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Thread: Strength training - food intake

  1. #1
    kymchoon
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    Strength training - food intake

    This question is probably more for the guys than the girls (due to the results I'm aiming for), but any kind of input is welcome!

    I've started going to the gym to seriously rebuild my muscle mass, which has gone from pretty good to pathetic after sitting at a desk for so long. The problem is that my trainer tells me he wants me to eat six times a day.

    I cannot do this.

    I'm a one meal a day guy. Usually a huge meal, yes, but only one. Have been my whole life, even when I was doing physical labour all the time (grew up on a farm). I'm attempting three at the moment, and my body doesn't like it. I find myself literally forcing down some cereal in the morning (as in, staring at the spoon saying "you can do this"), managing OK at lunch but then still being quite hungry in the evening, even though I've probably already eaten as much as I normally would have. I'm not hungry at all except in the evenings, I'm just eating because I've been told to, and it's a real effort.

    Any suggestions? I'm toying with the idea of doing the 'liquid meal' thing during the day, with those food powders you get at health stores. Do they actually do their job/give you what they're supposed to? In particular for any Aussies/Kiwis, have you used Mushashi's stuff, how do you find it and are there any particular products you'd recommend?

    (Slightly off-topic, what is with all the exercises designed to work the chest? I mean, I can't think of many practical things that you use your pecs for, so is it just for the look? Thinking back to when I was doing a lot of heavy lifting, digging and other such activities, my shoulders and arms got pretty big, but there wasn't that much muscle on my chest. For that matter, that goes for the stomach as well. Is it a purely aesthetic thing, or is there some form of hard labour out there that uses them I haven't come across?)
    Last edited by kymchoon; 03-16-2005 at 05:43 PM. Reason: because I can't spell

  2. #2
    God/dess colleen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    I was never much of a breakfast person, but wehn I got pregnant ans was nursing my son, I was always told I HAD to eat breakfast. Slimfast was the only thing I could keep down in the mornings, so that is what I used. Worked fine and I had a healthy son.

    I can't really eat much wehn I get out of bed, but if I ma up for a while, I feel more like eating. Maybe you should get up and read the paper or work out first, THEN try to eat. it works better for me tht way.


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  3. #3
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    You might not be genetically destined for a humungous chest. Add spot exercising for a while and see if it makes a difference. If not, you just have live with it. I hope your heart isn't crushed, not everyone wants or needs big pecs.
    While I'm not a guy, I have the experience of a few years of gym workouts and a few hard labor jobs. I also have nice muscle mass from inheriting my dad's frame (thanks, Pop.)
    As for the meals, it has to do with your metabolism, the meal spacing is designed to make your body burn calories constantly, first to trim and then to turn into muscle. If you really have a problem with eating too often, just do things your way. Or split the one meal into two.

  4. #4
    kymchoon
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    Quote Originally Posted by madmaxine
    I hope your heart isn't crushed, not everyone wants or needs big pecs.
    I am indeed crushed, my hopes and dreams are gone, my little heart is pitter-pattering and the tears are welling up. Why would you do this to me - why? Heh, I'm not opposed to building up my chest/stomach (and I'm sure my SO will appreciate it) I was just wondering if there's any practical use for it - my primary goal is to 'be stronger/healthier' not 'look better'.

    Quote Originally Posted by colleen
    Maybe you should get up and read the paper or work out first, THEN try to eat.
    I already do this, I wait until I get to work to eat breakfast (about 7:30) but it's still hard - hence why I'm considering the liquid option.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    You do understand that when he says 6 meals, it's 6 small ones, not 6x what you normally eat, right? jk

    The easiest way to do it is start by eating 2-3 meals a day. Cut way down on the portions of your main meal: eat some oatmeal or a smoothie in the morning, a tuna or chicken sandwich for lunch. Light food. Like madmaxine said, the point is to keep your metabolism chugging throughout the day--sounds like it's currently dead except after you eat your huge meal, which is a bad thing. Basically, cut your portions and keep at it. It takes a while to get used to, but pretty soon you'll be looking forward to breakfast. It gives you a huge energy boost in the mornings (this from personal experience).

    Liquid meals/protein powder can be good, but incorporate that later...right now, just get used to eating 3 smaller meals a day.

    And yeah, chest workouts are pretty much to look nice, and so you can brag at the gym ("How much you bench?" "xxx, how bout you?" "yyyy." "cool." "cool.") I guess when the choice is man boobs or defined pecs, you go with which looks better

  6. #6
    kymchoon
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    ^Ooh wait, I know the answer to this one!

    It's man boobs, right?

    ...right?

    ...

    (but they're so soft and squishy...)

  7. #7
    Featured Member DSUsb19's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    Strong pecs and abs DO serve a purpose, believe it or not. A strong chest and midsection will help keep your backside in alignment. You might notice during the olympics, the track stars have the most defined abs. That's because almost everything you do engages your core muscles. Developing a strong chest, abs, lats, obliques, and "belt" (area of muscle right around the lower back) will help eliminate the potential for back problems. My dad used to be a beach bum and had the whole "strong arms and chest he-man" thing going on, now he lives in agony due to a bulging disc in his weak back. I have a very strong chest and front section, but neglected my back for a while. Now our trainer is treating my strained neck and lower back. When you do work out your front, do it 1:2. Do twice as many lat pulls, rows, and back extensions as you do push-ups, chest presses, bench presses, and so on. Same for legs and arms. Do twice as many triceps as biceps, and twice as many hams as quads. It's about being even. If you work the front hard, and neglect the back, you'll develop a lurch. If you work the back and neglect the front, you'll wind up with the pooch.


    As for the meal thing. Like TZ said, I'm sure the trainer meant 6 smaller meas, high in protein or carbs. During the day, you could drink Ensure shakes, or something of that sort to build mass. www.BodyBuilding.com has some really good muscle mass promoting products, which are actually very palatable. Good luck!
    Last edited by DSUsb19; 03-16-2005 at 10:02 PM.
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  8. #8
    Senior Member Fathom7's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    I can feel ya on the eating thing but here is something that might motivate you into eating REAL meals more frequently. The body is a machine and most of its functions are not in our direct control. Being that it is a machine it needs fuel. Food=Fuel. If you only eat one time a day and have been doing so for a while your body says "Hmmm ok one meal a day. . well I will adjust for that one meal and store my energy". Storing is bad because energy comes from Fuel, but energy=fat. So your body might hold onto fat because it knows it won't get fuel for a while; your metabolism slows down. Stockpiles of fat on most men happen in the gut and in the face. You may be different so my advice may not be for you. Having participated in many endurance sports and trained with awsome coaches I can tell you this fat storing happens 3 of 5 times to people who don't eat consistantly throughout the day. SO eat more and drink tons of water to flush your system out. As for liquid stuff, know that a meal is defined as having 18-20 grams of protein. So a protein shake with nutrients would be advisable, not just any ol liquid. Hope that helps. For the pecs. . um benchpresses or pushups? Good Luck.

  9. #9
    Featured Member krys's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    I used to be a two meals a day girl aswell... now I have to eat every 3-4 hours or I get moody I have noticed a HUGE change in my body composition since I have changed my eating habits.

    Your body gets used to it, you just have to eat smaller meals to make sure you are hungry for the next meal. Meal replacement drinks are OK but I wouldn't rely on them long term.

    Best words of advice I can give:
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/index.html best website out, great store and heaps of articles as well as a great forum.

    k

  10. #10
    Member Plastics Doc's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    The idea of 6 meals is daunting and so contrary to everything everyone has ever told you about weight loss but....it works.

    The key is what Krys said, at first you can't bear the thought of eating 3 hours after your last meal. Soon your metabolism will gear up and you'll be starving at 3 hours. Strange but true.

    The shakes (I like Muscle Milk) are great for early morning when you don't have the energy to cook. Be sure not to eat after 7:00 pm - you collect all those calories and they don't get burned.

    Good luck
    Plastics Doc

  11. #11
    Featured Member krys's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strength training - food intake

    Quote Originally Posted by Plastics Doc
    Be sure not to eat after 7:00 pm - you collect all those calories and they don't get burned.

    Good luck
    That is all relative to how much you consumed during the day, what time you get up/go to bed and what your activity level has been.

    If you go to bed at midnight not eating for 5 hours prior is pretty silly considering your next meal might not be till 8am... thats 13 hours without food, 5-7 of which may be filled with activity. Also by not eating after 7 you have to cram in your calories before then to make sure you are getting enough which is also not a good idea. The body can handle max 400-600 calories at one time to work the most effciently.

    If you are going to be inactive in the evening just eat foods lower in carbs or stay away from carbs and stick to protein foods. Your muscle rebuilds over night during rest so you need something in your system or your muscle will begin to break itself down. Remeber we are talking about muscle gain here... not just fat loss.

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