With the previous post on carb-up substitutions I want a little clarification on what competitors consider CLEAN when it comes to their diet and food choices. Perhaps this should be on the contest prep board but I'll start it here and see what kind of reponse I get.

I'll start.................

I have always followed my meal plan to a "t" no substitutions however I do use the following:

www.waldenfarms.com -- I use their no cal/no carb/ no fat (yes they do taste good) dressings until 8 weeks out.

www.davincigourmet.com -- I use their SF syrups in my oats, in my coffee, shakes, etc. and make a dressing with equal parts Cider Vinegar and SF "fruit" flavored syrup and if my diet calls for it Olive Oil. I use these until my diet call for cutting out pop (which is final week).

I drink diet pop until the final week and coffee straight through.

I use Molly McButter but cut it out at 8 weeks out as well.

I chew SF gum straight through.

I use 1 pkt. splenda on my grapfruit straight through.

I use various herbal seasoning and spices -- currently I am in love with Rosemary Garlic.

Other than that I measure and weigh and record every morsel that goes in my mouth. No extras here or there -- including veggies.

Ok now I want to hear what others do.

Vanessa

I do pretty much the same with a few exceptions...

I use Splenda in my coffee (3 cups a day) and limit diet pop (RC - so sodium, no carbs) to just a few a week.

For salad dressing I mix up a dollop of mustard with apple cider vinegar... then I'll add a splash of soy sauce.

I also will have a sugar-free popsicle (10 calories) if I start craving something really bad. I also use sf JELL-O for this too.

I do measure all my meats, but just eyeball the veggies... I'm sure it's to the heavy side and not cutting myself short any!

... and thank goodness for SF gum!

I measure my meats and complex carbs, veggies I eyeball (an extra cup of salad won't hurt me). No diet sodas at all (usually not even off season), occ. gum. I got used to eating my salads without any dressing, just put some spices on them (garlicsalt, etc.). I drink coffee all the way through, usually 3-4 cups/day.

The Home Of Champions - www.dasgym.com

I guess you're referring to contest clean.

If that's what is referred to, I seldom venture to the borderline.

As a Beverly user, I consider using other proteins as "unclean" LOL.

Offseason, staying within the realm of the foods listed on a contest diet along with the substitution list is "Staying clean".

I sometimes will use the SF stuff but don't make a habit of it.

Frank

I grunt, therefore it HURTS!

vanessa,

i use many of the same things you do. i too love the davinci sugar free syrups and put a dash of them in all my shakes. i use sugar free/carb free ketchup and splenda on certain things as well. also i cant live without my sugar free gum. its very funny that you ask this question because i think my diet is extremely clean and to the outside world we are all condisidered "nuts". (if i have to hear my grandma ask me one more time how i can stand eating my food so dry i think i'm gonna lose it)
but to be honest with you i understand your point. i think i am at a stalling point with my fatloss (105 pounds approx 13% bf) and i keep thinking is my diet not clean enough- do i need to drop all these little extra things? i as well measure out all my foods but do tend to use all these little calorie free "extras" anyones opinion would be great?

jen

I noticed that some of you limit diet soda? is there a reason for this? My trainer doesn't want me drinking any at all, he says the carbonation can make you bloated, but I'm 2 months out, so i was wondering why this mattered. I'm asking becasue sometimes diet soda is a nice treat, but if it is detrimental I would defintiely drop it quick.

Diet pop and coffee are the last of my luxuries! I just make sure I drink my full gallon of water as well.

on the diet soda issue i have found that when I cut pop out that is when the cellulite started going away. When I get closer to competition I noticed last year the final bit left when I cut all caffiene. Not sure if there is a link or not. Lil'red

"Faith is not believing God can, it is knowing he will."