Agreed, my post was aiming at the simplicity of what its needed to do to achieve a better balance on weight loss. America has over complicated this issue, with adds and pills and plans and TV…………….and!!!!!!!!!

Some folks are over whelmed by intricate plans, and too much information, as important as it is.
They just need the simple point. So then will not give up

 

You're dead right about that. The first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of the USDA food pyramid. It's built upside down. Besides, where does the USDA get off recommending what we eat?

Also, people need to get the idea out of their heads that there is/will be a miracle pill. Nothing like this will ever exist.

Education is by far the best weapon against obesity. People don't need to know specifically what happens in your body when you eat this, but they need to know this in general terms. You're right, with all the diet books out, it's easy to see why the public is confused and overwhelmed.

 

I swear the USDA has done it on purpose,
I hope that things will change, until then we will continue to be an over weight society.
The fast food chains have allot of responsibility, they did not force anyone to eat
but they have not done their part to ATTEMPT to make healthy food.

YOU are correct!

 

Potatoes = carbs you need and potassium. You need carbs, you don't sit around on your butt so the low carb thing is not for you. The potassium in Potatoes is a must for proper muscle function and recovery.

Bananas= natural sugars, some protein(not much) and potassium, good for quick digestion before a work out. You see professial bikers eating them during races.

Tuna= plain right out of the can, in spring water. Great protein for muscles and good source of omega-3 fatty acids (good for your heart).

Chicken= protein/ lower fat cotent. better then red meats. But you need at least one helping of red meat every two weeks. Red meat has iron and zinc and other types of minerals, not to mention protein. Your a weight lifter not a starving dieter, you need a little red meat to maintain mass.

Fruits and vegetables every day to get the rest of your Reccomended daily allowance, which for you if you are a serious lifter is twice what a normal persons is. The diet suggestions by alot of the other posters are great for lossing weight and toning. But If I understand you correctly, you don't want to lose weight you want to gain muscle and tone the abs. So you were correct in asking for diet suggestions. You need to change what you are eating, not eat less. I eat alot of tuna and bananas before a work out. A daily regiment of at least a gallon of water a day also. The water ensures proper hydration which in turn allows for a proper nights sleep. Your body under goes protein synthesis during REM sleep. REM sleep is a deep sleep which is easier for the body to obtain if properly hydrated. Better hydrating = better sleep = better protein synthesis = better muscle repair and function.

I know the stomach is a tough part of the body to tone up, but you need to work just as hard on it as you do your arms and chest. What I like to do is when I'm watching TV, during the commercials I do situps until the commercials are over and rest during the show. It works to do push ups every other commercial series if your stomach gets tired.

I am 6'5 245lbs. I have around 10% body fat and work out regularly. I am working towards bench pressing twice my body weight, that is a goal of mine. I bench 400 lbs now. I only got to where I am at by hard work and proper diet for a weight lifter, not someone trying to lose weight.

 

As a competitive bodybuilder, I can tell you potatoes are good on a bulk routine, but an absolute must not have during a cut. Eating one baked potatoe is the same as 3 Snickers bars. In order to get any definition, you must cut out sugars. If a person is training to gain mass, potatoes are ok but, as long as they don't care about muscle definition. It is possible to gain mass as well as stay lean by clean bulking. This is done with carb sources that are low on the glycemic index.

You can get all your required vitamins and minerals thru a good multi-vitamin supplement. Bananas are also ok for an endurance athlete, but again, are pure sugar. Both potatoes and bananas rank high on the glycemic index and should be eaten in limited quantities.

 

I forget after reading the whole post , Was the intention to bulk up (I remember a skinny arms comment) or to get cut? Either way it looks like he has plenty of good advice for either endeavor.