Weight Training Blog

Now is the best time to be putting on extra pounds in order to get big.

You may have heard of the term “bulking season” or “off season” while in the gym, and what is meant by these terms is that basically, during the bulking season, not much attention is paid towards looks, but rather towards size and weight. During bulking season, lifters attempt to put on as much solid poundage as possible while eating food that is still wholesome. By wholesome, I mean things like steak, fish, chicken, and eggs. Not things like cookies, ice cream, and pizza.

This is normally done during the winter months simply because no one is really going to be looking at you without your shirt on during the colder months of the year. So there’s no better time than the cooler months to add on extra weight.

As you train, you’ll find it difficult to put on large size gains while maintaining a cut figure without the help of drugs. The bulking season helps solve that as it will enable you to grow muscle rather quickly, but not maintaining a “cut” figure. This is ok, because when it’s time to get ready for the nice weather (summer time) then you shouldn’t have too much of a problem cutting down again, leaving larger muscles from the bulking season intact.

I’ve heard of some guys adding on an addition 50 pounds during bulking season, but I would say the majority of those who do the on season / off season schedule tend to add on about 20 pounds and then take most of it back off when it’s time to cut back down.

It dawned on me, “what are some good sources of protein?” since after all, foods rich in protein should be at the heart of anyone’s diet who is serious about putting on some muscle. This list is especially important for those of you who may be just starting out, or those of you who are just now starting to realize the importance of the right diet.

Now does this mean you should only limit yourself to these foods if you’re trying to put on some muscle? No. In fact, you’ll find yourself suffering from malnutrition if you continue to do so. But whenever possible, you should try to base a meal around some of the following foods in order to ensure you’re obtaining the right amount of protein that your body needs in order to grow:

Eggs
Cheese
Yogurt
Peanut Butter
Beef
Fish
Chicken
Turkey
Beans
Tofu
Nuts and seeds
Milk
Soy milk

If you balance your diet with the above food sources through out the day, as well as possibly take one or two protein shakes during the day, you’re almost certain to achieve a daily protein intake of over 150 grams.

Personally, I always have a problem finding the time to eat certain foods since I’m constantly on the go. I’ve started to hard boil my eggs to save on time since you can almost grab them on the go, cook chicken and beef ahead of time to save time later in the week, and take an extra protein shake to ensure I’m supply my muscles with enough protein in order to develop more fully.

Ever since someone told me that they take in about 1000 grams of protein per day on a some what regular basis, it got me thinking – just how much is too much?

First, let me start by saying, 1000 grams per day is too much. Quite frankly, it’s stupid. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that your body cannot, and will not digest 1000 grams of protein per day properly. In fact, the bulk of it will be purged in the form of waste, or will be used as energry through the process of  gluconeogenesis because your body’s instincts know better than your conscious brain. Simply put, ingesting one half of a 5 pound container of whey protein per day isn’t going to get you huge in a day. Nice try. Try steroids if you’re looking for that effect. It’ll be cheaper in the long run.

So how much is a good amount? It can vary from person to person, but as a rule of thumb, anywhere from one gram to a gram and a half per pound of body weight is almost an optimal level of protein intake. Does this mean ingest this amount of protein all at the same time? No. It means that through out the course of the day you should ingest nearly one gram of protein per pound of body weight. This amount should be comprised of foods rich in protein, as well as protein shakes mixed with either water or milk.

True, if you weigh 1000 pounds, then with this math you should be ingesting 1000 grams of protein a day, but if that’s the case, I suggest you stop reading this and hit a tredmil or seek medical help immediatly.