No-supplements, no shakes, just real food.

Amcantar
Amcantar Posts: 43 Member
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone.
So today I got "back on the wagon" after 3 solid weeks of not working out. My workout was way harder than anticipated, proving I've fallen behind, but it felt so good! :)
Anyway, I told my boyfriend I really wanted abs, like nice flat defined abs. And he told me he didn't think it was possible because I "like food too much". Now, he didn't mean I would just stay fat. he meant he didn't think it was possible to get abs and really defined muscles on a normal, food-only diet.
I don't drink protein shakes, I don't take any supplements. Heck, most days I forget my multivitiim :embarassed:
But has anyone had any success with good muscle definition, without using supplements, just your good, well maintained "food-diet"?

Replies

  • hotpickles
    hotpickles Posts: 639 Member
    Well, I can't say I've had overwhelming success just eating real food, because I don't have the desire or dedication to eat strictly enough. I realize that I probably won't have the same body if I was super strict, but that's okay. Personally, I'd much rather still enjoy all the foods (and beverages) I love and not have that "perfect" body. I mean hey, everyone defines perfect differently anyways :)
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    I think if you eat lots of nice natural protein that you dont need any shakes and stuff like that. I think its also a lot about genetics - how fast you get there. Also to be able to see the abs, you have to have really low body fat %.
    But Im not really experienced.
    Good luck!
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    What your boyfriend said is wrong. Millions of people had rock hard bodies before supplements were ever invented. If you're getting enough protein and have a good balance of carbs and fat you absolutely positively don't NEED supplements. That said, I use protein supplements every day, simply because it is a quick & simple way to deliver the nutrition.
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Yes. High protein, high fat, low net carb (carbs minus fiber). In five days eating as much as I wanted within those limits and without any exercise at all I have lost 2.5 lbs straight from my tummy, which is about 90% of the fat that was there to begin with. My tummy is now very flat so without the veiling fat, I just have to do the crunches.

    Real food really is the key. Here are links that could change your life:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html

    http://www.mindbodyhealth.com/lowfatdietmyth.htm

    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/vegetarian-myths.aspx (this one is about vegetarianism but also talks about real food and what is good for us.)

    http://www.menshealth.com/health/saturated-fat

    Or if reading isn't your thing, check out the movie Fat Head for free on Hulu or Netflix. Get past the annoying, preachy first half hour or so and listen to the science part.

    Good luck on those abs!!!
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,337 Member
    Sure it is possible. However, you will need to up your lean protein sources. What protein supplements help with is giving something to eat that is high protein and low calorie (low carb and fat). This can be done with normal food, but it requires careful planning.
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Not to say it is entirely easy btw. It's pretty hard to give up the majority of sugar, candy, sweets, bread, pasta, potatoes etc. On the other hand, the bacon and eggs, burgers (w/o bun), pork chops, real butter, colorful veggies, and the astounding amount of energy and good spirits is worth it. I was on the verge of being depressed and now I can't stop whistling and singing to myself...

    My husband lost 4 lbs in 4 days the same way, and he eats fast food for lunch every day. Now he is just making lower carb choices. I think he is actually eating more calories a day but finally losing weight!
  • Leela30
    Leela30 Posts: 177 Member
    Yes. High protein, high fat, low net carb (carbs minus fiber). In five days eating as much as I wanted within those limits and without any exercise at all I have lost 2.5 lbs straight from my tummy, which is about 90% of the fat that was there to begin with. My tummy is now very flat so without the veiling fat, I just have to do the crunches.


    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/vegetarian-myths.aspx (this one is about vegetarianism but also talks about real food and what is good for us.)

    I dont know how much I believe that article. While the person may have the credentials to say all that stuff, I don't believe it 100%. First of all, meat is totally fine, but if our animals weren't jacked up on steroids, bred is small captivity, fed un-natural food for them, and even are still used if they have some nasty diseases. That said, your body can't also handle THAT much protein. Yes, yes the more you work-out the more protein your body needs but you can get too much protein. And guess what, if you ARE getting too much protein, your body just stores it as fat anyway. So just keep that in mind too when thinking of your protein intake. You 100% need your protein, but be careful not to eat TOO much of it.
  • Amcantar
    Amcantar Posts: 43 Member
    Hi everyone, thanks so much for your responses!
    So what I gather is it totally IS possible, it just takes a lot more diet restriction and monitoring of your protein consumption, making sure you get enough of it, and protein shakes and some supplements help take the guesswork out of that. I can see their benefit, but my BF is right, I just love food too much. So I geuss now it will be about making food choices that I love, but gearing them more towards protein and away from carbs (Sooo hard when you work at a place called Panera BREAD xD)
    Thanks again alL!
  • kevanos
    kevanos Posts: 304 Member
    protein powder is a byproduct of cheese production. It is the protein that is taken out of milk when they produce cheese. The fact that is has no fat is great when your goal is to up your protein without the fat.

    A scoop of protein powder in a blender with milk and frozen fruit makes a delicious smootie, that is super healthy and delicious. I have trouble not considering that whole food to be honest.
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Yes. High protein, high fat, low net carb (carbs minus fiber). In five days eating as much as I wanted within those limits and without any exercise at all I have lost 2.5 lbs straight from my tummy, which is about 90% of the fat that was there to begin with. My tummy is now very flat so without the veiling fat, I just have to do the crunches.


    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/vegetarian-myths.aspx (this one is about vegetarianism but also talks about real food and what is good for us.)

    I dont know how much I believe that article. While the person may have the credentials to say all that stuff, I don't believe it 100%. First of all, meat is totally fine, but if our animals weren't jacked up on steroids, bred is small captivity, fed un-natural food for them, and even are still used if they have some nasty diseases. That said, your body can't also handle THAT much protein. Yes, yes the more you work-out the more protein your body needs but you can get too much protein. And guess what, if you ARE getting too much protein, your body just stores it as fat anyway. So just keep that in mind too when thinking of your protein intake. You 100% need your protein, but be careful not to eat TOO much of it.

    Where are the studies that say that you can get too much? I would be interested in reading it. The only thing I can think of is "rabbit starvation" but this only effects people when eating only very lean meat. The fat is needed to process the protein. Besides you get pretty full on protein so I don't think you could eat an exorbitant amount. I found that calorie intake went down with the diet change not up which comes up in some of the research too. Veggies are very important too though to make sure that you get enough vitamins and fiber, so again not possible to have an exorbitant amount of protein.
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