I never did this during contest prep. Why? Well, I was super motivated and stuck to my plan 100% the entire way through prep. Well - except that work screwed up my meal timing just about every day. But still. I followed my diet to a T.
And that just isn't healthy for someone like me in the long term. I get obsessed with just how perfectly I can eat. I make it a game. A sick, sad, stupid game. I also become a little wary of other foods. I can't really explain it. It's not fear. I crave them and look at them hungrily and know I like them, but they're not "on my diet" so I don't eat them. And that's just...dumb.
So I've thrown a couple of different foods into the mix. This weekend, Max & I went to Grampa's house and we had pasta and homemade meatballs in authentic Italian sauce made from scratch. No pictures; I was too busy enjoying it.
Of course, Grampa is Italian, so we didn't just make enough meatballs for the three of us... we made seventy. No, that's not a typo. Seventy.
So where my diet calls for 4oz of lean red meat, I've been eating 4oz of meatballs with sauce:
And I finally tried one of Max's favorite sandwiches:
It doesn't look like much, and it's really simple - pita, cheese, mustard, and no, the cheese isn't even melted - but trust me, it's AMAZING.
I've also subbed in cereal for my post-workout carb if I'm craving it.
I just don't want to wind up in a crazy binge/restrict cycle. I've had enough experience with that in the past and it really is no way to live, so I'm trying to honor my cravings a little bit.
How do you keep yourself from falling into an unhealthy eating pattern?
I think I drive my trainer nuts with all the subs I make in my plan... but it works for me. If I couldn't get a little creative I'd go crazy... and no one needs to see that. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat sandwich looks good... there's not amount of subbing that would allow me pita and cheese this close. 1.5 weeks to go!!!
What sort of meal plan are you following now? Just curious!
ReplyDeleteI am still slowly reversing the diet. Right now I'm eating at maintenance, which for me at this weight is 1500 calories O_O I don't include fibrous veggies in that count though. I'm at about 75g of carbs on workout days and I'm hoping to drop my fats a little to increase that.
DeleteIt sounds like you are being really smart & cautious about your diet Sable. After being a bit a bit too obsessed with my diet, I'm all for making my diet fit MY lifestyle and not vice versa!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea to ward off some real damage. Meatballs and sauce are wildly more satisfying that 4oz of dry chicken breast. Gag.
ReplyDeleteI was the same way last year! I didn't want to make any modifications to my diet and ruin things. I was terrified of having pasta, especially. Now I have pasta every Thursday night and I love it :) I had it yesterday too - bonus! Life's too short to eat dry chicken breast...
ReplyDeleteSounds smart to me! I'm following a training diet, but it doesn't mean I'm about to eat chicken and broccoli for every meal! I definitely make all sorts of subs--protein is protein, so why not choose the protein option I'm craving? Rules are good, but they should always be guidelines rather than set-in-stone rules (except, you know, right before a contest, because then it does start to matter).
ReplyDeleteI change it up a lot....I like variety :) I just make sure I stick within what works for me and my body!
ReplyDeletethe best and most personally effective thing I do to avoid that is to not be around it. But if it happens to sneak up on me, I use willpower & mind control (not even kidding) to resist. ((sigh))
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, and it's so nice to read someone who gets it. My friends who don't struggle with going off the diet after como just can't relate to the sick, stupid games.
ReplyDeletepita and cheese as is...an underrated combo for sure. So simple but so good!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are doing a great job of managing things. I like to switch things up with my carbs and such so I'm never depriving myself of any goodies. A variety is definitely what works for me!
Oh it must be tough figuring out how to get back to normal after planning and being as perfect with it for a comp. really great you are so aware of how easy it is to get into unhealthy thinking.
ReplyDeleteI used to eat cold cheese sandwiches all the time!! You're right, they're SO good, especially on Pita bread :) And on a more serious note, sounds like you are working hard to get back to a little more normalcy after such a strict diet for so long, and it seems like you're doing a great job with it!
ReplyDeleteKind of random, actually not sure if she follows/comments on your blog even, but here's a great post from Jen Comas Keck!
ReplyDeleteLove you Sable!
http://www.jencomaskeck.com/2012/10/looking-fit-doesnt-necessarily-mean.html
We do e-know each other! ;) I missed that post of hers though. I read the whole thing (twice) & all the comments just now! Thank you so much for directing me to it!
DeletePretty good post! I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic.
ReplyDeletei went through a couple restrict and binge cycles after my last show but got a hold of it pretty quick after talking to my coach :)
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing great!!! :)
I don't think you need to follow an eating plan at this stage. You need to work on getting past this issue, enjoy food, stop worrying and take a mental breather.
ReplyDeleteYou have no contest on the horizon to worry about, eat healthy but eat plenty. Gain some quality mass back and when you decide what show you want to do you will diet down, look better and correct mistakes from the first one.
Don't fall back into the trap. Gain. Lift. Enjoy.
Hi, I somehow found your blog and am glad I did! I can relate to this so much! Thanks for posting! It is very helpful to me!
ReplyDeleteHey im new to the blogging world! Check outmy log... Im trying to lose 2stone before graduation next yearhttp://lose2stonebeforegraduation.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDelete