Fiyah powah!

My last post was about fueling your body, wood or trash? I wanted to expand on that.

Go with me on this. These tasty BBQ is your end result. What do you need? FIRE!!! So how do you build it? Do you get some charcoal and lots of lighter fluid to start it? Do you find the best wood around, get kindling and nurture the fire to the best coals you can get?

Where is this going? A student asked me how do I gain weight? I asked him how many calories are you eating a day? Turns out he was at his maintenance level. He would NEVER gain weight at this level. I asked if he knew what his Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) was, he didn't. You want to find this out so you can determine how many calories you need to eat to lose or gain weight. I asked if he knew how many macros he was consuming, he had no clue. That's when I brought up the fire.

So back to the BBQ. I told him to get a tasty BBQ you need to add kindling to start your fire. Kindling is like your Carbs, quick to burn. You can add some lighter fluid to help get things started, supplements, but too much and you spoil your fire.

As the fire gets going you add larger pieces of wood, fats, they have lots of stored energy but you can not start a fire with them. You can change the flavor of the meat with wood chips, proteins. They build the flavor profile, again you can start a fire with them but they are better used to build and enhance. A little Pecan chips mixed with some Apple wood thrown into your mesquite fire greatly changes the way the meat tastes. Proteins can even be the spices and marinades you use to enhance the flavor. Proteins are critical in getting what you want out of your workout. They are the building blocks of the body and if you are not getting enough then your body does not function correctly.

Though out your BBQ, you must tend to your fire. Just as you must tend to what you eat. It is easy to get lazy, buy some charcoal briquets and cook. It gets the job done, but to get a good BBQ you never, never use charcoal, only real woods. So you can do the quick and easy way of fast foods and easy quick microwaved meals, they get the job done. Are they your BEST choice? Let's be honest, do you really think that fast foods will help you achieve your body goals? That's what I thought. Choose your foods well, don't be satisfied with something fast. Losing/Gaining weight takes time, just as in building a fire. Slow and steady wins the race. In the end when you build the right fire you and you have waited 10-12 hours for that succulent brisket it is so worth it. Same is true when you spend years eating right, exercising daily and taking care of your body you are rewarded with the best you there can ever be.

Dammit! now I want some good smoked BBQ. Anyone have any Mesquite?

It is called fast food because it speeds you to the grave. -Chuin