mastering the basics of nutriton NUTRITIONAL FUNDAMENTALS & MACRO FRIENDLY RECIPES About Me I started my fitness journey like many other women, with an insatiable desire to improve myself, but without much knowledge of how to go about it. For a few years I was employing ineffective, detrimental training and nutrition strategies, but gradually this changed. After several years in the fitness industry as a coach and athlete I can now look back and see where some of my methods were potentially harmful in the pursuit of my goals. Today I am just as passionate about self improvement, but I am also driven to help other women all over the world achieve their goals the smart way, and not at the expense of their health and happiness. I personally follow a flexible dieting strategy that allows me to enjoy foods that support my health and my goals the majority of the time, with some room for more indulgent foods every now and then. I no longer feel guilty or beat myself up if I have something that I used to consider ‘bad’ and this strategy has seen me compete as a powerlifter, athlete and even helped me achieve my World Bikini Champion title. I have passed my knowledge and experience, with the support of my LSF team, on to thousands of girls from all over the world and all walks of life. And it is one of my greatest joys watching them transform their lives both mentally and physically. 1 About LSF As a coach, my core beliefs revolve around mindset, consistency, and discipline. With the correct training & nutrition, I was able to transform my shape. If I can do it, you can too!! Over the past few years, I have helped thousands of women discover their inner strength and transform their lives. I do not sell unsustainable programs that get you shredded fast, rather, I preach the value of lifestyle change, empowerment through education and movement, and creating healthy habits that will last you a lifetime. At Lauren Simpson Fitness we believe that knowledge is power. You can find a coach that will write you a meal plan and put you through workouts, however this will leave you with little to no actual health and fitness knowledge once your partnership has ended. This is why I ceaselessly research, work with knowledgeable coaches in the industry and have a team of experts in my corner. So that I can learn from each of these and translate the information to my clients in a way that they can implement into their lives! I wanted to create something with LSF that uplifts each and every one of my clients. By teaching you the reasoning behind my programming and meal plans you are able to make confident choices in regards to your workouts and eating without needing a coach for the rest of your life. Throughout my programs and challenges my clients can see how their training, nutrition and even mindset changes, they receive tips that may clear up industry myths or talk about a highly requested topic, and they have a Facebook community where they share all of the knowledge that they have gained from working with me! 3 Introduction to this eBook Series This is the first in a series of eBooks I will be releasing, with the ambition of providing resources that will take you from scratch through to a functional yet comprehensive understanding of nutrition and training. The excess of information available on these topics, from unlimited sources, can lead to so much overwhelm and confusion! Many will try to convince you with genuine passion and belief, that their approach is the optimum method, but in reality the best approach, when it comes to training and nutrition, is the one that combines validated methods with strategies that suit your body, values and lifestyle! The methods you employ should align with your goals, your personality and your physiology. But without a basic understanding of the core concepts in these areas, it can take endless trial and error to get to a method that works. I want to cut through the noise with this series, and provide you with easy to follow, clear and practical educational content that will enable you to make the best choices for your health and your progress. In this first eBook, Mastering the Basics of Nutrition, I will take you through the fundamental aspects of nutrition, and provide you with the tools to start taking steps towards identifying the approach to diet that gets you results. 4 Contents Chapter 1 It all starts with diet 6 Chapter 2 Navigating MyFitnessPal 19 Chapter 3 Myths Busted 26 Chapter 4 Bulk Meal Prep Recipes 29 Chapter 5 LSF Babe Recipes 35 Appendix 60 Chapter 1 It All Starts With Diet... It All Starts With Diet... “ “ Chapter 1 We’ve all heard the saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ and sadly, this concept fits perfectly when working towards health and fitness goals; if you do not fuel your body appropriately, your body will not be able to perform the tasks required to reach these goals. Good nutrition is the foundation that strong, healthy, and happy bodies are built upon. When you think about it, the foods we eat literally get broken down and rebuilt into the very cells that make up our bodies, contemplate that for a second... There are two overarching concepts about nutrition that make it so challenging to master: 1. We cannot survive without food, however food can sometimes be the very thing that hinders our health. 2. Nutrition strategies and information can only be effective when applied in the context of the individual - i.e. what works for me may not work for you! There is an overwhelming amount of nutrition information and advice available at the touch of a button, but we are not robots, we are different, we have unique genetic makeup, different body compositions, different energy needs, different training demands, different goals, different states of health, so we need to remember that the nutrition strategies we use have to suit us as individuals. This is why optimising your diet is challenging and requires time and patience! So the question is, where do we begin? There are a number of different strategies and approaches that can be incorporated into your lifestyle to help you achieve your goals, but in terms of improving your body composition, there are 5 key concepts that you have at your disposal to help you optimise your diet: Highest priority = Energy Balance Number 2 = Macronutrients Number 3 = Micronutrients Number 4 = Nutrient timing Lowest Priority = Supplements 7 Understanding Energy Balance It takes energy to sustain life, that energy is measured in Calories, which the majority of people hear about from a very early age. A ‘Calorie’ itself is actually a unit of measure, specifically the amount of energy required to raise 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. This can seem to be an abstract concept when put into the context of food, exercise, and our bodies, but in practical terms, it allows us to measure and compare the things we consume as well as the energy it takes to keep our bodies going. Whether you are; • Consuming fewer calories than you burn - AKA CALORIE DEFICIT • Consuming the same amount of calories you burn - AKA MAINTENANCE CALORIE • Or consuming more calories than your burn - AKA CALORIE SURPLUS will have a strong influence on the following factors: • Body composition - most specifically body fat, lean muscle mass, even skeletal bone mass • Energy levels - your ability to move through the day with the energy you need to tackle tasks • Immunity and state of health • Recovery and injury prevention • Brain function, mental strength Total Daily Energy Expenditure Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) is the sum of: • Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) refers to the amount of calories you burn just by being alive. Our body needs fuel to function, even if we weren’t to leave bed for the day. This is going to be affected by your age, height and weight and state of health. Generally speaking, the less we weigh and the less muscle we have, the less energy we will need to stay alive (or the lower your BMR will be). • Your Physical Activity. This includes all planned exercise, for example your LSF workouts. • Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). This includes any daily activities like walking, talking, grocery shopping, cleaning and anything else that has your body moving excluding planned exercise. Your NEAT levels are generally going to be lower while in a calorie deficit (especially if it is extreme) as we will subconsciously move less due to lower energy. • Thermic Effect of Eating is basically the energy your body uses to digest the food that you consume. A good thing to note is that protein takes the most energy to break down and digest, which is just another reason why we should have adequate protein in our diet! This may sound like a lot to figure out, however by entering your information into https://tdeecalculator.net/ you will receive an estimate of your TDEE. These are an estimation of your body’s daily calorie needs, also known as ‘maintenance calories’, which means that you will maintain your weight if you eat them consistently and your energy output does not change. 8 Weight Loss Calories To lose weight we need to be in a calorie deficit, which just means to eat less than your TDEE. I recommend a 10-20% deficit as this is going to be sustainable and keeps your energy levels high while still losing fat. It is important to note that over time your TDEE change as your body composition changes, as well as due to increased time in a calorie deficit. For this reason, it is recommended to re-calculate your energy requirements as you progress and your physique changes. As a guide, checking your energy requirements every four weeks, whilst in a calorie deficit is a good place to start, this can help to avoid any plateaus in progress. Muscle Gain Calories To gain weight and build muscle we need to be in a calorie surplus, which means eating more than your TDEE. I once again recommend a conservative surplus of 10-20% to minimise fat gain. For example, if my TDEE was 1900 calories and I wanted to gain muscle, I could add 20% and reach 2280 calories, which are now my daily calories. As with a weight loss goal, it is still necessary to adjust your energy intake to match your goal and your energy requirements as you progress. Hence you should also re-calculate your energy requirements approximately every 4 weeks. You can still build muscle in calorie deficit, but it may be at a much slower rate. Again, this is dependent on the person and their training history. Do I Cut or Build? As a general rule for females if you are more than 5 kilograms over your desired bodyweight, or over 25% body fat then it may be a good idea to cut first. Your body is more susceptible to building muscle the leaner you are, and you will be more likely to tell the difference between muscle and body fat, as well as track progress, if you are starting from a leaner place. If you are happy with your body weight and body fat percentage, then bulking first is a great idea. You will be able to build your maintenance calories up while gaining muscle and getting stronger, putting you in a great position if you do decide to cut later down the track. Keep in mind that you will most likely gain a small amount of body fat while ‘bulking’, even with a conservative surplus, however, there is nothing wrong with that and it is all a part of the process! Whether you decide to cut or bulk, you should be focusing your training on building your muscular strength and endurance. Macronutrient Breakdown Once you have determined your daily calories in relation to your goals, it is time to break this down into your daily macronutrients. The three macronutrients are: Protein - which has 4 calories per gram. If you were to eat 10 grams of protein x 4 = 40 calories. Carbohydrates - which also have 4 calories per gram. Fats - which have 9 calories per gram. If you were to eat 10 grams of fats x 9 = 90 calories. 9 Protein Protein is often the foundation upon which a healthy diet is built. In terms of its role in the body, it isn’t necessarily more important than carbs or fats, but in terms of staying strong, lean and healthy, getting adequate protein in your diet is imperative. This is because proteins main job is to provide the building blocks for the growth and maintenance of all body tissues; muscles, skin, organs, ligaments, tendons, and much more. Protein is also important in immune function, enzymatic reactions, chemical messaging, transport and storage of smaller molecules, helps regulate pH, and it can even provide the body with energy (when fats and carbs are not available). The reason protein plays such a key role in a healthy diet isn’t just because it helps to grow and maintain muscle mass, protein also helps keep us feeling ‘satiated’ or feeling fuller for longer. Some high quality sources of protein include: • • • • • Whey Protein 80g protein per 100g serve Lean Beef 36g protein per 100g serve Chicken Breast 33g protein per 100g serve Tuna Steak 32g protein per 100g serve Smoked Salmon 20g per 100g serve • • • • Tofu 17g per 100g serve Eggs 12.5g per 100g serve Chickpeas 9g per 100g serve Lentils 9g per 100g serve In terms of daily protein recommendations, there is no ‘one size fits all’ number, however as a guide it is recommended we consume 1.6-2.2g of protein per kg of body weight, or alternatively if you know your body fat levels you can use the following method: 2-3 grams of protein per kg of lean body mass. For a 60kg person, this would be between 90 and 130 grams of protein per day. As you will see throughout this guide, it is important to use these recommendations as a starting point to build from as your experience in tracking progresses. Different people, with different body compositions, lifestyle and genetics will need completely individual amounts. 10 Fats Most people already know that fat is the major storage form of energy within the body, however the body relies on fat for more than just energy. Fat plays a key role in vitamin transport throughout the body, provides structure and strength for our cells, promotes artery function and health, and aids brain health and functioning. It is also essential for healthy hormone levels, is involved in signalling throughout the body and provides insulation and protection for cells, organs and the body as a whole. There are four different types of fats in foods, that are grouped based on their chemical structure. Due to these differences in chemical structure they are broken down and used in the body in different ways. Unsaturated Fats Mostly come from plant and fish sources and are associated with heart health benefits • Polyunsaturated Fats: salmon, tuna (and other oily fish), flaxseeds, walnuts, soybean, sunflower oil. • Monounsaturated Fats: avocados, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans. Saturated Fats The consumption of saturated fats has been widely debated as, similar to trans fats, they appear to increase LDL (aka ‘bad’) cholesterol. Predominantly found in foods such as red meat, butter, whole milk, eggs, palm oil, coconut oil, skin from meat. Trans Fats Technically an unsaturated fat, however this behaves like saturated fat in the body, and has been linked with negative impacts on cholesterol levels. Found in processed foods such as cakes, biscuits, pastries and deep fried foods. These should be avoided due to their relationship with cholesterol. In relation to health, at this stage it is recommended that fats make up around 15-30% of total daily calories, with the majority of which coming from poly and monounsaturated fats. As you may know, there are some diets that incorporate a much higher percentage of fat, e.g. keto, so if you are considering taking this approach it is important to consider your heart health risks, and consult your doctor before making such a drastic change to your diet. In a nutshell, in terms of results, the different types of fats carry the same amount of calories (9 calories per gram), however in terms of health, it may be beneficial to limit saturated fat and to get the majority of your calories from fat in the form of unsaturated fats. 11 Carbohydrates Carbohydrates, or ‘carbs’ are found in fruit, vegetables, breads, grains products, sugar and sugar-based products. The body uses carbohydrates as its preferred source of energy, both as it is metabolised, as well in its storage form in the muscles and liver. When adequate carbohydrate isn’t present in the diet, the body is forced to use fat as a fuel source, and then protein, and it is for this reason that the consumption of carbs and fats can assist in the maintenance of muscle mass. Carbs also provide the body with fiber, which is essential for healthy digestion, and they can have a dramatic impact on heart health and blood sugar levels. Some high quality sources of carbohydrates include: • • • • Oats 64g per 100g serve Wholegrain Bread 41g per 100g serve Brown Rice 23g per 100g serve Banana 23g per 100g serve • • • • Sweet Potato 21g per 100g serve Quinoa 21g per 100g serve Apple 14g per 100g serve Orange 12g per 100g serve As the primary job of carbs in the body is to provide energy, each person’s activity levels will have a significant influence on their daily carbohydrate needs; imagine the difference in energy needs of an endurance athlete versus a person that works a desk job and goes to the gym a few times a week. This means it is very difficult to provide a recommendation, however it does tend to mean that the more active you are, the more carbs should be dedicated to your daily macro split. What many people don’t realise is that you tend to get a mixture of macronutrients in the foods you eat, for example in a serve of whey protein you get more than just protein, you will also get a few grams of carbs and fats (this varies from brand to brand of course). Or in a serve of oats you could get 4.5g protein along with 29g of carbs (and just 1g of fat). It’s important to keep this in mind when you are choosing and tracking your foods, especially if you are not using an app, as those smaller amounts of macronutrients add up and can help to contribute to a well-balanced diet. 12 Alcohol Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, however it provides us with zero micronutrient value and it tends to make us feel unwell and lethargic. While enjoying an alcoholic beverage on a special occasion or while on holiday is perfectly fine, making it a habit to drink in excess every weekend could be detrimental to your health and goals. The main reasons why those with physique, sporting or athletic goals tend to steer clear of alcohol isn’t just because of the calories. When we drink, especially if it’s more than one or two, the behaviours that follow often don’t align with achieving your goals. Drinking tends to lead to poor food choices, impaired hydration, impaired sleep and reduced sleep quality, and often leads to poor food choices and inactivity (skipped training session) the next day or even days! When you do decide to consume alcohol, remember that it does have a caloric value so it is a good idea to track it. The alcohol itself will have calories, as well as what it is mixed with. So if you are having a cocktail, keep in mind that all of the ingredients are going to add up! Try sticking to one cocktail and then opting for options like a vodka and diet soda to keep calories to a minimum, if you do choose to consume more than one drink. And aim to finish drinking earlier, in order to allow your body to metabolise it before bedtime so you can get a good night’s sleep. How Much of Each Macro? If you are new to tracking and looking for where to start, you can begin with a macronutrient breakdown of 30% Protein, 40% Carbohydrates and 30% Fats. From here you would divide your calories up by the above percentages and then calculate the total grams from each macronutrient. Another method to determine macro ratios is to calculate your protein needs first (based on the above recommendations), then allocate 20-30% of your daily calories to fats, and then allocate the remainder to carbohydrates. 13 Please remember that this is a starting point, from which you will build as your knowledge and experience progresses. Each of us has a unique makeup as well as unique daily demands on our mind and body and completely individual lifestyles. This could mean it takes a little trial and error to find the calorie level and macro split that suits you and gets you the results you’re working towards. Let’s say that LSF babe Bec wants to find her maintenance calories. She enters all of her details into the TDEE calculator, and discovers that to maintain her weight (which she would like to do) she needs to eat 2280 calories each day. If she was to use the percentage method, her calories would look like this: 2280 Calories I would get... Protein Carbohydrate Fat 684 Calories 912 Calories 684 Calories To find the grams for each macronutrient: 684 ÷ 4 = 171g of Protein 912 ÷ 4 = 228g of Carbohydrates 684 ÷ 9 = 76g of Fats Now this is what Bec would do if she wanted to work out her macronutrients based off her recommended protein and fat intake. Note that her body weight is 60kg: 60 (her bodyweight) x 1.6 = 96g of Protein 96 x 4 = 384 calories from Protein 25% of 2280 = 570 Calories from Fats 684 Calories 570 ÷ 9 = 63g of Fats Which Leaves 1326 Calories for Carbohydrates. 1326 ÷ 4 = 331 grams of Carbohydrates. 14 Please note that this may not be the optimal macronutrient breakdown for everyone. Some people find that they have more energy and their body responds very well when they have a slightly higher fat and lower carbohydrate intake and vice versa. It is important to listen to your body and adjust accordingly, and patiently see how your body responds to these adjustments. Just remember that each macronutrient plays an important role in the body and it takes time and consistency to find the optimum ratio for you. Micronutrients Micronutrients refers to vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function. These calorie free chemicals play a role in almost every process within the body... • • • • • • • • • • • • Immune Function Energy Production Red Blood Cell Creation Blood Pressure Regulation Electrolyte Balance Hydration and Fluid Balance Digestion Provide Oxygen to Muscles Muscle Growth Formation of Connective Tissue Wound Healing Cholesterol Metabolism • • • • • • • • • Thyroid Function and Regulation Reproductive Health Hormone Creation and Regulation Brain Function Nervous System Function Creation of Collagen Creation of Neurotransmitters (Cell Signals) Vision Organ Function • • • • • • • • Calcium Absorption Bone Strength and Development Antioxidants Muscle Function and Contraction Enzymatic Reactions Fat Metabolism Fatty Acid Synthesis Release of Stored Carbohydrates Micronutrient intake can influence whether we flail or thrive! 15 Micronutrients The reason they are referred to as MICRO-nutrients is because the body needs them in much smaller amounts than macros. Just like macros, we need to obtain micronutrients in some form or another from the foods we eat, this is why variety is the spice of life! There is no one food that provides us with all of the micronutrients we need in the amounts required to keep us healthy. This is one of the reasons that humans evolved to be able to enjoy such a wide variety of foods, from plants, animals, and even the earth itself. When we consume plant or animal foods we are getting access to the vitamins they provide as well as the minerals they have absorbed from the soil or water. Our bodies are only able to store some of these micronutrients, these are known as ‘fat-soluble vitamins’ (as they are stored in fatty tissue as well as the liver), which can often mean we don’t need to consume this form as regularly. Some are known as ‘water-soluble vitamins’ which are not stored by our bodies and are flushed out in urine when we consume more than we need. Because they are not stored in the body, we need a constant intake. Fat Soluble Vitamins Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin K Water Soluble Vitamins Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Vitamiin B9 (Folate) Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 16 As for minerals, these are grouped by the amount our body needs. Trace Minerals Macrominerals Our body needs larger amounts of these minerals. Our body needs smaller amounts of these minerals. Calcium Iron Phosphorus Manganese Magnesium Copper Sodium (aka Salt) Iodine Chloride Fluoride Potassium Selenium Sulfur Deficiencies Because almost every process within the body relies on the presence of micronutrients, if they aren’t consumed in the amount required or if there are issues with the absorption or use of the micronutrients that are consumed, there can be mild to severe health and performance consequences. If you are a generally healthy person and consuming a wide variety of nutrient dense foods, you need not be concerned. However there are times when we can be at risk of nutrient deficiencies: • • • When whole food groups are removed from the diet, such as dairy, gluten, animal products, fruit, carbs etc. When we are ill or injured our nutrient needs can increase and our appetite may at the same time be diminished or suppressed. In certain health conditions or in relation to lifestyle habits (such as chronic excessive alcohol consumption) our body may not be able to make the most of the nutrients we are consuming. There are countless warning signs of nutrient deficiency, such as tiredness, lethargy, changes to bowel movements, pale skin, low mood, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, impaired breathing, joint tingling and/ or numbness. Because of the plethora of potential symptoms and the fact that many serious health conditions share these signs and symptoms, if you experience any of these get in touch with your GP or preferred health care professional so blood work can be performed. As each micronutrient often plays multiple roles in the body, and several tend to work within the same areas it can be difficult to determine what is the issue without blood tests. 17 Using Micronutrients to Optimize Health and Performance Getting enough micronutrients is a key component in normal healthy functioning, however many of us are looking to optimise our health and performance, and there may be ways to use micronutrients to help. There have been countless studies over the years investigating ways we can use vitamins and minerals to try to get one step ahead. It can, however, be very challenging to single out key nutrients and their exact impacts, as when it comes to food and nutrients there are innumerable variables that influence the performance outcomes of humans. This is the reason there are so many varied opinions on the influence of micronutrients, ideal dosages and whether supplementation is beneficial or not. As each of us have completely unique genetic makeup, training history, health history, lifestyles and so much more, it is difficult to say what the optimum intake is for each micronutrient for each of us. This does not mean that increasing intake of certain micronutrients won’t be of benefit, it simply means we need to understand that there is no one size fits all answer and if we do choose to supplement, we need to remain open minded about the outcomes. Toxicity While toxicity is less common than deficiency when it comes to micronutrients, the main cause tends to be supplementation. Some vitamins and minerals are harmless when consumed in excess, while overconsumption of others may lead to serious complications or health risks. We know that it is very difficult to ‘overdose’ on micronutrients when obtaining them through a balanced diet, so food is always the most highly recommended source. However there may be times when you are medically recommended to supplement and in this case take care to discuss the upper limits of supplementation with your doctor or medical care provider. It is also beneficial to discuss the bioavailability of different forms of the supplement, avoid high doses, and start your supplementation conservatively and work the dose up slowly, under the supervision of your doctor or medical professional. 18 Chapter 2 navigating myfitnesspal navigating myfitnesspal “ “ Chapter 2 MyFitnessPal is a calorie tracking app that is very useful for anyone who practices flexible dieting or tracks their macronutrients and calories. Although the app can seem intimidating for anyone who hasn’t used it before, I promise that it is quite simple to use. Once you understand the basics of using MyFitnessPal, entering your food for the day is really quite simple and time-effective. It takes 10 minutes to log all of your food in the morning and ensures that you are set-up and organised for the day! signing up and setting goals After downloading the app to your phone, the first thing you will need to do is sign up for free. You can choose the premium version with additional features for a small fee, however you can do everything necessary with the standard version. The app will prompt you to enter your weight, height and other details so that it has an idea of how many calories you need per day. Please take note that these suggested nutrition goals are usually inaccurate and I recommend you change these (I am about to tell you how!) to either your calories provided by Lauren Simpson Fitness or use tdeecalculator.net. 20 signing up and setting goals The landing page after you have entered in all of this information tells you your daily summary, which we are about to change. By going to the ‘goals’ page you can customise your calories and macronutrients. Enter in the calorie goal that has been set by your Lauren Simpson Fitness program (or from the TDEE calculator) and adjust the macronutrient percentages accordingly. Your daily goals are now far more accurate. entering your food The ‘diary’ page shows your meals for the day. These meals can be re-named in the settings page if you would prefer to number your meals (for example Meal 1, Meal 2 etc). When adding ingredients and items to your day it is important to note that MyFitnessPal has a user-generated database. This means that when searching for food, the results that appear have all been entered by other users. The consequence of this is a high number of discrepancies with macronutrients and calories. Any items that include a green check next to the name means that this item has been crosschecked and is, therefore, more likely to be an accurate entry. I would also recommend using the ‘scan barcode’ feature. After pressing ‘add food’ you can choose the barcode option to scan the barcode from your packaging, which will not only save time but also ensures you choose the correct brand. It is still a good idea to cross-check this MyFitnessPal information with the actual packaging. The most accurate way to log your food is by weight. Weighing your food and logging grams and millilitres is far more accurate than by tablespoon or cups etc that can be measured slightly differently every time. You can change this with most foods in the database by pressing ‘serving size’ after selecting your ingredient and changing from cups or spoons to grams or millilitres. 21 Individual ingredients There are a number of ways that you can add your meals for the day, a basic one being adding each ingredient. For example, if you were having a piece of avocado toast you would add: • • 1 piece of bread (choose sourdough or rye etc based on what you are using) 30g of avocado (use grams over ‘half an avocado’ as they differ in size) If you need to delete a food from your diary, just swipe left on the entry and choose to delete. You can now see each ingredient in your meal, the macronutrient breakdown and total calories. The app also shows your remaining calories for the day! creating a meal If you eat this meal frequently, you can ‘create a meal’ to save time when logging it in. You are able to add each ingredient to the meal and save it, so next time you wish to log it in, just press on ‘meals’ and choose ‘avocado toast’ (or whatever you have named it). 22 creating a recipe When batch cooking your meals, you can also create a recipe. Just choose ‘create a recipe’ and follow the prompts. It will ask you for a title and how many servings the recipe makes. For example, if you are making a batch of protein balls, you could title them ‘Protein Balls’, and ‘12 servings’ (if the recipe makes 12 balls). You then add each ingredient in the quantity of the entire batch and press next. Before MyFitnessPal saves your recipe it will show you the calories and macronutrient breakdown of your recipe for each serving. Once you have saved this recipe, you are able to log it in one protein ball at a time! If you are eating more than one for a snack, just adjust the number of servings as you log it in. creating a food If you find that the food you are trying to log does not exist in the MyFitnessPal database, you can add it in. This can happen if you are using a new brand or product. By pressing ‘create a food’ you can enter the brand name, description, serving size and number of servings per package. From here you need to enter the calories, fats, carbohydrates and protein quantity as per your packaging. If you would like to add things like fiber, sugar and other micronutrients then you may. This food is now saved in the database and is also accessible via ‘my foods’ if you need it again. 23 tools By scrolling to the bottom of your diary page and pressing ‘nutrition’ you are able to see a breakdown of macronutrients for your day. This also allows you to track your total fiber, sodium, and other minerals. Once again, please keep in mind that a number of users will not bother entering these in when adding foods to the database so they are not likely to be accurate. MyFitnessPal gives you the option to add your exercise to the diary, which I do not recommend. Your daily calories are already determined by the total energy expenditure (including exercise) you manually entered previously, so by adding exercise, you will be eating those calories again. do I need to track everything? How strictly you track your food will be dependant on your goals. When I am prepping for a competition I track everything including my vegetables. If you are not following such a strict regime, you can be a little bit more relaxed. For example instead of weighing your green vegetables you can just log in ‘1 cup’ as an estimate. Ingredients like your proteins, carbohydrate sources and fats are far more calorie dense than vegetables so I recommend weighing them as often as you can to ensure accuracy. 24 Dining Out You will find that a large number of franchise and chain restaurants have their calories and macronutrients online, or other users have entered them into the MyFitnessPal database. This makes tracking the food that you eat out so easy! If the meal you ordered isn’t already in the database but the information is online, you can add it in yourself by ‘creating a meal’. Obviously, each serving size is likely to differ slightly so the information isn’t always going to be 100%, but it is still better than not tracking it at all. If there is no information online or in the MyFitnessPal database for the restaurant that you are going to, you are still able to estimate the calories. The more you track your food, the better eye you will have for portion sizes. Break the meal down into each ingredient and track them individually, and overestimating the quantities is your safe option. Although this information can feel overwhelming, I promise that once you sign up and start logging in your food it becomes so much easier and simple to navigate. Soon enough MyFitnessPal will be like second nature to you! Throughout the process of tracking calories and macros, it is important to remember that we can never know the exact nutritional content of the foods we are consuming. The data that is listed on labels, websites and in literature is determined using assumptions and scientific formulae, meaning we are working with scientifically derived estimations. The best approach you can take is to track in order to gain knowledge of the nutritional value of foods, an understanding of portion sizes and an idea of how much food suits you and your goals. I recommend approaching tracking from this standpoint as it allows you to be a little more flexible with your nutrition, with fewer feelings of guilt and a more sustainable mindset. 25 Chapter 3 myths busted 26 myths busted Q. What do I do if I feel super full on my calories? If you are used to eating very low calories, then it may take time to adjust to a higher intake. You can ease yourself into these calories if you feel sick eating them, however there are so many ways to utilise calorie dense foods. Adding a tablespoon of olive oil to your meal, or adding some peanut butter to your smoothie is a great place to start. Q. What do I do if I have eaten way over my calories one day? Continue on as normal! Get straight back into hitting your calorie goals, and do not try and ‘make up’ for overeating by starving yourself or overexercising. One day is not going to ruin your progress, just ensure that you get back on track. Q. How accurate are the daily calories burned on my fitness watch? Not very accurate! These watches are fantastic for tracking your steps, however I recommend that you always be mindful of the fact that calories burned in a workout and at the end of each day are not accurate. Q. Does it matter if I eat carbs after 6pm? No, it will not make a difference whether you eat carbs at 6am or 6pm, calories are what matters. 27 myths busted Q. Does fruit make me fat? A lot of girls are under the impression that fruit makes you fat because of it’s sugar content. As discussed in this ebook, weight gain and loss all comes down to your energy balance, so fruit alone will not make you gain weight, eating in a calorie surplus will. In fact, fruit is full of important micronutrients that are essential for your body. Q. Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? There is actually no ‘most important meal of the day’. If you wake up feeling ravenous, then breakfast is definitely important. If you do not find that you are hungry or want to eat until 12pm, then start eating at 12pm! Find what works for you. Q. Will I miss out on my gains if I don’t eat protein straight after my workout? If you are eating adequate protein throughout the day (which if you have followed the steps in this book you will be), then no you do not need to consume protein straight after your workout. Eating within a few hours after a training session is ideal purely for energy reasons, however your body has enough protein and glycogen stored to sustain itself. 28 Chapter 4 Bulk Meal Prep Recipes I highly recommend cooking large quantities of protein and carbohydrate sources on a Sunday. This ensures that you start your week prepared and always have the ingredients in the fridge ready to be turned into a meal. If you need to rush out of the house in the morning or you arrive home from work late, this is a great way to make sure you aren’t tempted to grab takeaway for lunch or dinner! You are able to choose from the ingredients in different containers, put them together and create a different meal every day! I will usually choose a protein and carbohydrate source from my meal prep then add the fat sources fresh in the morning, for example, some avocado or nuts. These are my favourite recipes to meal prep in bulk! turkey or lean beef mince This recipe is an excellent option to add to a wrap for lunch, combined with some stir fry vegetables and avocado. Another great option is to add this to a cup of rice with some vegetables and cashews. ingredients Packet of Mince 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 1 tsp Garlic 1 tsp Chilli Flakes Salt and Pepper directions Heat the oil in a pan and add the garlic. Once you start to smell the garlic, add in the packet of mince and your seasonings . Stir the seasonings through and cook until the mince is done. This is best stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days 30 baked chicken breast Chicken breast is such a versatile protein option to have in the fridge. You can combine this with some fresh leaves and vegetables to create a salad, or add it to some cooked rice and roasted vegetables for a filling meal. ingredients As Many Chicken Breasts as You Require 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 1 tsp per Breast of Paprika 1 tsp per Breast of Cumin Salt and Pepper directions Preheat your oven to 180°C / 356°F and line a baking tray with baking paper. Mix your seasonings in a bowl or cup. Rub the chicken breasts in olive oil and then coat them with the seasonings. Lay the seasoned chicken breasts in the oven tray and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the breasts are cooked through but still moist. These are best stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days 31 Cooked Rice Cooked rice is a staple in many diets as it is such an easy, healthy and filling source of carbohydrates. By adding some vegetables and a protein source you have a great meal for either lunch or dinner! ingredients As much Raw Rice as you Require Water Optional: 1 tsp Garlic Powder Optional: 1 tsp Dried Thyme 1 tsp Salt directions Combine the rice with as much water as the packet requires for absorption in a large pot. Add the seasonings. Cook the rice until it has absorbed all the water and is soft. Best stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days 32 Roasted Vegetables Vegetables contain many of the micronutrients that we need to survive and keep our bodies healthy. By having some cooked vegetables in the fridge, we are far more inclined to ensure they are included in every meal! ingredients 1 Sweet Potato 2 Carrot 1 Zucchini 1 Broccoli ½ Red Onion 2 Tbsp Olive oil 2 tsp Dried Garlic 2 tsp Dried Oregano Salt and Pepper directions Preheat oven to 180°C / 356°F and line a baking tray with baking paper. Chop all of your vegetables to similar sizes. Toss in a bowl with olive oil and seasonings. First, place the sweet potato in the baking tray and bake for approximately 20 minutes. Remove the tray and add the remaining vegetables before baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until all the vegetables are cooked . Best stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days 33 Stir Fried Vegetables Stir-frying your vegetables is a great alternative to roasting them if you feel like something different. Just make sure that you don’t overcook them, we want to keep as many nutrients as we can! ingredients 1 Carrot 1 Zucchini 1 Capsicum 1 Cup of Green Beans ½ Broccoli ½ Onion 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil ½ Tbsp Soy Sauce 1 tsp Dried Coriander Salt and Pepper directions Heat the sesame oil in a pan. Chop all of the vegetables to a similar size and add to the pan. Add in the soy sauce and seasonings. Stir fry for approximately 5 minutes. Best stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days 34 “ “ Chapter 5 lsf babe recipes BREAKFAST & SNACKS Calories 294 Protein 38g Carbs 22g Fats 4g cottage cheese pancakes directions Ingredients ¼ Cup (46g) Oat Flour ½ Cup (105g) Cottage Cheese 2.5 Whole (82.5g) Egg Whites ½ tsp (2g) Vanilla Extract ½ Scoop EHPLabs OxyWhey Vanilla Ice Cream Protein 1 tsp (2g) Baking Powder ⅛ Cup (18.5g) Blueberries 1. Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. 2. Using a paddle attachment, beat well on medium speed. 3. Grease small pancake pan with some oil and heat up. 4. Add about ¼ of the batter and cook for 2 minutes. 5. Carefully flip and continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes. Makes 2 pancakes, enjoy both! 36 Calories 325 Protein 37g Carbs 20g Fats 11g chia Seed Pudding directions Ingredients 2 Tbsp (28g) Chia Seeds ¾ Cup (94ml) Almond Milk ½ Cup (142.5g) Plain Greek Yogurt 1 Scoop Vanilla Chai Blessed Protein 1. Combine milk, Greek yogurt, protein powder and chia seeds in a mixing bowl. Mix until well combined. 2. Refrigerate overnight. 3. Transfer to a serving glass and top with rolled oats Optional: Top with some fresh fruit! ⅛ Cup (11g) Rolled Oats 37 Calories 327 Protein 20g Carbs 17g Fats 21g Tomato Feta Omelette directions Ingredients 2 (88g) Whole Eggs ⅛ Cup (19g) Cherry Tomatoes ⅛ Cup (19g) Feta Cheese 1 Tbsp (4g) Parsley ¼ Tbsp (4ml) Olive Oil ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Thyme ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Oregano ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Salt 1. Preheat the oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. 2. Whisk the eggs, thyme, oregano and salt in a mixing bowl. 3. Pour in the mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the eggs are set. 4. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the omelette to a plate. 5. Top with sliced cherry tomatoes and Feta cheese. 6. Fold the omelette and sprinkle with parsley to serve. 38 Calories 188 Protein 5g Carbs 37g Fats 4g Green Smoothie directions Ingredients 2 Cups (60g) Spinach 1 Whole (118g) Banana 1 Cup (125ml) Almond Milk 1. Juice the lime. 2. Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 1 tsp (5ml) Maple Syrup 1 Tbsp (15ml) Lime Juice 39 Calories 345 Protein 11g Carbs 19g Fats 26g Avocado Sandwich with fried egg directions Ingredients 1 Slice (28g) Wholemeal Bread 1. Grease a non-stick frying pan with olive oil and heat up. ¼ (50g) Whole Avocado 2. Crack egg and cook for 2 minutes or until the whites are set. ⅛ Cup (74.5g) Cherry Tomatoes 2 Tbsp (30g) Low Fat Cream Cheese 1 Whole (44g) Egg 3. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Remove from the heat. 5. Spread the cream cheese over the bread and top with avocado, sliced cherry tomatoes and egg. ½ Tbsp (7.5ml) Olive Oil ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Salt ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Pepper 40 Calories 473 Protein 29g Carbs 65g Fats 14g caramel banana smoothie bowl directions Ingredients 1.5 Whole (117g) Bananas 1 Cup (250ml) Almond Milk 1 Scoop Salted Caramel Blessed Protein 2 Tbsp (14g) Almonds ½ Tbsp (7g) Chia Seeds 1. Combine milk, protein powder, and 1 sliced banana in a food processor or blender. Pulse until smooth and creamy. 2. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the remaining banana, chopped almonds, chia, chocolate chips, and honey. 3. Refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving. ½ Tbsp (7.5g) Dark Chocolate Chips ½ Tbsp (10.5g) Honey 41 Calories 308 Protein 10g Carbs 35g Fats 15g Vegan Blueberry Pancakes directions Ingredients ¼ Cup (30g) All-Purpose Flour 1 tsp (4g) Coconut Sugar 1 tsp (2g) Baking Powder ¼ Cup (62ml) Almond Milk ⅛ (0.5g) tsp Salt ¼ tsp (1g) Vanilla Extract ¼ Scoop Vanilla Chai Blessed Protein 1. In a large bowl combine the flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, salt and Blessed Protein. 2. Mix well and pour in almond milk. 3. Add the vanilla extract and mix well on high speed. 4. Grease a non-stick pan with olive oil and heat over a medium-high heat. 5. Add ¼ cup of the batter and cook for 1-2 minutes. 6. Carefully flip and cook for another minute. ⅛ Cup (18.5g) Blueberries 7. Remove from the pan and top with agave nectar and blueberries to serve. ¼ Tbsp (4g) Agave Nectar Makes 1 serving. 42 Calories 348 Protein 31g Carbs 25g Fats 15g Cinnamon Oats with Pecans directions Ingredients ¼ Cup (22g) Rolled Oats ½ Cup (125ml) Almond Milk ¼ Cup (71g) Plain Greek Yogurt 1 Scoop Blessed or OxyWhey Protein Powder ¼ tsp (0.5g) Cinnamon Powder 1. Place oats in a small bowl and pour in the milk. Soak for 20-30 minutes. 2. Stir in Greek yogurt, protein powder and cinnamon powder. 3. Top with apple and pecans. 4. Serve immediately. ¼ Whole (45.5g) Apple ⅛ Cup (16g) Pecans 43 Calories 463 Protein 30g Carbs 39g Fats 23g Caramel Protein Balls directions Ingredients ¼ Cup (22g) Rolled Oats 1 scoop Salted Caramel Blessed Protein 1. Melt the coconut oil using a microwave or cooktop. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until well incorporated. 2 Whole (28g) Pitted Dates 2. Shape the balls into desired size and refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving. ⅛ Cup (12.5g) Cranberries 3. Enjoy! 2 Tbsp (14g) Almonds 1 Tbsp (8g) Walnuts ½ Tbsp (7g) Coconut Oil 44 “ “ Chapter 5 lsf babe recipes lunch & dinner Calories 473 Protein 24g Carbs 26g Fats 34g Tortilla Pizza directions Ingredients 1 (24g) Wholegrain or Corn Tortilla 9 oz (255g) Tofu 1 Cup (149g) Cherry Tomatoes ½ Cup (90g) Black Olives 1. Preheat oven to 200°C / 392°F 2. Brush tortilla with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. 3. Top with sliced tofu, cherry tomatoes and olives. 4. Bake for 7-8 minutes. 1 Tbsp (15ml) Olive Oil 1 tsp (5g) Italian Seasoning 46 Calories 429 Protein 23g Carbs 40g Fats 22g Fried Tofu with Green Beans directions Ingredient 7 oz (198.5g) Tofu 1. Heat the oil in a wok pan. 6 oz (170g) Green Beans 2. Dice all of the vegetables. 3 whole (135g) Chilli Peppers 1 whole (110g) Onion 2 whole (144g) Carrots 1 tbsp (15ml) Soy Sauce 1 tbsp (15ml) Rice Vinegar 1 tbsp (15ml) Sesame Oil ½ tsp (2g) Salt ½ tsp (2g) Pepper 3. Add the carrots and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Add the onions and continue to cook for 2 minutes. 5. Add the tofu, green beans and chilli peppers. 6. Season with salt and pepper. 7. Continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 8. Finally, sprinkle soy sauce and rice vinegar. 9. Remove from the heat and serve immediately. 47 Calories 327 Protein 30g Carbs 24g Fats 13g Turkey Enchiladas directions Ingredients 2.5 oz (70.8g) Lean Ground Turkey ½ cup (80g) Enchilada Sauce ¼ whole (29.75g) Capsicum ¼ cup (37.5g) Green Chilli ⅛ cup (15.6g) Grated Cheddar Cheese 1 (26g) Wholegrain or Corn Tortilla 1 tbsp (4g) Parsley ½ Tbsp (7.5ml) Olive Oil ¼ tsp (0.5g) Chilli Powder ⅛ tsp (1g) Salt 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. 2. Grease a small baking dish with some olive oil and set aside. 3. Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. 4. Add ground meat and season with salt and chilli powder. 5. Stir in half of the enchilada sauce, red capsicum and green chillies. 6. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. 7. Remove from the heat and divide mixture between 6 tortillas 8. Wrap and set aside. 9. Spread the remaining sauce over a baking dish and add wrapped tortillas. 10. Sprinkle with cheese and chopped parsley. 11. Bake for 25 minutes. 48 Calories 400 Protein 25g Carbs 53g Fats 9g Chicken Mushroom Risotto directions Ingredients ½ Cup (61.6g) Raw Long Grain Rice 2 oz (57g) Chicken Breast 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. 2. Boil rice according to package and set aside. ¼ Tbsp (3.75g) Olive Oil 3. Preheat the oil in a nonstick frying pan over a mediumhigh heat. Add chicken and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside. ⅛ Cup (12.5g) Parmesan Cheese 4. In the same pan, add button mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, or until the liquid has evaporated. 1 Cup (96g) Button Mushrooms 1 tsp (4g) Basil ½ tsp (2g) Pepper ½ tsp (2g) Salt 5. Grease a small nonstick skillet with some cooking spray and add rice. Top with chicken, cheese and mushrooms. Sprinkle with basil and place in the oven. 6. Bake for 5 minutes, then serve once slightly cooled. 49 Calories 390 Protein 67g Carbs 18g Fats 7g Turkey SHish Kebab directions Ingredients 10oz (283.5g) Turkey Breast 1 Cup (149g) Cherry Tomatoes 1 Whole (186g) Yellow Capsicum ¼ tsp (0.25g) Thyme 1 Tbsp (15ml) Lemon Juice ⅛ tsp (1g) Salt 1. Preheat the grill to high heat. 2. Slice turkey into cubes, and pepper into chunks. 3. Assemble turkey skewers and drizzle with lemon juice and salt. 4. Grill for 3-5 minutes. 5. Remove from grill and sprinkle with thyme before serving. 50 Calories 447 Protein 34g Carbs 34g Fats 20g Beef CHilli Ingredients 3 oz (85g) Lean Ground Beef directions ½ Cup (100g) Canned Kidney Beans ¼ Cup (43.5g) Canned Corn 1 Whole (123g) Tomato 1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Slice onion and tomato. 1 Whole (110g) Onion 2. Add onions, garlic, and diced chili. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. 2 Whole (10g) Garlic Cloves 3. Now add the meat and continue to cook for 10 minutes. 1 Whole (45g) Chilli Pepper 4. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, and add beans and corn. Stir in chopped tomatoes and pour in 1 cup of water or vegetable broth. 1 tsp (2g) Chilli Powder ¼ tsp (0.25g) Cumin Powder 5. Serve immediately. ⅛ tsp (1g) Salt 1 Tbsp (15ml) Olive Oil 1 Cup (250ml) Vegetable Stock 51 Calories 310 Protein 15g Carbs 30g Fats 16g Egg Bruschetta with tomatoes directions Ingredients 2 Slices (56g) Wholemeal Bread 1 Whole (44g) Egg 1 Whole (5g) Garlic Clove ⅛ Cup (18.6g) Cherry Tomatoes 1 tsp (4g) Basil ¼ Tbsp (3.75g) Olive Oil ⅛ Cup (12.5g) Parmesan Cheese 1. Beat the egg, then combine egg, cheese, and salt in a small plate and dip in the bread slices. 2. Press with your palm to allow bread to soak up the egg mixture. 3. Place half the oil into a pan, then add bread slices and fry for 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and set aside. 4. Now, add garlic, tomatoes, and olive oil to the pan. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Top the bread with cherry tomato mixture and sprinkle with fresh basil. 6. Serve immediately. 52 Calories 449 Protein 47g Carbs 6g Fats 25g Grilled Pork CHop Steak directions Ingredients 8 oz (226.7g) Boneless Pork Steak ½ Cup (74.5g) Cherry Tomatoes 1 Cup (37.5g) Lettuce ¼ Tbsp (3.75g) Olive Oil 1. Preheat the grill to high heat. 2. Brush the meat with olive oil and sprinkle with thyme. 3. Grill for 3-5 minutes on each side and serve with lettuce and sliced tomatoes. 4. Drizzle all with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately. ¼ Tbsp (3.75g) Balsamic Vinegar 1 tsp (4g) Thyme 53 Calories 448 Protein 17g Carbs 36g Fats 28g Avocado Asparagus Fettuccine directions Ingredients 4 oz (113g) Wholewheat Fettuccine 3 oz (85g) Asparagus ½ (100g) Whole Avocado 1 Cup (149g) Cherry Tomatoes 1 Tbsp (7g) Almonds 1. Cook the fettuccine according to packaging. 2. Steam the asparagus. 3. Chop the tomatoes, and slice the avocado and mozzarella. 4. Combine the vegetables and mozzarella with the fettuccine, season and serve. 1 oz (28g) Mozzarella Cheese ½ tsp (2g) Salt ½ tsp (2g) Pepper 54 Calories 434 Protein 52g Carbs 37g Fats 7G Chicken Farfalle directions Ingredients 4 oz (113g) Chicken Breast 4 oz (133g) Farfalle or Spiral Pasta ¼ Cup (56ml) Pasta Tomato Sauce ½ tsp (2.5g) Italian Seasoning ⅛ tsp (0.5g) Salt 1. Heat up a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. 2. Slice chicken and add to the pan, then sprinkle with salt and Italian seasoning. 3. Cook for 5 minutes and add crushed tomatoes. 4. Cook for 5 more minutes. 5. Serve over cooked pasta. 55 Calories 448 Protein 17g Carbs 36g Fats 28g Chicken Salad To Go directions Ingredients 4 oz (113g) Chicken Breast 1 Whole (123g) Tomato 1 Whole (300g) Cucumber 1 Cup (75g) Lettuce ½ Whole (59.5g) Capsicum 1. Cook brown rice/ quinoa according to packaging, and measure out 1/2 cup once cooked. 2. Slice tomato and cucumber, chop capsicum. 3. Grill chicken in a non-stick pan. 4. Shred lettuce and assemble ingredients in a bowl, add salt and pepper to taste. 1 Tbsp (15ml) Balsamic Vinegar ½ Cup (97g) Cooked Brown Rice ½ tsp (2g) Salt ½ tsp (2g) Pepper 56 Easy snacks 5 57 greek yoghurt yoghurt tub with ½ cup of fresh berries carrot & celery sticks with 1 Tbsp of natural peanut butter homemade popcorn with ½ Tbsp of coconut oil and Himalayan salt, or macro lightly salted popcorn bag One sliced apple with a Tbsp of homemade hummus 58 Rice cakes with honey or avocado or cottage cheese Isopept/Oxywhey protein shake Lust Bar protein bar Boiled Eggs with salt & pepper 59 Appendix Appendix 1 - Weekly Meal PLanner 61 Appendix 2 - High Quality Sources of Protein, Carbs and Fats amount of macronutrient per 100g protein Whey Protein 80g per 100g serve Lean Beef 36g per 100g serve Chicken Breast 30g per 100g serve Tuna Steak 32g per 100g serve Smoked Salmon 20g per 100g serve Tofu 17g per 100g serve Eggs 12.5g per 100g serve Chickpeas 9g per 100g serve Lentils 9g per 100g serve 62 Appendix 2 - High Quality Sources of Protein, Carbs and Fats amount of macronutrient per 100g Carbs Oats 64g per 100g serve Wholegrain bread 41g per 100g serve Brown Rice 23g per 100g serve Banana 23g per 100g serve Sweet Potato 21g per 100g serve Quinoa 21g per 100g serve Apple 14g per 100g serve Orange 12g per 100g serve 63 Appendix 2 - High Quality Sources of Protein, Carbs and Fats amount of macronutrient per 100g fats Polyunsaturated Fats: salmon tuna Other Oily Fish Flaxseeds Walnuts Soybean Sunflower oil Monounsaturated Fats: avocados olive oil canola oil peanut oil almonds hazelnuts pecans 64 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Fat soluble Vitamin A Dairy fish sweet potatoes carrots spinach eggs fortified cereal milk Vitamin E Sunflower seeds wheat germ almonds green leafy vegetables Vitamin D cheese egg yolks fortified foods Sunlight fish oil milk Vitamin k Leafy greens soybeans brussels sprouts pumpkin broccoli cauliflower 65 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Water soluble Vitamin B1 - Thiamin Wholegrains meat fish Yogurt Vitamin B2 - riboflavin Eggs dairy asparagus artichokes avocado Vitamin B3 - Niacin wholegrains peas potato Meat salmon leafy greens beans Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid Mushrooms tuna avocado egg yolk shellfish chicken 66 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Water soluble Vitamin B6- pyridoxine Fish milk carrots potato poultry eggs soy products Vitamin B7 - Biotin Eggs almonds spinach sweet potato dairy egg yolk Vitamin B9 - folate Beef beans peas spinach asparagus beets cauliflower lettuce asparagus Vitamin B12 - cobalamin Clams fortified foods fish dairy meat Eggs 67 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Water soluble Vitamin C - AScorbic Acid Citrus fruits broccoli bell peppers potatoes brussels sprouts tomato Macromineral Calcium Milk products leafy greens broccoli seafood legumes dried fruit tofu phosphorous Salmon yoghurt turkey beans magnesium Almonds cashews black beans avocado lentils nuts grains legumes tofu seeds 68 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Macromineral Sodium (aka salt) Salt processed foods canned soup chloride Seaweed salt celery rye potassium Lentils acorn squash bananas oranges apricots cooked spinach sulfur Garlic onions brussel sprouts eggs mineral water 69 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Trace Minerals Iron Oysters white beans spinach shellfish red meat pumpkin seeds broccoli tofu manganese Pineapple pecans peanuts almonds oats legumes beans Copper Oyster crabs cashews spirulina nuts and seeds leafy greens Iodine Seaweed cod dairy Iodized salt prunes 70 Appendix 3 - Micronutrient Sources Trace Minerals Fluoride Black tea shellfish fruit juice water supply Selenium Brazil nuts Sardines meats 71 www.laurensimpsonfitness.com support@laurensimpsonfitness.com Special Thanks to Sandra Mončytė @candyfloss_lsf for her incredible food photography contribution #lsfbabes 72