“What are you eating?”
People often ask me what I eat. I figured that it was time to write about this. I want you to eat the food that you need to perform like a machine and to look like an Adonis.
Bookmark this page. This is all you’re going to need to know about eating. This is the ultimate guide to figuring out what to eat to get jacked.
Here’s the likely scenario…
You’re new to the world of nutrition. You’re getting into fitness. You’re trying out different workouts. You’re working on creating that killer physique. You know that eating properly is just as/possibly more important than your actual training regimen. You simply don’t know how to eat properly. You’re not sure what food is good for you and what food should be TOTALLY avoided.
I’m going to break down the popular diets out there and what they consist of. I’ll help you get started. You’re on your own when it comes to recipes and finding local restaurants to experiment with.
So what do you eat to look damn amazing naked? How can you fuel your machine for peak performance? Let’s dig for some answers…
What are the most popular diets out there right now?
The Paleo Diet.
According to Paleo Diet Lifestyle site:
“A Paleo diet, also known as paleolithic diet or caveman diet, is all about natural foods to help achieve great health and a perfect physique. The human body evolved for more than 2 million years with the food found in nature: game meat, fish, vegetables, wild fruits, eggs and nuts. “
I first heard about this a few years ago from a buddy and became instantly hooked. Fruits, nuts, and meat. What else could I ask for? That’s what I love to eat. I could eat chicken, almonds, and blueberries all day everyday. This diet works well because the food is delicious, affordable, and easy to find. I don’t mind eating food like this on a daily basis.
The Ketogenic Diet.
This is where you eat a high-fat, low-carb, and moderate-protein diet.
According to Healthline:
“The ketogenic diet (often termed keto) is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake, and replacing it with fat. The reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When this happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy for the brain.”
My main issue with this diet is that it’s a bit too extreme. High-fat isn’t easy to maintain. I love my carbs (beans). However, if you can get past the hump of the first few days, you’ll find yourself with more energy than ever before due to the fat that comes from nuts/almond butter.
I enjoy eating cashews and avocados. I go out of my way to load up at the bulk store so that I always have some cashews in my gym bag to munch of.
The Slow Carb Diet.
Tim Ferriss outlined this in his book, The 4-Hour Body.
The best quote that I could find on the topic is from his blog:
“Most people who go on ‘low’ carbohydrate diets complain of low energy and quit, not because such diets can’t work, but because they consume insufficient calories. A 1/2 cup of rice is 300 calories, whereas a 1/2 cup of spinach is 15 calories! Vegetables are not calorically dense, so it is critical that you add legumes for caloric load.”
I was hooked on this diet in 2011. I was chugging down the black beans and egg whites on a daily basis. I eventually got bored with it. That’s on me though. I realize that you have to be more creative.
As always, I recommend that you perform a few quick Google searches to find your own research. I tried to make it as easy as possible, but I really can’t tell you what’s going to work for you.
What diet do I subscribe to?
I do intermittent fasting/one meal a day mixed in with whatever I can get my hands on that day (within reason).
What’s intermittent fasting all about?
“The Leangains protocol consists of two phases; 16 hours of fasting, followed by 8 hours of feeding. During this period, three meals are usually eaten. Depending on the day, the composition of those meals varies; on workout days, carbs are prioritized before fat, while on rest days fat intake is higher. Protein remains fairly high on all days. — Martin Berkhan
I don’t stress about what I eat. I focus on WHEN I eat.
I believe in a combination of food that fuels your body and helps you look your best. I hate to use the word diet, but will do so for marketing purposes only.
There’s so much information out there about dieting. I personally have spent dozens of hours reading contradictory articles and polarizing evidence on every type of food out there.
This is what I eat to feel great, train hard, and look my best. This is how I eat to perform a variety of training (from MMA classes to heavy deadlifts to an all-nighter with a young lady).
We’ll start off by looking into the food that you need to avoid.
What to avoid? What food should you stay clear of at all costs?
- The usual junk. You know what junk food is. You know that a bag of chips isn’t the best meal option. You know that McDonald’s is junk. You’re smart. You know what’s not good for you.
- Food that’s labeled as healthy. You know what I’m talking about. If it says “healthy” on the label, then it usually isn’t all that healthy. These are usually the foods that you might debate eating because you’re not 100% positive. This food is also the easiest to justify eating. Here’s a helpful hint: if it says “healthy” on the label, it usually isn’t very healthy. A carton of egg whites isn’t marketed as “healthy” because we all know it already is healthy.
- Muffins. It doesn’t matter if it’s whole wheat, free of sugar, or any other gimmick. Coffee shop food is never good for you. Sorry to break your heart.
I hate to restrict you guys so much, but I had to warn you of what to be aware of. Don’t worry, there’s always space for pizza. MMMMM pizza!
What about cheat days? I want pizza!
Do them. Enjoy them. Get the most out of them. On a cheat day there are no rules. Anything goes. Get it out of your system. Don’t hold back on anything that has been on your mind.
There are also many rules for cheat days. My policy is simple. I follow what I picked up from the 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss. I plan for them.
My plan for a cheat day is:
- Eat well all of the time.
- Keep track of cheat foods I would love to enjoy.
- Wake up on cheat day and start off with a healthy meal.
- A few hours later — go wild! Eat anything and everything.
- Make yourself sick. Get the most out of this day. Chug as many beers as you would like.
- Eat well for the next few days.
I want you to go wild on your cheat days. Don’t hold back. Deep fried poutine and pizza. Why not? Just please remember that a cheat day is earned. You have to earn it and work for it. You’re not entitled to a cheat day. It’s your reward for a week of a job done well.
Okay, so what should I be eating? I want to look amazing!
What do I eat?
- Salmon and broccoli.
- Chicken and broccoli.
- Snacks:
- Cashews.
- Almonds.
- Avacados.
- Fruits.
- Protein bars.
You protein sources.
This is where you build your muscles. You absolutely need to get your protein in.
What do you eat for protein?
- Protein shakes (watch out here because there’s lots of garbage).
- Turkey.
- Fish (I prefer tuna and sardines because they’re easy to eat and cheap to buy).
- Beef.
- Chicken breast or thighs (cooking chicken is even easy for me).
- Egg whites (very easy to prepare and affordable).
Your fuel.
I’m personally a fan of nuts and beans. Black beans, lentils, cashews, unsalted almonds. As simple as this sounds, but nuts and beans with a source of protein is all you really need to fuel your body for an intense workout or even to repair it after pushing yourself to the max.
Your greens.
You need to get your veggies in. Your parents already told you this as a child.
- Spinach.
- Asparagus.
- Peas.
- Mixed vegetables.
- Any other vegetables.
Beans are a highly debated item. I enjoy them. I prefer black beans. I do know that many diets do NOT accept them. I feel that they’re an excellent source of energy and protein.
That’s what you should eat if you want to get jacked. I’m more focused on when I eat, but you can’t deny the obvious importance of what you eat.