Hi all! Just wondering what kind of eating plan do you follow? Body for Life? I am not doing BFL but am strength training and lately I am absolutely starving all the time! I am eating every 2 - 3 hours with protein pretty much at each meal. How many carbs should a person have each day when strength training - 75 grams, 100 grams??? I am watching my carb intake keeping it around 100 grams each day but maybe I need more??? Help!

Hi there - I'm loosely following BFL (same priciples, although not 100% all the time). Although I don't count my grams per se, I would estimate that I get at the very *least* 150-175 grams of carbs per day (roughly 25-30 grams per meal). Occassionally, on a lifting day, I'll have more (might up the carbs a little in my pre-and post- workout meals.

Hi- are you the one following Dr. Schwarzbein's plan?

If so, you can eat more carbs because of activity. But I do think she's very vague about how much. Are you eating enough good fat? You can't really do both lowcarb and lowfat successfully.

Laura

Schwarztie, you should be eating at least 1g of protein per pound of body weight during heavy strength training. As for carbs, you need to include a healthy amount of complex carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc for energy as well as eating plenty of other vegetables.

If you posted a little more info, like a typical workout and a typical day's nutrition as well as your stats, I think we can get you off the starvation mode. Also if you get a chance, pick up the book, the BodyRx and read it. It sounds like this plan could be excellent for you.

I am kind of following Schwarzbein Principle's plan but not as strictly as the book - you have to live a little. I am basically just following her recommended carb count. She limits fruit which I have a very hard time with so maybe if I just increased my fruit intake and because of the fiber maybe I wouldn't be so darn hungry. I weigh 153 lbs so does that mean I need 153 grams of protein in a day? How do I figure out the grams on protein choices?? I am not doing the low fat thing at all - I am eating butter, nuts, full fat sour cream, salad dressings etc... This is one of the things Dr. Schwarzbein can't stress enough of. My workout schedule is something like this: Every day except Sunday I do 4 body parts to work on )chest, back, shoulders and abs on one day, triceps, biceps, calves the next so on... I don't do weights on the lower body because of strict orders from my doctor (my knees are on the verge of knee replacement surgery!) I use a tape called Thin Thighs Guaranteed an 8 minute intense workout that basically uses your own body weight but does squats, lunges etc.... I do that 3 times a week. About 3 - 4 times a week I go on the mini trampoline, a walk or the eliptical trainer. I do not do the 20 minute aerobic solution that is mentioned in the BFL book I just do about 30 minutes of cardio - enough to get my heart rate up. Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of my hunger!! For breakfast I usually eat a hard boiled egg, a piece of fruit and whole grain toast with peanut butter and 2 hours later I am starving again so I am glad I eat every 3 hours or I wouldn't make it until lunch.

Can you incorporate veggies into your plan? They'll help to fill you up, and give you fiber, without the sugar that comes along with fruit.

Have you read the second of her books? She really changes A LOT of her recommendations for carbs and protein based on your metabolic type. And now *no one* is supposed to go as low on carbs as it's stated to in the first book.

Veggies are a very important part of SP and are supposed to be eaten at every meal. This would definitely help the fiber issue.


Laura

Eating every 2-3 hours is excellent. I find it works for me too, no longer do I suffer intense hunger or feeling faint from hunger and then overeating at meals.

Yes do read SPII as Laura suggested, and you do need more carbs doing that amount of strength training, so Colleen's suggestion of adding more vegetables is an excellent one!

Don't be afraid to eat. Just eat well.

Thanks you guys - I did forget to mention that I have veggies with most of meals (other than breakfast). I was actually wondering what the difference between the two books were (Schwarzbein Principle). Is it really that different?? If you don't mind me asking, what is this Body Rx all about before I go ahead and buy it???

I think there's a large enough difference in Principle I and II to make it worth the buy. You'll find II more detailed in an explanation of carbs/fats, proteins, etc and why and how to incorporate them.

As for the BodyRX, its a nutritional and strength training plan by Dr. Scott Connelly that's just superb, IMO. Very similar in many respects to SP, its a lifelong plan, rather than a 'diet.' Most libraries have a copy of it now so you could browse before you buy and its out in paperback.

Also you can review it here: http://www.bodyrxinfo.com/home.htm

First off, SP II is different enough to definitely make it worth buying, especially if you are trying to follow her program. She helps you figure out which metabolic type you are:

-healthy Adrenals, insulin-sensitive (this is the goal type)
-healthy adrenals, insulin-resistant
-burnt out adrenals, insulin-sensitive
-burnt out adrenals, insulin resistant.

And like I posted earlier, depending on which type you are your P/C numbers can vary widely. Nothing in the second directly contradicts the first, tho like I said she does raise the minimum carb number. The second just gets a lot more specific.

BodyRX is an exercise/eating program. I highly recommend it, but it is a longterm commitment; a minimum of 18 weeks. It is made up of 6 week "cycles" of lifting. A 4 day split is always involved, but sets and reps change. Unprocessed, high protein food is stressed.

But if you are happy with SP, I'd stick with it.

Laura

Schwartzie ---- IMO if you are eating only one egg for breakfast it's really no wonder you are hungry 2 hours later.... BUT I am hungry 2.5 hours later and I sometimes eat 1 egg and 1/2 c. eggwhites (= 4 whites) with veggies in the omellette and oatmeal...