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Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bulgaria. Posts: 2,754 Rep Power:  |  How To Construct A Diet
This is still a work in progress, as requested by Cellarat I've knocked up a post on how to construct a diet...
Be kind... Quote: The Basics Of Constructing A Diet
Constructing a diet is a relatively simple affair once you get your head around it, but getting your head around it seems to be the part most people have difficulty with.
What should be in your diet is goal dependant, we'll try and go through each of the goals and cover off as much as we can.
What's In The Diet?
We have Fat and Carbs – which will be referred to as our 'Energy Source(s)' where we are being generic or F and C, and Protein which we will refer to as P.
Carbs also contain Fibre (F) but we'll come onto that later.
How Many Calories Should I Be Having Per Day?
This isn't something we will be going into any detail on – there are many methods available for calculating a persons Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and then their calorific requirements for Cutting/Bulking/Maintenance, and Google should link you to most of them.
How Many Meals Per Day Should I Be Having?
In order to reduce Insulin spikes, I'd recommended consuming between 5 – 8 meals per day, each containing an equal amount of calories and an equal share of our Energy Source(s) + P (except Post Workout – more on that later) this should supply the body with a constant supply of Fuel.
What Should Be In Each Meal?
You should have an Energy Source, and Protein. Simple really. You should also endeavour to have some Fibre each meal, except Post Workout. You'll see an exception coming up on Post Workout coming up a lot – that's a different kettle of fish.
An Energy Source is used as Fats/Carbs are 'protein sparing' meaning the body prefers to use Fats and Carbs for energy, leaving Protein to be used each meal in order to build/repair muscles.
Note: Too much protein and too little of out Energy Sources and the body will convert Protein to Glucose to be used for Energy.
How Important Is Protein? How Much Protein Should I Be Having?
As we've just discussed – too much protein and the body will convert it to glucose for energy.
Did you know that the 'rule' 1g of Protein per 1lb of bodyweight was actually made up by a Bodybuilding Magazine as they thought it would be easy for people to understand?
The truth of the matter is – its very tough to build muscle, very tough – the body could naturally produce 1/4lb muscle every week in ideal circumstances, so your protein requirement won't be anywhere near as high as you think it will be.
1g per 1lb of bodyweight would certainly be sufficient in my opinion.
So How Do I Construct A Diet?
Ahh the awkward question...
You may have seen the following types of diets:
High Carb, Low Fat + Protein
High Fat, Low Carb + Protein
Zero Carb, High Fat + Protein
The Balanced Diet – Protein + Carbs + Fat
Carb Cycling / Timed Carbs + Protein + Fat
But if you get down to it they are all the same. Each contain Protein, and each contain an Energy Source.
So you now know you need to have an Energy Source each meal, as well as Protein, for 5 – 8 meals per day – or there abours.
How Do I Know Which Diet Is Right For Me?
The million dollar question...
It has been said, that the majority of people in the world are 'Carb sensitive' meaning as a result of consuming Carbs, their Insulin levels spike, triglycerides are formed and then are stored as Fat in the Adipose Tissue.
While I agree in part with the above statement, my personal belief is that most people in the world are simply eating too much of the wrong type of Carbs – namely Wheat, Corn and Sugar. These three are commonly used in mass produced packaged food, and are often disguised as sub-types of the above foods – such as Dextrose, Maltrodextrin and so on.
Good sources of Carbs are Oats, Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes and Wholegrains, the aim being to stay as Low GI as possible to reduce any Insulin spikes.
I also don't believe that people get enough Fibre in their diet. Except for Post Workout, some Fibre should be consumed with each meal – good sources are Oats and Green Fibrous Vegetables.
If you are Bulking, then you need to consuming more calories than your BMR by increasing your consumption of Energy Sources. If you are cutting then the opposite is true – you need to reduce your consumption of Energy Sources so your total daily intake is under your BMR.
Lets take a look at the Types of Diets
High Carb, Low Fat, Protein: This is the classic 'Bulk', fats are kept low, mainly coming from Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), Carbs coming from Low GI Sources as much as possible.
Balanced Diet: The most versatile of the diets, this can be used for Cutting and Bulking by adjusting the amount of Calories consumed.
Zero/Low Carb, High Fat, Protein: Zero/Low Carb diets are also called Ketogenic diets as they place the body into a state of Ketosis, in which the body stops using Carbs as an Energy Source, and instead uses the Fats and the Ketones from burning off the bodys fat stores.
Note: Zero Carb diets should not be maintained for a prolonged period of time. During the Zero Carb diet a regular High Carb Refeed (every 5-10 days) should take place to kick start the Thyroid and reset the bodies metabolism.
Carb Cycling: Carb levels are altered on a Low/Med/High-Refeed day basis, based around training days, with the P + F Macros adjusted to suit.
Best Bulking Options
High Carb, Low Fat, Protein
Balanced Diet
Best Cutting Options
Zero/Low Carb, High Fat, Protein
Carb Cycling Balanced Diet
Best Maintenance Options
Carb Cycling Balanced Diet
Balanced Diet
Low Carb, High Fat, Protein
So depending on your goals, the above diets are available – but only you can decide which diet suits you.
Post Workout, Why Is It Different?
Post Workout is the one time we want to avoid high amounts of Fat and Fibre. The body is naturally Insulin sensitive at this time, and our Glycogen levels have been depleated. Consuming Fats and Fibre would slow down the digestion of Protein and Carbs, which are needed to spike Insulin (Carbs) to shuttle Aminos to the muscles (from Protein) and replenish the muscle Glycogen stores (Carbs)
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