Bodybuilding Foods vs. 'Health' Foods

[gbrice75]

Most of you who help us out with our diets suggest clean eating which I TOTALLY get - you are what you eat, why put random 'crap' into your body when you can eat all natural, etc.

However, i'm looking for clarification on whether or not your body cares about this strictly in terms of muscle growth and/or fat loss. In other words, if I eat a plain chicken breast vs. a chicken breast that was marinated in - let's say one of those 'powder packet' marinades that you mix with water and oil, does it make ANY difference in how my body uses that chicken to build muscle?

I am personally eating cleaner than I ever have before, but am having a hard time giving some things up. For instance, I eat ground turkey in at least 2 meals per day, but I always mix it with just a little jarred pasta/tomato sauce for moisture and flavor. I know those sauces have sugar, salt, and other crap - but I can't see this little bit of sauce making or breaking my diet. I also marinate my salmon in store bought bottled marinade (like Newman's Own for example) - again, sugar, salt, etc. but it's just a tiny bit of marinade for flavor.

Is this acceptable for muscle growth/fat loss or am I jipping myself?

[Jon the Rooster]

Sometimes it's the little things. I don't use sugars at all, I'll use splenda, & for pasta, I make my own sauce but use tomato puree, it has lower sodium & lower sugar than sauce. I'll sweeten it with sweet basil ( It's not real sweetness it's just an herb that taste sweet)
I'll go the extra mile to say on course & find ways to spice up my meals without killing my routein.
I'm always reading the labels of things especialy marinades & sauces to see what they contain, & that is what dicktates if they come home with me, or not.

[JinNtonic]

It all depends on your goals. I am not going on stage so I do the best I can but still enjoy life also.

But regardless My diet is 10 times better than it was before I found this site. And it becomes easier and easier the more I stick with it.

[gbrice75]

It all depends on your goals. I am not going on stage so I do the best I can but still enjoy life also.

But regardless My diet is 10 times better than it was before I found this site. And it becomes easier and easier the more I stick with it.

That's the same way I feel, and I'm not interested in competing any time in the future. My goal is to have a nice body, it doesn't have to be the best in the world but i'd like to be in what 'normal' people would call great shape.

I'm still looking for somebody to answer whether or not the more 'processed' foods have any negative impact when it comes to building muscle vs. natural foods.

[mg1228]

That's the same way I feel, and I'm not interested in competing any time in the future. My goal is to have a nice body, it doesn't have to be the best in the world but i'd like to be in what 'normal' people would call great shape.

I'm still looking for somebody to answer whether or not the more 'processed' foods have any negative impact when it comes to building muscle vs. natural foods.

prob better not to have em than to have em

i think prob 80-90% of the members on this site are not planning on ever getting on stage--i think as long as ur happy with the way u look then thats all that matters---ive found that if u stick to it strict to get where u want to be at that point u can eat what u want 3-4 times a week and maintain

[Machdiesel]

dicktates = dictates
just thought that was funny

[Twist]

depends on how your body reacts to it. You are asking a very personal question. I can eat half a cake and a chicken breast and not gain any fat or any direct negative consequences. Can you? no probably not. So asking if sugar and fat in dressings etc is ok is too personal. It depends on how your body reacts to it. On this site we advise no sugar etc but that is to be safe.

[terraj]

depends on how your body reacts to it. You are asking a very personal question. I can eat half a cake and a chicken breast and not gain any fat or any direct negative consequences. Can you? no probably not. So asking if sugar and fat in dressings etc is ok is too personal. It depends on how your body reacts to it. On this site we advise no sugar etc but that is to be safe.

Lol, I am missing something....who is this we? you speak of Kimosabe

I see a bunch of guys that still like simple carbs PWO, however I am not one.

[Turkey]

That's the same way I feel, and I'm not interested in competing any time in the future. My goal is to have a nice body, it doesn't have to be the best in the world but i'd like to be in what 'normal' people would call great shape.

I'm still looking for somebody to answer whether or not the more 'processed' foods have any negative impact when it comes to building muscle vs. natural foods.

the issue with processed foods is that they're usually a waste of your time/macros; the nutrients of processed foods (inc. fortified ones) are not as high-quality as those from whole foods; in processing food, it loses much of its natural nutritional value (like comparing white flour vs. 100% stone ground wheat flour)

it really depends on the level of processing and the desired end product

[Turkey]

Lol, I am missing something....who is this we? you speak of Kimosabe

I see a bunch of guys that still like simple carbs PWO, however I am not one.

this is all about timing; simple carbs, timed right and in accordance with your goals and fitness level, can be consumed w/o adverse effect on fat loss

the utilization of carbs is heightened with a regimen containing avenues to use them; in other words, if you're out of shape, poor diet, with no cardio, then yes, count your carbs and make sure they are high-quality; if you've been training for years now, diet is dialed in perfectly, and cardio is practically a daily part of your regimen, you can accommodate more carbs

This is why I've been a believer in not only looking like you're in great shape, but actually be in great (cardio) shape, as it eases the restrictions on your diet, and allows to eat more freely. (The synergy of being in good cardio shape and lifting weights leads to the physical results desired by most on this board: ripped, lean)