Well, for starters, let me just say, nowadays, I have completely trained myself into looking at food from the standpoint of > What will it provide for me ? First and foremost, its just fuel. So what burns best, and does the most ?
Because what I need is pretty close to equal 1/3rds of lean proteins, healthy fats, and slow burning carbs.
To get them, I eat a ton of lean meats, egg whites by the gallon, fruits, vegetables, nuts, PB, olives / olive oil, oatmeal, avacados, Silk soy milk, couple fat scoops of whey protein every day, Salmon (when I can afford it :).....
Now here's the thing, > carbs are not bad, per say. Carbs = energy, so obviously we need them. But here's the thing, it would be hard not to get enough carbs.... unless you were on some silly diet, where you are nothing but lbs of meat every day. {yea... I'll check back with that person in 5 years}
In fact, carbs are SO easy to get, that I can get my daily rashion (which I'm guessing is about twice most of yours...... I eat 4000 to break even) without eating any, potatos, rice, pasta, or bread... ever.
The highest carb stuff I eat everyday, is my two bowls of oatmeal.... (1 cup dry with breakfast, 1 with dinner)
Otherwise, I eat almost nothing packaged, and / or, with a big long list of ingrediants.
Now, as for sugars (or salt) even to this day, I still have the sweet tooth from hell :) So ya' know what ? Two things... First, I use a TON of Splenda :) And I have no personal issues from it. Just sweet foods wherever I want them to be sweet.
Salt..... I'm sure I need more salt from all of my working out anyway, especially when its hot. I eat a few things that are loaded with salt {3 or 4 oz jalepenos every day with lunch ;) {imagine that, my stomach was screwed up every day with IBS, prior to 3 years ago, and now I eat gobs of jalepenos ;)
Oh, and when it comes to condiments... like BBQ sauce, Yoshidas, or whatever, I don't sweat the sugar and salts in that stuff either. It's not like I'm going to sit down and eat a bowl of BBQ sauce ;) ...okay, maybe a small bowl, on two huge arse chicken breasts ;) (breasts are always best in pairs, right ? :)
My food HAS to taste freaking good ! I love a good flavor bomb ;) < This, is what makes it easy to continue eating the way I do for the rest of my life, be that a week, or 30 years.
BTW, I've been cutting (3700 cals a day, or so) for about 6 weeks now, and have shaved off another 10 lbs of fat :) My shorts are starting to just try to fall off :) Only 6 lbs to go (for this time arounds goal). At 210 lbs this time, I should be about 10-11% BF.... lower than I have ever been in my life ;) Whoo Hoo !
Then another slow bulk.
My 2 year from now goal, is to be 225@9% ;)
Anyway, hey Luvsminis, or anyone, if you have any more specific questions, please let me know :)
Peace,
Fish