more meals - will this work?

[poopmonkey]

cross posted at irontrybe:

Currently, I am eating a high protein/lowcarb/ low fat diet. It is consistent with what I read as most 'cutting diets.'

The problem is that I am eating, at most, 2 meals a day. I know that it is essential that I up my meals to at least 5 a day but simply do not have the time. My question is: will drinking 3 protein shakes a day (in addition to my 2 high protein meals) be enough to stop my body from thinking it is starving?

Additionally, I currently use Muscle Milk for protein but am interested in something much lower in carbs that will not make me puke. I have tried straight whey with a scoop of coa coa powder and a teaspoon of olive oil and nearly puked! Any suggestions on a palatable protein that will not inhibit my fat loss?

I know that this lifestyle is not good for my muscle development since my weights have not increased at all my last two workouts.

My stats are:
5' 10
150 lbs

My workout routine is:

Monday - 45 minute cardio
Tuesday - Weights
Wednesday - 45 minute cardio
Thursday - 45 minute cardio
Friday - Weights
Saturday - 45 minute cardio
Saturday - rest
Sunday - Weights

I do a basic dogcrap weight workout. My cardio is usually 30 minutes elliptical (sometimes HIIT) and 15 minutes stairclimber. I know that the body needs proper time to heal after a weight routine, that is why I take a two day rest - however, do you think that my cardio is hindering my ability to gain muscle?

I guess I need some guidance on what exactly my focus should be? I would very much like to lose body fat and gain muscle - I just dont know that that is entirely realistic.

I can absolutely follow a clean diet and can absolutely commit to any weight/cardio workout. How about some guidance? Again, I am very interested in replacing additional meals with shakes alone, is that realistic?

My idea is this:

9am - shake
12 - high protein/ low carb/ low fat meal
3pm - shake
6pm - high protein/ low carb/ low fat meal
9pm - shake

...All while maintaining my weight/cardio routine?

Thanks guys - I trust and look forward to your guidance

 

[FitFossil]

Well, shakes are better than nothing, but real food is better. Real food doesn't have to be more complicated either, but it does take some advance planning and some tupperware containers. I usually cook the protein portions in advance and supplement that with fresh veg.

It will be difficult to gain muscle on a "cutting" diet. Bodybuilders go on cutting diets to shed the fat they gained from their "bulking" (muscle-building) diets. Carbs (the healthy complex and fibrous carbs, not the sweet sugary "white" carbs) are necessary for training. Carbs give your muscles glycogen which is their "food". If you don't feed your muscles, they can't train hard, and they won't grow.

People who don't train do not need as many carbs. This is why the current "low-carb" craze is so popular with the couch potato set who most likely need to be eating fewer carbs anyway.

 

[Griz1]

Replace your morning shake with an actual breakfast. As Spatts used to say "Where's the FOOD?" LOL!

Eat a solid breakfast (6 egg whites, oatmeal or bran, maybe a peice of fruit) instead of protien shakes. If you want a shake in the morning do it 2 or 3 hours AFTER a REAL breakfast. Especially with your training routine the way it is. Your body should respond.

Without know how intense your weight sessions are, you should still be eating some good carbs (oatmeal, brown rice, whatever) to support your training or your training will go to shit. Also, I and others have found that your brain seems to go pretty "dumb" after a while on low or no carb diets, as well as loosing any kind of drive in the gym.

Treat the carbs like the "fuel" and the protien like the building bricks, and the fats like the glue/or mortar to building your body. Lacking one of these and your structure either will never get there or it will be structurally unsound. I tend to believe that the low or no carb diets are great if you NOT working out and just sort of "living a semi-sedentary existence". Also drink a ton of water, and eat fibre or "poopmonkey" is going to turn into just "monkey" with no "poop".

I'd also check out Daisy's stickys as she has clearly done a "yummy" job in shaping herself.

My two cents which I'm sure is up for debate....

OK the "fossil" beat me to it.....must type faster!

 

[poopmonkey]

I can honestly say that I fear letting a carb cross these lips. I need to change my mindset when it comes to the menu. I even stopped drinking my muscle milk shakes because I thought the carbs were too high.

My plan today is to investigate what 'good carbs' are and incorporate them in to my diet.

Thanks

By the way, here is what I look like now (fairly recent, Im probably about 7lbs lighter now):

http://photos.yahoo.com/amymschoder

I have not been properly tested, but I beleive my body fat to be high. I am a former dorito junky

 

[Griz1]

nothing there poop. no image. Either that or GOD! YOUR WHITE! lol!

 

[poopmonkey]

nothing there poop. no image. Either that or GOD! YOUR WHITE! lol!

I think I fixed it... try now!

 

[Griz1]

Nada. Might be my browser though, don't know. Other stuff shows though.

 

[Sassy69]

PM -

As with any serious transformation, the starting point is diet. I"m with FF, more food, less shake. I would put a nice healthy breakfast at the top of my list first - something like 1 whole egg, 5 egg whites + 1/2 c oatmeal. Are you getting enough quality fats in there? An easy way to get a good fat meal in is a protein shake with a tblsp of flax seed oil. I've used Isopure protein mix, mix w/ water & throw in the flax oil. It tastes ok. Its better if you have time to throw it all into the blender with some ice, but it mixes ok just with water if you don't have a blender or the time to get fancy.

Training-wise, you might consider trading one of your cardio days for a lifting day for maybe 6 weeks, then see how your results come out. You don't detail your weight training, but to really encourage the tear down & build up of muscle,. I would definitely focus on INTENSITY in your lifting routine.

And drink LOTS of water!

 

[PBR]

PM- good pics...nice looking woman...you will have fun training that physique...watch out ladies!!

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I can honestly say that I fear letting a carb cross these lips. I need to change my mindset when it comes to the menu. I even stopped drinking my muscle milk shakes because I thought the carbs were too high.

My plan today is to investigate what 'good carbs' are and incorporate them in to my diet.

Like mentioned, check out the stick at the top of this forum. it lays out some simple diet facts, as well as some good carb sources.