GoddessAthlete’s BodyBlog

Many of you have been asking me how I continue gaining muscle and yet stay so lean.  What’s my secret?  It is no magic pill (in fact I don’t use thermogenics); it is simply a well-designed meal plan.  I will be coming out with a book on it soon, so I don’t want to spoil it all now, but I will provide some information to help you all make gains (building muscle or losing fat) FASTER and HEALTHIER!

I hope to help you redefine what "healthy" actually means.  Many articles about what is "healthy" quote the parts of studies that validate their ideas.  For example, many people talk about how alcohol in moderation can reduce the risk of death from heart disease.  What these articles don’t tell you is that the research is ONLY true for people over 60 years old who already have an increased risk for heart disease (Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, pg 101). You aren’t being given all of the information, so unless you do hours and hours of your own research, how could you possibly make a truly informed decision?  The truth is that you cannot.  It is my hope that my endless hours and years of research can help you make healthier nutritional choices so that you are truly fueling your body in the best way possible. 

Now, before you continue reading, I ask you to read with an open mind.  Some of the information that I present may contradict ideas you have had all of your life.  I have had all sorts of reactions from presenting the information that I’ve found, but remember, many men defended with their life the belief that the world was flat, and now, no one (that I know of anyways) believes that this is true.  As many of you know, it is my mission to revolutionize the health and nutrition industry.  Regardless of the reactions I get, I want to present you with research that affects you and your daily choices.  Take what you want, and just leave anything you don’t find useful now.  Maybe it wil be helpful in the future…..

Are you ready?  Then buckle your seat belts, here we go! 

WHAT IS A FOOD?

While this may seem like a silly question, everyday people consume products that they consider foods, products that are full of toxins, chemicals, preservatives, and artificial sugars and flavors.  While they may taste good, the insides of the body do NOT agree.  I’ve had bodybuilders argue with me that they can consume whatever they want because they still stay ripped, but what is going on inside their bodies after years of a diet full of saturated fat clogging their arteries.

Foods are products that are in their natural state (fruits, vegetables, and meats), full of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.  Notice that I didn’t mention of few of the traditional food groups.  This was intentional.  I do not consider grains or dairy the best things to eat. 

Why? 

Ask any competitive bodybuilder what they do a month or two before the show, and they will tell you that they cut out grains and dairy from their daily meal plan.  Grains cause cellular edema (otherwise known as inflammation or that "puffy look").  There is a reason that I look lean and hard all of the time.  Besides having low body fat, I do not consume grain products that cause cellular edema.  On stage, I get critiqued for not being "full" enough.  I actually take this as a compliment, as that "full" look is due to an allergic reaction within the cells from the grain products that most people carb up on (pizza, cookies, rice cakes, etc.) before stepping on stage.  Additionally, our overconsumption of a protein in grains called gluten (which is found in vitually everything from shampoos and toothpaste to salad dressings, crackers, and gum) has caused numerous problems and has increased the incidence of celiac disease in our society.

Dairy causes more problems than it does good.  Look at it this way, Americans eat the most amount of dairy of any country and we also have the highest rates of osteoporosis.  How is that possible if milk "does a body good"? Interesting, huh?  Additionally, we are born with an enzyme called lactase that helps digest the milk sugar (lactose).   As we stop drinking breastmilk, our bodies stop making this enzyme (as is true in all mammalian animals) because we  move onto eating solid foods.  It’s not a wonder why many people, especially Asians and Africans, suffer some intestinal distress from consuming dairy products.  You may say, that’s not me.  Do your research, allergic reactions can vary from gas, diarrhea, acne, crohn’s disease, sinus infections…….need I go on?  Don’t just take my word for it, though.  Look at the credible doctors who have studied these subjects at www.mercola.com, www.nomilk.com    Even the Physicians Committe for Responisble Medicine (www.pcrm.org) is asking the FTC to review the health claims made by milk advertisements. 

Ok, so you may be wondering, what DO I eat then?

My diet is simple.  It consists of fruits, vegetables, meats, and nuts.  I could go into the why, but that will be covered in my book.  If you need more information now, check out the Paleo Diet at http://www.thepaleodiet.com/  It’s somewhat different than what I promote, as it is typically high in fat and protein, but every BODY is different and any diet plan that tells you exactly what to eat is short changing you.  Your body doesn’t need the exact same things as someone else’s and what works for one person may or may not work for you.  Some people may need a high fat and protein diet, while others may need a high carb diet.  There is no “one-diet-fits-all.”

WHAT DO I EAT?

Well, that depends on my activity level, the time of year (I eat more fat and protein in the winter and fruits in the summer), and what kind of training program I am currently doing, but I’ll give you an example of today’s food:

Pre-workout

1 asian pear, 5 dates (high carb fruit)

Post-workout

Shake: 2 bananas, The Ultimate meal Protein shake (made from spirulina, pea protein, sprouted grains)

10 dates, 1 Tbsp hemp seed (very high in protein)

Morning snacks

1 fuji apple, 1 asian pear, 6 tangerines, 10 dates

Lunch

young coconut (water and the flesh)

huge salad-romaine lettuce, mixed greens, kale, cilantro, parsley, dill, grated sweet potato, mushrooms, spirulina, bell pepper, raisins, lemon juice and 1.5tsp olive oil

7 oz sirloin

Snack

10 dates and 1.5 tbsp nut butter

Dinner

Another huge salad-I mean HUGE.  My salads probably weigh about a pound, which is alot, considering they are MOSTLY leafy vegetables!

7oz sirloin

There you have it.  I eat ALOT of food.  In fact I eat all day long!  Right now, my calories are over 3000, and my carbs are at 500-600g, which would leave most of you gasping.  But I can do this because of the KINDS of carbs I eat.  Believe me, if I did this many carbs with grain products, I, too, would blow up like a balloon.  But the more natural foods do not cause that kind of reaction in most people’s bodies.  And if you put my foods into any diet program, the vitamins and minerals are through the roof.  You may say the same thing about your foods, but how many products do you consume that are fortified?  IT’S NOT THE SAME AS EATING FOODS THAT HAVE THE NUTRIENTS IN THEM NATURALLY.  The body can assimilate nutrients from foods better than fortified foods.

So, where do you go from here?

Do I expect any of you or my clients to eat all whole foods all of the time?  Absolutely NOT!  Even my husband, who agrees with this information whole-heartedly, eats processed foods (breads, rice, etc).  I am not writing this in order to get you to give up your dairy, grains, and other processed foods, but to make you more aware of the effect of these products on your body and your health.  Without awareness, your choices aren’t well-informed.  Once you have the information, you can choose what to do with it.

First of all, if you are new to healthier eating, you may need some guidance, to make sure that you are getting all of your vitamins and minerals.  While it is highly likely that you are getting most of what you need, especially if you choose a variety of foods, there are certain nutrients (calcium, iron, and folate for example) which you need to ensure that you are getting enough of to maintain ideal health. 

But, make sure you add more fruits and vegetables to your diet slowly, as they contain lots of fiber and adding too much fiber too quickly can cause uncomfortable side effects (mainly gas and bloating).

Just remember the phrase that I use with my clients: “Fresh is best.”  Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.  Choose fresh cuts of meat and fish over packaged items.  Your body will thank you for it!

And email me (chrissy@goddessathlete.com) if you have questions regarding this post or if you want to be on the mailing list when my book is complete.  I wish you the best, and I hope that this information can help you refine your diet so that you are feeding it as optimally as possible and achieving your fitness goals quickly and health-fully!

And to get more information, please check out my website at www.GoddessAthlete.com