Hey everyone!

I'm new to the board(although I've been reading for a while) so I figured I'd get my hands dirty with the latest question on my mind. I'm fresh off of a contest(two weeks) and have since been on a lean gain diet to take advantage of my muscle building potential. With the exception of a few icecream binges the week after, I have made it a point to eat clean and ease out of the precontest diet. Since I chose to get back to a decent diet, I decided to allow myself one huge cheat meal on Saturday. Heres the deal...I get my satisfaction out of mass consumption of food, and not exactly the quality of the meal, as I can do anything to make things taste good. Now as I am trying to remain lean for the next few weeks, I know this meal could set me back, but it is for mental release more than anything. The questions are-

When you consume a super high calorie meal, is there a certain point that nutrient absorbtion gets cut off, or is every last calorie stored as fat and/or glycogen? Would there be a way to control fat storage from a meal like this? Are certain foods more beneficial, or logical, to consume(and in any order?) at this type of all out binge meal(because thats pretty much what it is, haha!)? Finally, IF all these calories are absorbed, should one consider splitting this up between two different days, or spread through a single day, etc.?

Just thought this would be kind of fun to get some responses from. I hope I'm not the only one who takes this approach to a "cheat meal"! Keep in mind that I actually do consider the calorie density involved with the food I eat at this meal. I have developed a taste for all things low cal, so I'd choose, for example lowfat/SF icecream or yogurt over a hot fudge sundae. And, on these days, I make it a point to cut a meal and often a couple portions at the other meals so things don't get too rediculous.

Just for fun...What are some of your favorite or most memorable pigouts? <---Assuming I'm not the only fat kid at heart out there! I look forward to see what everyone has to say!!!

-Steve

First of all, we should ask ourselves, "Why are we dieting?" Contest? Just for looks? Strength? The pigout can be part of a strength cycle. Contest? NO and NO and NO, again. You're building the perfect sclupture, why add more clay to form weakspots and seams?

Second thing, "What will be consumed?" All junk? Again, this may work well in strength gains and training. As for all the calories not being used, I believe it is going to depend on body adaptation. If you're going to do this every Saturday for the next two years, I think your body will prepare and adapt.

I think Fitdoc did something similar and had good success, but had to stop because he had a deadline when and his fat gains were starting to come around.

I also did the one meal pigout with minimum fat gains and did well.

Now cutting out other meals and foods for junk, you're beginning to show signs of binge eaters and the psychological effects of strict dieting. Two of the common signals are trimming off or eliminating meals and negotiating meal calories with abstinence and punishment by exercise.

While it may seem fun to plan for this event, I strongly urge not to do so for a long period of time. After 12 weeks, change things drastically or eliminate the program. By changing things drasically, I mean days and foods. Rather than every Saturday, go 10 days or 12 days. Don't eat 'till ya drop, either.

Fitdoc and I had a plan, but it was not visiting the local junk place and pigout. It was consuming large amounts of protein/fat and maybe we had dessert afterward. Ok...I did. It was sugar, not a jar of PB or chicken breast/with broccoli.

You may consider binge eating much like binge drinking. Once in a while, it will be ok, but 2 years later, you're still doing this, "Houston, we have a problem."

It's not so much, "doing it." It is the surrounding aspect and circumstances. What else are you doing? It's "Give and Take." You know what you're taking, what are you giving or "giving up"?

Frank

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frank,

Thanks for replying! I'll respond to a few points here:

-Dietwise, I have just come off of a long diet leading into a show so I have led myself into a gaining diet that's been a long time coming.

"It's "Give and Take." You know what you're taking, what are you giving or "giving up"?"

-Yes, I know what I'm taking...a lot of food, haha! I believe by getting back on a clean, structured diet, I "gave up" all the garbage I could have possibly dove into after a strict precontest diet. I also think that having this occasion set in my diet could help me avoid eating unhealthy food throughout the week, as I have something to look forward to at the end.

As far as substance...I went to a Mongolian Barbeque(make your own stirfry joint) and ate a heavy, heavy amount of chicken and sirloin(maybe a couple pounds) with vegetables. Yeah, I'll assume some of the sauces had some sugar. Then I followed a couple hours later with some Healthy Choice icecream sandwiches(80kcals a piecex6) with SF CoolWhip. I feel almost embarassed posting that kind of quantity, but I thought that looked much better than if I had ate like 3 Big Macs !

I like the idea of cycling this day to avoid consistency since I surely don't plan on making a habit out of this sort of thing.

You mention that you may have done something similar with high protein meal...would it be especially appropriate to follow directly after a workout with something like this? If you don't mind my asking...what was your successful approach to a larger meal like this?

You definitely bring up a good point that I had not considered with the eating disorders. I guess your telling me I shouldn't do that 20 mile jog to burn the extra ounce of PB I ate earlier???haha, juuuust kidding!...I always hear about anorexia and the such, so I never looked at a bodybuilding lifestyle like that. I am starting to snap out of "precontest mode"
where counting calories and carbs is essential, so I'm not on the path to disaster or anything. However, this is something I'll definitely keep in mind from here on out.

This opened my eyes a bit , so thanks again Frank!!!

-Steve

I did just as you were talking about, 1 meal, every Thursday. I did it for about 12 weeks, maybe 14. It was right after a contest. I didn't gain. Strength gains came back. I still was doing cardio, but it was fun cardio, such as biking, running. I wanted to keep very lean because I was taking vacation on Maui.

So, it seems like your cheat day was basically, the same type of meal I would have. Lots of it and to be completed within a 45 min time period. No more.

I accidently picked up a book on binge eating, started going through it and it sounded so much like contest dieting! I believe the book was titled, "Binge no More."

Every January, I post something regarding contest and contest dieting. The pros about extending a diet time limit and cons for quick, 12 week diets.

Frank

Haha, Acapulco calls my name in about a week on the 17th, so I think we were on the same plan to stay lean! On top of that, I, too, have made the point to add in 20-30 total minutes of cardio through the day or after my workouts!

Hmmm..."Binge No More"???...I think I know someone who could benefit from that book...my friend of course ! I'll keep an eye out this winter to see what everyone else has to say about this.

-Steve

Stevo,

I think you've got the right idea. Monitor yourself well. At first, I thought you were talking about going to Cici's to eat 'till ya drop.

Do the 45 min time limit and I think it will work just fine. I kept the pounds off from July through November, so it will work.

I'm curious to see if anyone else had tried this.

Frank

I was just browsing through the threads and q's on this board and found this particular discussion to be really interesting.

I have followed this type of diet for a VERY long time and have never had much of a problem with fat accumulation. As long as you are lifting heavily and eating perfectly during the week, the one meal on Saturday night or Sunday night is sometimes just what the doctor ordered! Not only for your sanity but for glycogen replenishment and a major boost for your metabolism!

Like I said, I have been following the once weekly cheat meal type diet in conjunction with a lower carb intake during the week and it has allways kept me leaner doing so. I tend to do it 6-9 months out of the year and then really take it serious during the summer months. Also, during football season, my diet is another story....

But don't feel bad about eating mass quantities in one sitting Stevo, it can be really satisfying and rewarding after all your hard work.... also, I like your 3 Big Mac comment. Maybe it would make you feel better if I told you my specific McDonald's meal?

Here goes: 2 Big Macs, 6 Cheeseburgers, 2 Super Sized Fries, Super Size Diet Coke.... Then I have desert (usually 1/2 Apple Pie).

Still feel bad about your "pigout"? Don't be! Even though I have the once weekly GIANT meal, I still can see my abs throughout the year. Cheers and enjoy your FOOD!

ChunkyButt,
How low do you keep your carbs during the week to accommodate the weekend cheat? I have been doing a similar plan since my last show... keeping carbs low during the week and having a cheat meal Saturday night. I usually work out 7 days a week: 4-5 lifting and 6-7 cardio. I am wondering if I need to be incorporating more starchy carbs during the week or if just having fruits and veggies is enough?? I usually have 1/2 grapefruit with breakfast, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 cup green beans, salad and some times 1/2 an apple...

Hi Marisa! Sounds like you are eating the same amount of carbs as me! The only carbs that I get during the week are from 1 whole grapefruit at breakfast (with my eggs and steak), and the rest from UMP and green veggies. I don't eat a whole lot of carbs at all and I find I don't grow well on them either. But I do take in a LOT of protein and a moderate amount of fat. Probably 300-350 grams of Pro, and about 90-100 grams of Fat. Sounds like a lot, but my body is relying on gluconeogenisis so heavily that my body is constantly buring fat for fuel and of course glycogen storages.

I do look forward to the Saturday Night re-feed though!

Oops, I should clarify, sometimes I don't have any carbs with my breakfast and opt for 5 Scoops Mass Maker, 1 scoop UMP Pre-workout and those are all the carbs I have that day.

Ok, thanks. I was beginning to worry that I might be cutting it too low during the week but I still feel as though my workouts are going well. My exercise levels are rather high but my cheat meals Saturday nights definitely refuel me if you know what I mean, haha! It sounds like I don't have to worry as much...