(First I apologize for the length of this post.
) My biggest struggle has always been with my nutrition. I realize muscles are made in the kitchen, yet the longest I've ever been able to go COMPLETELY clean is 30 days. I tend to fall off the wagon a fair amount, and find myself wondering if a) I'm trying to be too strict with my eating, or b) I just need to resign myself to the fact that I don't have the discipline and just do the best I can.
I'm guessing before you can critique my diet or offer feedback, you need to know a little about what I'm trying to achieve here. Hmmm...it's the same old same old. Lose BF w/o losing alot of LBM. AND...add muscle. I hate the word "tone" - I want visible muscle mass. Having said that though, I don't plan to ever take the stage, so I'm not looking to be that ripped.
When I'm cutting, and being really good, my nutrition looks like the below. But again, I can't seem to sustain this for more than 30 days or so.
So opinions please! I am very thick-skinned, so give me all 'ya got. If you think this sucks, then feel free to say so!! I'd really like to tackle this ogre once and for all. And if this is, indeed, the way I need to eat to achieve my goals, then tell me that too. Then I'll just need to do decide if I'm willing/able to do eat this strictly for the long haul. TIA!
(Oh, and I've just started cutting this week.....)
Here's the basic framework for my meals, with the foods listed the preferred carb choices.
30 P 20 C 10 F - oats 1/3 c = 20 C, 1/4 c = 15 C
30 P 10 C 10 F - Berries ( straw or blue ) or 1/2 apple or 1/2 GF
30 P 20 C 10 F - brown rice/SP, veggies
30 P 10 C 10 F - Berries ( straw or blue ) or 1/2 apple or 1/2 GF
30 P 05 C 10 F - Veggies, greens
30 P 05 C 10 F - LF cottage cheese
Totals: 1540 - 180 P , 70 C and a 60 F
SAMPLE DAY:
M1: Cal P C F
1/3 cup oatmeal 112 4/20/2
1 scoop ON pro-complex whey 130 28/2/2
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
TOTAL: 284 31/22/9
M2:
7 egg whites 115 24/2/0
1 egg yolk 61 3/0/5
2T salsa 1 0/0/0
3/4C strawberries 34 0/8/1
3 fish oil caps 30 0/0/3
TOTAL: 241 27/10/9
M3:
4oz. chicken breast 183 34/0/4
1C romaine lettuce 5 0/1/0
1/3 cup brown rice 72 1/15/1
6 slices cucumbers 5 0/1/0
2T Just2Good Country Italian Dressing 30 0/3/2
1 fish oil cap 10 0/0/1
TOTAL: 305 35/20/9
M4:
1 scoop ON pro-complex whey 130 28/2/2
1T Smucker's Natty PB 100 4/4/8
1/2C strawberries 23 0/5/0
TOTAL: 253 32/11/10
M5:
4oz. chicken breast 183 34/0/4
1/2C green beans 20 1/4/0
2C romaine lettuce 11 1/2/0
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
1T apple cider vinegar
TOTAL: 255 36/6/9
M6:
1/2C 2% cottage cheese 90 12/4/2
1/2 scoop ON pro-complex whey 65 14/1/1
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
1 fish oil cap 20 0/0/2
TOTAL: 216 26/5/10
DAILY TOTAL: 1554 cals 187P 74C 56F
47.8%, 19.7%, 31.6%

I'm guessing before you can critique my diet or offer feedback, you need to know a little about what I'm trying to achieve here. Hmmm...it's the same old same old. Lose BF w/o losing alot of LBM. AND...add muscle. I hate the word "tone" - I want visible muscle mass. Having said that though, I don't plan to ever take the stage, so I'm not looking to be that ripped.
When I'm cutting, and being really good, my nutrition looks like the below. But again, I can't seem to sustain this for more than 30 days or so.
So opinions please! I am very thick-skinned, so give me all 'ya got. If you think this sucks, then feel free to say so!! I'd really like to tackle this ogre once and for all. And if this is, indeed, the way I need to eat to achieve my goals, then tell me that too. Then I'll just need to do decide if I'm willing/able to do eat this strictly for the long haul. TIA!

Here's the basic framework for my meals, with the foods listed the preferred carb choices.
30 P 20 C 10 F - oats 1/3 c = 20 C, 1/4 c = 15 C
30 P 10 C 10 F - Berries ( straw or blue ) or 1/2 apple or 1/2 GF
30 P 20 C 10 F - brown rice/SP, veggies
30 P 10 C 10 F - Berries ( straw or blue ) or 1/2 apple or 1/2 GF
30 P 05 C 10 F - Veggies, greens
30 P 05 C 10 F - LF cottage cheese
Totals: 1540 - 180 P , 70 C and a 60 F
SAMPLE DAY:
M1: Cal P C F
1/3 cup oatmeal 112 4/20/2
1 scoop ON pro-complex whey 130 28/2/2
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
TOTAL: 284 31/22/9
M2:
7 egg whites 115 24/2/0
1 egg yolk 61 3/0/5
2T salsa 1 0/0/0
3/4C strawberries 34 0/8/1
3 fish oil caps 30 0/0/3
TOTAL: 241 27/10/9
M3:
4oz. chicken breast 183 34/0/4
1C romaine lettuce 5 0/1/0
1/3 cup brown rice 72 1/15/1
6 slices cucumbers 5 0/1/0
2T Just2Good Country Italian Dressing 30 0/3/2
1 fish oil cap 10 0/0/1
TOTAL: 305 35/20/9
M4:
1 scoop ON pro-complex whey 130 28/2/2
1T Smucker's Natty PB 100 4/4/8
1/2C strawberries 23 0/5/0
TOTAL: 253 32/11/10
M5:
4oz. chicken breast 183 34/0/4
1/2C green beans 20 1/4/0
2C romaine lettuce 11 1/2/0
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
1T apple cider vinegar
TOTAL: 255 36/6/9
M6:
1/2C 2% cottage cheese 90 12/4/2
1/2 scoop ON pro-complex whey 65 14/1/1
1 tsp Udo's 41 0/0/5
1 fish oil cap 20 0/0/2
TOTAL: 216 26/5/10
DAILY TOTAL: 1554 cals 187P 74C 56F
47.8%, 19.7%, 31.6%
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