Jump start your fat loss with this sample fitness model diet.

If you ask most people on the street about their opinion on getting shredded and building muscle mass, chances are that their response will something the lines of “go to the gym and workout.” They’d be correct to an extent, but the reality is far more complicated than that.

While hitting the gym with motivation and determination is absolutely necessary to building a powerful and impressive physique, working out alone simply isn’t going to cut it. You have to put way more work into it than that. Remember, but your workouts are also fueled by what you consume. Your pre-workout meal, or meals, are some of the most important parts of your workout, as they can make you feel stronger or weaker and give you better pumps.

It is not only the pre-workout meals that matter, but also the post-workout. Keep in mind that recovery is where gains are made, and it largely involves what you consume after your workout once you have really broken down the muscle.

Feel free to follow along for what we call the fitness model diet.

Fitness Model Diet Overview

Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Working out isn’t enough?! Then how am I supposed to get into the shape that I want?!” Well, there’s a fairly simple answer, the rest is up to your diet. If you want to get into absolutely shredded condition, you need to eat right for the occasion. Many people have this fantasy of looking like a fitness model, but they never understand that getting to that form requires them to push themselves both physically and mentally. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our own approach to what we call the fitness model diet.

1. The Mentality

You would think a program about a fitness model diet would just be about what you put into your mouth and stomach, but the reality is that diet is more than just thinking about what foods you have to eat. You need to be in a positive mental space to be able to not only start a diet, but adhere to one as well. With dieting you want look at things from a different perspective.

This is not something you’ll just be doing for a certain period of time, but rather something thing that you want to stick to. Think of a diet as a lifestyle and sticking to a program will be far simpler. So put down that Big Mac and get your mind right. If you want to look good, you have to be mentally hungry for it.

2. Understanding Macros

Carbs, fats, and proteins. These macronutrients are important to ensuring that you make the gains you need to lose fat, which helps to reveal the muscle underneath. Carbs and fats are things that people stray away from out of fear of gaining too much weight. However, they are primary energy sources, while protein is your muscle building or muscle maintenance nutrient. Having your macronutrients balanced is absolutely paramount to attaining the body your want. You want to eat the proper percentage of carbs, fats, and proteins to give your body the best chance at body recomposition.

3. Methods

A fitness model diet is very much like a bodybuilding diet. Everyone of you out there has to realize that you’re all different and foods are going to effect you differently. For some people carbs can cause them to hold onto way too much water. Others eat carbs and simply get an energy boost from the macronutrient. That’s why following a classic, cookie-cutter program may not work for some, but may work for others.

The classic approach would be to get 40-50% of your calories from carbs, 25-30% of your calories from fats, and another 25-30% of your calories from protein. Obviously this means keeping your sodium and sugar intake at a reasonable number, avoiding saturated fats, and eating an overall clean diet. But for some individuals this classic approach will do little to effect their body recomposition.

Another great approach is the keto or ketogenic diet. This diet is a bit more strict and could be more difficult for those who are in love with carbs, which, let’s face it, who isn’t? The idea is to consume a higher amount of good fats like avocado and nuts, a moderate amount of lean protein like chicken, lean steak, and fish, and a lower amount of carbs, no more than 30 grams in fact.

This will put your body in a fat burning mode or ketosis where your primary energy source is coming from fats. After following this keto diet for most of the week, allow yourself one refeed day where you consume a higher amount of carbs, just be sure not to binge on too many unhealthy options. Remember, the goal at the end of the day is to get absolutely shredded.

5. The Fitness Model Diet

So finally the coup de grâce, the foods you should be eating to get you in prime condition. This fitness model diet isn’t something you necessarily need to stick to, this is just an example of the foods you can eat that can be beneficial to your gains. Remember, there tons of great food options out there for you, this is just an example for you to start with.

Classic Style: This is all about balance. Don’t be afraid to mix and match with this approach, but be sure to avoid too many carbs at night before bed.

Breakfast: Oatmeal, side of bacon, black coffee

Lunch: Sweet Potatoes, chicken breast, salad with olive oil (for dressing)

Dinner: Salad, chicken breast and rice

Keto/Low Carb Style: This is a low carb alternative to the classic approach. Be sure to aim for higher, good quality fat content with moderate protein.

Breakfast: Bacon (pork or turkey) and eggs

Lunch: Steak, chicken or turkey with avocado, and asparagus

Dinner: Salmon in pesto sauce

Remember, think of this is just a starter kit. Get creative with your macronutrient intake and be sure to continue to research other great recipes. Jump start your fitness goals by following this simple plan, then begin to explore.

Fitness Model Diet Wrap Up

Overall, your gains are largely effected by what you consume. You certainly need to put the work in in the gym, but a large part of progress comes from the recovery aspect, which is helped by food. Think of food as fuel, you want to be filled with good fuel that will help you power through your workouts, as well as shed off the unnecessary body fat, all while building quality muscle.

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What do you think of this fitness model diet? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.