The "Clean food" and "Dirty food" mindset...

[sneezingstardust]

This is something that's probably been debated to death already, but I'm just trying to understand...

I've read Erik's article here about PWO carbs:

http://leanbodiesconsulting.com/faq/Post+Workout+Carbs+-+What%27s+the+Deal%3F

And to be honest, it really sounds too good to be true :lol:

I've always been told that actual sugar post-workout is BAD...while I'm slowly starting to realize that there really isn't any "bad" or "unclean" foods, I'm still having a bit of a difficult time wrapping my brain around it. Why doesn't anyone else eat this way PWO then? :confused: I can't imagine why someone would reach for oats over an ice cream sandwich, unless they REALLY liked the oats.

I guess what I'm getting at is, at what point is it considered "too much"?

Like, you wouldn't eat cookies and ice cream all day, obviously. But assuming your protein was in check, and you were getting your EFA's, where is the cut-off line for these "junk" foods if they make no significant impact physiologically as long as your calories are in check? :uhuh:

[smuggie]

I don't know if there is a cutoff point, but if you're eating only refined carbs you're most likely not going to be getting enough fiber in your diet, nor will you be benefitting from the satiation fiber-containing carbs provide.

[sneezingstardust]

I don't know if there is a cutoff point, but if you're eating only refined carbs you're most likely not going to be getting enough fiber in your diet, nor will you be benefitting from the satiation fiber-containing carbs provide.

Well, I wouldn't be having refined carbs for all my carbs, of course. Just speculating...so in that case though, if someone gets all their EFA's, protein, and a good amount of complex carbs, having small "dirty" foods worked into your macros is still okay?

No complaints, of course. :)

[Inatic]

Well, I wouldn't be having refined carbs for all my carbs, of course. Just speculating...so in that case though, if someone gets all their EFA's, protein, and a good amount of complex carbs, having small "dirty" foods worked into your macros is still okay?

No complaints, of course. :)

as long as you are within you caloric goal you should be ok. when im bulking i have a few free meals a week and play with some of my carb choices that might be more processed.

Many here have all kind of treats post workout 3-4times a week and a fm and do fine. My refeeds or refeed days are 'clean' and i do fine too. I prefer to eat more naturally but that is personal choice.

[sneezingstardust]

as long as you are within you caloric goal you should be ok. when im bulking i have a few free meals a week and play with some of my carb choices that might be more processed.

Many here have all kind of treats post workout 3-4times a week and a fm and do fine. My refeeds or refeed days are 'clean' and i do fine too. I prefer to eat more naturally but that is personal choice.


Good to know!! I'm bulking right now, and I have PWO treats 3x per week, but I just wasn't sure if I should be adding a free meal on top of all that.

[Inatic]

Good to know!! I'm bulking right now, and I have PWO treats 3x per week, but I just wasn't sure if I should be adding a free meal on top of all that.

like anything else, watch your feedback.

[sneezingstardust]

like anything else, watch your feedback.

I'll be doing that this week :) Best thing about numbers in the off-season is they can always be changed! :D

[Erik]

Personally I do not believe that one can eat anything they want provided they meet their macro numbers. I mean yes, sure you can, but I don't believe this is optimal from a aesthetic standpoint. But it's not possible to say where the cut off point of 'too much' is. Obviously, my experience is that PWO is definitely not too much.

Some things are more cosmetically friendly than others.

Off season though? Definitely a lot of room for more flexibility.

[sneezingstardust]

Personally I do not believe that one can eat anything they want provided they meet their macro numbers. I mean yes, sure you can, but I don't believe this is optimal from a aesthetic standpoint. But it's not possible to say where the cut off point of 'too much' is. Obviously, my experience is that PWO is definitely not too much.

Some things are more cosmetically friendly than others.

Off season though? Definitely a lot of room for more flexibility.

Oh definitely. I'm pretty sure the one who eats the more complex carbs/lean proteins/healthy fats, and lesser junk food would look better than someone who was on a junk-food diet.

In my case, I would be having something PWO, and a couple things I wouldn't normally eat fit into my macros, like whole-wheat cheerios, or some dark chocolate, or something. Perhaps 1 free meal per week...I'm going to be checking my progress with that this week though, and see if it makes a difference or not.

My free meals really aren't that big or anything, and I don't usually go overboard if I plan ahead. In other words, one plate of pasta as opposed to 3 plates + ice cream and cake. :angel4:

[Melody Clere]

Yeah PWO doesn't HAVE to be unhealthy crap food. Here is what I enjoyed today....

Quinoa with a lil unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, stevia, lil banana and drizzle of honey....SOOOOO yummy. :yum:

[johnstona]

Yeah PWO doesn't HAVE to be unhealthy crap food. Here is what I enjoyed today....

Quinoa with a lil unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, stevia, lil banana and drizzle of honey....SOOOOO yummy. :yum:

Even though I do not know what Quinoa is, it still sounds good!

[Inatic]

Quinoa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

[Erik]

Yeah PWO doesn't HAVE to be unhealthy crap food.

Exactly

[sneezingstardust]

Yeah PWO doesn't HAVE to be unhealthy crap food. Here is what I enjoyed today....

Quinoa with a lil unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, stevia, lil banana and drizzle of honey....SOOOOO yummy. :yum:

Oh of course not!! Actually one of my favorite things is similar to that...I'll make oatmeal crepes and fill them with honey, cinnamon, and sliced banana! Delicious!

[Patricia]

Oh of course not!! Actually one of my favorite things is similar to that...I'll make oatmeal crepes and fill them with honey, cinnamon, and sliced banana! Delicious!
Off topic but...I just read your blog.... that strawberry almond milk 'cake' :yum: :thumb: I think I am going to make that this week.

[sneezingstardust]

Off topic but...I just read your blog.... that strawberry almond milk 'cake' :yum: :thumb: I think I am going to make that this week.

Haha, it's good! :D

[char-dawg]

If you want "clean" food, go wash it.

Otherwise, in any setting that is not pre-contest, set calories, set protein, set PWO simple carbs, set good fats, set fiber (in that order). Beyond that, eat whatever you want. It's not going to hurt you.

[sneezingstardust]

If you want "clean" food, go wash it.

Otherwise, in any setting that is not pre-contest, set calories, set protein, set PWO simple carbs, set good fats, set fiber (in that order). Beyond that, eat whatever you want. It's not going to hurt you.

I like this answer :D

I'm finding that it really hasn't impacted my physique negatively to add in something "off-track" as long as I count it into my totals, really. I think the biggest thing is the satiating factor...but that doesn't even matter so much in the off-season, because I'm getting enough calories to not be starving anyway.