Hey, all,

Hoping I might be able to solicit some advice on my current eating/supplement habits. I'm currently 5'9" and a lifetime-high 180 lbs. My middle is sticking out, and at the age of 27, my metabolism is finally slowing down some. My goals are to drop the flab and add muscle, perhaps get to a solid 170 lbs.

I'm trying to get as much protein as I can stomach while reducing the sugar and fat...but keep in mind I've been a lifelong fast food junkie, so I'm trying to be a little gradual.

Here it is:

Breakfast:
Centrum multivitamin
16 oz. water
Two Thomas' Whole Wheat English Muffins w/Peanut Butter

Lunch:
Turkey or chicken cold cuts on wheat bread with/mustard and some American cheese.

Midday:
Protein shake - 16 oz. whole milk + MetRX

Dinner
Salad (Lettuce, carrots, califlower, some block cheddar cheese, green olives, low-fat Ranch dressing)
1 can or package of tuna w/a little hot sauce or salsa. (Alternate with chicken breast.)

Late/day snacks
Apple
Plain cereal (Cheerios) w/ whole milk

Sometimes:
Protein bar (loaded with sugar, though.)
Never any candy/cookies, never any sodas. Always water. Sometimes indulge with flavored water.

Here's what I'm curious about:

Is sliced chicken or turkey bad for you as opposed to eating it off the bone? Do I need to worry about preservatives?

I like eating peanut butter to make sure my caloric intake stays up. I'm not fond of natural peanut butter. Should I learn to like it anyway? Is it that much better?

Can I work pasta into my diet in some way?

I need to get more protein in me both before and after my workout after breakfast, but guzzling milk/powder when I'm exerting myself is a sickening thought. And I'm actually pretty tired of the overly sweet protein mixes. Has anyone tried "Any Whey" protein, the tasteless alternative? Can I just mix a scoop in water and guzzle it down pre and post workout?

Thanks for any advice.

Here's what I'm curious about:
1. Cold cut turkey does have more preservatives and is more processed than "off the bone" turkey, but it's still a good source of protein. Cold cuts also usually a lot more expensive then "off the bone", pound for pound.

2. JIF and Peter Pan peanut butters have sugar (not good) and hydrogenated oil (trans fats, awful). Natural peanut butter doesn't, so that makes it a better choice. It's not going to kill you or ruin your progress to have some un-natural peanut butter, but the natural stuff is healthier.

3. Whole wheat pasta is very good, and I think that regular pasta is good as well. Nothing wrong with pasta. Just make sure that you figure out how many calories of it you are eating by measuring it dry before you cook it. A little bit of pasta can provide a pretty good amount of carbs.