Is dieting a chore?

[Khazima]

Do you find dieting to be a chore?

I for one enjoy every aspect of it, my day isn't complete until my macros are hit. Logging my food is just another thing I do after each meal. Meal prep is just something I do every 3-4 days. I'm enjoying the grind of dieting and I enjoy the grind of trying to eat enough food when I'm bulking.

Whether it be bulking or cutting, counting macros or prepping food. Do you feel like you need a break from these things? I know some people like to take a week off counting macros or some time off following a diet. Do you?

[Haydenz]

Some times I think to myself **** it, ill take a week off my diet and jump back on after, but 2 days in from not hitting my macros or just eating random high sodium related foods, I feel like absolute shit, and jump straight back on to clean eating, I cant belive i lived a life 5 years a go without it, its not a chore at all in my opinion.

[uhit]

As long as I go to bed full, no diet is a chore to me. I'll find ways to make it bearable and a part of my lifestyle

For example, if I'm cutting i'll have smaller more frequent meals and throw in some low calories sauce to make the food nicer if I get bored

If i'm bulking/lean bulking then I'll make my meals no more than 4 and make them absolute feasts.

It's just a mental game.

[Times Roman]

I suppose it would be easier if I allowed myself to eat anything before me. being selective does require effort.

I don't get it though. was at the gym late last week and had a conversation. this other bloke around my age was doing a bicep pose in the mirror and asked me if I thought it was getting better. and I said it looked like it had more "pop" than before. so he asked me, since obviously more defined striation and contrast between muscle groups, what he needs to do next. So I steer the conversation into the nutrition aspect, and he just laughs and says he's on the "See Food" diet. Seeing where that goes, I back off and just make a joke. Not sure why nutrition is so taboo? And why blokes think they can get the physique they seek with only effort in the gym?

[Khazima]

So true, the majority of people don't put the research in to realise that diet is practically all of your results given you're stimulating your muscles adequately.

uhit - it is quite the mental game isn't it, I find it fun trying to hold off on food earlier in the day besides my pre and post workout nutrition, knowing that I've got a good 1500 calories to eat from approx 4pm onward.

But if the tables are turned like today and I eat more in the morning because I felt like I needed it, the night was slightly more of a struggle. I also like to save 200-300 calories for close to bed time to make sure I don't go to sleep hungry.

[jimmyinkedup]

Its different at different times for me. Ive been in zones where it was as you describe, ive also been places where most of it seemed like a total effort. It really depends where I am at not just with this lifestyle but with life itself. Its hard to concentrate on diet sometimes with major life events going on then again other times its the structure I need to help with those other life things. Pretty vague I know but best answer I can give for me.

[kelkel]

Its different at different times for me. Ive been in zones where it was as you describe, ive also been places where most of it seemed like a total effort. It really depends where I am at not just with this lifestyle but with life itself. Its hard to concentrate on diet sometimes with major life events going on then again other times its the structure I need to help with those other life things. Pretty vague I know but best answer I can give for me.

Exactly why I don't diet.

[Joco71]

Exactly why I don't diet.

So how does it work for you? Eating that is, whats normal for you? Just wondering if you have made it it a lifestyle or you just watch what you eat.

[kelkel]

So how does it work for you? Eating that is, whats normal for you? Just wondering if you have made it it a lifestyle or you just watch what you eat.

Just eat clean, often and a lot. It's been a lifestyle. My metabolism has remained fast, despite getting older. I struggle to add LBM.

[RaginCajun]

Exactly why I don't diet.

Prob because you were never fat

[kelkel]

Prob because you were never fat

True. 12K posts OO! Damn.

[GirlyGymRat]

It takes more thought to eat clean. If it was easy there be less overweight ppl.

[uhit]

It takes more thought to eat clean. If it was easy there be less overweight ppl.

Throw out all junk food from home, never take more than £5 when strolling around and that's how I solve such issues :3

[Khazima]

It takes more thought to eat clean. If it was easy there be less overweight ppl.

I agree completely, I find it really interesting trying to make eating clean taste good while complimenting my daily goals, and keeping me as full as possible.

I sit at the food scale like a scientist with multiple foods trying to hit my daily macros perfectly

[GirlyGymRat]

I agree completely, I find it really interesting trying to make eating clean taste good while complimenting my daily goals, and keeping me as full as possible. I sit at the food scale like a scientist with multiple foods trying to hit my daily macros perfectly

I go in phases. If I start gaining a few pounds I pull out the scale.....never want to get to far off from ideal weight

[Khazima]

I go in phases. If I start gaining a few pounds I pull out the scale.....never want to get to far off from ideal weight

Sounds like a good system, how long have you been lifting/working out and watching your diet?

If I go a day without weighing my foods and counting macros I feel like I could be potentially wasting that day by either not having the right surplus/deficit I was aiming for. Probably borderline eating disorder lol.

[GirlyGymRat]

Sounds like a good system, how long have you been lifting/working out and watching your diet? If I go a day without weighing my foods and counting macros I feel like I could be potentially wasting that day by either not having the right surplus/deficit I was aiming for. Probably borderline eating disorder lol.

I used to be just like that LOL. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months in 2011 after joining this forum. Initially eating the identical food everyday but also over trained. I purchased a smaller clothes and discarded or donated my fatty pants so when I do gain a few pounds, I feel it in my clothes. I refuse to buy a larger size. Call me stubborn. Now I just try to eat cleaner. Egg whites, chicken and fish and when gain a few pounds, it's time to pull out the scales and track in my fitness pal. Before I go on vacation, I loose 5 lbs so I am not so crazy about macros when I am traveling.

Being consistent is best. I used to gain and loose same 20 lbs. I think you are more disciplined then I am in this moment. I will be back to measuring and tracking in a couple weeks. New cut coming up!

[Lee_1978]

I love food and everything about training so it's all good!

[Khazima]

I used to be just like that LOL. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months in 2011 after joining this forum. Initially eating the identical food everyday but also over trained. I purchased a smaller clothes and discarded or donated my fatty pants so when I do gain a few pounds, I feel it in my clothes. I refuse to buy a larger size. Call me stubborn. Now I just try to eat cleaner. Egg whites, chicken and fish and when gain a few pounds, it's time to pull out the scales and track in my fitness pal. Before I go on vacation, I loose 5 lbs so I am not so crazy about macros when I am traveling.

Being consistent is best. I used to gain and loose same 20 lbs. I think you are more disciplined then I am in this moment. I will be back to measuring and tracking in a couple weeks. New cut coming up!

Moving up a clothing size is an achievement for me LOL. I doubt I'll still with counting macros forever, it sounds like you've done what I plan to do and just to by feel unless there's some issues. I think after a while you get a pretty good idea of the macros you're hitting, especially if you're eating identical foods. I usually don't log until after lunch and I usually have almost exactly 1000 calories left for dinner and after.

On another note, my food scales just broke, I'm devastated and using micro scales to weigh my food haha.

[uhit]

In terms of weighing food I've done it so often and since I eat the same rice chicken lamb oatmeal pretty much daily I know by feel/visuals how much I'm eating... A bit weird coz I visited my parents yesterday and they saw me sprinkle grains of rice into my pan lool

[Khazima]

In terms of weighing food I've done it so often and since I eat the same rice chicken lamb oatmeal pretty much daily I know by feel/visuals how much I'm eating... A bit weird coz I visited my parents yesterday and they saw me sprinkle grains of rice into my pan lool

Haha yeah it took my parents a while to get used to me weighing my food all the time and even weighing the crap I eat. How long did it take you to be able to eyeball everything?

[kelkel]

If I go a day without weighing my foods and counting macros I feel like I could be potentially wasting that day by either not having the right surplus/deficit I was aiming for. Probably borderline eating disorder lol.

Guys I seriously have no clue why you take it to such an extreme with counting, weighing, etc. If I ever had to do that I think I'd quit lifting as it would take so much of the fun out of it for me. That said, it seems to be the modern way to go these days.

[Khazima]

Guys I seriously have no clue why you take it to such an extreme with counting, weighing, etc. If I ever had to do that I think I'd quit lifting as it would take so much of the fun out of it for me. That said, it seems to be the modern way to go these days.

Yeah I think it's just the thing to do now what with IIFYM and whatnot, I don't find it a burden, if anything I find it fun because i enjoy the scientific approach to the 23 hours you're not in the gym. But I can see how it could easily turn into/be classified as an eating disorder.

[GirlyGymRat]

Me, my scale and my eating disorder

Guys I seriously have no clue why you take it to such an extreme with counting, weighing, etc. If I ever had to do that I think I'd quit lifting as it would take so much of the fun out of it for me. That said, it seems to be the modern way to go these days.

[uhit]

I've found my new favourite food to eat when i'm hungry and don't want to increase calories by alot

Celery sticks with 5g of peanut butter.

Simply... AMAZING. I've never eaten peanut butter ever and its sooo nice with veggies

But yeah.. I think I had a borderline eating disorder as I went out with mates to mcdonalds (first time in 2 years) and I was so health conscious and worried about my macros that I had to force myself to buy a burger so I don't look like an alien to my closest friends.

Strange how our desires change our behaviour

[Khazima]

I've found my new favourite food to eat when i'm hungry and don't want to increase calories by alot

Celery sticks with 5g of peanut butter.

Simply... AMAZING. I've never eaten peanut butter ever and its sooo nice with veggies

But yeah.. I think I had a borderline eating disorder as I went out with mates to mcdonalds (first time in 2 years) and I was so health conscious and worried about my macros that I had to force myself to buy a burger so I don't look like an alien to my closest friends.

Strange how our desires change our behaviour

Peanut butter is very dense, and the calories add up quick lol.

I eat whatever I want really, mostly I want to eat good whole foods to support my goals but if I feel like a burger I'll have a burger and make it fit my macros.

[uhit]

Peanut butter is very dense, and the calories add up quick lol.

I eat whatever I want really, mostly I want to eat good whole foods to support my goals but if I feel like a burger I'll have a burger and make it fit my macros.

The peanut butter is dense I agree, so what I do is I get half a teaspoon (around 6-7g of peanut butter) and just dab celery sticks in it to get some flavour into it. It's only adding 50calories to it

[Deal Me In]

I think it all becomes a part of your lifestyle if you do it long enough. When I started getting serious about my diet I weighed everything. Eating 6-8 times a day was the hardest part for me. It seemed all I did was stop what I was doing and eat. It got frustrating. But now, 2 years on, it's just the way I live. I weigh my food when I'm trying to lose some body fat. If I'm trying to gain weight, I eat clean but as much as I want. This does cause me to put on some fat but it's all part of the game.

I think the diet is why everyone fails. Everyone sees the beautiful people in the gym and wants to have bodies like that but when you tell them what you eat everyday they lose interest. They don't realize how much goes into it. I rarely ever talk to anyone about working out. I always talk about diet. I've found that 90% of Americans don't have the willpower to eat right. Not realizing that if they would just stick with for a month or two it becomes much easier.

[Khazima]

I think it all becomes a part of your lifestyle if you do it long enough. When I started getting serious about my diet I weighed everything. Eating 6-8 times a day was the hardest part for me. It seemed all I did was stop what I was doing and eat. It got frustrating. But now, 2 years on, it's just the way I live. I weigh my food when I'm trying to lose some body fat. If I'm trying to gain weight, I eat clean but as much as I want. This does cause me to put on some fat but it's all part of the game.

I think the diet is why everyone fails. Everyone sees the beautiful people in the gym and wants to have bodies like that but when you tell them what you eat everyday they lose interest. They don't realize how much goes into it. I rarely ever talk to anyone about working out. I always talk about diet. I've found that 90% of Americans don't have the willpower to eat right. Not realizing that if they would just stick with for a month or two it becomes much easier.

I completely agree, people think it's as easy as busting your arse for an hour in the gym, and don't realise you need to bust your arse for the other 23 hours, eating right and sleeping right.

[GirlyGymRat]

I completely agree, people think it's as easy as busting your arse for an hour in the gym, and don't realise you need to bust your arse for the other 23 hours, eating right and sleeping right.

And this is exactly why see ppl working out hard year over year but never realize a goal. I have to give then credit for never giving up. :/

[uhit]

Simply put.. it's a lifestyle choice. Some view it as a hobby and if so power to them, but if you want serious results (or results that don't take decades to see) there are small sacrifices that have to be made. Can you still enjoy nights out with friends/family? Yes. Just need to plan ahead is all.