Diet Meal Plans Q & A

Mike Argiro asked:


Defining Diet

Today diet has almost become synonymous with eating less than what your body demands. This is not the right way to look at diet. Whatever food choices we are making forms our diet. And hence, contrary to popular belief, we are all on a diet – even if we are packing in a couple of pizzas and a liter of ice cream every night. What an aspiring bodybuilder should focus on is to develop the habit of a healthy diet, one that helps him to get the most out of his body.

Basics of a Healthy Diet

The first thing that anyone interested in bodybuilding needs to get into his head is that being on a diet does not mean starving oneself. It also does not mean that you have to have a couple of bottles of sports drink everyday. There are a few simple rules that you must adhere to so that you know you are on the right track.

First of all, do not gorge at one go or do not under-eat. Have regular small meals throughout the day. This ensures that you never go hungry and at the same time you do not have cravings. It is all about getting the balance right.

Secondly, whenever you eat, make sure that your meal is a balanced one with carbohydrates, proteins and good fats all featuring in balanced proportions in the menu. Whatever you eat should have carbohydrate, protein and fat in the ratio of approximately 2:2:1.

Thirdly, after you have had a meal, undertake some activity so that the calories are cycled. Otherwise our bodies get used to the excess calories and you feel hungry even if you have enough energy already stored in your body. Your body understands what you make it understand. So never fool your body into thinking the wrong things.

The Perfect Diet

Now that you know what is the importance of your diet it makes sense to delve a little further and try to find out what exactly would qualify as a healthy bodybuilding diet.

For a bodybuilder a minimum of six meals over the day is of utmost necessity. You can start your day with a cup of dry oats and beaten eggs. While the oats provide you enough carbohydrate and fibers that are essential to your body, the eggs supply the protein and the slightest of fat that helps your body. Since you are not frying the eggs, you are staying away from the bad fats. You can have this meal at around 7am.

Two hours later you can have packet of the meal replacement nutrients that are especially designed for bodybuilders. These have the exact proportions of protein, carbohydrate and fat that your body requires and greatly helps you in developing the lean body mass that any bodybuilder desires so much.

At noon have your third meal of the day. For you carbohydrate intake you have the option to choose from brown rice or baked potato. Throw in some green vegetables, as your body will require a regular dose of vitamins. A bit of meat or fish will perfectly round off the meal with its contribution in the protein department.

As we approach mid day we often feel a need to eat and this is the most vulnerable hour of the day and we can end up snacking during this period. A much better alternative is to have the same meal you had at 9 in the morning. Have just what the body requires – no more, no less.

Don’t wait for a late dinner. You should allow your body enough time to digest whatever you eat so that none of the extra calories get stored in your body without them getting cycled. Have your dinner by 6 in the evening and the menu would be similar to what you had for lunch. But if you had chosen chicken for lunch now you can go for fish or even turkey.

End your daily diet again with some of the meal replacement nutrients.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Lili Tang asked:


As you read through the articles, you will notice how much we emphasize that a proper diet and workout are key to building muscle. If you don’t follow the right diet, no matter how much weights you lift, you won’t be getting any lean muscle mass.

The word “diet” usually makes people think of starving and eating weird foods, but it’s actually nothing like that at all. You are already on a diet as you read! A diet is whatever food choice you make, if your diet today consisted of waffles and burgers, then that is your diet. The key is to taking a healthier road and fuel your body to build muscle faster.

3 Important Rules for a Bodybuilding Diet

1. Eat less more frequently, instead of 3 big meals eat 6 smaller meals each day.
2. Balance out your meals with 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein and 20% healthy fats.
3. Calorie intake should vary to keep your metabolism on its toes and burning fat.

So just to help give you an idea of what kind of diet you should be following to build muscle, here is an example of my personal Monday diet plan. I learned these diets from the e-book that taught and helped me get ripped: Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle.

An Example of a Bodybuilding Diet

1st Meal (7am)
- 1 cup dry outs mixed with water
- 1 cup of egg beaters

2nd meal (9am)
- Protein Shake or Fruit Salad

3rd Meal (12pm)
- 1 cup Brown Rice or Baked Potato
- 2 cups Green Beans or Broccoli
- 8 ounces of chicken, turkey or fish

4th Meal (3pm)
- Same as 2nd Meal

5th Meal (6pm)
- 1 cup Brown Rice or Baked Potato
- 2 cups Green Beans or any other vegetable
- 8 ounces of chicken, turkey or fish

6th Meal
- Same as 2nd Meal

Ok now I know you might be thinking this is starving yourself to death, but give it a try. Trust me, I thought the same thing at first but once you actually follow this diet plan step by step, you actually feel very stuffed when you eat 6 times a day.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Kurt Naulaerts asked:


The perfect bodybuilding diet consists of 5 or 6 meals every day. That means that you should eat every 2 to 3 hours. At the end of the day you should have had nutrients from each of the food groups and pick foods that build muscle. To help you here are some sample meal plans you can start out with. Remember that you should consume 3 grams of carbs and 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound body weight daily.

Sample Meal Plan #1

Meal 1:
Vegetable omelet (3 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1 cup veggies) You can also add some chicken or lean beef if you want.

Meal 2:
One cup yogurt or a protein shake

Meal 3:
6 oz Chicken,
Small raw vegetable salad,
1 bagel

Meal 4:
1 piece fruit,
3-4 oz Chicken

Meal 5:
6 oz fish,
1 – Cup grilled veggies,
1 – Cup brown rice

Sample Meal Plan #2

Meal 1:
3 packs instant oatmeal,
1 banana,
1 cup of yogurt,
1 cup of cottage cheese

Meal 2:
Protein shake,
1 large baked potato

Meal 3:
8 ounces chicken breast,
2 cups pasta,
1 apple,
1 cup yogurt

Meal 4:
1 can of tuna,
1 – 2 cups broccoli

Meal 5:
Protein shake,
1 cup brown rice

Meal 6:
8 ounces broiled fish,
1 cup veggies,
2 cups rice

Sample Meal Plan #4

Meal 1:
Breakfast burrito (3 egg whites, 1 whole egg scrambled, 1 cup onion/green pepper mix, salsa),
1 cup cottage cheese,
1 cup berries,

Meal 2:
Protein shake,
1 cup raw veggies

Meal 3:
Salmon burger on whole wheat bun (canned salmon, 1 egg white, onions cooked in a non-stick fry pan),
1 large potato cut into strips, brushed with olive oil, and baked in oven until crispy,
1 garden salad drizzled with olive oil and red wine vinegar,

Meal 4:
Protein shake,
1 cup yogurt

Meal 5:
8 ounces chicken breast, cut into chunks, fried in olive oil and seasoned with oregano, garlic salt, and basil,
1 cup cooked tomatoes,
2 cups pasta,
1 cup broccoli/cauliflower mix

Meal 6:
Protein shake,
1 cup melon,
1 cup yogurt

There’s really no need to measure carefully for the portions suggested. This isn’t an exact science! Eyeball your portions and consider the following chart:

Portion/Size:
1 oz. meat = Matchbox,
3 oz. meat = Deck of cards,
8 oz. meat = Thin paperback book,
3 oz. fish = Checkbook,
1 oz. cheese = Four dice,
1 med. potato = Computer mouse,
2 tbsp. peanut butter = Ping pong ball,
1 cup pasta = Tennis ball,
1 bagel = Hockey puck

Of course, these are only suggested meal plans. You can mix it up as you want to. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and pre-cook your meals. Keep vegetables cut up in the refrigerator so you don’t have to work too hard at meal time.

Fit Yummy Mummy!