Ok, so we’ve covered tons of IIFYM friendly recipes for you guys and gals to try at home, but a question I’m commonly asked is “What’s on your grocery list?!” IIFYM can be overwhelming at first, TRUST me..I know.
I imagine that macro dieting feels a lot like dating after you’ve been with someone for a long time. What you know is gone and you are faced with a world of infinite possibilities. That would totally freak me out, and so did macro dieting at first.
Well much like dating, here are some IIFYM (and life) guidelines you should live by:
- Just because it looks good, doesn’t mean you should have it around all the time. IIFYM is often mistaken for “Eat poptarts as long as they fit.” No. You can have those some-times, but they aren’t built for long term commitment. A pop-tart or two are fun on the weekend, but most of the time are up to no good. Remember, macro dieting means 80% clean (the food pyramid) and 20% can be discretionary. Most of the time, stick to what you know is good.
- Variety is AWESOME. Get out of your comfort zone! It can be tempting to run back to what you know, a meal plan with chicken and spinach every single day, but I promise that embracing variety with less restrictions will pay off. That meal plan just wants to box you in…and you are meant to run free!!!!
OK, so maybe this analogy isn’t working. What I’m saying is that although overwhelming, macro dieting will be better for you in the long run. That being said, it can be hard to know where to start.
When I first jumped in the shallow end of macro dieting, I focused on finding a balanced meal, a carb, a protein, and a fat. One from each category right?! Right-O.
This is NOT a complete list, rather just a sampling of a typical week in my house. I always like to start with these staples when I’m cooking. For example, I may choose to have a Low Carb Wrap with Sliced Turkey and a slice of cheese. It’s a good start to learning to create balance in meal prep. Once I trained my brain to identify these, it helped me to better diet while traveling. If I’m in a restaurant, I know I can get a lean filet (protein and fat), with green beans (carbs), or I can choose a salad which has veggies (carbs), with chicken (protein), and a balsamic dressing (fat).
|
Proteins |
Carbs |
Fats |
| Chicken Breast | Sweet Potato | Peanut Butter |
| Ground Turkey | Brown Rice | Avocado |
| Lean Sirloin | Cheerios | Laughing Cow Cheese |
| Lean Ground Beef | Beans (Black) | Cream Cheese |
| Whey Protein Powder | Fresh Fruit: Cherries, Bananas, Blueberries | Almonds |
| Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese | Fresh Veggies: Peppers, Spinach, etc | Cashews |
| String Cheese | Low Carb Wraps | Chia Seeds |
| Fage 0% Greek Yogurt | Tomatoes | Olive Oil |
| Egg Whites | Wheat Bread/ English Muffins | Walnuts |
| Lean Fish (Salmon, Tilapia, Tuna) | Almond Milk | Whole Eggs |
| Quinoa/Beans (Vegetarian) | Wheat Pasta | Dressings (Ranch, Italian) |
| Sliced Turkey | Zucchini | Coconut Oil |
| Turkey Bacon (sparingly) | Spaghetti Squash | Balsamic Dressing |
| Chicken Sausage | Butternut Squash | |
| Pico De Gallo | ||
| Kodiak Cake Mix (high protein) |
Once you’ve got these items down, start to mix and match them. Get crazy and branch out! Although I am not a proponent of meal plan dieting for lifestyle clients, I truly believe that this is a great start.
Of course you might be wondering what my favorite sweet treats are as well. Some of my favorite sweet macro-friendly treats are Halo Top Ice Cream, Fage mixed with sugar free jell-o mix, and Enlightened Ice Cream!!! YASSSS!
Again, the possibilities here are endless. There are a thousand fish in the sea…and I’m going to eat them all.
-C
Boss Babes 