What Should Your Bodybuilding Diet Consist Of?
Now that I have explained to you why you need six meals a day in your bodybuilding diet, I warn you that you can't just eat anything you want during your six daily meals and expect results. You have to combine your foods in a certain way. However, unless you're gunning for an upcoming body building show (or you're a stickler for detail) I don't see a need to count every single calorie you eat.
(You'll drive yourself crazy doing this.) Instead I recommend you count portions instead.
I recommend dividing your meal plate into "thirds." Cover one third of your plate with a lean protein source such as fish, turkey, or chicken. Cover the second third of your plate with a complex carb such as a baked potato or brown rice. And cover the last third with a fibrous vegetable such as a green leafy salad, broccoli, or green beans. (You should change foods regularly to insure you're getting a variety of nutrients.)
Another common way to determine appropriate portion sizes for your six meals is to think of a portion of protein as an amount equal to the size of your palm. A carb portion would then be equal to the size of your fist. As would a vegetable portion, which you would add a few times per day.
How Can I Eat 6 Meals a Day?
Now I know what you're thinking, "Who has time to make six of these meals each day?" Am I right?
If so, here are a few things you can do:
- Pick up your phone book. Look under culinary schools. Call a few to locate a chef that can prepare you great tasting, low-fat foods. I've done this in the past and it's a real time saver (they bring the food to you in containers each week) and not much more expensive than eating out.
- Pick two days a week to prepare large amounts of food yourself. Pack meal-sized portions of food in Zip-Loc bags, then freeze them and thaw as needed. (Look for high-protein, low-fat recipes in your favorite magazines.)
- Use convenient meal replacement drink mixes and bars as meal substitutes throughout the day. (I eat three regular meals and have two to three Lean Body Meal Replacement Drink Mixes, and a Lean Body Bar, every day.)
I'm confident this article has revealed the real importance of having 6 meals in your bodybuilding diet. Now I encourage you to stop procrastinating and take action to start applying this knowledge now!
About the Author
Lee Labrada, is a former IFBB Mr. Universe and IFFB Pro World Cup winner. He is one of few men in history to place in the top four in the Mr. Olympia seven consecutive times, and was recently inducted into the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. Lee is President/CEO of Houston-based Labrada Nutrition.