could use advice, or another job

[roughneck_jones]

So I've been reading on this board for several days. Obsessively reading, I'll admit, and as I imagine would be the case, diet diet diet is everywhere. I'm perfectly fine with that, and support healthy eating habits to the max. My issue is work. I work offshore, on a drilling rig, and for 21 days at a time I have a host of islanders (the galley crew) making my 3 meals a day. I don't have an inside job so I cant just get extra food and meal prep with that, so 3 squares it is. Not only can I not prepare, I have no idea what they use to prepare my food so caloric estimates are ballpark at best. I can generally tell grilled versus baked, but that's even sketchy sometimes. Forget about trying to distinguish the pork and chicken...many times.

3J, I would love to sign up for your coaching, because I have ambitious goals in physique and strength areas but I spend half my time with my hands tied behind my back when it comes to the kitchen. I still eat clean, very clean, and the upside is I can get 4 plates at a time if I want, but how would I approach a cut or bulk cycle with this being the case. The best I've been able to do for extra meals is carry a stacker type shaker bottle and get about 30g of protein in with some nuts or peanut butter or honey on the go. I carry nuts in my bag (ha. No jokes) as well as honey and peanut butter. But this is really all I can figure out.

Male, 29 years old, 6'1", 205 lbs, 17% bf, and I think my caloric need for maintenance is somewhere around 2500 based on some of the formulas I've seen here.

**Note: I'm educating myself incessantly in preparation for my first cylce. I've decided to wait until I can claim no more than 15% bf based on advice I've read in the stickys. Yes I've read the stickys, literally, all of them. Yes, all. Plan to runa 10 week test c 250 @ 500mg/week w/arimidex (dose?) and clo/nova startin week 8-12....after I hit 15% bf.

 

[Megatron28]

Is talking to the cooks to find out what they prepared not an option? Or even better, could you give them $X or something to prepare special meals just for you?

Only other option I can think of is to tell your employer that you have special dietary needs (for health or religious reasons) and they would have to make a reasonable accommodation for you. But how they implement that accommodation may not be to your satisfaction. I don't like this option though because it would be a lie.

 

[3J]

over the last few years i have worked with dozens of guys in your same situation.. there is a way to make it happen.. but its a bit difficult and sucks for the client..

i just recently had a client who was a rig supervisor that wanted to lose weight for his wedding.. he lost 30lbs in 3 months all while being on a rig..


in other words, there is a way to do it.. its not an exact science but if you follow my principles i can make it happen..

i would need to know more about the food they serve.. if there is a schedule of food thats going to be served, or is it up in the air every day..

and im sure you can take whey and peanut butter with you on the rig right?

 

[roughneck_jones]

Yeah I usually bring my own protein out and go through about 5lbs in 3 weeks. I also usually bring my own peanut butter and peanuts or cashews. The usually have a mix of healthy and unhealthy, I always stick to the grilled or baked meats unless they have smoked beef or roast. I incluse white rice or pasta and plenty veggies. I'm more concerned with ratios of what to what and the lack of ability to meal prep to get 5 to 6 good meals a day. I can work in the snacks some days but not all the time. Not to mention the 3 squares I do get are low quality foods and probably cheap ingredients used to prepare them....

 

[roughneck_jones]

Also, a rig supervisor has an inside job and could very easily take extra food and stash it in the fridge for his other meals. I don't have that luxury.

 

[49ER]

Oil power! I worked in the regular oil fields I can only imagine what your job is like......much respect

 

[roughneck_jones]

Thanks bro. It has its ups and downs like anything else. Makes dieting pretty tough because there's really no consistency. Like I said I just have to stick to the healthy stuff and ballpark the xalories/ratios because I really have no way of knowing how or what it's prepared with. What'd you do in the oilfield?

 

[anzel]

I was at an awesome BBQ yesterday, the guy was a great cook and I coulld have easily overate but when Im out I use my hand to measure food.There is a way to guesstimate portions.... an example that is popular is.......

1 cup = your fist
1 ounce = the meaty part of your thumb
1 tablespoon = your thumb, minus the meaty part
1 teaspoon = the tip of your index finger
1 inch = the middle section of your index finger
1-2 ounces of a food like nuts or pretzels = your cupped hand
3 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry = the palm of your hand

THis is for a regular diet though, I usually do this for bigger portions... My whole hand for protein , my whole thumb plus a little extra for fats, and a whole hand for carbs if im eating heavier and half a fist for light eating.
Your best bet would to be to measure out your protein/fats/carbs when you are home and then compare it to your hand. Take pics with your phone and saxe the pics to refrence when your back on the rig.
Its a bit rough but may do.
Can you prepare some tupperware with some quick and ez meals to take on the rig.? sardines,tuna,even a piece of cold chicken. If you have to scarf it down quick make sure is moist! Hard to eat dry chicken quickly haha!

 

[roughneck_jones]

Well I could bring tuna out with me, but our job is 90 mph a lot of times and all I have tone for is shaking up some protein and throwing a scoop of peanut butter or some honey in it if I'm lucky. That's an awesome reference tool for when I'm in the galley though. Although as I said, not know what ingredients they use in the preparation I'd have to ballpark caloric values at best. that won't hurt me too bad tho if I can get my p/c/f ratios right though, huh? Thanks again for the info