Sometimes I forget how easy life seems. I stay pretty lean throughout the year, so when I order one of the gargantuan entrees at The Cheesecake Factory, clean the plate and move on to the apple crisp with the 3 lbs. of whipped cream, I feel the eyes on me. I, however, have a diet where splurging is necessary.
All too often, powerlifters trying to make weight sacrifice their strength by dieting away hard-earned muscle along with body fat. It’s no wonder, considering all the fad diets and cardio programs that somehow make their way into the weight loss programs of elite athletes who depend on strength and power.
I don't know about you, but I'm in my off season right now. That doesn't mean I head to the nearest fast food restaurant or ice cream stand and blow all my hard work! It means it's a time to enjoy healthy nutritious foods that you may not normally eat in your on season diet. This keeps your mind and body in balance and ready when the time comes to kick things up a notch for the next big show!
I’ve heard a lot about carb-rotation diets and how beneficial they can be. Can you describe how they work?
8 Tips To Speed Up Your Metabolism & Lose Weight 1. Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day- Eating 5 to 6 small meals a day helps to speed up your metabolism and allows you to burn more calories throughout the day. Eating like this allows your body to work harder more often which will help you to burn more calories throughout the day.
Obi, how important is it to eat cheat meals when you are dieting? Cheat meals are very important when you are dieting. Use them as a reward for eating healthy five days a week—but please consume within moderation, and no more than twice a week. Cheat meals also help replenish your body with more carbs and fats. The best way to cheat is to pick a day and have two cheat meals on the same day. This helps increase your metabolism. When you return to your diet, your metabolism should still be elevated.
Obi, I would like to know what are the best fat burning foods? Oatmeal is a great fat burner and easy to cook, though it's important to pay attention to the different brands because some have high sugar content. Another great fat burning food is the old fashioned chicken breast. When purchasing, make sure the breasts have minimal fat. Breasts are usually the leanest, that's why I always look for them first. Egg whites are also great for dieting and losing weight, plus an egg typically contains about six to seven grams of protein.
Everybody has different theories in regards to diet and training. At times, there is no right or wrong answer because every year theories change and nothing is black and white. Many different variables exist it comes to attaining fitness goals. I’ve read a lot of blog posts lately about when to consume carbs and when not to, and everybody has different theories. I try to respect everybody’s opinion, even if I don’t agree with it.
The best way to accelerate fat loss is to design a diet based on high protein and low carb intake. Also, involving high interval cardio training will help you burn fat quickly. Some high protein foods are chicken, turkey, fish, tilapia, broiled shrimp, very lean steak and egg whites. Some low carb meals you can consume are oatmeal, brown rice and sweet potatoes.
Obi, What are some good tips on sound nutrition and building a healthy fit body? The first tip I would give is to eliminate junk food. Most fast food and processed foods contain a high amount of fat, sodium and sugar. Also, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Always make sure you are hydrated, don't just drink water when you are thirsty. The third tip is to determine your daily protein requirements. Small amounts of protein should be available to your muscle tissue throughout the day for optimal growth and recovery.
Exclusive information from top medical doctors, strength coaches and scientists that you can't find anywhere else, right to your email!
