Women on the Starting Strength Programme - Nutrition

[Tamara Reynolds]

I am 5'8, I weighed 167 lbs this morning.

And, my ass looks great.

I do not count calories or macronutrients. I should probably eat a little more protein than I do. I have been slack about that lately.

I'm not on LP now and haven't been for a while, but my current training program requires that I eat a lot more than I had to eat when I was on LP anyway.

[Rob Waskis]

And, my ass looks great.

I believe the appropriate internet phrase here is, "pics or it didn't happen".

[thisjelly]

I don't feel pressured to conform to anyone else's ideal. I have my own ideals that I aspire to, but it's not that big of a deal.

I do feel awkward that some of my female friends say they envy my confidence in my body, but they are unwilling to change any of their attitudes or behaviors that make them unhappy. What can I say to someone who is skinny fat, aspires to be just skinny, and eats a vegetarian junk food diet of cupcakes and beer? I don't know.

One thing I am wondering about nutrition is how much fat is optimal for me. I think in trying to eat a lot of protein while limiting calories, I may have gotten carried away with the lean meats, and a different balance between protein and fat may be better.

[Gwynn]

I believe the appropriate internet phrase here is, "pics or it didn't happen".

I can't believe you've never seen the pics. We all have. :-)

[Tamara Reynolds]

I can't believe you've never seen the pics. We all have. :-)

The whole internet has.

[Mr_Rogers]

Just replying so I can find this thread easier. I'm hoping this will be a great resource for the Mrs. if she decides to lift with me.

[Rob Waskis]

The whole internet has.

Google Images has failed me...

[Tamara Reynolds]

Google Images has failed me...

Sad.

I will post one in my log.

[MikeC1]

Google Images has failed me...

You know TBone keeps a log, right?

[Simma Park]

I am currently 5'2" and probably about 145#. I don't know for sure because I generally don't care unless I'm trying to compete. Over a decade of training MA at a school where everyone had to fight everyone else, whether they were 4'8", 90# elderly women or strapping 6'3" 230# lads, taught me that being stronger and having some mass are both things to be actively desired. When I'm leaner, I'm cool with it. When I'm where I am now, I'm cool with it. On the one hand, pullups. On the other hand, awesome cleavage. Is there anything but winning here?

I've tried different nutritional strategies over the years and have found that carb restriction makes a bigger difference to how I feel than paleoness, both good and bad. Carb restriction was good for general energy, mood, and feeling of health, and it did result in fat loss/being lean, but I find it's a hard fit with strength training. It was easier years ago to lift and eat lower carb--probably a combination of being younger and having a less stressful life.

Right now, I pretty much try to stay more or less Weston Pricey in my approach to food. I concern myself with proactively making sure I eat enough high quality food rather than reactively trying to avoid foods that are considered "bad". I try to make sure I consume a lot of varied beasts and plants that are dense in nutrients. As for the rest... if I want to eat ice cream, I eat ice cream. If I want whiskey, I have a glass of whiskey. If I'm down in Chinatown and feel inspired to get a banh mi, I'll have one, (delicious, irreplaceable) wheat baguette and all. And it is in nobody's interest for me to stop drinking coffee. Nobody's.

Something that has made a big difference in my general health is vitamin D supplementation. That, cod liver oil, and whey protein are the only supplements I take now, but I'll probably try creatine at some point.

One thing I haven't done is a really strict 30 day paleo challenge as recommended by Robb Wolf. I'll probably try that at some point, just to know.