So one of the main components of P90X that most people don't take as seriously as the workouts is the NUTRITION!!! There is an old saying that the road to getting a 6-pack begins in the kitchen...meaning you can't see your abs if they're ...
So one of the main components of P90X that most people don't take as seriously as the workouts is the NUTRITION!!! There is an old saying that the road to getting a 6-pack begins in the kitchen...meaning you can't see your abs if they're covered with fat, and you can't get rid of the fat if you don't eat properly.
This post is an attempt to simplify the P90X nutrition guide and hopefully provide some ideas and tips on how to easily follow the eating plan, spend less money, and do it without spending tons of time in the kitchen.
In my own personal experience, I have found the "P90X Portion Approach" the easiest to follow. What I do is print out a grid based on the portion plan as described in the Nutrition Guide. Then just check-off the boxes for each portion of food you eat. This will ensure you're eating the correct # of calories and eating a balanced diet.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tip: If you have to deviate from the nutrition or don't have access to the approved foods for a meal: What you do is just add up the # of calories you consumed (of non-P90X approved foods) and check-off the appropriate # of boxes to equal the number of calories you consumed. Each portion in each category is assigned a caloric value. So let's say you eat at pizza hut and have 2 slices of pepperoni pizza and a bread stick...that equals 700 calories. So what you would do is mark off the following (or any combination you have left to equal the 700 calories consumed) :
1 Carb (200 calories) 3 Protein (300 Calories) 1 Dairy (120 Calories) 2 Veggies (100 calories)
So you didn't really eat those foods, but this way you're keeping your calories in-check and can hop back on the plan much easier after the non-approved meal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To help simplify your eating, I have broken down below a list of foods to always keep on-hand and different meals you can prepare. Having the approved foods always in-stock, and knowing how to make 2-3 different dishes with the same ingredients will help keep your meals fresh and keep your nutrition on-track. I tend to eat the same foods quite often, but prepare them differently. For instance, a grilled chicken breast can be topped with:
Phase I Foods to Keep Stocked:
Again, these aren't the only meals you can eat, but if you have these items on-hand, you always know you have food that is quickly prepared, in-expensive and meets the P90X guidelines.
