Yeah I know what you mean with good gains from smashing heaps of what ever food but I've been training about as long as you but my best gains have been this year I've been dieting all year.. A binge here and there when I'm bulking but you gotta eat shitloads of clean food.. If bulking is what your after.. Smash lean meats, brown rice oats, green veg, egg whites.. When I was bulking January I was eating every 2 hours...
Rough diet for bulking:
Meal1: 8 egg whites 1 whole egg
2 bits of whole meal/ grain toast with peanut butter
Coffee.. No sugar
Meal2: 2 chicken breasts 2 cups of brown rice 1 cup of beans
Meal3: same as meal 3
Meal4: same as meal 3
Meal5: Preworkout supplements, whey protein with 1 cup of oats, BCAA
Meal6: post workout.. Whey protein with 1 cup of oats
Meal7: 500g steak or chicken or tuna, 2cups of beans
Meal8: before bed.. Casein shake
Mate if you stick this out you'll slam it on... If you start getting fat back the brown rice to 1 cup not 2 and oats half cup..