Training in the real world

Bluraybunny · 24 Dec 2010 at 07:02

I've been training on and off for the last year ( with mixed results ).

One area that is a problem, is of course time. I like i'm sure many of you on the forums work a rota ( Day and Night shifts ).

I'm curious how many of you cope, and work around this? do you adjust your eating on night shift? do you have any general tips to help those of us with limited time like protein bars etc.

Morba · 24 Dec 2010 at 10:21

If you are trying to be strict or follow a set routine and nutrition plan then training should be easy (do it when you can) and food simple (prepare as much as you can before each day).

BennyC · 24 Dec 2010 at 10:49

You just have to prepare you food when you can. When I was at uni I prepared all my lunches for the week on a Saturday after my weekly shop. Took me about an hour and a half to cook all the meat and chop up all the salad etc but then it was done and I could just scoop it out of a box before heading to the workshops.

You'll also need to think ahead to shift any meal times to suit your daily routine.

alexakasloth · 24 Dec 2010 at 11:32

You can make meals such as tomato and meat sauces to have with pasta/rice, bean/chicken/beef stew, soup etc, put them in tubs and then into the freezer.

Bluraybunny · 24 Dec 2010 at 14:25

Freezing the meals is a good plan. Can you freeze salads without losing any of the goodness? for example spinch?

PAz · 24 Dec 2010 at 14:40

Spinach is OK to freeze.

I always cook in big batches and stick it in the fridge or freezer.

Tbh you can leave most things in the fridge for 4 days or so with no issues once its cooked.

BennyC · 24 Dec 2010 at 15:35

I used to leave lots of fresh salad (peppers, spinach, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, cress, celery) along with tuna, salmon, chicken and turkey all mixed up. That was good for around 7 days just sat in the fridge.

B1C3P · 24 Dec 2010 at 16:03

To be honest, I have all the time in the world, only work weekends.. Yet I never eat a set diet plan lol, get up when I want, eat when I feel like it, eat roughly what I want etc, I see people with diets like 200g of this 80g of this flax seeds, pumpkin seeds etc, I've never bothered with all that. I eat healthy and averagely eat high prot, med carbs, low fats. No processed foods or junk food as my stomach is sensitive and bad enough without that... I still grow pretty well and thats on disgustingly low test.

So what im saying is don't get worked up or hung up on all the meal shizzle. Simply tupper-ware some nice foods, a good lean chicken breast, some veggies and some rice/pasta etc.

alexakasloth · 24 Dec 2010 at 16:10

As for protein bars, you can get whey protein from myprotein for a good price.

Bluraybunny · 24 Dec 2010 at 16:32

$loth said:
As for protein bars, you can get whey protein from myprotein for a good price.

I've just been checking out my protein

. I'm also looking at some bar recipes, at least I'll know what is in it.

I'm appreciating the advice guys, keep it coming

.

etom · 24 Dec 2010 at 16:37

i have a job where i'm required to be fit and do gym + phyis during working hours usually

. That being said big part of life is fitness / martial arts so they all tie in together.

when worked shifts had to do a lot of exersize at home as couldn't get self into gym which really was bad.

Bluraybunny · 24 Dec 2010 at 16:53

I have joined a gym, however it only has machines

. Not ideal but at least i can do what I require on them.

milgo · 24 Dec 2010 at 21:52

I do a three shift pattern (nights/lates/earlies) which changes every week. I try to keep some sort of routine around the key points in the day. Porridge when I get up, whether that's 5am, 10am or 4pm. Eat the same before bed regardless of the time. Keep a similar routine for before and after a workout.

I eat bigger and better meals at home and tend to just take convenient stuff into work. Things that come in pots and packets or are quick to prepare. Cottage cheese, yoghurt, pittas, boiled eggs, beef jerky, nuts and tuna etc.