Powerlifting Nutrition 101!!!

[vtec96]

Ok, this should be an interesting and informative thread.....I don't see too much posted on "diets" here...

Hopefully by the end of this thread we can put together some good diet/nutritional information for powerlifters!!!

I want to have everyone list what they think would be the best "diet" for a powerlifter. I know BB diets, cutting, bulking, low-carb, etc. but dont give a da@m about 5% body fat......I just want the most STRENGTH possible!!

I know that BB do eat very healthy and all but I dont think PL's eat like this and they are still strong as sh!t?? I heard that some PL's (A. Clark) eat like crap with BK, greasy hamburgers, fries, pizza, ice cream, etc. Seems like the more "unhealthy" foods they eat the stronger they are! I would think that the healthier they ate the stronger they would be but it doesn't seem to be the case! I have also heard about all the drinking some do and still dont lose any strength? I try to watch my diet and eat certain foods thinking its gonna get me healthier and stronger! I don't see how these guy's are eating like they do and still stay strong

So, maybe we can list our diets and preferences for foods and get a better idea of what a PowerLifter should be eating ... (besides everything)...... ... and still gaining strength! I know this may sound a little BB'g, but my diet is about 50/30/20 carbs,protien,fat...Seems to work much better than what I was doing before....

So everyones opinions ........

 

[Deciever]

i eat moderately well at times. Mostly try to get some high protein moderate carb foods (eggs, tuna, meat) and then a shake, a sandwhich, and a snack . I dunno what nutritional percentage of carbs protein fat that comes out to, but it keeps me lean, and strong (i still want to look good in a bathing suit!! ).... i really hope i dont get bashed for that "look good in a bathing suit "line

 

[GRIMMER]

I don't eat fast food but eveything else Pasta , Pizza , Beer ECT . are all fair game. i drink about three protien shakes a day and jsut try to eaat as much as i can. If i'm trying to gan strenght/weight you can not keep me away form food. Right now i'm just trying to keep arond 225 so i can stay in the 220's and thus have started to watch a little more closely. Ai have grown so comfrtable with eating wahtever i want that watching what i eat is killing e right now. Diets suck. I still try to take in 250 -300 g of protien a day but who knows i eat when i'm hungry and tryto mnake it reasonable. I know i wold be much songer int the 242's but am not ready for that challenge yet.

 

[IrishPower]

my number one complain about powerlifters is that they feel they have to look like fat slobs or be superheavyweights to move big weight.

i spent my youth chugging down weight gainers and eating buffets in georgia. yeah, i got strong as hell, but it will take its toll. my cholesterol appalled every doctor i saw, and i was sporting size 44 pants.

my new motto is strong and big but not fat. i think it can be accomplished.

personally, all i changed to lose a shitload of weight was to cut the carbs after 4pm. and beer doesnt count against that for me.

given enough protein, it seems my body can recover from the heavy workouts. i am stronger on all my lifts now at 242 then i used to be at 308.

of course, depending on how you supplement your diet and training, your mileage may vary.

/irish

 

[Welsh power house]

I just try and eat alot of food....i dont care for all this bullshit about really low fat or carbs. I eat ice cream if its there, or i'll eat pasta if its there. Im not saying pig out on junk foods but it aint such a bad idea, if you wanna bulk up or add strength/power to just get plenty of calories in you which in turn helps strength and enery in the gym.

 

[Skizac]

I think that it's also important to think about the impact that diet will have on one's health. I avoid fried foods, anything with soy in it, high glycemic carbs, too much saturated fat, etc., and I try to make sure I get plenty of fiber, protein, healthy carbs, and healthy fats.

There is absolutely no reason that you have to be fat and unhealthy in order to be strong! Look at Ed Coan - 2400+ total in the 242s. I don't know about you, but I want to still be lifting when I'm 70 years old. That is going to be pretty unlikely if I have a major heart attack before then from all the greaseburgers.

 

[vtec96]

I think that it's also important to think about the impact that diet will have on one's health. I avoid fried foods, anything with soy in it, high glycemic carbs, too much saturated fat, etc., and I try to make sure I get plenty of fiber, protein, healthy carbs, and healthy fats.

There is absolutely no reason that you have to be fat and unhealthy in order to be strong! Look at Ed Coan - 2400+ total in the 242s. I don't know about you, but I want to still be lifting when I'm 70 years old. That is going to be pretty unlikely if I have a major heart attack before then from all the greaseburgers.

Skizac, and I agree, right now I am eating pretty healthy and not eating certain foods, like those "greaseburgers" you mentioned , but would love to be really strong, healthy, and fit all at the same time. Prolly difficult. But, i think it can be done but not sure how.... are there many powerlifters anyone know of that are really strong with no gut and that are healthy (medically). I know Ronnie Coleman is a BB but is also very strong...Benches like 500-600 and squats like 800 (this is what I heard somewhere) ... I am not sure about Ed Coan's diet, but yea he looks pretty much in shape.....
I am pretty slim right now, so dont have to worry too much about about a fat gut...Im not trying to get one but want to hear from other's.....since im now trying to gain some weight, im eating much more..just got back from the store and got 5lbs of lean ground beef....usually get this with a little chicken.. each week...The only thing I still stay away from is simple surgars and saturated fats.... (soda's and those greasyburgers) .. other than that, pasta, potato's, beef, steak, chicken, well you get the idea

 

[Arioch]

I generally eat pretty clean, but if I am going to eat out with someone else, I just go ahead and do it. My goal is to compete in the 242's in my next meet, and I am quite a bit (20 pounds) over right now, so I have to be pretty careful.

When dieting for a meet, the only thing that really works for me is to lower the carb intake. I can not do this for too long or the lack of carbs starts to bother my injuries. I can generally manage six weeks without to much difficulty, and this should be enough to drop weight. Carbs are consumed pre- and post-workout, with the carb intake on my lighter workouts being dropped as the meet gets closer.

I have used a CKD while training westside, if anyone is interested. It worked wonders, but it was complete hell.

 

[Skizac]

are there many powerlifters anyone know of that are really strong with no gut and that are healthy (medically). I know Ronnie Coleman is a BB but is also very strong...Benches like 500-600 and squats like 800 (this is what I heard somewhere) ... I am not sure about Ed Coan's diet, but yea he looks pretty much in shape.....

World class powerlifters without big fat guts?
275s: Steve Goggins, Ano Turtalian, Tim Bruner, Joe Ladnier
242s: Ed Coan, can't think of any others
220s: Chuck Vogelpohl, George Halbert, Kenny Paterson
198 and below: just about everybody

 

[Skizac]

What is CKD, Arioch?