The Importance Of Diet
I often get people asking me about my diet and what I eat to stay so lean, lowering my BF% but yet keep the muscle growing. Bottom line is, it’s about throwing out everything you used to love and throwing in a whole other realm of foods. Sticking to a high protein, moderate carb, low fat diet is key for putting on lean mass. What I currently am eating as of now is a whole lotta chicken (boneless\skinless), lean beef, organic black beans, whole grain rice (in moderation), sweet potatoes, lots of tuna, lots of eggs (mainly egg whites, sometimes I will throw in a yolk in there), bananas, mixed fruit (in moderation), low sodium turkey on Ezekiel bread with lettuce (nothing else), McCann’s Irish Oats, and I usually get my veggies through powder since I really do not care for whole food veggies..but believe me, I do know the importance of including them in an everday diet. I have thrown out all fast food, sugary sodas and juices, fried foods, sweets, and certainly alcohol (coming up on 5 years since I have had my last drink..and I never plan to put another one down again). Dropping every one of these items helped me lose the excess bodyfat I was carrying around. In my opinion I think 80% of reaching your overall goal of grasping that desired physique has to do with diet. You can train all you want, but if you don’t have your diet in check…the results you are looking for will come slower then expected or may not come at all. So keep that diet in check and X out all of the fatty\fried\sweet\fast foods out there and reach that goal of attaining the physiqye you desire!
March 31, 2008 at 9:27 pm
well said, but we always have the people that just have to have their sweets/fried foods/etc… when will they learn???
March 31, 2008 at 9:27 pm
You can argue with that….your physique speaks for itself Nick. Thanks for the tips
March 31, 2008 at 9:28 pm
RIGHT ON!
March 31, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I can appreciate that. Thanks pal.
March 31, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Excellent blog. With those restrictions you certainly deserve the physique you’ve attained. Well done.
March 31, 2008 at 9:32 pm
that is so true, wish i had your will power!
April 5, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Thanks for the tip.;) I’ll keep that in mind
April 9, 2008 at 4:04 pm
For Damn Sure bro, since doing all that a month ago i can def see a difference in body, long ways to go to get ur kinda def.\
Keep It Up Bro!
April 10, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Very well said. People dont realize that their goals will achieved in the kitchen with help from the gym. I know you get asked "whats your secret?" alot. THIS IS IT.
April 11, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I completely agree, I did this for myself starting out last year and the changes to my body were incredible! And it didnt take long either.
April 11, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I give a similar explanation on how I lost 54 lbs. There was no "miracle diet" just healthy foods, portion control and cutting out all the processes junk. I rarely want anything sweeter than fruit. Eating anything fried just makes me sick. Now I am even more careful what I eat. Your list is basically my list as well. Great advice.
April 22, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Well said. Articulate and to the point. I cut out the crap over a year ago and lost 40 lbs. And my energy is higher. Keep pumping hard. You are an inspiration.
April 23, 2008 at 10:42 am
Well said. that was a great blog. you are are so right. Infomercials have convinced people that you can still eat what you want and lose wieght by taking a pill. At least a few times out the week, so is asking me what is a good fat burner to use- but they don’t work out. I just don’t get it. I am with you. I eat really clean. my grocery bill is crazy high now. But i do have one question to ask. i eat low fat relatively all day. But since i am in my late 30’s, i have had dietians tell me to increase my good fats in order to keep my testosterone production up. how much fat do you generally eat in a day? or what percentage of your calories come from Fat? thanks
April 26, 2008 at 6:50 pm
brother well put 90 diet 10 percent training I have started eating chicken lean beef and fish and I cut out fast foods and sodas and other bad foods thats for sticking with me and all my efforts
April 27, 2008 at 2:29 pm
great blog.. what ppl eat is always overlooked… gota fuel ur tank w/ high performance if u expect high performance results.
April 30, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Great blog Nick!!!!!
May 3, 2008 at 10:06 pm
great blog nick!
May 16, 2008 at 9:24 am
Well said bro!
May 18, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I believe it because I see it!
May 22, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Right on…diet is key. However to get the ab definition you have developed is enhanced by the remaining ~30% of your overall goal. Can you provide some details on keeping that abdominal memory? Thanks for your post.
May 23, 2008 at 10:54 pm
aye no homo or anything, but your life a damn role model to the whole bodybuilding communit. no lie.
May 26, 2008 at 12:39 pm
My mom just bought me the McCann’s oat meal and it is fantastico! Got the best mom in the world! She heard I eat oatmeal every morning since I got back into bodybuilding. The next thing I know she buy’s me a can! She’s 76 and I’m 47 but she still cares about her "kids" no matter what! Hah!
And Ezekiel bread! Holy Cow I forgot about that stuff since I live in Cali! Dudes and gals research this stuff. It is pretty wild. Like a bread recipe that’s like 1000 years old or something but is the perfect carb meal! Hah!
Paddy
May 26, 2008 at 9:14 pm
An inspiration. I just cleaned up my diet and I have to tell you that this is the most overlooked aspect of living well and getting results in the gym. Thank you for your blog, it has truly helped my man.
May 29, 2008 at 10:08 pm
nick your awesome. thanks for sharing the knowledge. your downest dude on this site. congrats on all your success also. - Peter
June 1, 2008 at 11:45 am
Well spoken Bro. You just have to want it, then do it.
Tony
June 3, 2008 at 2:37 am
Nice blog! I’m going to kip this in mind.
June 4, 2008 at 10:24 am
Great Blog! I’m still working on the healthy foods. The crap they put in processed food them get you hooked. Its been like quiting smoking. Hapta try that bread….thanx for the tips!
July 16, 2008 at 2:11 pm
what do you consider moderate carbs?
July 19, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Great Blog, I agree that the way to a lean healthy body is what you eat. The example you gave are perfect. its just sometimes we are so used to eating everything that we don’t realize what we are doing to our bodies.
July 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Wondering why do you eat McCann’s Irish Oats instead on 100% whole wheat oats? Do they taste better or do they diggest slower?
July 20, 2008 at 11:45 am
dude Great job! diet is at least 70% of leaning up! but i just need someone to keep me on track!
July 20, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Thank you Nick.
I think most of bodybuilder know these information but they forget …
You remind us the truth. Thank a lot..
July 31, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Great blog Nick! You are so right about keeping a good diet.
It’s all in the will power.
September 19, 2008 at 5:27 am
Brother,
Awesome! The info I was looking for in a nut shell. I am going to try the Ezekiel bread, sounds good and right now I just started eating skinless chicken meat. Thanks bro and have a good day.
September 25, 2008 at 2:58 am
I have to ask the question, but, doesn’t the yolk of an egg consist of 16% protein? I know that most of the yolk is fat.
At the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008 I was eating in excess of 3.5 dozen eggs a week, whole eggs (all whites and all yolks), I would have 6 for breakfast and sometimes another 6 during the day, after each serving I would have a WPI/Creatine shake. (And with breakfast 2 fish oil capsules and 1 multivitamin capsule (I have 6 fish oil a day).
As a result of this diet, which also included numerous other whole foods that contain high protein, lean beef, fish (tuna), and lots of carbs from pasta, rice and bread, I saw huge increases in my strength. I also saw a jump in bodyweight from 71kg up to 75kg in 3 weeks, I cut the excess bodyfat that I had gained and diuscovered a noticeable increase in trap, shoulder, quad and back mass.
But yeah, just asking if the yolks are really that bad?
November 16, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Good blog here, XNick EdgeX. However, what would you recommend for someone who is an ovo lacto vegetarian (philosophical reasons)? I think I’m doing well, but there is always room for improvements. Your input is welcomed!
November 19, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I’m really very strict with my diet(macros/calories/ect)but have really lacked in the vegetable department.. what veggie powder do you use and do you think that could make the difference?
November 19, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I’m really very strict with my diet(macros/calories/ect)but have really lacked in the vegetable department.. what veggie powder do you use and do you think that could make the difference?
January 8, 2009 at 1:49 am
yo man id appreciate some help with this problem ive herd that treating yourself to a lil something is allright from time to time but how much is to much and how much will me cheating dilleberatly once a month effect my results, food has allways been a vice for me so im finding it very difficult to control my cravings, i quit smoking and have substained from drinking untill my birthday (3 months away) because it will be my reward for 4 months of hard work, what do u think about the eating though
CJ
January 17, 2009 at 5:06 am
Nick: You and I have basically the same diet with a few exceptions. I probably eat a little more fat as I eat peanut butter for protein every day before working out. Also I have one glass (6 oz.) red wine every evening for my heart health. Otherwise we are pretty much on the same diet. It has worked for me, though I don’t yet have the results you have shown here, but then age and genetics plays a role as well. But I am pleased with the results for the most part. Just curious as to your thoughts on eating nuts. I read a lot about them being good but they are fatty, no?
January 22, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Great blog! That’s the kind of message that really motivates me. Keep up the good work.
January 28, 2009 at 2:47 pm
HEY NICK THANKS FOR THE BLOG INFO.
March 8, 2009 at 11:10 am
Thanks for the info on diet. I noticed how lean you were, but still had alot of muscle. That’s what I’m working for and knowing that I’m on the right track with my diet is nice. I just started adding low GI fruits in my plan and wow, I find myself having alot more energy compared to my chicken, fish, tuna and simple carbs plan I was using before. Keep up the good work man. Peace.
-Lj
March 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm
hey man! Those are great tips! I’m a novice in all this and I’, trying to get my diet right but it’s a difficult process.. I eat like 5 cans of tuna a day, about 12 servings and each serving has 350 mg so I think I might be putting too much water on my body. What kind of tuna do u eat? thatnks for the tips.
September 16, 2009 at 12:55 am
hi, what’s the best exercise edvice you can give to someone who’s about 5\8". who’s wants to be lean and cut .
October 29, 2009 at 4:29 pm
thanks for the blog, im new on here and you sir are an insperation, i eat clean myself with a high protien diet, i onlydrink water, dont really eat sweets and dont drink also, i hope to one day get where you are at.