Which First? Lose fat or gain muscle?

[cursor]

Originally Posted by nightwish7

So I shouldn't be too concerned with total calories, but more concerned if the ratio between protien and calories is resonable.

On the contrary ... the amount of calories/fuel that you ingest DOES make a serious difference. If eat more than you burn off (through basic living + activity), then a portion of the excess will be stored on your body as fat.

Why is it that you find appealing about those particular drinks? Are you looking for bulk calories (fuel) ... or what?

[nightwish7]

No No, I could care less about the drinks. But they are there and I see people drinking them so I wonder if I should be doing the same.

Will they help me to lose fat and gain muscle? Thats what im asking and which one is the better choice.

As far as it just being those 2 drinks, is becuase those 2 are what the gym has the most of in the cooler and what I see the majority of the people in the gym drinking

[cursor]

Eat quality, unprocessed foods whenever possible. Special drinks are not at all necessary for fat-loss nor for muscle gain.

Have you been reading through the reference materials that have been linked in the previous posts?

[nightwish7]

Yes I have, and im learning quite a bit. However, maybe im in a situation that most of you aren't in. I have a full time job... Now I know most of us work for a living but I say that just to indicate that I do not have the option of eating 5-6 meals a day.

Normally I SKIP breakfast but I am trying to kick that habit by having eggs / salsa on wheat toast in the morning which is actually pretty tasty.

For lunch, my options are VERY VERY limited. I work as a computer technician and I am never at the office. I am out in the community which forces me to eat out. Normally I get a Roadhouse Ranch salad from Quiznos
http://www.quiznos.com/menu/salads.asp

If for some reason I do not have time to sit down and eat, I typically go to arbys and get just a single large roast beef sandwich with no fries and a diet coke.

We dont live in a big city so my options are:

Mcdonalds
Burger King
Arbys
Subway
Quiznos
Zaxbys
Wendys


Yeah, lunch is very difficult. I would take my lunch but since im in the field all the time, I dont have microwaves or anything like that.

Supper I do pretty good. My mother (who lives with us, long story) cooks everynight but I dont eat very much. I eat enough to hold me over till morning and thats it.

So im trying my hardest eat better but I dont have as many options as some of you. The reason I am so big now is probably because I used to choose taco bell and Mcdonalds over a salad. And since my job isn't very physical, I dont get a lot of exercise.

We solved that issue though by joining the local gym which we go to for 2 hours 4 days a week. My wife is pretty much in the same boat with me. She needs to lose weight, and she attends the gym with me.


Since i have a LOT OF FAT to lose (24% fat according to calculator) I want to do everything I can to MELT it away. I got to looking on the drug forums and perhaps a ECA stack + Green tea mid day while working + a great diet + cardio 4 days a week for about 30 mins is the ticket im looking for.


Im still new here and I am jumping into this lifestyle head first. Absorbing everything I read here. Sorry if Im comming across as annoying.

[Dan C]

Start taking your food with you on the road! There are MANY other options than the ones you listed. Beef jerky, nuts, fruits, hard-boiled eggs and other snack type items can hold you over throughout the day, if you make time for breakfast and drink lots of water.

Having said that, I say put your priorities on weight-training, don't ignore your conditioning work, just put the bulk of your effort into the weights.

[cursor]

Originally Posted by nightwish7

maybe im in a situation that most of you aren't in. I have a full time job.

And you don't think the rest of us have full-time jobs?

Make several small meals at home and take them with you to work. Tupperware and baggies work great. When my wife left for work this morning, she took three "meals":

• Mid-morning snack
• Lunch salad (romaine lettuce, carrots, tomato wedges, sliced cucumber, topped with baked salmon from last night's dinner)
• Mid-afternoon snack

Before heading to work she ate two grilled egg fold-overs (1 with a corn tortilla, the other with a flour tortilla), each with a whole scrambled egg, a touch of salsa, and a hint of pimento cheese. Tonight I'll be doing a veggie quiche.

[nightwish7]

I see...

There cant be many options for cold food though. Maybe I just dont know 1/2 of what I should.

I will poke around and see about what I could take. Carrying a cooler with me in the car isn't a problem. Maybe I can make some healthy sandwhiches with wheat bread or some kind of a wrap. Hmmm I might be on the right track here.

Ok Ill look into this more about what I can prepare to eat throughout the day.


No Cursor, Im sure everyone does have jobs. I just dont understand how some have time to eat 5-6 times a day. No offence was intended towards anyone.

[cursor]

Keep in mind that since the "meals" are not typically the same size as what you've been accustomed to eating. Taking a whole day's food and dividing it up into semi-equal portions results in "meals" that can be eaten pretty darn quickly. Imagine, for example, how long it would take to eat a whole boiled egg and a tupperware container of apple wedges (sliced and cored at home).

[nightwish7]

Yeah I see. Ive never eaten that way before. Isn't it difficult to ONLY eat that much? I would figure you would be hungry and temtped to eat more than you should. I guess Ill give this a try next week and see how it goes.

So very small meals 5-6 times a day.

How late should I eat? Again, its just what I heard, but I heard you shoud't eat before bed since you arent using the carbs and such while you sleep.

Thanks for the advice.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by nightwish7

I see... Carrying a cooler with me in the car isn't a problem. Maybe I can make some healthy sandwhiches with wheat bread or some kind of a wrap. Hmmm I might be on the right track here.

Now you are getting the idea. I have worked full-time and did night school. I still managed to carry all my food required. It is a matter of deciding your priorities and sticking to them.

Other snack foods are fresh veggies like carrots, cukes, celery, radishes, apples, oranges, grapes, etc. I pre-blend protein shakes and take them to work. I even eat Morningstar veggie patties cold.

I eat within a half hour of bedtime. Just lots of veggies and lean proteins. No starchy carbs before bed (unless you just worked-out).

[nightwish7]

vegies huh? I like most veggies (cept for tomatoes) but my downfall is going to be trying not to take ranch or something to dip it in... lol

I love fruit though... that wont be a problem at all.

[Dan C]

Honestly, a ranch dip wouldn't be so bad. You're making some big changes in your lifestyle and if that'll help you stick to your diet then go for it. Celery and cream cheese is still better than Arby's.

BTW, the water (you will be drinking ALL day) will help the "small meals" feel more satisfying. Trust me, I'm an "all-you-can-eat" kinda guy too!

[SoulDoubt]

I'm a dipper too, but I found that salsa is way better than ranch, plus its healthier too (excluding the fat free ranches etc of course).

[nightwish7]

ewww vegies in salsa... that doens't sound good... but Im willing to try anything once.