped veggies and seasonings, then allow the cooker to do its thing from 4 to 10 hours while I go about my day. I still prefer the awesome char that comes from broiling or grilling, but with my crazy schedule, it is often impossible to find the time to employ those cooking methods, necessitating the use of the slow cooker.

One thing I have noticed is that whenever I cook chicken breast in the slow cooker, it tends to taste the same no matter what seasonings I use. At some point I may try a brine or marinade and put the mixture in the fridge overnight to infuse the meat with flavor, then cook it with the slow cooker the following day. Once I figure out a good prep mixture, I will share the recipe on my blogsite.

There is a favorite recipe which I have for beef (particularly beef shortribs) which is absolutely delicious and incredibly simple. Cover the entire surface of the beef shortribs or roast with medium grind black pepper and rub into meat, then place into slow cooker. Chop green onions to make 1/4 cup and one shallot then set aside. Mix 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/3 cup water and 1 clove crushed garlic in a bowl, then add the green onions and shallots. Pour mixture over beef, place lid on cooker and cook for 8 to 10 hours.

You can even cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker with little effort. Simply season the bird, place in the slow cooker, add chopped vegetables, water, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice and set the cooker on high heat for 4 to 6 hours. If you’re really pressed for time, you can set a rice cooker to cook brown rice so that both dishes are completely ready for you when you get home.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can purchase one for as little as $30 (get at least a 3 quart size). I have the 6 quart cooker which allows me to cook whole roasts and whole chickens without an issue. These gems also last a good, long time. The one that my old boyfriend gave me lasted twenty years before I had to replace it with a new model. Slow cookers will simplify your life in the kitchen!

Contest Friendly Bread?

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Those of you who are well acquainted with contest prep are familiar with pulling down carbs and avoiding protein powder and artificial sweeteners during the week leading up to an event. For many of you, that week is characterized by Ziploc bags full of boiled chicken and asparagus. You may be having dreams about post-contest cheat meals and a big reunion with all the fun foods which were forbidden during your prep. But what about P28 Bread? Must you wait until after the contest to dive into a delicious P28 sandwich?
New P28 Bread label 2014
The general opinion is that wheat based carbohydrate sources and whey protein should be omitted from final week prep. However, I am not joking when I say that I ate a slice of P28 Bread every day during one final week prep, right up through the day I stepped onstage, and ended up taking a First Place national finish. As long as you do not experience belly bloat after eating P28 Bread, you should not have an issue with consuming it before hitting the stage. I will put out a disclaimer and say that you should check with your coach and follow whatever plan is in place, but if you are doing your own prep, you might want to consider incorporating P28 bread into that final week meal regimen.

To order these amazing products, go to https://www.p28foods.com/