Not enough Protein!!!! Your thoughts?

[pharon]

mass,

I think some of these guys think that just because they sit in this forum all day, they will magically become bigger... I choose to spend my time in the gym or the kitchen.
.

AMEN...

 

[Suareezay]

I'm hoping that even with a caloric deficit that I will be able to add mass because I'm taking in 1.5gms of protein per lb of body plus I'm keeping from doing to much cardio.

Well I hope that im going to win the lottery....well see when that happens.

You can eat 8g of protein per pound of bodyweight, your not going to build any muscle if your burning more calories than you take in. Its like saving to buy a car...if you spend $100 a day, but only make $90 a day, how do you expect to save any money?

Your body is an efficient machine. Its sole purpose is survival. Do you think it wants an extra 30 pounds of muscle attached to it that it has to lug around, feed, fuel, and maintain? NO. Your body is going to maintain the smallest amount of muscle possible in order to complete everyday tasks. No more.

When you take calories in, it uses those calories for necesary bodily functions; movement, breathing, digestion, fighting off sickness, etc. Building muscle isnt a necesary bodily function. Building muscle is the last thing on your bodys "to do" list...so whatever calories are LEFT OVER (EXCESS) is what goes towards building new muscle.

If you could build muscle and burn fat at the same time everyone would look like a covermodel.

Trust me, everyone tries the "do both at the same time" approach. Unless you have ungodly genetics, in which case you would already look amazing, its not going to happen.

The "no cardio when bulking" rule is primitive thinking as well. When done right, cardio adds health benefits, keeps apettite high, aids in recovery, and keeps bodyfat low.

 

[BiggerthanLavar]

Well I hope that im going to win the lottery....well see when that happens.

You can eat 8g of protein per pound of bodyweight, your not going to build any muscle if your burning more calories than you take in. Its like saving to buy a car...if you spend $100 a day, but only make $90 a day, how do you expect to save any money?

Your body is an efficient machine. Its sole purpose is survival. Do you think it wants an extra 30 pounds of muscle attached to it that it has to lug around, feed, fuel, and maintain? NO. Your body is going to maintain the smallest amount of muscle possible in order to complete everyday tasks. No more.

When you take calories in, it uses those calories for necesary bodily functions; movement, breathing, digestion, fighting off sickness, etc. Building muscle isnt a necesary bodily function. Building muscle is the last thing on your bodys "to do" list...so whatever calories are LEFT OVER (EXCESS) is what goes towards building new muscle.

If you could build muscle and burn fat at the same time everyone would look like a covermodel.

Trust me, everyone tries the "do both at the same time" approach. Unless you have ungodly genetics, in which case you would already look amazing, its not going to happen.

The "no cardio when bulking" rule is primitive thinking as well. When done right, cardio adds health benefits, keeps apettite high, aids in recovery, and keeps bodyfat low.

bro, I see where you're coming form and I really have no ammo to argue with you until I actually DO it. I don't like the car analogy though...It just isn't applicable in this scenario. I do get the "Everyday tasks" point, but realize that for my body, an everyday task is moving massive amounts of weight in the gym(well massive for me ) I know the body is designed to be super efficient and just so that I don't fall into the trap of my body becoming too efficient, I have a cheat meal per week that's loaded with carbs, sugar, fats, and protein. AS for the "no cardio" I meant that I keep cardio down to 30 min a day, 3 days a week. That should be enough to keep me healthy and provide all the benefits you mentioned. Like I said, I can't really argue with you. The point of this thread was to see what others do abouit taking in the necessary protein for building muscle.

 

[chidoks]

i am still confused as to how much protein per pound of bodyweight one should be consuming when bulking? also when cutting does the amount of protein you take in reduce or just your caloric intake?

 

[Suareezay]

bro, I see where you're coming form and I really have no ammo to argue with you until I actually DO it. I don't like the car analogy though...It just isn't applicable in this scenario. I do get the "Everyday tasks" point, but realize that for my body, an everyday task is moving massive amounts of weight in the gym(well massive for me ) I know the body is designed to be super efficient and just so that I don't fall into the trap of my body becoming too efficient, I have a cheat meal per week that's loaded with carbs, sugar, fats, and protein. AS for the "no cardio" I meant that I keep cardio down to 30 min a day, 3 days a week. That should be enough to keep me healthy and provide all the benefits you mentioned. Like I said, I can't really argue with you. The point of this thread was to see what others do abouit taking in the necessary protein for building muscle.

the car analogy is completely applicable, or else I wouldnt have mentioned it. Your trying to reap the benefits of a surplus of a certain thing (calories, money) when all you have is a deficit (calories, money).

Your cheat meal has nothing to do with gaining size. Eating below maintenence all week then eating grossly over maintenence one day isnt going to help you. Cheat meals are good though....they keep you sane...assuming the rest of your diet is in check.

30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week sounds good....assuming your not an endomorph who gains fat easily.

i am still confused as to how much protein per pound of bodyweight one should be consuming when bulking? also when cutting does the amount of protein you take in reduce or just your caloric intake?

There is no magic number. 1 - 1.5g per pound of lean bodyweight is a good starting point.

When cutting youll want to lower overall calories, mainly in the form of carbs and fat, and keep protein high.

 

[1BdMfkr]

agree with suareezay, pretty good analogy, esp if your an ecto, your body will burn anything that is not being utilized, including muscle if cal intake is not sufficient.

 

[Suareezay]

agree with suareezay, pretty good analogy, esp if your an ecto, your body will burn anything that is not being utilized, including muscle if cal intake is not sufficient.

actually I just saw his pics in another thread....turns out hes not an ecto, hes an endo (at least mostly). But that doesnt really change much other than your maintenance level is probably a little lower....you still need a surplus.

Biggerthanlavar...judging by your pics you obviously know what your doin, you made a nice transformation. It sucks that youve taken a few steps backward....happens to everybody though. Ive had to take time off an lost so much muscle, but itll come back, you just gotta work at it. But like I said...id get shredded, then put on some muscle. When your ripped you look bigger anyway

 

[BiggerthanLavar]

actually I just saw his pics in another thread....turns out hes not an ecto, hes an endo (at least mostly). But that doesnt really change much other than your maintenance level is probably a little lower....you still need a surplus.

Biggerthanlavar...judging by your pics you obviously know what your doin, you made a nice transformation. It sucks that youve taken a few steps backward....happens to everybody though. Ive had to take time off an lost so much muscle, but itll come back, you just gotta work at it. But like I said...id get shredded, then put on some muscle. When your ripped you look bigger anyway

Thanks for the compliment....yeah I took a few steps back but I'm on the right track again. I'm definitely an endo, one that packs on fat more than anything! Anywho, I''ve been thinking about this alot lately and I'm just going to hope that I can lose BF% yet still make some modest gains in the strength dept. I know at some time I will reach a point of diminishing returns, meaning the leaner I get(lower than 5%) it will be harder for me to make strength gains. I guess I'm just tring to get down to 8-6% BF and start really building from there. As for the protein intake, I've noticed my nails and hair growing like crazy over the past few weeks. What this tells me(somone correct me if I'm wrong) is that my body has so much surpluss of protein (after muscle repair)that what ever I don't piss or shit out get's used to grow hair and fingernails. I've been hovering at the 290g mark for a few weeks now. I have made gains in size and strength but I think as long as I take in AT LEAST 1gm of protein per LB of body weight, I will be ok.

 

[Suareezay]

I know at some time I will reach a point of diminishing returns, meaning the leaner I get(lower than 5%) it will be harder for me to make strength gains.

Not to burst your bubble, but your not going to get down to 5 and sustain it. BBers are about 4-5% onstage

 

[BiggerthanLavar]

Not to burst your bubble, but your not going to get down to 5 and sustain it. BBers are about 4-5% onstage

can't argue w/ that. I measured between 4 and 5% for about 6 hours....Of course that was with a caliper which is not the most acurate tool. I have consistently measured 6% though....

 

[1BdMfkr]

agree and disagree,

suareezy, my bro is no bodybuilder but a runner and he maintains under 6% all year around. Looks like brucelee.. Biggerthanlavar, caliper test is not very accurate under 10%, have to do water displacement which is kinda expensive and hard to find depending on where you live. But from the looks of it I'd say your around 8-10%, keep up the hard work, when you reach 5-6 you'll know it, your skin will be like paper.