I know nothing abouting eating???

[Lionel]

Im new and i know nothing about how powerlifter's eat. My coach tells me to eat healthy but when you live around a family that fixes chicken nuggets,turkey ,hamburgers ,homemade french fries,and everything else thats not really that healthy what else can you eat.Can someone tell me some eating tips.i eat alot at home and i love fruits and vegetable eat them all the time but meat wise i just dont know?
HELP(lol) ;D

[ryfralic]

I'm newer to PL'n diet as well, but here's some of the good advice I've gotten.

Eat a Lot, but Eat Clean. You need to make sure you get enough protein in your body for muscle growth, but you also don't want to overload it with junk (i.e. Chicken Nuggets, Hamburgers, etc). That being said, I would rather eat a big fat hamburger that's packed with protein than missing a meal. My family used to be the way your's is, but since I changed my whole eating habits last December, they've changed with me. They will still have ice cream or snacks every once-in-a-while, but they eat much healthier now.

As far as meats, Turkey is Great! Keep eating lots of that. Chicken & Fish are also great high protein, low fat meats. Generally, Steak is medium fat & high protein, unless you get the No Name Steaks (a brand here in the midwest) that are lower in fat and still very high protein. Then there's Hamburger (other than the leaner cuts), which is higher fat, but still relatively high protein. Your body does need a certain amount of fats, but preferably stick with the leaner meats.

Protein shakes are great if your family is eating junk. When my family was still doing that a lot, I'd just throw in two scoops of protein, maybe some pb, & skim milk and it would be my whole meal. Obviously, you would rather have whole foods than protein shakes, but sometimes the protein shake is going to be a better option compared to a lot of the junk out there.

Fruits & Veggies are really important. I love to throw fruits into my protein shakes (Bananas, Strawberries, etc) and they usually add to flavor. I like veggies later in the day, I just can't seem to eat them before noon. So, keep eating those, that's great.

One tip that helped me alot, is to make sure to eat a BIG Breakfast. If I'm working out in the afternoon, I'll throw two scoops strawberry protein, a lg. banana, 1 cup oatmeal, & 16oz skim milk into a blender. It's a great breakfast w. great nutrients & plenty of calories. This will usually hold you over a little longer so that you're not snacking on bad foods (i.e. chips, pop, candy).

I also changed over from 3-4 meals a day, to now eating 6-8 meals. They are smaller meals, but just lots of them. This allowed me to snack alot less. I plan out my meals the day before (just something I do, most of my friends don't) and I think that that helps me avoid emergency meals (which usually end up being bad food that I wouldn't normally eat).

I hope this novel I wrote helped somewhat ;D

[3speed]

Very nicely stated ryfralic. The one thing that I would add is not to be afraid of fat. Don't go overboard with it but don't cut it out completely. Cholestorol gets a bad rap. True, too much of it is a bad thing. But, it is one of the building blocks of testosterone.

OH, and water. Drink plenty - along the lines of a gallon a day. It aids in digestion, helps the kidneys flush toxins and ordinary byproducts and helps to keep the joints lubricated.

[ryfralic]

Nice 3Speed ;D

Forgot all about water. Lots & Lots of Water! I actually over-do it sometimes, but I sure love my water.

Oh, and yeah good point on the fats. I tried to say that with "Your body does need a certain amount of fats" but it wasn't nearly as well stated. Just make sure they're good fats & not "McFats," if you know what I mean.

[Lionel]

Thanks alot, planing what im going to eat a day in advance really helps.
yea and i drink nothing else but water.

[ryfralic]

No problem bro. Planning out your meals gives you a big advantage & will definitely help you keep on track. Drink lots of water, but for added calories, use skim milk in your protein shakes. I drink quite a bit of Skim Milk (protein shakes, cereal, or just for added liquid), but I also drink a ton of water. Just make sure to balance it out.

Good Luck Lionel,