Eat
The foods we eat is the one area that many bodybuilders truly underestimate. In fact, food and our diets may be the single biggest determinants of our progress. Here are a few FAQs about eating as a bodybuilder.
- How much water should I drink through the day?
- What is a good starting point for a bulking diet?
- What is a good starting point for a cutting diet?
- How many times a day do bodybuilders typically eat?
- I know all meals are important, but when are the most important times to eat?
- I'll never grow, what do I do?
How much water should I drink through the day?
A good rule of thumb is to take in at least one gallon of water per day. Depending on climate (hot vs. cold), type of work that you do (desk job vs. working outside) and intensity of your workout, more or less would be needed.
What is a good starting point for a bulking diet?
Generally, it's suggested to take in around 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight, and 1-2 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight. Also, don't forget your good fats. Remember this, you're the scale isn't moving, you're just not eating enough. Simple. And don't try to pack in the calories all at once, gradually increase them as you go along with your diet.
What is a good starting point for a cutting diet?
In short, you can start with 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight, and 1 gram of carbs per pound of bodyweight. From there you can adjust you carbs as you see fit. To get cut you, one must fuel their bodies with clean, high protein goods, veggies and wholesome sources of carbs. Thrown in a little good fat in their as well. Don't overthink and complicate the process.
How many times a day do bodybuilders typically eat?
Typically you can find most bodybuilders eating every 2-3 hours or about 6 times per day. The key is fueling your body with clean calories throughout the day for opimal growth and repair. The key is to learn how your body responds to meal timing and tweak it from there.
I know all meals are important, but when are the most important times to eat?
In the morning, when you first wake up, is a very crucial time to be taking in a solid amounts of carbs and proteins. You have been “fasting” for the past 8 hours or so while you sleep, and therefore it's a crucial time to take in quality nutrients. Before the workout or even during the workout, is another important time to get some carbs and protein to fuel your workout. After the workout is a very important time to take in some faster digesting carbs and protein to replenish and repair your muscles from the hard training session you'd just experienced.
I'll never grow, what do I do?
Eat. It's as simple as that. You can't grow, if you don't put the right fuel into your body. You need to get on a solid diet plan that makes sure your protein, carbohydrates and fats are in check and that your calories are kept above your maintenance requirement. There are no real secrets. If you want to grow, you need to simply eat.
