Simple diets for the organisationally challenged

[rawpower]

First off, background info. For those of you who don't know me, I train for strongman. I'm currently 6ft 1, 105kg/231lbs. I usually train in the gym twice in the week and then have a grueling events day every Sat.

I'm in the process of putting together a 'plan.' The aim is, like most people, to slowly gain weight that is as lean as possible. I have no insane targets about putting on X amount of weight in X time, especially as I want to stay within shooting distance of 231 for comps.

I'm also looking to make things a little healthier. At the moment I've been eating a fair amount of food from work, which is generally processed crap, but has the advantage of being available.

What I want to do therefore is put together a plan that is as simple as possible. Bear in mind that I live on my own and work fairly long hours. Two or three days a week I will go out to eat with my girlfriend in the evening, but the rest of the time I'm in charge of things.

Here is my current idea:

Breakfast:
3 whole eggs (boiled the night before)
Yoghurt (low sugar)
Coffee
I liked the AF diet and felt good keeping carbs low at the start of the day.

Midmorning snack
Beef chilli and rice

Lunch
Beef chilli and rice
Salad

Post-workout
?

Evening meal
Beef chilli and rice
Tuna salad

Supper - optional, depending on how I feel and how late it is
Mackerel
Yoghurt

Basically the core of this is 1kg of beef, cooked up into whatever I like; some days chilli, others meatballs, and so on. Along with this I'll do a big box of salad and a box of rice or whatever carb I want, as well as a big bottle of water, to make sure I drink enough.

Protein wise, I think there is going to be 250-300 grams protein from the beef/eggs/tuna/mackerel/yoghurt, which will do for me on most days.

I'd follow this template 5 days a week, with something more varied on Friday evening and Saturday (events day).

Any input would be appreciated, whether you think something should change or you have a great beef recipe, I'll happily listen.

[Beverly McD.]

Just a tip for you on the ground beef......... cook several pounds at one time. Don't bother seasoning it. Put it in a colander and wash it in hot water after cooking. That gets rid of a ton of fat even if you use lean groundround to begin with.

Seperate it into ziploc bags and put it in the freezer.

Cuts way down on the time it takes to prepare food the next time you're hungry. You can also buy frozen onion/bell-pepper to throw in when the time comes.

If you get tired of the chili, open a can of fat-free refried beans, spread some on a low-fat tortilla, add the (now seasoned) ground beef, and maybe a little low-fat cheese, and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. If you throw a damp papertowel over it the tortilla will stay soft.

Really quick and really easy. My kind of meal!LOL!

[rawpower]

Originally Posted by Beverly McD.

Just a tip for you on the ground beef......... cook several pounds at one time. Don't bother seasoning it. Put it in a colander and wash it in hot water after cooking. That gets rid of a ton of fat even if you use lean groundround to begin with.

Seperate it into ziploc bags and put it in the freezer.

Cuts way down on the time it takes to prepare food the next time you're hungry. You can also buy frozen onion/bell-pepper to throw in when the time comes.

If you get tired of the chili, open a can of fat-free refried beans, spread some on a low-fat tortilla, add the (now seasoned) ground beef, and maybe a little low-fat cheese, and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. If you throw a damp papertowel over it the tortilla will stay soft.

Really quick and really easy. My kind of meal!LOL!

Now THAT'S the sort of advice I like!

I think I might just do that tonight.

I've tried the washing thing before, but blocked my sink! It was horrible trying to clear it, as the joint had seized.

I think this time, I'll drain off what I can before I do that.

Thanks.

[Beverly McD.]

Might want to let the hot water run for a minute or two extra, just to be safe. Cleaning out a clogged sink is about as much fun as going to the dentist. (No offense to any dentists out there! LOL!)

[T-Cake]

Check out the sticky I just put up in the Diet Talk called "Where do I start to eat a balanced diet?" LOTS of simple suggestions in there for the 3 squares and snacks too.

I personally LOVE chicken or turkey BURGERS made from ground meat. Even buy some turkey bacon and before you grill the patties, wrap each patty in 2 slices of it. Grill it up and it is TASTY! I top mine with some cooked mushrooms/onions, maybe some BBQ sauce or some "homemade" blue cheese "dressing" with lowfat sour cream, salt, pepper, and lowfat blue cheese crumbles. VERY GOOD!

There's always tacos too Ground meat, taco seasoning, 1/2 c of salsa of choice. Tasty tasty! Throw in some chopped veggies from the freezer if you have any on hand (like corn kernels, onion, green pepper, mushrooms... I buy chopped frozen veggies for stuff like this especially). I eat the taco mix in tortillas or in shells... OR on top of brown rice or a sweet potato.... it's endless!

You could also try mixing in Ranch dressing seasoning (the packet/envelope) in with the ground meat instead and use it in similar ways -- meatballs, burgers, taco-type meat mixes. Throw it in with some wheat noodles, rice, on a whole-grain bun.... same thing!

[trivial]

I always read this title wrong.....oh my dirty mind.....lol