The freezer is filled with frozen, skinless, chicken breasts and bags of broccoli. The refrigerator holds carton upon carton of liquid egg whites.
Congratulations! You are the parent, spouse, sibling or friend of a bodybuilder. Have you found youself wondering: ?How can they live this way?? The true bodybuilder has made a commitment to a unique lifestyle. It takes determination and willpower to stick to a rigid eating plan and a lot of motivation to work out at the gym constantly. Mothers fret and say ?he?s not eating right.? Friends laugh at the ever-present, gallon-size water bottle. Roommates and dates tempt with comments like ?it?s just a cookie!? or tease by saying ?you can have ONE taste!? What the bodybuilder really needs is your support and encouragement. This is not a fad or a ?diet? ? it?s a lifestyle choice that starts at the bedroom mirror. Bodybuilders carry themselves differently, walking tall with the earned self-esteem and pride of knowing how hard they work to stay fit and look good. At clubs and parties, they are likely to be the non-smoking, designated drivers who are looking after everyone else who had too much to drink. To keep up the image in the mirror, they work out in the kitchen first, dedicating themselves to eating only healthful foods and avoiding white flour, harmful fats and unnecessary sugar. They measure and weigh their food and keep a daily record of the calories they consume. They carefully research and use appropriate supplements to enhance their intake of vitamins and minerals. They pack food bars and protein shakes to take along to school and work so as to never miss a meal.
He?s in the kitchen again? Bodybuilders plan their lives around eating. They need to know what they?re going to be doing and when they can eat ? and what there IS to eat ? around the clock. It?s not easy being a bodybuilder and it?s not cheap, either. Junk food and fast food costs a lot less per serving than the combination of lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, and supplements that fill the kitchen of a bodybuilder.
Do you go through five dozen eggs in a week? Or two pounds of chicken in a day? Do you pay nearly $5 for a loaf of organic, whole grain bread?
Is it worth it?
If you ask a true bodybuilder, he won?t hesitate to say ?yes.? He will also tell you that there are no magic pills or powders.
Working out at the gym needs to be backed up with a sensible eating plan.
The good news about living with someone who eats right and stays fit is that they can end up being a great example and a good motivator for people who know them. Household members might consume less sugar, get more interested in nutrition, and cook healthier meals. (Sure, once in a while they sneak out for pizza or French fries, but they don?t talk about it.) So, clean up the oatmeal on the counter without grumbling. Throw an extra bag of chicken breasts in the cart when you?re out shopping. And don?t leave tempting sweets lying around. You?re supporting one of the best lifestyles a person could lead.
