What are the best diet plans today?

[penguinsfan]

It's been a while since I've asked diet advice. I've had a lot going on in my life and been hit with some major stress. In 2006, I lost about 14 pounds, then gained 24 back. :O

I am studying for some difficult exams, transitioning towards taking a new job in Feburary, and haven't exercised since like July. Due to the lack of time, I've been getting take-out from the Italian place across from work at lunch hour. I knew I had gained some, but had no idea how much.

I don't do well with "just eat less and exercise more". I need it spelled out to me. I need a plan. Early in the year, I had done well with The ABS Diet, which is a great plan, but it's one of those six small meals per day plans. That's an awesome way to eat, but it's time consuming and doesn't work well in the working world.

Any ideas or plans that have worked well for folks here? BTW, Atkins and ultra-low carb plans are out, as my stomach can't tolerate them.

 

[D&B]

The Warrior Diet stands out for me.
It helps cause i am in an athlete state of living almost 7 days a week now.

 

[sikdogg]

All of the good diet plans will typically require many small meals per day... they aren't always the most convenient but it's about health first.

 

[blackice]

I got a book whiles back from Mens Health....... called Abs diet, sure a bunch have heard or even read it. Talkes about bunch a shit, ranging from excersice to high protien intake. Definetly a good read. If I ever need to shed a few pounds I always resource back to this book.

 

[prince Albert]

penguinsfan here are a couple of links with good info

http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/article-ripping-up-guide-to-cutting.aspx
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/losing-fat.aspx

 

[goldmember]

I can vouch for the 'not eating several hours before sleep' practice. Unless the "meal" you eat is almost 100% protein and a small portion at that, I wouldn't eat anything within 2-3 hours of sleep. Maybe even longer.

Making your own plan is simple. You should write down what your macronutrient ratios are ideally, divide that into six equal meals, and then write down the foods/quantities that are necessary to meet those amounts.

I'm not sure what type of workout plan you respond best to, but for me, losing weight comes best not from lots of cardio, but rather intense workouts. My best weight loss comes with intense bodyweight exercises/calesthenics that gets your heartrate elevated quickly.

High-rep (12-15) weight lifting along with cardio afterward has also worked.

 

[penguinsfan]

The Warrior Diet stands out for me.
It helps cause i am in an athlete state of living almost 7 days a week now.

That is the one by Pavel Tsatsouline, right? Doesn't it basically revolve around eating one meal per day?

 

[penguinsfan]

All of the good diet plans will typically require many small meals per day... they aren't always the most convenient but it's about health first.

I agree that is the most healthy way and it's a great way is you can live it, never completely full but never completely hungry either. However, it's very tough with my time schedule.

As for the ideal plan I'm searching for, I accept that fact that I'll have to lose some lean mass with the fat, which does not happen under good programs like Body For Life, ABS, etc., but when you don't have the ability to get to the gym, it's the reality for the time being.

 

[blackice]

I can vouch for the 'not eating several hours before sleep' practice. Unless the "meal" you eat is almost 100% protein and a small portion at that, I wouldn't eat anything within 2-3 hours of sleep. Maybe even longer.

Making your own plan is simple. You should write down what your macronutrient ratios are ideally, divide that into six equal meals, and then write down the foods/quantities that are necessary to meet those amounts.

I'm not sure what type of workout plan you respond best to, but for me, losing weight comes best not from lots of cardio, but rather intense workouts. My best weight loss comes with intense bodyweight exercises/calesthenics that gets your heartrate elevated quickly.

High-rep (12-15) weight lifting along with cardio afterward has also worked.

 

[blackice]

and minimum rest inbetween, keep heart pumping fast.
also one excersice straight to the next, min rest and repeat, cna do awhole bunch- forget the name, either supersets, or plyometrics . . .

 

[prince Albert]

I can vouch for the 'not eating several hours before sleep' practice. Unless the "meal" you eat is almost 100% protein and a small portion at that, I wouldn't eat anything within 2-3 hours of sleep. Maybe even longer.

Yes it does work your basically starving yourself,going 10-14 hours without eating is a terrible idea especially when you are cutting,protein and efa's are a good choice before bed.

 

[Bruticus]

Yes it does work your basically starving yourself,going 10-14 hours without eating is a terrible idea especially when you are cutting,protein and efa's are a good choice before bed.

I didn't seriously gain muscle till I started taking Muscle Milk (Unlike whey, casin protein and fats takes hours to completely digest) with peanut butter and flax. Also, your mood will be much better when you wake up.

Think of the body is furnace that needs constant fuel to burn fat and put on muscle.

Penguins fan, try to eat every three hours if you can. Try to find a protein bar that you like. I highly recommed Kashi Go Lean Cruncy bars just enough whole sugar, protein and whole carbs to keep me going when I can't eat a real meal.

you don't need a gym to work out. Buy a cheap little bench and dumbells with 100 pounds of weights. Worst case scenario, you can do push ups and crunches.

 

[prince Albert]

The main goal is a smaller me...fat loss, though I know I'll lose some muscle in the process. The time aspect is it is tough for me to workout regularly and stopping what I'm doing to eat six times, as well as the time to plan and put together six meals, is even more difficult.

It isn't that hard to sort your meals out,takes very little effort once you get used to it,i cook enough chicken,rice and veggies for 2 days at a time then store it in containers in the fridge,i only have 10 mins on a mid morning to eat so i have oatcakes a piece of fruit and a mrp shake,that takes no preperation.

Couple of tins of mackrel with granery bread takes about a minute to prepare.

Lots of quick easy meal options if you try.

 

[penguinsfan]

The worst thing about the numerous meals is right now I work for a ballbuster operation that watches meal breaks very closely. In a month or two, I'll be taking a sales position, where I'll be out on the road, and I'll have to factor in things like refrigerating things that need it via coolers, watching to make sure certain things don't give me bad breath or things like gas/diarrhea, and fitting those meals into a schedule around appointments.

Again, I fully acknowledge the six meal method is preferable and achieves better results. I know it's extra effort and planning for anyone, but it just seems particularly bad in my situation.

 

[D&B]

The warrior diet seems to fit perfectly for you.
But then again it is not for everyone, cause some do not have the discipline to totally retrain there stomache`s.

 

[penguinsfan]

The warrior diet seems to fit perfectly for you.
But then again it is not for everyone, cause some do not have the discipline to totally retrain there stomache`s.

What are the basic principles? Isn't that a one-meal per day plan?

 

[penguinsfan]

The warrior diet seems to fit perfectly for you.
But then again it is not for everyone, cause some do not have the discipline to totally retrain there stomache`s.

Something I read online suggested that some have lost lean muscle mass when on that program. Thoughts?

 

[penguinsfan]

I picked up a Biotrainer calorie counter yesterday. The general idea is to see how much difference there is between an active and rather inactive day and figure out, over time, exactly what I need to do.