Starting Strong Lift 5x5. What do I eat?

[-Shazam-]

Hey all. Well this is the week. I am decided on starting the strong lift program but I'm not sure what kind of diet that I should follow. I'm a 24 year old college student with a full course load so I don't have much time to make gourmet meals.

Another thing that has derailed my diets in the past is that I don't live with my girlfriend so the bulk of our meals is take out. I eat take out mainly 3-4 times a week but not burgers. Mainly beef or chicken tacos or a chicken sanwhich but I do eat fries. I haven't touched soda for 4 years so that isn't an issue.

I know that to gain muscle I have to eat big so how should I go about this and not get fat? (I been finally been able to being my weight down to 159 being 5'7). Should I give up all takeout or can i continue eating how I am?

And if not what quick meals do you guys suggest that I can make at home? Are frozen dinners ok?

Thanks for all the help in advance. Each piece of advice will be taken as another step closer to my life changing goal.

Take care all.

(Hate being one of those posters who completely ignores the stickies bursting with information. Reading it now hopefully it will address most of my points here).

 

[-Shazam-]

My BMR is: 1750.5

I'm 24. 5'7 and weigh 155-160 pounds.

Supposedly my Calorie intake should be 2712 for optimal muscle gain...is that correct?

 

[-Shazam-]

/bump

 

[zedhed]

Hey all. Well this is the week. I am decided on starting the strong lift program but I'm not sure what kind of diet that I should follow. I'm a 24 year old college student with a full course load so I don't have much time to make gourmet meals.
Bro I know its tuff with a full course load. I know a lot of bros that make up most of their weeks meals on the weekend. Just a thought for you. I know its a drag and it takes a hell of a lot of disipline, beleive me I really do.

Another thing that has derailed my diets in the past is that I don't live with my girlfriend so the bulk of our meals is take out. I eat take out mainly 3-4 times a week but not burgers. Mainly beef or chicken tacos or a chicken sanwhich but I do eat fries. I haven't touched soda for 4 years so that isn't an issue.
The bad new is that your still eating crap. But look at the stuff like chicken not fried, turkey, post roat maybe meatloaf once in a while. Chefs or Jullian salad for lunce is pretty good choice, but use vinigar and oil for dressing. Prolly best to take your own then you can use olive oil.

I know that to gain muscle I have to eat big so how should I go about this and not get fat? (I been finally been able to being my weight down to 159 being 5'7). Should I give up all takeout or can i continue eating how I am?
Giving up all take out would be your best bet bro but I know its gonna be tuff for you. Once you get used to it tho you will have a much healther life.

And if not what quick meals do you guys suggest that I can make at home? Are frozen dinners ok?
The thing is most all of the frozen dinners are loaded with salt bro and you dont want that. Also they are more expensive then real food.
Check out the diet section on here there really is a lot of good easy and quick stuff to prepare in there. Also there are a lot of Healthy Easy Meal type of cookbooks out.

Thanks for all the help in advance. Each piece of advice will be taken as another step closer to my life changing goal.

Take care all.

(Hate being one of those posters who completely ignores the stickies bursting with information. Reading it now hopefully it will address most of my points here).

Good luck to you bro and keep posting up. As you post sepcifc questions that will lead to other ideas for you.

 

[gymjunkie09]

My BMR is: 1750.5

I'm 24. 5'7 and weigh 155-160 pounds.

Supposedly my Calorie intake should be 2712 for optimal muscle gain...is that correct?

That's probably more toward maintanence levels. Keep it over 3,000 at least. As far ad diet goes I would avoid fast food if possible just like Zed said, you don't have a kitchen or a fridge? If you do just grab big packages of chicken breast and steak and cook it in bulk that's what I do

 

[Amell]

Buy a slow cooker man, there's no reason why u cant throw 12 chicken breasts in there add some water and spices... Throw some potatoes in there to and ur good for a couple days and just cook on low for 8-10 hours

 

[zedhed]

^^^Outstanding amell^^^!

 

[-Shazam-]

Wow thanks all for the responses.

@Zedhed Yeah its tough man. I need quick food to do long assignments but since there is no chance in hell that I am backing down from this challenge to change my life I will simply learn to eat another way. Goodbye fries and frozen dinners. It will probably be like Soda where ill have to resist them but after a while they wont have a hold on me.

@gymjunkie09 I actually live in an apartment so I have access to an oven, full fridge, stove, rice makers, break makers, etc. (got a lot of gifts when I moved in). I think I just have to get used to making my food in advance rather letting hunger hit me and my only choices are a frozen dinner or take out. I haven't really thought in planning ahead and making something but I believe I would be less prone to eat out if I knew I had some chicken breasts or steaks thawed and waiting to be eaten.

@amell Nice thanks man. I will go to the store today and buy some and begin to set my meals for the next week and see how it goes. Sad that as a grown man I have never thought of having a set meal plan for more than a couple of hours.

Even though these changes will be challenging I am super pumped to go through with this. If you guys have anymore suggestions on what snacks I could eat throughout the day like Beef Jerky or or Cashews I would appreciate it. I'm hoping that the Whey Protein that I will be taking will still my hunger as well.

 

[zedhed]

Shakes are ok but real food is always better bro. There is nothing more anabolic then real food. For snaks, hard boild eggs, all nuts excpet penuts. PB&J sandwiches on multi grain bread. Celery with natty PB is gr8! On the nuts get unsalted. Get natty PB. Beef Jerky is high in salt usually and preservatives but if you can find it without try it. Beef and chicken stews are easy to make and good too bro. Another snak is PB and bannana sandwich. Lots of 2% is a cheap source of protein. Eggs too bro, put a dab a olive oil in your skillet, put in 2 whole eggs and 3 or 4 egg whites. Have that over a pc of multi grain toast, good stuff!
Also check the diet section on here lots of gr8 ideas in there man.