diet while preparing for bootcamp

jzhaun · 09-13-2012, 11:56 AM

Okay, so I eat fairly well and also read nutrition books and blogs and things like that, but I'm not a professional or anything.

Basically as far diets go you shouldn't be looking to restrict anything. If you're eating 10,000 calories a day and not training like an Olympic athlete then yeah, you should probably cut back a bit but going under 2000 calories isn't going to help you in the long run because a) if you go too far under your body goes into starvation mode and b) unless you keep eating that way forever, you'll gain the weight back once you stop.

So a better idea is to swap some stuff for healthier options and try to eat stuff in moderation. Add some vegetables, swap pop for water etc. Don't try to live on vegetables though, because most of them aren't that filling on their own unless you're eating an entire produce store. E.g. if you swap snacking on chips for celery, put some peanut butter on it, because celery by itself isn't going to stop your stomach from growling.

Stay away from stuff that says sugar-free or fat-free though. Fatty foods are okay in moderation. Most of the time they're adding chemicals that are worse for your body even if the calorie count is less. Diet pop isn't any healthier than the regular kind. Skim milk isn't better than whole. Try to get away from processed-foods-that-come-in-a-box too.

And as far as the breakfast haters go:
Try eating something small (like a small bowl of cereal or an egg) an hour or two after you get up. It doesn't have to be a huge meal.

09-13-2012, 11:56 AM	#15
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 0	Okay, so I eat fairly well and also read nutrition books and blogs and things like that, but I'm not a professional or anything. Basically as far diets go you shouldn't be looking to restrict anything. If you're eating 10,000 calories a day and not training like an Olympic athlete then yeah, you should probably cut back a bit but going under 2000 calories isn't going to help you in the long run because a) if you go too far under your body goes into starvation mode and b) unless you keep eating that way forever, you'll gain the weight back once you stop. So a better idea is to swap some stuff for healthier options and try to eat stuff in moderation. Add some vegetables, swap pop for water etc. Don't try to live on vegetables though, because most of them aren't that filling on their own unless you're eating an entire produce store. E.g. if you swap snacking on chips for celery, put some peanut butter on it, because celery by itself isn't going to stop your stomach from growling. Stay away from stuff that says sugar-free or fat-free though. Fatty foods are okay in moderation. Most of the time they're adding chemicals that are worse for your body even if the calorie count is less. Diet pop isn't any healthier than the regular kind. Skim milk isn't better than whole. Try to get away from processed-foods-that-come-in-a-box too. And as far as the breakfast haters go: Try eating something small (like a small bowl of cereal or an egg) an hour or two after you get up. It doesn't have to be a huge meal.