Before I detail my off season diet, I just want to make a few notes about my current progress and how the off season is going so far.
I am 10 weeks into the off season so far, and feel that I am now at a point that I feel I am as big as I have ever been in relation to body fat vs. muscle mass vs. scale weight. I think my legs have been larger in the past, but I am doing everything I can to train the hell out of my legs but keep my back healthy at the same time. It isn't easy because I obviously want to push as hard as I can but I have to temper that with the idea that another back injury will sideline everything for at LEAST a couple months - if not more.
I was stuck at 235 for almost 4 weeks but have surpassed this, finally, and I am sitting at about 237-238 later in the week before I take in more calories for a couple of days over the weekend. It isn't a traditional type of Skipload in that I am not doing high carbs and very low fat. Instead, I am doing more of a moderate carb/moderate fat for these 2 days. Some examples of foods are a heavy breakfast of french toast, butter, syrup, potatoes, bacon and eggs. Later for lunch I might have 15 to 20 smoked, grilled wings (not deep fried) and then for dinner I might have a quality burger with fries and couple Arnold Palmers. I don't snack as much (or graze) as in the past, opting more for "meals" and this is something that I am currently changing with the Skipload protocol, as well. I am not eliminating grazing, but I am making it a much smaller part of the Skipload process with great results.
My diet during the week is much higher in carbs than usual. Typically, I am not terribly active due to working from home and being 45-years old. My carb intake, when I am maintaining a very lean weight around 210 or so, is roughly 100 to 125g of carbs a day, tops. Right now I am in the neighborhood of about 450g of carbs. I have not seen this level of carbs in YEARS.
Meal 1
TEAM SKIP protein blend
oats
almond/coconut milk mixed with water 50/50
nuts
2 hours later
oats with fruit
grass fed beef with eggs (primarily egg whites but a couple yolks)
cheese
3 hours later
same protein drink as meal 1
2 hours later (preworkout)
quinoa and rice medley
chicken breast
(some kind of sauce to flavor the rice/chicken combo like spaghetti sauce or ketchup or something similar to get it down my throat easier)
greek yogurt
TRAIN - BCAAs and carbs intra
postworkout - old school nature valley granola bars with TEAM SKIP protein blend
2 to 3 hours later (depending on hunger)
grass fed beef or salmon or ahi tuna
cheese
vegetables
greek yogurt (on occasion)
I am not lean right now, but I am not gaining body fat, either. I am not choking down the food but increasing the food at this point would put me in that category, almost certainly. Progress in the gym has been great - I can't ask for more right now being only 10 weeks in. I have no injuries at this point and no aches and pains with shoulders, knees, elbows, etc.. My back was a little tender last week training legs but as much as I noted it at the time, it certainly wasn't painful or indicative of anything being wrong. In fact, I was sick for about 2 days last weekend from mild food poisoning and believe that the tenderness was from finally hydrating after a couple days and that causing some sciatic pressure (mild) down both legs for about 1.5 days. It then subsided and has been fine since.
