A few years ago I was studying sports and fitness at the Auckland University of Technology and I was also working in a gym so that I would get some hands on experience. After seeing the people come and go from the gym, some working hard but not achieving their goal while others were doing little but getting significant gains I decided right there at the gym that this kind of lifestyle was not for me. Sure going to the gym was an important part of keeping fit but I wanted it to be fun and I did not want it to become a chore.

I started my day by eating a bowl of cereal and two pieces of toast to kick off my metabolism early in the day. I liked to get the gym done in the morning if it was a gym day but I did not go everyday and I often substituted going to the gym for doing some other kind of physical activity like running or going to play indoor cricket. For lunch I would have protein and carbs like a tuna sandwich or a chicken pasta lunch. This energized me for the rest of the day and helped to replace nutrients that I needed for recovery after my activity.

Morning tea was often a protein shake but only because I got them at a discounted price being a staff member otherwise I would have had some fruit, nuts and seeds. I saved these foods for afternoon tea which meant I was really alert at work or at university during the afternoons. Dinner was always meat and veggies except on the weekend where I went out for dinner and ate whatever I liked.