What I Ate, Day 6

Breakfast

1 cup coffee

1 cup coffee with unsweetened almond milk

2 eggs + 1 egg white on toast

½ cup blueberries

Carbohydrates:                56g         Protein:  35g       Fat:  18g

Snack

Clif Bar – Cool Mint Chocolate

Carbohydrates: 43g        Protein:  10g       Fat:  5g

During Workout

Accel-Gel

Carbohydrates: 16g        Protein:  4g

Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese

1 apple

¼ cup leftover spaghetti carbonara

½ peanut butter and jelly sandwich

1 stick string cheese

Banana

Carbohydrates:  85g       Protein:  45g       Fat:  17.5

Dinner

Trader Joe’s vegetable lasagna (single serving)

2 servings fake beef

6 oz. red wine

1 cup Breyer’s chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream

Carbohydrates:  99g       Protein:  57g       Fat:  25g

How Did I Do?

Ballpark:              Carbohydrates:  263g     Protein:  175g    Fat: 39g

Actual:                  Carbohydrates:  299g     Protein:  151g    Fat:  65.5g

What I Did:  I swam a half-mile at the gym and then rode the stationary bike about 10 miles.  Combined, I did about 50 minutes of cardio work.  Eating a snack high in complex carbohydrates about 30 minutes to my workout gave my muscles the energy to avoid fatigue.  I had such a great workout, and in all, such a great day, that I splurged on a double serving of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.  Completely worth it!

Tips:  30-45 minutes before you work out, drink about 16 ounces of water and a carbohydrate snack with a little protein.  Drink plenty of fluids while you’re working out, as well.  Within about 30 minutes of completing your workout, drink another 16 oz. of water and have a carbohydrate + protein snack.  Feed your muscles before your workout so that you have enough energy.  When you’re done, replacing what your muscles lost will aid in recovery and help maintain high energy levels throughout your day.  Tough workout days are not the days to cut calories, either.  You’re not going to get extra benefits of burning calories by denying your body what it needs to thrive.  Feed your muscles what they need and you will feel the rewards!

Note:  A friend asked me yesterday if I measure out everything.  NO!  I eyeball everything.  If I eat about ¼ of a 16 oz. bag of carrots, I estimate that I ate about 4 ounces.  I can then look at the nutrition label and base the nutrition information based on the serving size.  If the serving size for the carrots is based on a 2 oz. serving, I know all of the fat, carbohydrates, and protein should be doubled.  For instance, the nutrition information on my peanut butter is this:

Serving size:  2 tbsp

Fat:  15g

Total Carb.:  7g

Protein:  9g

However, my typical serving size is about 1 tbsp, so I cut all those numbers in half:

My serving size: 1 tbsp

Fat:  7.5g

Total Carb.:  3.5g

Protein:  4.5g

I strongly emphasize knowing your typical serving size, and then comparing your serving size to the serving size the nutritional information is based upon.  This is an important piece of self-knowledge.  This information should not make you feel bad, nor should you feel like you’ve somehow failed because you like a really peanut buttery sandwich.  It’s good to know.  When you are looking for areas to increase or decrease your carbohydrates, protein, or fat, this is the information you’ll need to make educated, reasonable nutritional choices.  Remember, there isn’t any one item that makes or breaks your diet.  Your healthy diet is a combination of all your choices.

Again, if you have any questions, please leave comments or email me at natskedat at gmail dot com.

Have a great day, and eat well!