Personally I feel that, unless you are holding quite a bit of bodyfat, it is fool hardy
to eat clean all the time. You need look no further than all the big-boys in the sport to
find out if this theory works.
Pizza, chocolate, cheeseburgers, french-fries, kentucky fried chicken, chinese food,
ice-cream and soda. No, no, this is not the food list for my next holiday party. This is,
in fact, what I have come to learn is the mainstay of most succesful and huge pro’s
diets in the off-season for building up. I apologize if I shattered anyone’s misconception about what the Pro’s eat.
Eating Clean has resulted in a number of pro’s who’s physiques have remained
stagnent and unchanged.
What I could never understand about some bodybuilders is their delusion that they had to eat chicken
breasts and baked potatoes 24/7 365 days a year. Aside from making dieting even harder
than it already is come contest time, it tends to keep the metabolism stuck in neutral.
Shocking the system every now and again always keeps the metabolic rate high and in doing
this allows more muscle mass to be built, which the last time I checked was the reason
bodybuilding became a sport in the first place!
How many pro’s started their careers eating chicken breasts broccoli and potatos,
only to make zero progress until they started eating everything and anything in sight! You
don’t pack on size eating like a gymnast.
I feel that the smart move to make for an off-season bodybuilder looking to acquire new
size is to make sure they get in 450-500 grams of protein per day and then eat whatever
the hell they want within reason. I’m not suggesting a diet of twinkies and ice
cream, but if you desire a little snack after you get in all your nutritional
needs…go for it. If controlling fat is a concern, you can always cut back on the
carbs.
Following this rule has resulted in more freaks than you can imagine. Why is it that
someone like Lee Priest carries 20lbs more muscle than Shawn Ray and is a good 2 inches
shorter? It’s in the eating I guarantee it!
In conclusion, I would suggest and a building up offseason program that relies heavily on protein
(450-500 grams a day) and then eat basic, high calorie foods. Things such as milk, whole
eggs, steaks and pasta have resulted in more mass then broiled chicken and broccoli every
have. Remember, fat can always be stripped off, muscle is a little harder to put on. Pack
on the muscle and let the fat come along for the ride……then give yourself time
to tighten things up and burn off the fat. Concerning yourself with appearance all year
long is a sure fire way to keep your physique from causing heads to turn. There is a time
and a place for everything and as the Zen monks say "You cannot serve two masters at
once."
