Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

What is 40fit?

40fit supports a community of athletes age 40+ with Fitness, Community and Lifestyle resources. The goal is to support performance, lifestyle and quality of life for 40 plus athletes. By combining the resources of evidenced based science, anecdotal experience, and the community, individuals are challenged to look at aging through a refreshing perspective and reach their maximum genetic potential.

Why?

The more I trained using various methods, the more I realized there was something missing.  I noticed that even though I was significantly more fit than most of my peers, my experience in training was not the same as the “younger crowd.” The higher my fitness level became, the more I realized the value of fitness and lifestyle factors that I paid less attention to in the past. This is true for almost any athlete seeking higher levels of performance and capacity. Any inexperienced athlete can make quick and sometimes astonishing gains.

40fit programming is based on my own personal experiences as an athlete, evidenced based science and the collective experiences of the community. The programming model is a conjugate of these inputs and represents an adaptive construct to support the maximum genetic potential of each individual athlete. There is no one system that can meet the needs of all individuals, and anyone who would tell you otherwise is selling something for the purposes of selling something. The programming in the training model will constantly change and be a work in progress. We will not follow fads or training techniques just because someone else recommends them or they have become sexy. The foundation of any training should be based on what works, not what sells. I know that puts us at a significant disadvantage to spread the word, but I hope that the results of those who engage in our training will be evidence enough.

Aug 30, 2019

Robert Santana -- Starting Strength Coach, Registered Dietitian, and Head Nutrition Coach for Barbell Logic Online Coaching -- returns to the podcast to talk about the "restaurant trap" and how to avoid going off the rails next time you dine out. 

 

Let's face it, eating out is a big part of American culture. Restaurants serve as social hubs on the weekends and offer a bit of reprieve from the daily work grind. Even supposedly "healthy" restaurants are fraught with traps that can wreck your macros. With a little planning and some basic strategies, however, you can navigate any restaurant without letting it derail your nutrition.

 

Below are some highlights from our conversation with Robert.

 

Restaurants are a trap

  • Let's not beat around the bush. Restaurant food has higher levels of salt, fat, sugar compared to home cooked meals. 
  • These exaggerated flavors override our natural satiety signals, making it easy to overeat.
  • Fat is hidden in unexpected places: butter, oils, creams, dressings all contain lots of fat.
  • We tend to desire sweet flavors after savory/salty, and vice versa, leading to overeating. Meals are often structured accordingly: appetizer, bread/chips, main course, dessert.

 

Plan Your Menu Options

  • Identify “safe” restaurant choices with reasonable menu options — that way when you’re tired and decide to eat out, you don’t have to think about what to order.
  • Ask for steamed vegetables and sauces on the side.
  • Double the vegetables on the side instead of ordering a starch. LPT: more vegetables makes you have a fuller plate, so your dietary choices seem less weird to your friend group who may not understand or support your diet.
  • Example of a tough restaurant, Texas Roadhouse: 6oz filet, one roll with no extra butter, side salad dipping fork in dressing, steamed vegetables

 

Over-estimate Your Calories

  • Use the 50% Rule: assume you are getting double the calories you need, so only eat 50% of the portions you order. Maybe even less for high fat, high carb foods like pasta and desserts.
  • Dip the butter and dressings, don’t slather it on. Dip your fork in dressings, don’t pour the dressing on your salad.
  • Simple ingredients — salmon, vegetables, rice — are easier to estimate than complex dishes.

 

Know Some Common Food References

  • Fist = 3oz portion protein
  • If it’s shiny, don’t eat the whole thing. Probably oily, i.e. high in fat.

 

Routine vs Special Occasion

  • For most people, dining out should be a special occasion not an everyday event
  • Don’t try to balance your macros at a restaurant — just follow the basic strategies and stick to your routines and good eating habits at home.
  • If you know you are eating out, plan your meals accordingly. Eat less during the day in anticipation of the big work dinner, for instance.

 

Work on Your Food Prep Skills

  • Trent's 5min food bowl: rice, big handful of chopped cabbage, top with ground beef, and drizzle with a savory/spicy sauce like soy sauce, sriracha, or chili sauce.
  • Santana’s slow cooked oatmeal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR5jV1-ijik

 

You can follow Robert Santana and his excellent nutrition tips and diet hacks @the_robert_santana. He also has a new gym that just opened in the Phoenix area! He offers barbell training and nutrition coaching services: https://www.weightsandplates.com

 

 

Connect with 40fit Radio