question about "cheat meals"

[cephissus]

I've never been able to stick to a "100% strict bodybuilding diet".  You know the kind:

Breakfast
300g turkey
200g broccoli

Snack
5 egg whites

Lunch
300g chicken
200g broccoli

Snack
2oz almonds

Dinner
300g tilapia
200g broccoli

Snack
2 scoops whey in water

Midnight-alarm meal
can of tuna



However, I've come fairly close, on a number of occasions.  I just can't stand all the restrictions... the meals aren't just unsatisfying, they feel downright bad.  In fact, the more variety I have, the better I adhere to my diet, and the fewer cravings I have... even a meal that's fairly close to the above, but more balanced and with the slightest concessions, like:

Chicken breast with pan sauce
Two heads of steamed broccoli
Half cup of rice, lightly seasoned

makes me feel worlds better, and stops me from thinking about how many pints of ice cream I want to eat every time I get a little bored.

I wonder if bodybuilders actually knew how to cook, they wouldn't all agree that with me, add a little variety, and not need "cheat meals"...

What says getbig

[SF1900]

I've never been able to stick to a "100% strict bodybuilding diet".  You know the kind:

Breakfast
300g turkey
200g broccoli

Snack
5 egg whites

Lunch
300g chicken
200g broccoli

Snack
2oz almonds

Dinner
300g tilapia
200g broccoli

Snack
2 scoops whey in water

Midnight-alarm meal
can of tuna



However, I've come fairly close, on a number of occasions.  I just can't stand all the restrictions... the meals aren't just unsatisfying, they feel downright bad.  In fact, the more variety I have, the better I adhere to my diet, and the fewer cravings I have... even a meal that's fairly close to the above, but more balanced and with the slightest concessions, like:

Chicken breast with pan sauce
Two heads of steamed broccoli
Half cup of rice, lightly seasoned

makes me feel worlds better, and stops me from thinking about how many pints of ice cream I want to eat every time I get a little bored.

I wonder if bodybuilders actually knew how to cook, they wouldn't all agree that with me, add a little variety, and not need "cheat meals"...

What says getbig

Nor should you. Even the pros do not stick to strict diets like they list in Flex magazine.

I just had chicken parm with pasta and sauce

[Coach is Back!]

If you feel guilty about have a cheat meal.....you have an eating disorder.

[cephissus]

If you feel guilty about have a cheat meal.....you have an eating disorder.

not what i'm talking about... i'm suggesting, if you don't follow an overly restrictive diet in the first place, you don't need cheat meals.  

maybe if you're not thinking "i can only eat meat and vegetables" then you won't need/want to gorge every now and then on ice cream/pizza/etc...  eat a variety of foods (not the same 3-4 things day in and day out), and you'll be better off, even if doing so means you're eating foods that aren't "bodybuilding approved" (rice, potatoes, sauces, fattier cuts of meat, etc.)