My typical dinner- chicken and veggies 4 AP classes, 1 college composition class, countless hours spent on studying and sports, but surprisingly the most important thing that I’ve learned this year is that I have grown an affectionate passion for food. Yep, I love eating, and maybe even more so thinking about eating. As I have become deeply engaged in the sport of weightlifting, I spend countless hours studying the human body and what it needs to improve its aesthetics and overall health. The most important factor in improving your health and physique is the food you eat. I made many limitations to my diet once I started taking weightlifting seriously: no more fast food, sweets, white breads, sugary drinks, and fried foods. However, these foods are okay to eat every once in a while; I try to have one day a week where I can eat whatever I want (the cheat day baby). Some of you may be thinking how I can possibly enjoy cutting those foods out of my palate, but I can assure you that I LOVE eating healthy. Eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean having smaller portions, in fact; I eat more than almost everyone I know. In order to build muscle mass, you need to eat A LOT more food than you may think. I am just at the beginning of my journey, so eating bigger portions is something I've struggled with, but I've found the more I eat, the bigger my muscles get, which isn't too hard of a concept to grasp. Throughout the week I try to eat essentially perfect and I cut out sweets entirely. I stick to consuming proteins, fats, and carbohydrates while keeping a healthy balance of all three food groups. A typical breakfast will consist of 3 scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon, chopped bell peppers, cheese, and spinach. I usually like yogurt and fruit on the side, but sometimes I'll have a bowl of oatmeal. I usually stick to a meat such as chicken or steak for lunch as well as yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. After a long day at school and baseball, I tend to have ginormous dinners, which usually consist of meat or pasta, salad, rice, vegetables, and fruit. I've come to love healthy foods and the effects that they have on my body, but deep down my heart belongs to giant burgers, delicious pizza, and large milkshakes. That's why I love a cheat meal or two (or three) every week. My all-time favorite pizza is from Aggatucci’s in Peoria, IL, where I have no trouble smashing a large sausage pizza with their signature Tiger sauce and parmesan cheese to go with it. I'm also a huge fan of Chicago deep dish style pizza, especially from Giordano’s and Lu Malnati’s. And if I’m feeling a little tropical, I will go to Sugar in the Peoria Warehouse district for a wood-fired Hawaiian pizza. As for my favorite burger joints, I would have to say Five Guys, the Burger Barge, and Portillo’s all have my heart. Thankfully, they are building a Portillo’s in Champaign next year because I'll be attending school at the University of Illinois and studying mechanical engineering. Portillo’s is also home to the Chocolate Cake Shake, my favorite milkshake in Illinois. I am a very meticulous eater, and only like my food and desserts at the highest quality, so I am often disagreeing with my friends on where to eat (as some of them reading this will attest). It’s up to them whether they appreciate my personable opinion on food, but I’m definitely not ashamed of it. Because of my passion for good eats, I have started to cook some of my family meals so I can be well prepared to avoid the dull food at college. When I'm older, I hope that my wife is a fantastic cook so we can make some exquisite meals together. My love for food has grown tremendously this year, as well as my passion for weightlifting. As long as I eat well and workout hard, I’ll always be in a sensational mood. Next time you see me feasting at the dinner table just know that I’m on the #gaintrain. What types of foods do you like? Do you normally eat healthy or do you love smashing at Micky D’s? Leave your comments below! A Burger Barge burger
5 Comments
4/27/2017 11:19:35 am
I too am a purveyor of the finer things in life, and the finest of all in my eyes is food. I don't care who you are, there is nothing more satisfying to have than a nice home cooked meal. The hearty favorites that everyone's mom made for them as a child might come to mind when you think "home cooked" - meatloaf, specific ethnic dishes, or homemade lasagna - but "home cooked" for me has evolved into my own cooking. I love to cook; it's my job. But it's not the mundane dinerfare that I enjoy cooking. It's the creative thought process that I love most. Hunting for the finest ingredients and preparing them in a way in which they will flatter one another and ultimately generate a response from whoever's eating it - that is the true joy of cooking. Cook, eat, and dine for the experience - not just to satisfy your appetite.
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Evan Fairfield
5/1/2017 09:15:30 am
The gain train! I love it! I can relate a lot to this blog post because I am trying to pack on a little extra to increase my muscle mass. It's a very hard and drawn out process, the gains don't happen over night. It takes a dedicated individual to stick with the day in and day out grind of eating healthy. I believe that all meals should be balanced with veggies and meats to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it needs. I like how you make your own healthy meals, this will help you be a master chef when you are older. However, I think that in order to really make gains, it is okay to have a few meals that might not be as healthy as other. For example, a burger and shake at Culver's once in a while will help you put on some more weight to help increase your muscle mass. All in all, I love the gain train and enjoyed this blog. Keep grinding boy!
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Austin Triplett
5/1/2017 06:13:29 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog! Personally, I would like to start eating healthy foods and this blog gave me tons of motivation to eat better. As of right now, I would say that I eat decently heathy (absolutely hate McDonald’s) but could definitely improve. Do you have any advice on avoiding sweets and fast food? I am right with you on the Portillo’s cake shake being one of the best shakes ever, and since I will be at U of I next year I’m sure I will get plenty of those shakes. Honestly, I find it awesome that you are able to cook, because I can’t cook at all. There is nothing better than coming home from working out and having a home cooked meal waiting on the table. Personally, sometimes I would much rather a hearty home cooked meal over going out to eat, because the food quality is so much better.
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Zachary Weinzimmer
5/3/2017 04:35:10 pm
I’m not going to lie, I had to read your blog in two sittings. Your descriptions of the food made me starving and inspired me to eat as if I were a bear preparing for hibernation. I too have started weightlifting and understand the importance of eating healthy. However, nothing is better than pigging out on a cheat day. I have never been to Agatuccis. What do you think is their tastiest item on the menu? I have been to all of the burger places you mentioned and love them all. Do you always get burgers when you go to Portillos? I love to get their Chicago dogs and Italian Beef. Maybe you can try some when they open up their shop at the University of Illinois. Also, what kind of foods have you learned to cook? I think it will be good to be able to make your own food if the cafeteria food at college gets old.
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Dawson Hoffman
5/3/2017 09:18:58 pm
All I know is, boy am I hungry!? The vocabulary you have used to describe food is just amazing in my opinion. I loved reading this blog as I have with all of your others. I am fascinated on how well you end up doing with your #gaintrain in the long run. I have a few questions though. Did you pick up on cooking fast? Do you have a specific cheat day picked out or do you just wake up and say "today is the day?" Overall, I've always been a fan of your blog and hope to hear about how all this works for you in the future!
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AuthorHey ladies and gents! My name is Nate Hinnen and I am a senior at a high school in central Illinois. My life is a busy one; I play 3 sports, do lots of homework, and I use whatever time I have left to enjoy other things/hobbies. My blog will consist of discussions about things that bring me happiness: weightlifting, television, movies, video games, books, nature, sports, and more! With college and making career decisions in my near future, it feels good to slow down and enjoy the little things every once in a while. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |