Eating for size

[Robyn]

I heard from lots of sources that in order to bulk up that one must consume a lot of quality calories in conjunction with intense strength training. This means eating lots of carbs, protein, and other sources of nutrients to get muscles growing. Sounds good and all but I heard that body builders and aspiring ones eat an upwards of over 3500 calories a day! Is this true? Seems like an awful lot. Can't this also make you fat while muscling up? Who wants to get fat? Isn't the whole idea to look good? I want size, but not in my gut! Elighten me please.

Well that is true I guess.....lots of BB eat upwards of 3500 calories, some even go as high as to consume 5000 or more. The optimal word here is GROW, and obviously you can't when you only consume the 2000 RDA, just to get by on a normal low activity day you body has to have the RDA. If you are lifting or exercising that number must rise. Remember if you are using more calories than you consume, then you have a calorie deficiency which can lead to muscle catabolism, which means you start to consume your own muscle tissue for energy and not the unwanted fat. This is a major problem with most of the FAD diets.
To GROW big attractive muscles you must first bulk up, by eating, but eating right. Lean meat, eggs, turkey, chicken, fish, tuna, and supplement with the right proteins.
Once you reach a desired size you can always cut up, and if staying lean and toned is your goal......look into gear that most endurance athletes look to.
If you still have questions I believe either HOSS, D-, or any of the MODS could steer you in the right direction. Ask FLATLINE, he is like the wizard of this nice EMERALD CITY.

PEACE******************************

[FlatLine]

I bumped a thread in the supplement section " Protein- what is the correct..." read through it. It has alot of good info and what I suggest. Hope it helps. Later

[SHINE]

I think if a guy keeps fatintake at nor more than 10% and the 2 grams of protein per body pound you should do okay. You Might have to experiment with caloric intake to see how much your body needs per day to grow. Not everybody has the same Metab, some need more and some need less. I remember reading an article on Manfred Hoeberel , said he needed at least 6000 calories a day to grow. I guess considering he is 6'3" at 340 with %10 body fat he needs that much. If I ate that much I would be a fat bastard, I can only take in about 3700 cals a day.
Like hrdpecs said there are some good cutting drugs to kill the dam fat.
Peace, Shine.

[MP]

3500 calories is a measurement equal to one lb. Calories are units of heat. When I am bulking up I eat everything except sugar and too much bad fats. For me it is impossible to get big and get lean at the same time.I did it for 2 straight years and sure I was ripped but I stayed about the same size also.Look at the pro's. They have what is called an off season. Some gaining over 100lbs during this time and then diet back down to contest weight.The guys who do this are usually the biggest and strongest. Take Shawn Ray for instance, he stays close to contest weight all year long and he has roughly weighed the same for the past 5 years. Then look at Coleman,Nasser, and Priest. They throw diet out the window and pack on the size and when they diet back down they are always thicker and heavier at the same bf% of the year before. Plus staying on a diet year round is just way to tough on the brain. The extra fat you put on provides water and support around your joints allowing you to lift more in the way of leverage and be more safe doing it.