I'm curious as to those who are on diets, what you eat? I cannot cook, so I could really use some ideas that aren't difficult to cook, cheap, and obviously healthy to support a workout.

Cup ramen noodles

I eat like A LOT, but I can stay thin. Swimming takes up a lot of energy and burns a huge amount of calories. I think at the height of the season I was supposed to take in 6k-7k calories per day and was expected to burn all/most of it. Top Olympic swimmers eat a huge amount and can stay in shape (I think there are a few 10k+ calorie-per-day swimmers), so while I can't really advise on diet, I can say something about the workout :)

I eat like A LOT, but I can stay thin. Swimming takes up a lot of energy and burns a huge amount of calories. I think at the height of the season I was supposed to take in 6k-7k calories per day and was expected to burn all/most of it. Top Olympic swimmers eat a huge amount and can stay in shape (I think there are a few 10k+ calorie-per-day swimmers), so while I can't really advise on diet, I can say something about the workout :)

 

I have no problem with gaining fat, I have a low bf% anyways, I just need some diet tips to go along with my workouts.

Fruits, and lots of it. Especially if you are used to high fat food or lots of meat, lots of citrus fruits can provide a healthy alternative(oranges, lemons, whatever).

fruits still have a decent amount of sugar. veggies are fine though.

If you're looking to consume lots of protein and cals for building muscle, whole milk is awesome.

If you're looking to consume lots of protein and cals for building muscle, whole milk is awesome.

 

the only difference between whole milk, and skimmed milk is milk fat... these types of citations (the citrus fruits being healthier than other fruits etc) have no scientific basis. A varied diet does though, as there are so many active components we have no idea what do. This type of advice, without evidence, can easily be dangerous. It is even more likely incorrect, based on fads, trends and people's "logic" employed on these concepts: "citrus fruits have more antioxidants ergo they are healthier". There is no evidence of such a claim, and no biochemical reason why it should be that way.

 

dietary advice: eat varied. your plate should have at least 2/3 veggies. skip everything you know is unhealthy (coke, chips, soda, hot dogs, fast food, prefabricated stuff, candy, etc.

 

there are no shortcuts to a healthy diet. only hard work (in preparing meals from scratch to avoid additives with unkown long-term effects, lower saline content, hardened fats and added suggars etc.

 

ditch american-style cereals, they are basically candy /cake in a different wrapper. good old home-made food from scratch is where it's at, and that's what almost all professional athletes worldwide rely on. only in competition do they use sportsdrinks etc. That atleast goes for those wanting good health at old age as well.

 

 

it's not that hard, but requires self-determination: every meal is its own thing.

^ Either way, drink a lot of milk.

^ Either way, drink a lot of milk.

 

That would depend on his "workout", if it only about bulking up then cutting then milk by the gallon is the best way forward, if not... going to be very counter productive.

 

there are no shortcuts to a healthy diet. only hard work (in preparing meals from scratch to avoid additives with unkown long-term effects, lower saline content, hardened fats and added suggars etc.

ditch american-style cereals, they are basically candy /cake in a different wrapper. good old home-made food from scratch is where it's at, and that's what almost all professional athletes worldwide rely on. only in competition do they use sportsdrinks etc. That atleast goes for those wanting good health at old age as well.

it's not that hard, but requires self-determination: every meal is its own thing.

I don't think everyone can buy every little piece, remember to prepare it day in and out etc, especially if he/she just wants a decently easy method.

^ Either way, drink a lot of milk.

 

That would depend on his "workout", if it only about bulking up then cutting then milk by the gallon is the best way forward, if not... going to be very counter productive.

 

Not interesting in bulking too much, just a little bit. I don't want to be Arnold Schwarzenegger or anything.

 

there are no shortcuts to a healthy diet. only hard work (in preparing meals from scratch to avoid additives with unkown long-term effects, lower saline content, hardened fats and added suggars etc.

ditch american-style cereals, they are basically candy /cake in a different wrapper. good old home-made food from scratch is where it's at, and that's what almost all professional athletes worldwide rely on. only in competition do they use sportsdrinks etc. That atleast goes for those wanting good health at old age as well.

it's not that hard, but requires self-determination: every meal is its own thing.

I don't think everyone can buy every little piece, remember to prepare it day in and out etc, especially if he/she just wants a decently easy method.

 

(He) And yes, I can't really cook, so I can't go from complete scratch, and I have uni, work, and other things so I don't exactly have time to spend hours making food, I just need something that I can whip up at a decent speed and still be at least slightly nutritious.

Eggs are pretty great for protein.

Fruits, and lots of it. Especially if you are used to high fat food or lots of meat, lots of citrus fruits can provide a healthy alternative(oranges, lemons, whatever).

 

Got to be careful with citrus fruit, I for example come out in spots when I eat too much. I believe it is the acid in it. Gotta vary the fruit you have.

Eat what is in season, eat varied, experiment.

If you are a novice cook, look for some recipes that sound good to you, get the ingredients and cook, over time you'll learn these recipes and just remember them. Try and not cook with too much fat or sugar. We get too much in every day life, particulary for the average days work.

 

I don't think everyone can buy every little piece, remember to prepare it day in and out etc, especially if he/she just wants a decently easy method.

 

It's really not hard, people are just very lazy. It takes 10 mins for the oven to pre-heat for making frozen pizza. It takes me 12-13 mins to make a pizza from scratch. realistically, i don't do anything when the oven preheats that's of any real use to anyone. That means i loose another 3 minutes off of making the pizza. of course other time comes in addition, but the reality of the matter is that there's no way i'd be training with the athletes i do without propper food.

 

you can't buy propper food unless you're willing to throw money left, right and center. I can see how less experience may be an obstacle to overcome starting out, but i'm 18. I play in an orchestra, practice the cello, do honours classes, and homework, play tennis 5-6 times a week, and go to at least one party every weekend. It's not an issue of time, it's an issue of slight priority. you could even cut down forum / runescape / online time by less than 30 mins a day and make all your food.

 

It is EASY. Planning a tad in your life so you don't need to go shopping every single day for food also saves you time in the long run as opposed to going to cafeterias / fast food places that also have travel time.

 

I can see being really lazy as a reason why no to make your own food, and that's fine too. proxy-arguments aren't as cool :D

I don't think everyone can buy every little piece, remember to prepare it day in and out etc, especially if he/she just wants a decently easy method.

 

It's really not hard, people are just very lazy. It takes 10 mins for the oven to pre-heat for making frozen pizza. It takes me 12-13 mins to make a pizza from scratch. realistically, i don't do anything when the oven preheats that's of any real use to anyone. That means i loose another 3 minutes off of making the pizza. of course other time comes in addition, but the reality of the matter is that there's no way i'd be training with the athletes i do without propper food.

 

you can't buy propper food unless you're willing to throw money left, right and center. I can see how less experience may be an obstacle to overcome starting out, but i'm 18. I play in an orchestra, practice the cello, do honours classes, and homework, play tennis 5-6 times a week, and go to at least one party every weekend. It's not an issue of time, it's an issue of slight priority. you could even cut down forum / runescape / online time by less than 30 mins a day and make all your food.

 

It is EASY. Planning a tad in your life so you don't need to go shopping every single day for food also saves you time in the long run as opposed to going to cafeterias / fast food places that also have travel time.

 

I can see being really lazy as a reason why no to make your own food, and that's fine too. proxy-arguments aren't as cool :D

 

My problem isn't being lazy. My day's are usually pretty full anyways, so that cuts out the whole 'being lazy' thing for me. My problem is I can't really cook. So I'm asking what some good ideas to learn to cook and don't require Culinary school or something ridiculous like that.

Omlette's are seriously easy, I make mine with 3 eggs, cheese and bacon. Fry a rasher of bacon in the pan first then add the whisked eggs. Make sure the egg isn't sticking at the edges and is cooking uniformly, when it's almost done add some cheese if you want and let it melt a bit. That's a pretty high protein meal, I'd normally have it for breakfast.

 

For lunches I often do tuna and pasta, boil the pasta in the normal way then drain it and add a can of tuna to the pan to warm it up a bit. You can add some cheese too if you want, tuna is high in protein and low in fat and CHEAP. Another favourite lunch of mine is to buy chicken breast pieces (tend to be cheaper than actual breasts, but better meat than legs), fry the chicken in olive oil and have it with a baked potato with some melted butter on it and some salad.

 

All those meals take less than 20 minutes to prepare and are easy to do.

I consume about 1000 calories a day and drink a lot of water. To be honest, it actually sustains me, but I have to drink milk with every meal so I don't feel hungry later on.

 

 

I guess that could be called a diet?

oatmeal is alright for breakfast, not to mention super easy to prep. you need carbs, might as well make it good

 

i honestly can't eat that much eggs. if i eat it more than twice a week i start feeling sick

I consume about 1000 calories a day and drink a lot of water. To be honest, it actually sustains me, but I have to drink milk with every meal so I don't feel hungry later on.

 

 

I guess that could be called a diet?

 

Uhhh, you're getting more than 1000 calories a day......if not I don't know what to say to that.

I would like to point out to several posters that a healthy diet it about far more than staying "thin."

 

The only smart, unbiased medical professional (not a nutritionist!) that I've ever found is Dr. Kurt Harris.

 

www.paleonu.com

I would like to point out to several posters that a healthy diet it about far more than staying "thin."

 

 

I'm not sure what you're inferring here.

being thin isn't the same as being healthy

being thin isn't the same as being healthy

 

Oh, yeah. But I don't see where he's saying posters are saying that it is