Bad food while burning a crazy anount of calories

[bigslick7878]

OK here is the deal, I own a landscaping company and I am now working a LOT more than I used to. When I am out on jobs eating clean is pretty much impossible, it is usually Mcd's or Burger King unfortunately.

Now when I am working it is basically like I am doing cardio for 8-10 hours straight, sweat pouring off me and clothes completely soaked when I am done. I live on the east coast, hot humid weather. Obviously I am burning a massive amount of calories.

So the question is, if I am eating like shit but burning through calories like they are going out of style, is it a wash pretty much? Can I get away with eating that garbage if I have to since I am busting my ass outside in the heat all day and what not?

[gbrice75]

If you're burning more than you're taking in, it could be a wash. However you're doing nothing for your body from a nutrition standpoint. I used to work roofing and carried huge coolers around; certainly you can do that and bring some decent grub, even easy stuff that can be eaten cold. When there's a will, there's a way. Working outdoors is no excuse to have a McD's / BK diet IMO.

[ghettoboyd]

i hear peeps saying this all the time "i work at a physical job all day long i dont need any gym"...i think this theory is bunk because our bodys get used to the hard labor so i feel if you want to make any proggress you have to do more to shock the body into growing/cutting whatever your goals are...and as far as the food man like gb said you have to want it and make it happen...i work at least 12 hours a day so i tote around a cooler with 3 whole food meals and a protien shake and protien bar and 2 liters of water so no matter what comes up i have enough fule for my body for the day...this is a lifestyle bro and to live it you must want it no matter what, no excuses...

[bigslick7878]

OK here is the deal, I own a landscaping company and I am now working a LOT more than I used to. When I am out on jobs eating clean is pretty much impossible, it is usually Mcd's or Burger King unfortunately.

Now when I am working it is basically like I am doing cardio for 8-10 hours straight, sweat pouring off me and clothes completely soaked when I am done. I live on the east coast, hot humid weather. Obviously I am burning a massive amount of calories.

So the question is, if I am eating like shit but burning through calories like they are going out of style, is it a wash pretty much? Can I get away with eating that garbage if I have to since I am busting my ass outside in the heat all day and what not?

OK let me come at it from a little differnet angle.

First off nutrition wise I take 1/2 gallon of protein shake and a banana with me every day, and a lean turkey sandwich so at most I am eating 1 "bad" meal a day. Also everything else I eat that is clean needs to be heated up, so I have very few options to take with me other than the protein shake and sandwich.

But...I am burning somany fing calories during the day my LBM is VANISHING!! My strength is dropping like it never has before!! I stepped on the scale when I got home today and I was 1 fing 77!!! I haven't seen that weight since 2003! I feel like all the hard earned muscle I put on the past 2 years is DISAPPEARING right in front of my eyes...and it is!

Let's just say I could eat right all day long. In that scenario it would be pretty much impossible to keep up the calories and maintain eating clean like that. Calories in calories out right? Well guess what there aint no way in hell I am getting the necessary calories IN if I am out working like that with clean food....as much as I want to eat like that! It is just not possible. I would have to eat every hour almost.

So what are my options? How about a "refeed" at night where I just eat a massive amount of good food from the time I get off until I go to bed? Would that work?Believe me I don't want to eat this garbage, but if I don't want to be 160 by the end of summer I need to figure something out.

[Buddhabody]

Ever thought about a mass shake, a good one like ON Serious Mass, I think those would help somewhat.

[Sgt. Hartman]

OK let me come at it from a little differnet angle.

First off nutrition wise I take 1/2 gallon of protein shake and a banana with me every day, and a lean turkey sandwich so at most I am eating 1 "bad" meal a day. Also everything else I eat that is clean needs to be heated up, so I have very few options to take with me other than the protein shake and sandwich.

But...I am burning somany fing calories during the day my LBM is VANISHING!! My strength is dropping like it never has before!! I stepped on the scale when I got home today and I was 1 fing 77!!! I haven't seen that weight since 2003! I feel like all the hard earned muscle I put on the past 2 years is DISAPPEARING right in front of my eyes...and it is!

Let's just say I could eat right all day long. In that scenario it would be pretty much impossible to keep up the calories and maintain eating clean like that. Calories in calories out right? Well guess what there aint no way in hell I am getting the necessary calories IN if I am out working like that with clean food....as much as I want to eat like that! It is just not possible. I would have to eat every hour almost.

So what are my options? How about a "refeed" at night where I just eat a massive amount of good food from the time I get off until I go to bed? Would that work?Believe me I don't want to eat this garbage, but if I don't want to be 160 by the end of summer I need to figure something out.

What do you mean it needs to be heated up? Do we eat because we want to enjoy our food or because we need it to fuel our muscles?

Not trying to be a dick, but I'm in a similar situation to yours regarding work and I've been packing a cooler and eating my chicken/flank steak/sweet potato/rice/oats/broccoli cold for almost 2 years now. It takes some getting used to but believe it or not I actually enjoy and look forward to eating my cold meals.

Sometimes when it's hot I'll take my meal (in a tupperware container) out of the cooler and set it on the seat of my truck about an hour before it's time to eat it so it heats up and isn't ice cold. That's my version of a microwave. LOL.

[SlimmerMe]

This place has a lot of TOUGH LOVE

[bigslick7878]

This place has a lot of TOUGH LOVE

Maybe at some point someone will answer one of the questions I asked trying to find a SOLUTION, instead of giving me a GD lecture.

Oh and now I am really pissed. Just saw a friend who I hadn't seen for about a month, and one of the first things that she said was "you look like you have lost weight! I can see it in your face". Just fing beautiful, and exactly what I didn't want to hear. I can tell and other people can obviously.

So again if anyone has something constructive to add please do. If you want to tell me how to "suck it up" and blah blah blah then save it. I'm trying to get information from a physiological standpoint and that is it.

I will even try to simplify it for you all...should I just play "make up" with good food and lots of it in the evenings and on weekends?? Will eating that much in a short/er amount of time lead to fat gain or storage instead of having it spaced out perfectly throughout the day every day?

[daem]

Here's my suggestion...Post some pics now and then continue on with the fast food day diet + "make up" with good food for 12 weeks and come back with some updated pics.

You'll know exactly where you stand then. Be your own guinea pig and let us know how it works out.

[gbrice75]

Maybe at some point someone will answer one of the questions I asked trying to find a SOLUTION, instead of giving me a GD lecture.

Big, i'm surprised to hear this from you. You've been around long enough to know how we work around here, and this kind of attitude never gets anybody very far. Just because people aren't telling you what you want to hear doesn't mean they're lecturing you. There's no easy answer here. I don't know what you want us to tell you... go ahead and continue eating McDonanld's and that kind of crap and let us know how you make out in a few months. You get out of this what you put in, plain and simple.

Oh and now I am really pissed. Just saw a friend who I hadn't seen for about a month, and one of the first things that she said was "you look like you have lost weight! I can see it in your face". Just fing beautiful, and exactly what I didn't want to hear. I can tell and other people can obviously.

So what would be your solution? Eat more BK? Not being sarcastic here, I really want to know.

So again if anyone has something constructive to add please do. If you want to tell me how to "suck it up" and blah blah blah then save it. I'm trying to get information from a physiological standpoint and that is it.

I think i've already given that answer. I think you're feeding your body too much garbage and not enough quality food, period. If you're losing weight, and it doesn't appear to be good weight (i.e. bodyfat vs. LBM) then something needs to be adjusted, right?

I will even try to simplify it for you all...should I just play "make up" with good food and lots of it in the evenings and on weekends?? Will eating that much in a short/er amount of time lead to fat gain or storage instead of having it spaced out perfectly throughout the day every day?

You will have to 'test run' this theory to know for sure, we can't tell you how your body will react to eating this way. If you're telling me you cannot in any way shape or form get the good food in throughout the day, then try what you're saying. Eat a mega breakfast before you leave the house - keep it super clean and low fat since you'll be eating high-fat crap throughout the day. I don't think you need to go crazy on the weekends, just maintain a proper diet while you can. As for weekday evenings, I wouldn't go nuts either but do take the opportunity to get in some quality protein and maybe a bit of complex carbs.

[PurpleOnes]

Buy cooler for your foods and also buy some containers where you can place your meals. It is always better to be prepared.

[musclestack]

I work outside as well, and I have a 10AM meal everday at work. What do I do? Put 5oz. chicken breast in a tupperware container (hell, I don't even put it in a cooler in the morning). I measure out 150 grams of oats and put them into an empty water bottle. When it's time to eat, I add water to the oats and drink it, and scarf down the chicken.

As you can see, I don't eat for taste....results are all that matter.

[bigslick7878]

I'm just gonna take a full gallon of protein shake with me everyday and try to down it all by the end of the day.

That will be about 1820 calories by itself with 14 scoops in a gallon.

I got most of the weight back over the weekend, ate a lot of good food from Friday night on. I am a creature of habit though and I hate the roller coaster ride, I am not used to eating so inconsistently.

I get paranoid if I see a 17-something on the scale.

Probably a slight overreaction.

I am now more motivated because I saw that if I made the effort to get it back I can do it of a few days if I need to.

Just going to have to try to be perfect when I am not working until winter.

[Sgt. Hartman]

I'm just gonna take a full gallon of protein shake with me everyday and try to down it all by the end of the day.

That will be about 1820 calories by itself with 14 scoops in a gallon.

I got most of the weight back over the weekend, ate a lot of good food from Friday night on. I am a creature of habit though and I hate the roller coaster ride, I am not used to eating so inconsistently.

I get paranoid if I see a 17-something on the scale.

Probably a slight overreaction.

I am now more motivated because I saw that if I made the effort to get it back I can do it of a few days if I need to.

Just going to have to try to be perfect when I am not working until winter.

^^That's either fat or water weight - no way you regained any significant amount of LBM in 2 days.

[musclestack]

^^That's either fat or water weight - no way you regained any significant amount of LBM in 2 days.

True, although water weight may be all he lost in the first place. I just got back from working out of town for 3 weeks, and everyone told me I looked like I lost weight (in my shoulders and arms esp.) I just went back on my diet and, within a few days, I was right back where I was before I left. Only lost about 10 pounds on my bench, but I'm sure it's due to the fact that I hadn't lifted in those 3 weeks and my body just wasn't used to it. All other presses stayed the same.

[gbrice75]

Agreed w/ the above, water weight can easily affect a person's 'look'.

[bigslick7878]

Agreed w/ the above, water weight can easily affect a person's 'look'.

I think that is what it was...thank God.

It was right after like 4 straight days of being out in the heat when I saw the 177, now I am back up at 184.

What scared me was my strength fell off a cliff, but I guess that was from being dehydrated or tired or something. That came back too.

I didn't realize that much weight could be lost in water alone in a short period of time.

[musclestack]

I think that is what it was...thank God.

It was right after like 4 straight days of being out in the heat when I saw the 177, now I am back up at 184.

What scared me was my strength fell off a cliff, but I guess that was from being dehydrated or tired or something. That came back too.

I didn't realize that much weight could be lost in water alone in a short period of time.

Same thing happened to me a couple months back. I've been using a lot of salt (sodium) in my diet, which causes a lot of water retention. Then, for about a week, I cut my salt intake to less than half of what it was. I lost about 4 pounds, strength went significantly down, and my joints started hurting every time I pressed. I actually have a thread about this in the lounge. Anyways, brought my salt intake back to where it had been, and weight and strength came back within a couple days. A lot of people don't like the 'bloated' look, but I have found the extra water weight to be beneficial while bulking, especially when it comes to manipulating strength and keeping the joints 'lubricated'.

[RaginCajun]

Maybe at some point someone will answer one of the questions I asked trying to find a SOLUTION, instead of giving me a GD lecture.

Oh and now I am really pissed. Just saw a friend who I hadn't seen for about a month, and one of the first things that she said was "you look like you have lost weight! I can see it in your face". Just fing beautiful, and exactly what I didn't want to hear. I can tell and other people can obviously.

So again if anyone has something constructive to add please do. If you want to tell me how to "suck it up" and blah blah blah then save it. I'm trying to get information from a physiological standpoint and that is it.

I will even try to simplify it for you all...should I just play "make up" with good food and lots of it in the evenings and on weekends?? Will eating that much in a short/er amount of time lead to fat gain or storage instead of having it spaced out perfectly throughout the day every day?

sounds like you need a portable microwave! if you like your food hot, bring some aluminum foil and start your vehicle up. wrap your food in the foil then place over the manifold. make sure you wrap it tightly. another solution is making a fire! its all about how bad you want it. i think it was said somewhere on this thread, where there's a will, there's a way!

[gbrice75]

I think that is what it was...thank God.

It was right after like 4 straight days of being out in the heat when I saw the 177, now I am back up at 184.

What scared me was my strength fell off a cliff, but I guess that was from being dehydrated or tired or something. That came back too.

I didn't realize that much weight could be lost in water alone in a short period of time.

Yea man, a couple of days is all it takes. Same for the reverse scenario. I've had bad weekends where i've eaten a ton of carbs, crap, alcohol, etc. and looked bloated as hell (water retention mostly) and after a few days of clean eating, it subsided and my weight and look both went back to 'normal', i.e. prior to the binge.

[Sicko]

I have been in construction all my life...Coolers are cheap..reusable ice packs keep it all chilly..straight up BIG you eat BK and McDs cause its easier not because you cant eat right..Some times I get in that rut whenever there is a subway or togos shop near the job..Like for instance my jobsite is near this new york deli that has a kick ass half sandwich salad and onion rings for 7 bucks..sssssooooo frikin good and easy just to walk over sit down and chow...but it is a choice..a bad one maybe none the less a choice..Bottom line eating that shite is so bad for your insides as well as your outside..just look around you at all the obese people..That is not from home cooked meals..that is processed fast food lifestyles. I went to this really nice chinese restuarant last weekend with the fam. and all the items on the kids menu were fried!!! I was pissed because I had to order a full priced item for my 2 year old so he could have some veggies and something not deep fried...Anyways landscaping is a hard job you guys are always on the move, your gonna lose some weight unless you eat foods with calories that count.