OFF the "bodybuilding" feeding/supp program, with interesting results

[BodybuildingUniverse]

For nearly a year now I have been eating like a regular Joe, when I'm hungry. AND, I have taken no supplements other than a daily vite. No more rushing home to down a preworkout shake, no force feeding spending GOBs of money on chicken breasts and steak. My typical day is an oatmeal breakfast or bacon and eggs, a large sub for lunch and a normal dinner. I started a creatine cycle and ended it after 2 drinks.

Results: MINIMAL (very) change in strength or muscle size. Granted, I'm not lifting my personal records in any lift but I am not "weak" by my standards either. And although maybe a few pounds lighter, the extra definition actually makes me appear a little bigger I think.

anyways, food for thought. I for one am enjoying being off the eating schedule and popping the pills.

 

[casualbb]

That's been my experience as well. People underestimate the power of eating.

 

[Zander1983]

You're eating what a regular joe would consider to be a healthy, balanced and normal diet. One most would aspire to, actually! In reality, the average joe does not eat like that. Where's the donuts, McDonalds etc?

The fact you haven't gone forward shows what casual said - the importance of having your diet right or pretty good. But not having gone backwards isn't surprising either, because you could be eating a whole lot worse.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

True, I could be eating worse... I do have the occasional donut...but I can't bring myself to eat McDonalds.

 

[Legion Kreinak2]

Very interesting...

A year now and now much change. That's very good to know. Still lifting heavy?

What's your routine like? How often do you train and such?

Also, have you been lifting those same weights for a year now - since you said you're not setting and PRs? And have your lifts been slowly descreasing, or remaining constant?

What're your stats, and about how many cals are you taking in daily now?

Sorry for all the questions man, but I'm really curious...


Oh, and Casual, what do you mean people underestimate the power of eating? Everyone on these boards, from what I see, stresses to eat TONS. I'm starting to think they're going a bit overboard with all that eating. True, you need a surplus. Perhaps it's false, though, that you need as much as they say.

Just a thought.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

Short on time so my reply will be a bit choppy:

still lifting heavy but doing 8 rep minimum. Legs I go 5 reps one week and 15 the next. Just mixing it up

routine is 3 days: chest/bis, Back/tris, Delts/Legs. Abs every workout. Just basic, core lifts...nothing fancy. Mostly free weight with the occasional Hammer strength thrown in

lifts have been slowly increasing but mostly due to me recovering from my pec tear. For example, I am back up to the 100s on incline presses, most I ever used was 110s.

stats: 6'2" and 215, no idea on the calories but I bet if I added it up it aint much. very small appetite, thats why eating was always a pain and I blew a ton on protein shakes

hope this helps, I am actually surprised that I have lost so little...but happy.

 

[Legion Kreinak2]

Sounds like you were in the same pit as me - wasting alot of money on food and supplements (protein shakes, at least).

I've been eating alot lately and my lifts are increasing, but the past 2 days I didn't eat much of anything (felt sick) and managed to set PRs both training days...

I'm sure I'd run stagnant sooner with less food, but because my girlfriend is more important to me, I'm going to have to cut back on buying this food until my parents support me more or a job comes along. I think I'm doing pretty good though.

It's good to hear that though, because I can't eat much either - no appetite, and seeing as you've made it pretty well not eating all that much, it gives me confidence.

If you had to guess roughly on the number of calories - what would it be? You must just be hitting maintenance - 215 x 15, so that's around 3000 or so calories.

 

[Tubby]

I think everyone responds diff

I kid you not, I run 4 miles 6 days a week on top of heavy weight training and some people might not like this, but I actually gain weight(muscle of course). Ive always been an easy gainer, but one thing Ive always had is a healthy app, I love food. The only thing I take is creatine, with alot of water.I think low reps of anything other than maybe a major exercise like bench is nowhere near as rewarding as 10-12 reps of 4 sets. IMHO if you really want to get stronger you have to do more exercises and keep reps of things like dumbells on down to 4 sets of 10, even leg work. Its fine to switch up every now and then to more weight and less reps for a week every 5 weeks but other than that its 4 sets of 10-12 for me.

 

[coolcolj]

I'm eating more or less pretty regularly, junk food and all, not really eating much , ie the way normal people eat - eat when your hungry only. I just take my fish oils and multi-vitamin.
Whey ebfore and after training that is it.

Bodyweight is climbing up unfortunately - FAT!
Good gains in strength, power and size though

 

[casualbb]

Oh, and Casual, what do you mean people underestimate the power of eating?

lol, I was referring to the layperson. I'd say on the whole people here understand the necessity of a correct diet.

Diet and training are like those two keys you need to launch a nuke: if they're not engaged at the same time nothing will happen.

Lucky guys like CoolColJ will have bodies that just want to eat mountains... I can't get away with that. I actually tracked it -- when I eat my fill and nothing more, I'll only get 2100 kcal/day. Now I'm shooting for 3000-3300, and oh boy it's unpleasant.