Importance of unprocessed food

Ihateeveryone · 09-26-2005, 12:43 AM

When I was bulking, I was basically eating anything - upward of 280g of protein a day, about the same in carbs and around 100g of fat - admittedly, a lot of it was empty calories. Burgers, nachos, deep fried shit - a lot of processed food. I gained my fair share of bodyfat as well. Up until a month ago, I cut my calories right back, but there was still a fair bit of processed food in the diet. Naturally, cardio helped me get a fair bit of shit off, but I cut my carbs right back.

In the last week, I cut milk right out, and added in supplemental calcium. I increased my carb levels - 1 cup of oats in water for breakfast, and another cup during my morning break, again in water, as opposed to 500ml milk and 1 cup of oats a day. I'm eating more fruit and vegetables, started taking in egg whites only, and roasted unsalted nuts. The only processed food is whey powder, and canned tuna or chicken breast (if you consider that processed

). The only other processed substances now are green tea, a fat burner and a protein bar whenever I'm too lazy to make something to eat. All of a sudden my gut has shrunk, and I seem to get a little more defined every day.

This leads me to the conclusion that so long as the food you eat is mostly unprocessed, the ratios of macronutrients are not as important - i.e. as an endo-mesomorph, I can still eat around 130g of carbs a day and effectively burn fat while cutting - and cardio is not nearly as important for fat loss, just for heart health. And if anything can prevent me from having to do more cardio, it's gotta be a good thing :bigthumbu

**johnsbod** · 09-26-2005, 12:47 AM

I agree with you to some extent, but even when my diet is clean I have to watch my carb intake. Too many carbs, no matter the source, make me blow up pretty quickly.

Ihateeveryone · 09-26-2005, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsbod

I agree with you to some extent, but even when my diet is clean I have to watch my carb intake. Too many carbs, no matter the source, make me blow up pretty quickly.

Well, thats when cardio is required. No way I'm cutting my damn carbs again. I was practically killing people last time I went the low carb route. Then I read about the Fatkins Diet - right away, I went and ate a loaf of bread just so I could disassociate myself from that bullshit.

**johnsbod** · 09-26-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ihateeveryone

Well, thats when cardio is required. No way I'm cutting my damn carbs again. I was practically killing people last time I went the low carb route. Then I read about the Fatkins Diet - right away, I went and ate a loaf of bread just so I could disassociate myself from that bullshit.

LOL @ fatkins.

With what I posted above, that happens even if I do cardio. I'm on a 3-day split most of the time and normally do cardio 4-5 times a week, but my body is ultra-carb sensitive. I really don't do low carb, but I do moderate carb to maintain a decent balance, but it probably does look like low carb compared to most of the guys diets on here.

**skelooth** · 09-26-2005, 12:56 AM

I'd have to disagree with you. The reason your able to drop the fat without hawking over ratios/cardio/calories, is because you just came out of a bulk. I've been dieting for 14 months, and I eat 100% clean approximately 28 days of the month... and I have to fight tooth and nail to drop fat.

**johnsbod** · 09-26-2005, 12:59 AM

I think another factor could be the amount of sodium you were consuming. The type of food you were eating is normally extremely high in sodium and will make you retain water. Once you clean up your diet and eat clean, you are consuming much lower levels of sodium and your body will quickly get rid of a lot of water that you were retaining. At least that's been my experience.

Ihateeveryone · 09-26-2005, 01:18 AM

Well, I've done this two or three times now and coming out of a bulk hasn't made a difference to fat loss. Its been easiest for me in the last few weeks with the unprocessed food. Beforehand, it was far more difficult because I was still eating processed shit.

By the way - the reason someone would have to fight tooth and nail to lose fat after dieting for 14 months, methinks, would lie in the previous 14 months activities. There is no way your metabolism will continue to respond month in and month out if you are trying to lose fat the whole time. Unless I misunderstood what you just posted.

**skelooth** · 09-26-2005, 01:59 AM

nope, you've got it right, i've been cutting for 14 months. From 38% bodyfat to 17% bodyfat. The only "breaks" I took were a couple of 2 week 'mini bulks' i took to try and reset my metabolism.

**builtbeast** · 09-26-2005, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ihateeveryone

When I was bulking, I was basically eating anything - upward of 280g of protein a day, about the same in carbs and around 100g of fat - admittedly, a lot of it was empty calories. Burgers, nachos, deep fried shit - a lot of processed food. I gained my fair share of bodyfat as well. Up until a month ago, I cut my calories right back, but there was still a fair bit of processed food in the diet. Naturally, cardio helped me get a fair bit of shit off, but I cut my carbs right back.

I agree with you about not eating the process foods. I don't eat them even when bulking either.

I can gain fat pretty easily myself and eat clean. (including processed tuna

)

And if you eat unprocessed food for awhile you just get used to it, if I had something deep fried now I would be sick. :excorcist

KingOfChaos · 09-26-2005, 04:10 AM

I can't ****ing gain now to save my life. I think my metabolism exploded on my last refeed and now that I am bulking, its getting even faster. Makes it kinda hard to gain muscle.

chlaxman · 09-26-2005, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfChaos

I can't ****ing gain now to save my life. I think my metabolism exploded on my last refeed and now that I am bulking, its getting even faster. Makes it kinda hard to gain muscle.

Yeah that can happen to me, as well. If I slowly raise my cals I have to get to like 4500 cals a day just to gain at a slow pace (as long as everything is clean, which it is).

09-26-2005, 12:43 AM	#1
Ihateeveryone Pro Stature Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Castle of Blakkheim Posts: 752 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 10	Importance of unprocessed food When I was bulking, I was basically eating anything - upward of 280g of protein a day, about the same in carbs and around 100g of fat - admittedly, a lot of it was empty calories. Burgers, nachos, deep fried shit - a lot of processed food. I gained my fair share of bodyfat as well. Up until a month ago, I cut my calories right back, but there was still a fair bit of processed food in the diet. Naturally, cardio helped me get a fair bit of shit off, but I cut my carbs right back. In the last week, I cut milk right out, and added in supplemental calcium. I increased my carb levels - 1 cup of oats in water for breakfast, and another cup during my morning break, again in water, as opposed to 500ml milk and 1 cup of oats a day. I'm eating more fruit and vegetables, started taking in egg whites only, and roasted unsalted nuts. The only processed food is whey powder, and canned tuna or chicken breast (if you consider that processed ). The only other processed substances now are green tea, a fat burner and a protein bar whenever I'm too lazy to make something to eat. All of a sudden my gut has shrunk, and I seem to get a little more defined every day. This leads me to the conclusion that so long as the food you eat is mostly unprocessed, the ratios of macronutrients are not as important - i.e. as an endo-mesomorph, I can still eat around 130g of carbs a day and effectively burn fat while cutting - and cardio is not nearly as important for fat loss, just for heart health. And if anything can prevent me from having to do more cardio, it's gotta be a good thing :bigthumbu __________________ Bullshit things: Hippies Astrology Rap music Nu metal Leg presses Communism Nitric Oxide Left wing politics Decaf coffee Fortune cookies Cutting Prudes Wine coolers Non materialism F**k marijuana - legalise steroids!! Bart: Ohhh, this place smells, and somethings dripping on me! Willie: The smell's manure, and the drippin's manure!

09-26-2005, 12:47 AM	#2
johnsbod Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 2,965 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 62	I agree with you to some extent, but even when my diet is clean I have to watch my carb intake. Too many carbs, no matter the source, make me blow up pretty quickly. __________________ Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen können, posten Sie hier. Misc Perv #69

09-26-2005, 12:56 AM	#5
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,042 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 162	I'd have to disagree with you. The reason your able to drop the fat without hawking over ratios/cardio/calories, is because you just came out of a bulk. I've been dieting for 14 months, and I eat 100% clean approximately 28 days of the month... and I have to fight tooth and nail to drop fat. __________________

09-26-2005, 12:59 AM	#6
johnsbod Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 2,965 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 62	I think another factor could be the amount of sodium you were consuming. The type of food you were eating is normally extremely high in sodium and will make you retain water. Once you clean up your diet and eat clean, you are consuming much lower levels of sodium and your body will quickly get rid of a lot of water that you were retaining. At least that's been my experience. __________________ Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen können, posten Sie hier. Misc Perv #69

09-26-2005, 01:18 AM	#7
Ihateeveryone Pro Stature Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Castle of Blakkheim Posts: 752 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 10	Well, I've done this two or three times now and coming out of a bulk hasn't made a difference to fat loss. Its been easiest for me in the last few weeks with the unprocessed food. Beforehand, it was far more difficult because I was still eating processed shit. By the way - the reason someone would have to fight tooth and nail to lose fat after dieting for 14 months, methinks, would lie in the previous 14 months activities. There is no way your metabolism will continue to respond month in and month out if you are trying to lose fat the whole time. Unless I misunderstood what you just posted. __________________ Bullshit things: Hippies Astrology Rap music Nu metal Leg presses Communism Nitric Oxide Left wing politics Decaf coffee Fortune cookies Cutting Prudes Wine coolers Non materialism F**k marijuana - legalise steroids!! Bart: Ohhh, this place smells, and somethings dripping on me! Willie: The smell's manure, and the drippin's manure!

09-26-2005, 01:59 AM	#8
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,042 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 162	nope, you've got it right, i've been cutting for 14 months. From 38% bodyfat to 17% bodyfat. The only "breaks" I took were a couple of 2 week 'mini bulks' i took to try and reset my metabolism. __________________

09-26-2005, 04:10 AM	#10
KingOfChaos Pro Stature Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 177 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	I can't **ing gain now to save my life. I think my metabolism exploded on my last refeed and now that I am bulking, its getting even faster. Makes it kinda hard to gain muscle. __________________ Shawn Muder** Bodybuilding Enthusiast Fire Controlman, United States Navy Starting Weight: 520 lbs. BF - 62% (3/24/04) Current Weight: 315 lbs. BF - 22% (03/09/08) MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/darkspeaker Livejournal: http://www.livejournal.com/~kingoflaw/ Realms of Evil, My D&D website: http://www.realmsofevil.net/

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