Getting in those meals?

[Chunk]

I'm finding it very hard to get in 5/6 meals per day now that I'm back in the trades. It's not unusual to work 12 hours with no lunch or breaks because of the amount of work we're supposed to be getting done, and we can't exactly stop to wash up and eat all of the time. Some days are okay because we're more of a service shop and there is travel time between jobs, but on the days when we're working bigger jobs...it makes it damn hard!

How do you guys do it? I'm reverting right back to my old habits of eating once or twice a day. I didn't spend all kinds of money on supps so I could waste potential!

[dainbramaged]

I'd guess pretty much whatever you can put in a bottle, add some water to, and drink down in a hurry.

[Chunk]

all i ever read is "too many shakes, not enough real protein sources", though.

"anything is better than nothing" theory????

if that's what I have to do, I'll do it...but it seems like a waste of supps to me. after all supplements are to supplement, right?

it definitely would be easy though.

[GYMBRAT]

pound back the food then...

[devo09]

1. Meal frequency is WAAAAY overrated
2. As long as your getting adequate vitamins/minerals there is NOTHING wrong with getting the majority (or all) of your protein through powders

[Dryvrgrl]

It's all about being prepared!
get yourself a whack load of tupperware, and a good insulated thermos lunch bag and pack what you'll need for the day!

Seriously... I have posted what I eat in a day... I'm FINALLY just over 125 pound woman, and I have to eat between 3600 and 4500 calories a day on my current program. I'm also a city bus driver... so there is nowhere to stop and microwave food, or to keep food cool... there is ALOT of prep and planning in order to eat right and not take shortcuts!

I pack a chicken and rice meal in one microwaveable container, and a beef and potato meal in another, heat them up when I leave for my shift and keep them warm sitting on the defrost/ heat vents on the bus! (so far... no salmonella!! YIPPEE!!!)

Seriously... it can be done... you aren't the first guy ever who had to work long shifts and figure out food... a freind of mine works cut lines WAY up northern manitoba... and managed to train for Nationals 2008.. (granted... his protein was mostly fresh killed deer and moose! lol)

a couple cans of tuna and a can opener work wonders!

How Bad do you want it??

[GYMBRAT]

It's all about being prepared!

a couple cans of tuna and a can opener work wonders!

How Bad do you want it??

WURD!!

[Ritch]

If you can`t get the whole food, consume the shakes. I agree with Devo here, you can make gains if the majority of your protein comes from powder. I know what people say about the shakes and I simply disagree. If you can get 2 whole meals in for your day and the rest in as shakes, you`ll be fine. Just make the whole meals, top notch quality meat. I`d have a steak with rice and vege`s for sure for one of them. The other I`d alternate between chicken and fish. Your shakes are easily condensed cals consisting of ground up oatmeal, protein (casein if you go more than 4 hours between shakes, add lot`s of fats like ground up flax and nuts as well) and maybe eat an apple if you have time.

Good luck.

[Ritch]

I feel your frustration as the last days, especially yesterday, I only had time for one whole meal which was eggs and toast, the rest shakes. I felt like crap and was starved when I got home (early morining hours) stoped by the 24 "quickie mart" and picked up 2 bags of beef jerky. Didn`t eat everything, but my appetite went out of control, then ate a protein bar, and finished the little bit of ice cream I had. Anyway, if you can really only get 2 meals in on average, the rest being shakes, on your off days, make sure to get the most of your meals from real food.

[Sean Summers]

Where there's a will there's a way.
SS

[519Muscle]

as much as i dont like them protein bars/shakes anything to stay anabolic.

[L3]

1. Meal frequency is WAAAAY overrated


this makes me lulz

[devo09]

this makes me lulz
thats great that you lulzed

But if you disagree with me; you're wrong, science supports my answer

[L3]

please, do share

[devo09]

please, do share
I'm not going to spoonfeed you, take a look into these studies if you want

Important cliffs:
1. More frequent meals does NOT increase metabolic rate
2. There isn't a "limit" to protein absorption at a meal, if you have a shitton of protein it simply takes much longer to digest
3. There is SOME evidence to support that have toooo frequent meals can be detrimental to muscle gain because the protein synthesis response becomes refractory, more research needs to be done though

Denzer CM - The effect of resistance exercise on the thermic effect of food - International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Bellisle F et al. Meal frequency and energy balance. Br J Nutr. 1997 Apr;77 Suppl 1:S57-70.

Westerterp KR et al. Influence of the feeding frequency on nutrient utilization in man: consequences for energy metabolism. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1991 Mar;45(3):161-9

Taylor MA , Garrow JS. Compared with nibbling, neither gorging nor a morning fast affect short-term energy balance in obese patients ina chamber calorimeter. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 Apr;25(4):519-28.

Jones PJ et al. Meal frequency influences circulating hormone levels but not lipogenesis rates in humans. Metabolism. 1995 Feb;44(2):218-23

[MMASTAR]

I work construction, i pack my meals in plastic containers the night before, i usually cook a bunch of chicken or salmon on sun night and wed night for the week, hard boil 20 eggs sun night, thats 4 a day nd they last all week, bring nuts, jerky, shakes, PB sandwhichs r quick to go with a shake, protein bars, homemade or store bought, canned salmon, tuna, just bring a lunch kit full of food and keep snacks in ur pocket... eat and work, who needs to wash? lol

[bruno]

You could try keeping bags with nuts/beef jerky with you,and snack when you can during work.Shakes are great too!!
It used to work for me when I worked those kinda hours.

[#8]

P.S. working 12 hours a day without a break = extremely illegal

There are labour laws in Canada dude. Use them to your advantage.

[Chunk]

i appreciate the help! i don't really see the need to question my drive or will to better myself though, because if I didn't give a shit I wouldn't be asking for advice...I will likely go with the shakes rather than whole foods as it's easier to chug than chew, and have quality meals when i can. I always was told or heard people talk about how taking too much whey was a waste or useless...thanks for clearing it up! I suppose you have to take when you can. I never thought of jerkey and nuts in snack bags...how ****ing obvious can it get?! haha

p.s - if you think 12 hours without breaks is bad, try 16, 5 x week...used to have to do that!!!!

thanks guys, and gal!

[L3]

I'm not going to spoonfeed you, take a look into these studies if you want

Important cliffs:
1. More frequent meals does NOT increase metabolic rate
2. There isn't a "limit" to protein absorption at a meal, if you have a shitton of protein it simply takes much longer to digest
3. There is SOME evidence to support that have toooo frequent meals can be detrimental to muscle gain because the protein synthesis response becomes refractory, more research needs to be done though


thats great info, thanks :).

in the future though, if you ever get to ~5500cal/day CLEAN (chicken/br rice/yams/beef), please let us know how ingesting that in 3-4 meals instead of 8-10 works for you.

[natenator]

thats great that you lulzed

But if you disagree with me; you're wrong, science supports my answer
And huge ****ing people support that science isn't always right. I prefer to go with the if it ain't broke don't fix it approach. It looks as though you should do the same...

[O-Train]

And huge ****ing people support that science isn't always right. I prefer to go with the if it ain't broke don't fix it approach. It looks as though you should do the same...

You must also consider the sumo wrestler paradox.

I clearly just made that up.

[natenator]

You must also consider the sumo wrestler paradox.

I clearly just made that up.
Lmao! Good one bahahahahha