I need a diet to "calm the beast"

[Chico Buller]

I lead a pretty active life. I work out every day with long periods of areobics and heavy weights. All of my hobbies include breaking speed limits or other bizarre monkey-motion. I am no longer the white-collar worker I pretended to be for thirty years, and sharpening requires movement, at least lugging the tool boxes.

Like many modern Americans, I'm carrying a few too many pounds. At 273 pounds and a biscuit, my doc says I'm healthy, and I have the blood chemistry of a man thirty-five years old. A touch more cholesterol, but I've never been able to induce any form of angina, even standing on the StairMaster for 150 minutes. (Yes, that's 2.5 hours, at one time.)

My problem here is "the beast." And I don't mean just a growling tummy. I mean a driving thirst for protein, and I mean right now and no maybe-baby.

One night I took my wife to Perkins, I had a bacon cheese burger--but also asked for four eggs over easy so I could dip the meat into them.

Last night the beast hit me, and I know I shouldn't eat later in the evening. I filled a salad bowl full of Special K and Silk Milk while I watched Jay Leno.

I can understand the need for protein in my life, and I don't eat breakfast before I go to the gym. But I need a diet I can tolerate, gives me the nutrients I need and guaranties the safety of the public at large.

Any of you guys prepare special diets for highly active and cranky old bikers?

[kitchenelf]

#1 - you need to eat breakfast before you go to the gym. You need something to give you energy for your workout.

Balance is the key. While you ate the cheeseburger it wasn't balanced in protein, starches, veggies/fruits. When you eat balanced you will fuller on less food. You just have to eat about 6 times a day.

I don't really have time to go into the specifics - if you can find a food pyramid on the net it would help. Just realize it looks scary but if you start following it, even going over their recommended amount, you will still be eating more healthy than you are now.

Now - - - I'm going to go take my own advice

[Ask-A-Butcher]

Mediterranean Diet sounds interesting. Not on it yet, but have a book and have been studying it

[kitchenelf]

Originally Posted by Ask-A-Butcher

Mediterranean Diet sounds interesting. Not on it yet, but have a book and have been studying it

Try to find a pyramid. Basically, we all know what to do - - it's just doing it. Healthy food is not cheap food either. Since the gas prices went up, and after getting back from our 10-day trip, my grocery store purchases look a bit unhealthy...it's just a bit cheaper. It's a real Catch-22.

[Chico Buller]

Thanks, guys. This info becomes ever more important now that my wife has been diagnosed with Graves Disease, and will undoubtedly change her diet around for her thyroid meds.

I did eat a bowlful of red grapes while my niece was here last week. I like fruits and salads, as long as a chicken breast is mixed into the veggies.

And, of course, I've made a midnight run for fast food, which they couldn't give me fast enough.

[kitchenelf]

Originally Posted by Chico Buller

Thanks, guys. This info becomes ever more important now that my wife has been diagnosed with Graves Disease, and will undoubtedly change her diet around for her thyroid meds.

I did eat a bowlful of red grapes while my niece was here last week. I like fruits and salads, as long as a chicken breast is mixed into the veggies.

And, of course, I've made a midnight run for fast food, which they couldn't give me fast enough.

Your body, IMHO, is seriously craving some balance. With those grapes eat some fiber. I don't really care for the wasa crackers except for 1 flavor - they just take a bit of getting used to. But once you get used to them you kind of look forward to them. You can put some low fat swiss on them, lean turkey slices, and they make a perfect snack. Even top with some granny smith apple slices. You will be surprised how satisfied you feel and DON'T get hungry when everything is balanced. Even snacks need to be balanced!!

Take a look at this site just to get an idea. I have the book and LOVE the recipes (most of them anyway). It will at least help you with what "balance" means. I followed this and lost some weight.

And a chicken breast mixed in with your veggies is PERFECT!!!!! The grapes would have been fine except for the lack of fiber in that snack. All that sugar spikes your blood sugar levels and it leaves you with no energy once you come off the high. (I think that's how it works anyway).

[Dina]

Try eating breakfast to keep you from eating too much during the day. Try a balanced meal in the morning to balance your sugar levels. Oatmeal with soy or skim milk (and a touch of cinnamon to keep you from craving sugar) with a side of fruit will usually suffice.

[MostlyWater]

I see you have a problem with portion control. That's common. Try to fill up on free veggies and fruits that you like.

Do you have a nutritionist or dr to work with ?

[Chico Buller]

Originally Posted by kitchenelf

craving some balance...DON'T get hungry...a chicken breast mixed in with your veggies is PERFECT!!!!!

All good things, and to be fair, all things I realize will have to happen. The comment that MostlyWater made about portion control is clearly a big factor.

However, I did slip on my pair of size 44 jeans today while my 46's were drying, and I have gone down that much, at least. Big guys need bigger clothes, and that's expensive, as is the food.

For example, I wear XXXL Harley T-shirts. I needed a new leather jacket, which they ordered for me. I paid 600 bucks for the jacket, they joked it was because they had to "kill another cow." I corrected them and told them it was a Clydesdale, Harley uses horsehide.

But I am a bigger boy. Here's that jacket when Betty had her stock front end.

The weight lifting doesn't help. Sure, I enjoy the power to move stuff, but I'm never going to be satisfied with 2,400 calories per day. Something has to give.

[simplicity]

Chico, with all those aerobics and especially the weight lifting your dietary requirements may be a little different than most. Your metabolism rate is apt to be quite high. Any lifter needs to keep his/her body fueled. I also lift and do aerobics although if I spent even an hour on the Stairmaster I'd be dead!

Many nutrionists suggest six meals a day - that is, not to add two additional meals, but to spread your eating out over a longer period of time. This might help prevent those crash and crave episodes.