My Diet, Thoughts?

[drewcarroll2]

First of all, let me start by telling you my current goal. I want to drop down to 200-205 pounds. I started my journey on 7 May at 5'11" 256 pounds and weigh I currently weigh in at 221. I want to get big. However, I want to focus on getting to my goal weight now as I am deployed and can't focus 100% on a starting strength program. Once I return home then it is game on. I want to start at a good base of body fat and composition when I start real Starting Strength. I have been getting stronger and shedding fat. When I started I couldn't do anything heavy at all, I couldn't even bench 225. Here are my lifts now, improved since 7 May.

Squat: 235x5x3
Bench: 225x5x3
Deadlift: 315x5x1
Chins: 8, 6, 4, 4
Pull-ups: 10, 8, 6, 5
Press: not sure on a real oly bar, but 45kg (crap i know)

And here is my diet
I have been cutting weight like I said before and am getting stronger, but I feel like my diet could be way better.

Today I ate/ am going to eat
Meal 1: whey protien
Meal 2: 6 egg whites, one scoop whole oats, 2 tablespoons olive oil
Meal 3: Chicken breast and about 1 cup whole wheat pasta fresh spinach leaves
Meal 4: Apple and Protien
Meal 5: handful almonds
Meal 6: 2 small oranges
Meal 7: apple and almonds
Meal 8: 6 hard boiled egg whites
Meal 9: whey protien (pre workout)
Meal 10: cassein protien (post workout)

I spread these out over about 14-15 hours. What do you think? My workouts are burning on average of 650 cals+ and include 30 min of cardio before I lift.

[ColoWayno]

Hey, I'm deployed too. About 5 weeks to go!

You should go to Johnny Pains forum (listed on the main forums page) and read through some of the threads there.

The only thing I would suggest is to get a little more fat in there. You might want to try a large salad with some cheese drenched in olive oil.

I'm in a little different situation, I'm just trying to lose a little body fat while maintaining weight. I'll probably put up a post in my log describing what I'm doing. I'm about to really try to dial it in for the last few weeks. Basically I eat 4 meals on workout days plus a bedtime shake. When I don't workout I really try to limit the carbs and cut it to 3 meals + shake. I was trying for a lot of smaller meals but it ended up being too much work with the DEFAC schedule + work schedule and all of the other hassles out here.

It takes a little effort to figure out how to eat out here ehh?

I started getting two large salads drenched in olive oil everyday. It's made a big difference for me.

Stay safe!

[drewcarroll2]

ColoWayno,

Thanks for the support! Yeah, this being deployed crap will really do a number on your diet. Or you might actually get to eat and have a shitty gym, which is my case. The oly bar is 15 miles away from where I am staying and impossible to get to unless I am off work. Bull.

Oh, I have lurked on Johns guest spot almost everyday for about, well, since I joined. I tried to get ahold of him for a consult. I think that would really get me headed in the right direction.

What do you think about throwing in some creatine? I am trying to get wicked tight for when I go home to my wife, Kinda gonna shock her when I show up at home minus 50-60 pounds I think. That should be nice!!:)

You keep safe too man. Trying to get to the gym and still do homework and talk to my family as much as possible makes for a busy schedule. But, I hit the gym if its in the training log. I have made myself follow the rule that "if its in the notebook you have to do it." Just like the diet/eating habits/consumption mantra of "don't eat whats not in the lunchbox".

Peace
Drew

[ColoWayno]

Cool, creatine should help with recovery which can't hurt if your trying to lift and lose weight at the same time. Creatine will add a few pounds of water weight so expect to see that on the scale if you decide to use it.

I'm pretty lucky here. Within walking distance of my CHU I have a gym and a DEFAC. The shower and latrine are right next door. I have my own vehicle to get to work too.

Sounds like you've been doing well on the weight loss so far.

I started to out grow my clothes when I first got here and made some good gains in the weight room but had to dial it back (since my "fat" clothes are at home in my closet).

[bob g]

It looks like what you are doing is really working for you but I'm curious why you are avoiding egg yolks. There's a lot of great nutrition there. Not critical, just wondering.

[drewcarroll2]

I guess it is just carryover from the years my fitness knowledge has been bashed into the corporate ideal that egg yolks are bad for you. I hadn't even really thought about it honestly. I do find the yolks fucking disgusting though. That is another big part of it as well. Is there any advantage to eating them that I am missing? Like I said I am trying to cut fat and build muscle so this is kind of a razors edge I think. I believe I am going in the right direction though.

Thanks for your guys' help!