Invalid Comfort

I'm wondering if there is a ask the nutritionsit thread. Could someone help apease my curiosity?

If not then, could I ask the help with whats below:

Hi,

I've just recently aquired a new job (almost 3 months). It completely changed my life. A main reason being that of excersise. Went from a retail position to that of a hardworking serviceman's. I know now that I am getting the exercise because of my job ( pool man ). I handle and carry, lifting, speedwalking, all types of labor during my normal day. I would have to say the most common thing is pulling heavy things out of my truck. (10-100# ea/time).

Since I've been excersiseing I've been able to swim with no problem breathing, same with running. I love it alot. I haven't been able to breathe like this since I was a little kid. I do not smoke ciggarettes, but participate in healthier smokes every so often. I don't drink either.

I'm looking next to get my nutrition in line so I can even out my body. I really cannon eat too much at any time because I'm out in the sun all day long. Same thing goes for drinking. What should I be doing, since I no longer able to consume foods in humugoes loads to feed my energy use< to make sure I'm getting the proper nutrients my body needs?

I eat a small meal in the morning (7am-ish) and try too later on (9-11am) depending on the days heat. I live in florida, and the sun shines bright all day long, with the mugginess to boot. My next meal happens around (1-3pm), and after that (5-9pm), and some times a midnight snack of my favorite foods(randing from broccolli to resees penut butter cups(mmmMm).

I would say about half this food is processed. I tend to eat what I crave meat wise, mostly beef & chicken. Sometimes alittle pork and shirmp thrown in for good measure.

That's all the information I can think to give that you'd need, but if there is any others, just ask and I'll ask if it will aid an expeirnced persons input.

Thanks for reading,
`J

thingstodo

I'll say this not knowing actually what you do eat...if half your diet is processed foods then pretty much half your diet is mostly un-healthy.

Also, many cravings are based on mixed signals in the body. For example, quite often we think we are hungry and we are just thirsty. Or we crave a certain food because we subconciously like the taste. Then there are other times we crave something because we actually need something it provides. In your case, you made need more protein than you are getting. Eating late at night isn't good because your body is working to process the food instead of relaxing to sleep.

Again, though, you didn't provide much about what you are actually eating, your age, body, etc.

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dman2

If you are staying active, you don't have as much to worry about, especially with a high metabolism regarding weight gain. However, although you may not be gaining weight, eating healthy has long term effects on your overall health. Most people forget this as long when they think about being healthy. Nutrition goes much deeper than simply weight.

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I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

level five

that is so right!!

i hope to have a good quality of life when i get older. that's why i don't smoke and eat healthy. i strongly feel that what i do now will have a geometrically increased impact as the years go along.

i've often heard smokers say that you have to die of something. i'd prefer to go quick rather than have tons of health issues get in the way!!

Invalid Comfort

I'm 19, 6'1, 155-165#. Trim build i guess you cuold say? I've had BMI's as low as 11 when I was excersising like this before, so I don't know. I want to getmy nutrition correct to help fuel my body for what it needs so i dont have to worry about long term defenencies,

level five

i think you still leave unanswered questions regarding what yuo are actually eating. no one can give theri opinion and advice unless they know that. you have to identify the current state of things and then what the ideal future would look like to "fill the gap."

your body size is one thing but what you actually put in your mouth is critical.
sounds like one bit of advice is to cut out the processed foods.

5-9 servings (serving = 1/2 cup) of fruits and veggies is a great start. you also need 25-30 grams of fiber daily. that's a lot of fiber but really needed for colon health and to keep an even absorption of carbs during the day. you can get a lot of fiber from the fruits and veggies. also complex carbs from whole grains. unbleached flour has more fiber.

on the sugar front, refined isn't good because you crash. good sugars you can add to foods yourself include (real) maple syrup, honey and agave. you don't crash with these. purchased products with sucrose are ok as well.

balance is the key. if you eat the fruits and veggies and whole grain stuff, along with some meat, you won't have much more room for other foods.

hope that helps some. how does that compare to what you are currently eating?

Jinn

11? Christ, man. Eat a fuckin sandwich! You sound like Paris Hilton.

In actuality, I don't see anything unhealthy in your descriptions thus far of your diet, exercise, and physique. Our body is adapted to handle all sorts of food -- in greater and lesser degrees, but you can eat just about anything as long as it's balanced relative to everything else in your life.

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level five

i agree dude... eat some food!!

however, jinnkai...

...so you feel that refined sugar, partially hydrogenated oils (AKA trans fats), high fructose corn syrup, etc. are just fine to eat? because that's what processed foods contain.

i don't really think your body adapts to handle that stuff unless you think obesity as a result is OK. we didn't have this problem to the extent that we did before all the processed stuff started hitting society. granted people are generally more lazy than they used to be. that said, you also have to consider what we put in our bodies.

i'm not trying to start a debate on the pros/cons of these processed foods - people can eat whatever they want. i personally want a decent quality of life as I age and believe food plays a key part, as well as excercise and mental health.

eating one twinkie isn't bad in and of itself. making it half your diet is, well...i'll stop there.

Invalid Comfort

my BMI is a healthy 23ish now . That was way back when I don't want to be that skinny. My diet changes with the oppurtunity. During the day, if I eat at all, it will most likely be a hamburger or a sub.

I notice with myself that I generally tend to eat healthy. I'll grab juice instead of a soda, or a salad or something filling to hold till dinner. Dinner normally consists of a meat, and a veggie. ( i love broccolli).

Thinking about it, I'm more concerned with the fact that I don't eat at all during the day because of the heat. I'm a pool man, and I'm in the sun probally 75% of the day. I try to drink alot of fluids to compensate for the sweating.

I get little odd muscle cramps, mostly in my hands, feet, and, calves. I hasn't happened recently, but I wake up from my calf cramping so bad that I have problems forcing my muscle straight.

When I do eat something in the morning, I take a one-a-day too.


I agree with you, level five, and your statement on the processed food. They taste great(sometimes) but they don't really provide much nutritional value.

Everything has the potential to be dangerous when consumed in excess,

Zeraph

I dont get why you cant eat more just because your in the sun. Not enough time? When youre in the sun you don't feel like eating? Anyways, maybe try some protein shakes since you can't/won't eat during the day.

I kinda skimmed over it because I'm not a nutritionist or anything, so sorry if you did specify and I missed it.

thingstodo

One thing you can easily eat during the day that also might help your cramping is a banana. Often that sympton relates to potasium. You won't get as much of that from electrolyte drinks unless you have a lot. If you're not using a great deal of energy the food thing shouldn't really be a problem like if you were riding a bike for a 100 miles or running a long distance.

Just make sure you drink plenty of fluids and electrolytes. One way to find out how much you need to drink is to somehow weigh yourself a few times during the day - perhaps at a grocery store, and then drink back the equivilent weight in fluids. A good rule of thumb is 2 ounces every five minutes of exertion (that's about a swig in highly scientific terms), which is 24 oz. and hour when you are really sweating.

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Stangers have the best candy.