I already commented a bit on fitness/nutrition
here
Looks like alot of misinformation here as well about nutrition/fitness. One especially funny comment from someone in a previous thread here on NG was a suggestion to eat Hot dogs. heh.
Hot dogs are NOT healthy, and offer NO nutritional value.
Below is some info I posted in Tonk's thread a while back for him. Great info here for you guys wanting to make some changes in your diet/lifestyle...
As someone who is working (slowly) on getting certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and as a passionate advocate for better living through exercise and good nutrition, I feel like I should chime in here with my thoughts on nutrition, and fitness.
The "C" word: Carbohydrates
In terms of carbs, I see nothing wrong with eating carbs. I eat plenty of carbs, but just eating the
RIGHT ones is what is key. Ignore all the NON-Carb hoopla.
You want to concentrate on Low GI (Glycemic Index) carbs. Some examples:
Vegetables, Mixed Beans, Oatmeal, Bran, Whole Grain Breads, Whole Grains, Barley, Brown Rice, Low GI Fruits
Lowfat Milk, Lowfat Yogurt (note: while these dairy products have a low GI, they have a high Insulin Index (the reaction your body produces to the metabolizing of these products), so use in moderation)
White Rice (note: while having a higher GI, these have a low Insulin Index, so again, use in moderation)
The High GI carbs to avoid are as follows:
White Bread this means bagels, tortillas, pitas, and all other forms of bread
Potatoes (the worst very high GI) (sweet potatoes are OK)
High GI fruits (watermelon, dates, raisins, ) and fruit juice eat raw fruits instead (one glass of orange juice has over three oranges in it, without the benefits of the fiber in the raw orange)
Sugar and processed food with sugar or its many forms
Pastas (use in moderation, and never with saturated fats, e.g. fettucine alfredo)
Most breakfast cereals (stick to whole grain / bran cereals if you must eat cereals)
Protein
Proteins: Eat lean proteins, low in saturated fats.
Examples of Good Protein Sources:
Lean Beef (90% lean ground beef, lean steak, filets, rounds)
Chicken (particularly white meat)
Turkey (particularly white meat)
Lean pork (tenderloin, lean ham)
Lowfat dairy products, in moderation
Cottage cheese (highly recommended form of casein protein) I eat mad cottage cheese. Whey protein
Fish, particularly tuna, salmon, and cod
Eggs, particularly egg whites (yolks in moderation)
Soy and soy products, while very good sources of protein, have also been shown in some studies to have potential for causing high estrogen levels and sexual dysfunction. I suggest using these in moderation until testing is completed and a conclusion has been reached.
Caveat Emptor.
Proteins to avoid:
Fatty meats (non-extra lean ground beef, fatty pork (
HOT DOGS, bacon, ribs, etc)
Fatty dairy (whole milk, most cheese, ice cream)
Fats: Fats, as I mentioned in my other post are an essential ingredient in our diet. Poly and monounsaturated fats must be included in your daily plan. A small amount of saturated fats are also needed. Key is to minimize saturated fats, maximize monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
You should also try to get good Essential Fatty Acids Omega 3 and Omega 6s. No more than 1/3 of your fat calories should be saturated fats (if you are on a 40/30/30 plan, 10% of your calories may come from sat. fats)
Here's some Examples of good fats:
Fish and fish oils polyunsaturated, best source of Omega 3s tuna, salmon, cod
Flaxseed oil some Omega 3, good Omega 6
Olive Oil - monounsaturated fat
Avocados monounsaturated fat
Nuts mono, poly, and omega 6s best are walnuts and almonds (raw almonds rock)
Bad fats:
Saturated fats from animal products (fatty beef, pork, milk, etc)
Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats (trans fatty acids) - Wicked Bad Stuff. (margarine and Crisco are trans fatty acids)
Most vegetable oil and corn oils suck.
Veggies
I eat a bunch of veggies, you really cant go wrong here unless they are covered in butter or mayo or something gross anyways, and if thats the case, avoid em.
FruitsIf u feel a craving for fruits, go ahead. Despite what "Dr. Atkins" might say, America isn't obese because of its fruit eating.
Milk - buy non fat or skim. Eat lowfat cottage cheese - "The curd is king"
Snacks
Here's what i mostly eat for snacks: Cottage cheese, Natural (no trans fat) peanut butter, Beef Jerky, Raw Almonds, Protein Bars, Protein Shakes, etc.
DRINK MAD WATER!
And here's some other tips:
Avoid mixing high GI carbs with fats
Avoid all processed / prepackaged foods
Read labels! Be on the lookout for bad stuff (esp trans fats)!
Do not eat too little. Your metabolism will slow to a crawl and you will stop burning fat.
Do not eat too much. You will store excess as fat.
Alcohol, if required, must be kept to a minimum. When you drink alcohol, your body uses the alcohol as an energy source instead of burning your fat stores.
Whew
Hope this helps some of you guys.
-Mike
