The Blogging Machine—Scivation Owner Marc “The Machine” Lobliner Addresses what he feels is important in life and in the pursuit of anabolism.
Food Choices and When They Matter—A BRO’S Perspective
By: Marc Lobliner, Scivation President
I want to elaborate on my thoughts about calories, food sources and other things. Somehow there is a huge debate on whether food choice matters when prepping for a show, bulking, maintaining (more on what the hell “maintaining” is later), and breeding goats. Okay, maybe not the goat part, but I cannot believe the war going on between the IIFYM people (If It Fits Your Macros) and the “Egg Whites and Oats” crowd. Frankly, I am a hybrid on the issue. If you are expecting me to cite studies or quote Einstein’s formulas or even biblical references, this is not the article for you. If you come at me with science and slam me for writing this, I will simply laugh and pretend to have a California education (Culver City High School for the Win!) and speak in tongues. Therefore, here comes the broscience.
When prepping for a show, food choice matters. My Prep Advisor, Jason Theobald (jason@nattynutrition.com) advised me to switch most of my meals to potatoes from oatmeal about six weeks out. The difference was profound. The reason? Micronutrients. Potassium is abundant in potatoes of all kinds. The limit for potassium pills in 99mg. in one 8oz potato, there are over 400mg of potassium! What it did for water balance was profound and an immediate change took place. Also, you are on limited calories. Thus, I recommend getting them from the healthiest sources possible. Being lean is great, but being lean while sick or dead? Not so great. I refuse to believe that a Hot Pocket® is healthier than Oatmeal and Macadamia Nut Oil. The fiber, healthy, monounsaturated fats…brilliant. Now can you get lean on Hot Pockets? YES! Is it optimal? In my opinion, no. While the main issue is calories in versus calories out, I have seen enough to make up my mind. Case in point, Scivation Athlete Tommy Jeffers.
Tommy was the posterboy for the IIFYM diet group. He looked amazing. Then, I traveled with him precontest as he shoved broccoli in his face all day with Scivation Whey, chicken breast and peanut butter. Per the advice of Doug Miller and our team, he was giving this a try. The result? A slew of overall victories and an ass as shredded as the Shredded Wheat the IIFYM group swears by. His muscle QUALITY was far beyond what he had before with the IIFYM theory with similar leanness. How is this? Heck I don’t know. It just is.
Moreover, there are exceptions so don’t hate on me for thinking I am hating on your peeps, but overall the IIFYM group looks amazing but just lacks what the “egg whites and oatmeal” team brings. Doug Miller, Kurt Weidner, Rob Moran, Brian Whitacre….the quality of their muscles are unreal. They diet HARD, but if the pizza I saw Kurt eat in New York while offseason is an indicator; these freaks aren’t as anal during the offseason. What a segue, huh? Time to rock the offseason….
I was at Gold’s in Las Vegas the after competing and was having issues putting on weight. There was an enormous IFBB Pro there from Europe. HUGE! He noticed my level of conditioning and paid me a compliment. We ended up speaking. I asked his tips for mass gaining (the natural version of the story, so don’t go there). He said, “Get your protein and the rest, just eat and eat.” Although he said it with a much cooler accent than I do, he said it and I took it in. My belief is on the offseason, when trying to gain, as long as you hit your protein and EFA’s, fill in the rest with whatever and hit your calories. I still recommend veggies and fruits to get your vitamins and antioxidants, but if you are hitting those and want to fill in the rest with cake and pie, or Tim Tams for you Aussies and Bangers and Mash for you Brits, then do it! If you start getting too fluffy, cut back. If you gain .5-1lb per week and are staying lean, enjoy life! With that said, I still get most of my calories from chicken, oatmeal, Scivation Whey and Nuts, but if at a wedding or a restaurant, I am getting my grub on and enjoying it.
As for maintaining, what the hell is that!? Muscle either grows or atrophies (shrinks). In my opinion, why go to the gym to maintain? IMPROVE DAILY! Thus I will assume that most people “maintaining” just eat prepackaged kid’s items like Lunchables® and Cheeze Whiz®.
The conclusion? If competing, don’t leave anything to chance. Drop the pie and eat the dry ass chicken. Pack your meals and look like a jackass. Even if it makes a .02% difference, in my opinion, it is worth it. If bulking or maintaining, get your protein and EFA’s and ENJOY! Try to be as “healthy” as possible, but if your wife or mommy makes you some Pecan Pie covered in Whipped Cream and an edible figurine of Carrie Underwood, EAT IT! There is no right or wrong way, but these are my BRO-THOUGHTS. If you have nice things about this to say, please do. If you want to make fun of me or say mean things, please direct all anger toward Scivation VP Rob Moran.
