Some of you may notice that in the majority of my latest articles, I don’t refer to the way I eat as the “Anabolic Diet.” Really the only references you’ll find to the “Anabolic Diet” in my latest articles is, well, in the title of this blog.
The Anabolic Diet got me started in the high fat, high protein, low carb lifestyle, but I feel it has some major flaws. The biggest flaw: I’m not a big fan of re-feed days, let alone entire re-feed weekends. The re-feed days help the Anabolic Diet sell (”you can eat WHATEVER you want!”) but, in practice, will just make most people fat. There is also very little other than strict diet information — nothing on training guidelines, best practices for muscle gain or fat loss while eating this way, etc. (Again, this is just based off of what the real Anabolic Diet is, based on the book by the same name. Most of what I write about on this site is based on my own experiences, which is why some of my guidelines and recommendations go against what the actual Anabolic Diet recommends.)
It’s for these reasons that I want to pass on a web site — and an entire related community of sites above. In other words, this site is a perfect companion site to what I write about here.
You can check it out here: Mark’s Daily Apple.
These guys have the high fat, high protein, low carb lifestyle down perfectly. Their recipe archives are unbelievable, too. Check it out.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Andy Fossett // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I agree with your criticisms of the “classic” version of the Anabolic Diet. The urge to go crazy on weekends was often too much for me, and I couldn’t strike a balance between keeping body fat low and building muscle. However, the high-fat, low-carb portion of the diet work extremely well with a Precision Nutrition-style 90% compliance routine. Just eat right 90% of the time, and you will see results.
I really like the “primal” approach to eating, and Mark’s Daily Apple is a great resource. http://www.freetheanimal.com/ also has a lot of great information on high-fat diets and their effects on health.
Thanks.
2 Antonio Wright // Jul 15, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I am going to agree… somewhat. I have toned down the carbs loads to low GI carbs with some mixed treats in. The Anabolic Diet guidelines have worked for many people, so I won’t consider it flawed. It just takes time to figure things out.
Oh and the sale books comments is kinda absurd.
3 BigNat // Jul 18, 2009 at 11:07 pm
And I agree too. If I had of not gone crazy on the wend loads I would have achieved much better fatloss anyway live and learn. Ordered PB and looks good. also this thread is great for eating this way…
http://tnation.tmuscle.com/free_online_forum/diet_performance_nutrition_supplements/la_cucina_anabolica_italiana?id=2144267&pageNo=0
4 Juan Manuel // Jul 22, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Hi man,
have you experienced some problems with this diet like hair loss, bad breath, etc ???
thanks in advance.
regards
5 Juan Manuel // Jul 22, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I forgot another question sorry, is it ok to eat cream (not raw) with raw Omega 3 eggs, I live in South America and I can’t find raw cream.
regards, Juan Manuel
6 Clay // Jul 23, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Juan,
Viví en sudamerica por ocho meces recientamente. La crema cruda es la mejor pero yo utilizaba la crema normal (pasteurizada) durante mi tiempo en sudamerica cuando tuve mis resultados mejores. (Lo siento, tengo que practicar mi español!)
As a translation: Raw cream is the best but I used regular pasteurized cream during my time in South America when I got my best results.
My other period of amazing results came when I was drinking lots of raw milk that I got from a neighbor every two days.
So, both will work but raw is always best. Your results will likely be better (and you’ll feel better) with raw cream, but you’ll still get great results with regular cream.
Also, I have not experienced any problems on this diet, especially nothing like hair loss, and haven’t heard of anyone else having problems like this either. Bad breath, though, can be a big problem. Bad breath is a result of eating too much “acidic” food (meat and eggs are VERY VERY acidic) and not enough “basic” or “alkaline” food (green vegetables). The easiest fix for bad breath on this diet: eat tons more green vegetables! I ate big salads made of broccoli, spinach, and carrots, and it fixed my bad breath.
7 nathaniel ruffino // Aug 23, 2009 at 3:59 am
is the grass fed essintial to this diet or can i get my beef from the store
8 Jemerin // Nov 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Nice post, thanks for sharing this wonderful and usefull information with us.
Green Tea
9 Kal-El // Mar 7, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Hi clay thank you so much for taking your time to answer my questions, i am just starting my third week and i am still so confuse about the diet. let me tell you where i am coming from and where i am standing at: I am 37, 6 feet tall, work out 4 times a week. I am not 100% of my BF i have visited few web sites and they all tell you where to pick the skin in order to measure some said vertical 2 cms beside the umbilical; other horizontal 2 inches above your waist, i was do it the later for some time and i saw mt BF was low yet i could not see my abs that well, so when i started with the diet i was weight: 92.8 kls; waist 88 cms “BF” 13.3% (i was assuming the measurement was above the waist).
A week into the diet 89.5 kgs; waist 87 cms; “BF” 11.5% (same mistake as before). Day 11th into the diet weight 89.5; waist 85.5 cms, now i started measuring beside the umbilical 15% BF. this was diet meal 1- 5 whole eggs 1 tsp granola oil ; 2meal- salad, 60 gr tuna, 50 gr sunflower seed, 1 tsp granola oil; 3 meal- 200grs of coli-flower or cabbage, 150 grs ground beef; 4- meal same as second, 5 meal, same vegetables the third and 150 grs chicken breast, in all my meals i put 1 tsp of granola oil,. this is 2500 kcls i just could not afford more than this. Finally weekend came in this is what i eat: 100 grms of oat meal with milk, some cookies, lots of milk, fruit salad, sesame seed bar candy (100 gr) 100 gr of past with yellow cheese, 100 grs of corn flour tortilla, and lot of milk. and some chocolate. my numbers after the weekend waist 87 cms, weight 91.5 kls, BF 15% Now my questions: did i fail by gaining back kilos? was i suppose to gain some back? my BF why it did not drop? am i doing anything wrong? there is this calculation i found that doesnt use calippers and according to it i am 15 % BF too, they use: weight, age, gender, waist in inches, so after doing both messuraments they both agree i am 15% BF, my goal is 9% 10& BF. Am i heading the right direction or am i failing on something? your help is so much apreacite it.
Kal-el
10 Misty@healthydiets // Jun 30, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Clay congratulations on discovering what works for you. You look great and your story was an interesting read. I have maintained an 85lb weight loss and began in 2000. This has been the time of my life. Mark Sisson is a great guy and you’re learning from one of the best!
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