MONDAY MORNING POST: MATT'S FIRST FEW FOOD LOGS. IS HE EATING ENOUGH? WHY DID I ASK HIM TO THROW AWAY HIS VEGGIE BURGERS? WHAT CHANGES DID HE MAKE TO START BURNING MORE FAT AND BUILDING MORE MUSCLE?

Hi Deb,
Here's today's food log:

6:30a: oatmeal, berries, Morningstar Sausage

 (Side note from Deborah as I write this blog post. I told Matt I do not agree with the Morningstar veggie products because they are full of way too many processed ingredients. Here they are: 

"Water, wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate, corn oil, soy flour, egg whites, sodium caseinate, modified tapioca starch, contains two percent or less of soy protein isolate, soybean oil, lactose, spices, methylcellulose, autolyzed yeast extract, natural and artificial flavors, sodium tripolyphosphate, salt, modified corn starch, hydrolyzed wheat gluten, caramel color, disodium inosinate, crushed red pepper, whey, hydrolyzed corn gluten, red bell peppers, hydrolyzed soy protein, potassium chloride, dextrose, onion powder, disodium guanylate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tricalcium phosphate, hydrolyzed wheat protein, sodium hexametaphosphate, succinic acid, niacinamide, monosodium phosphate, lactic acid, brewer's yeast, torula yeast, calcium phosphate, soy lecithin, iron (ferrous sulfate), magnesium carbonate, vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12. "   I REST MY CASE!!!

And, soy protein isolate is horrible for your digestive system. Mike told me he wanted to finish the Morningstar in his freezer and then would switch to my suggestion. Here are the ingredients for Amy's "Deb Approved" Sonoma burger:

"organic quinoa, organic mushrooms, organic onions, gluten free oats, filtered water, organic walnuts, organic celery, organic carrots, organic garbanzo flour, organic potatoes, sea salt, expeller pressed high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, organic garlic.)"

9:30a: plain Greek yogurt, apple
12p: 1/2 pouch quinoa, 1/2 can of chick peas, 1 serving tofu
3p: Lara bar, Vega protein shake
7:30p (dinner out): scallops with beets, acorn squash, peppers...and another veg I can't remember. Not potato.
Question on dinners. As a quick option are veggie burgers ok for dinner if brown rice or quinoa are in the ingredients? Or should I avoid those at night as well?
Matt

Hey Matt,

Your food seemed kind of light today. Just be careful because even though you might feel okay, if your body does not get enough fuel/good calories/nutrients it can backfire in the next day or two. I would keep adding nuts to the yogurt and for lunch have the whole can of beans (even with the tofu) and have at least 3/4 quinoa pouch.

If you can avoid the starch at night, that is the best way to feel good and energized in the morning and to avoid extra body fat. If you are out to eat and that is the only healthy option, that is a time where it is a good choice.

I just spent some time looking online for a veggie burger without starch. UGH!!!! I could not find one...I am still going to look. 

Deborah

Deb,
Don't worry about the veggie burger without starch, I was just curious.
My food was a little light yesterday. I was ok during the day, but dinner left me a bit hungry. Here's my food for today:

6:30a: oatmeal w/ peanut butter & berries, Morningstar

9:30a: plain Greek yogurt with walnuts and apricots

12p: tofu, broccoli rice, 1/2 can of garbanzos and an Apple

3p: Lara bar, walnuts

6:30p: can of tuna with Tahiti, kale salad, broccoli rice

8p: apple & peanut butter (first time I've had a craving for something sweet, and was still a bit hungry)
Matt

Matt,
Here is what I would like you to do at this point. Your body is now ready and craving more good calories and if you do not feed it more you will start to hold on to your fat and burn your muscle. If you do not want that to happen here is what you need to do:

Double your portion of protein at each meal. Because you are getting hungry later in the day and now having sugar cravings... That means you are not eating correctly anymore because your body is changing. So, please take my suggestion and double the protein at each meal. I am curious to know about the morning star... Do you have a lot left? I hope I do not sound bossy... I just want to make sure you reach your goals and feel great!!!!!
Deb

Deb,
Here's my food for today:

7:30a: 4 egg whites, tofu, Morningstar, 2 slices Ezekiel wheat toast

11a: plain Greek yogurt, peanut butter, walnuts, dried apricots

1p: 2 black bean burgers, kale salad

4p: protein shake, walnuts, dried apricots 

7:30p: chopped salad with garbanzo beans, chicken breast, spinach
Matt

Matt,
Holy Cow!!!!!! THIS is exactly what I was talking about!!!! What a perfect day of eating!!! 

Okay, now that I got that out of the way...how did you feel? Were you too full?

I hope you felt great. I feel great reading this...:)
Deb

Deb,
Thanks! How did I feel... breakfast I was stuffed. Almost uncomfortably full. I worked out after but wasn't running so it was ok. The rest of the day was fine. Dinner I probably could have gone for more chicken, but in general felt good.
Matt

Matt,
Okay, so here is what I recommend:

Please try to stick with the amount of food you ate yesterday. Your body will get used to the breakfast and will get hungrier as the days go on because it will start expecting that amount of food each morning. And I am so glad that you noticed you could have had more chicken at dinner...please add it in tonight. I know I keep saying it but I will say it again, I am very proud of you!!!
Deb

Deb
Thanks, here's my food for today:

8a: oatmeal w/berries and walnuts, morningstar (last one).

11a: Vega protein shake, walnuts, dried apricots

1:30p: whole quinoa pouch, can of tuna,  1/2 can of garbanzo beans

4:30p: plain Greek yogurt with dried apricots

7:30p: 2 pieces of cod and chopped salad
Matt

Matt,
Perfect, perfect and perfect!!!!! One thing to pay attention to: If you feel hungry after the yogurt and fruit, just add some nuts to the mixture. Sometimes the natural sugar in the yogurt and the natural sugar in the fruit can lead to a hunger and some sugar cravings...so just pay attention to this and then you will know what to do if it happens. AWESOME job!!!!
Deb