Weightlifting Diet

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-04-14 05:10pm

OK, I've recently started lifting weights and am getting more serious about it - I usually go to the gym about 3-4 times a week and spend an hour during each workout. What I haven't done, however, is to get my diet in order. I just need some advice on how I should modify my diet, and also any information you have on cheap, edible, high-protein foods. Please don't tell me to start eating 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones; I'm willing to make some lifestyle changes, but that would be a bit too radical for me.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-04-14 05:34pm

My opinion is that as long as you're not starving yourself and have a more or less balanced diet you'll be fine. The main thing is to make sure you're eating enough, if you're hungry eat more, it's not gonna hurt you. I figure as long as you're not living on MikeyD's or KFC you'll be fine. Tuna subs are good, my cop buddy swore by them when he was working out to make the force. You can also make chicken, ham, & cheese sandwiches for snakes or lunch. Basically, don't become a vegetarian and you'll be fine.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-04-14 05:37pm

lots of grains and high carb food. Plenty of Italian is supposed to be good for weightlifters, iirc.

BoredShirtless · Post by **BoredShirtless** » 2004-04-14 06:13pm

Darth_Zod wrote:lots of grains and high carb food. Plenty of Italian is supposed to be good for weightlifters, iirc.

Nah, that's for running. For weightlifting, he'd need plenty of protien. Meat, both red and white. Eggs. Steroids. Cheese. Stuff like that.

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-04-14 06:38pm

Friend of mine's on a weight-training program...IIRC he eats lots of oatmeal and egg whites. You might want to ask Mike, though. His brother's into that sort of thing.

Baron Scarpia · Post by **Baron Scarpia** » 2004-04-14 09:21pm

aerius wrote: Basically, don't become a vegetarian and you'll be fine.

My personal trainer is a vegan. He's built.

You can get enough protein as a vegetarian by consuming soy protein, beans, and (if you aren't the most extreme vegetarian) dairy and eggs.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-04-14 10:35pm

Baron Scarpia wrote:
aerius wrote: Basically, don't become a vegetarian and you'll be fine.
My personal trainer is a vegan. He's built.

You can get enough protein as a vegetarian by consuming soy protein, beans, and (if you aren't the most extreme vegetarian) dairy and eggs.

True, but it's a lot harder as a vegetarian and you really have to watch your diet a lot more. It's not impossible to be a work out and be in great shape on a vegetarian diet, but it does take a lot more care, planning, and dicipline than a regular diet with meat and all the other fun stuff.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2004-04-15 01:22am

aerius wrote:
Baron Scarpia wrote:
aerius wrote: Basically, don't become a vegetarian and you'll be fine.
My personal trainer is a vegan. He's built.

You can get enough protein as a vegetarian by consuming soy protein, beans, and (if you aren't the most extreme vegetarian) dairy and eggs.
True, but it's a lot harder as a vegetarian and you really have to watch your diet a lot more. It's not impossible to be a work out and be in great shape on a vegetarian diet, but it does take a lot more care, planning, and dicipline than a regular diet with meat and all the other fun stuff.

Plus some of us don't digest soy properly (which is one reason I'm not a vegetarian...I like the philosophy, but I can't physically follow the regimen).

For weightlifting, I've found (from working with friends who are much more into free weights than I) that it helps to increase protein intake over time, but don't overdo it or switch too rapidly. The digestive system does take a bit of time to adjust to changes in diet, and too much or too rapid a change could lower your immune system temporarily.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-15 02:30am

You should go on that egg diet that Mike's acquaintance tried.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-04-15 03:26am

Darth_Zod wrote:lots of grains and high carb food. Plenty of Italian is supposed to be good for weightlifters, iirc.

No, low carbs, high protein.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-04-15 04:42am

Just KEEP YOUR CARBS AT A NORMAL LEVEL.

You don't need to lower them, you don't need to increase them. Lowering the carbs will make you start burning your fat, but your body needs some fat to survive. At the same time, you definitely do need carbs while weight-training. If you don't have carbs, you won't have any endurance in lifting weights and will tire out easily.