A Note to Bodybuilders

[BendtheBar]

Rich brought up the fact that bodybuilders don't like it here because I stress eating big. A couple of points I wanted to mention to any lurking, competitive bodybuilders:

1) My advice isn't for intermediate to advanced bodybuilders. They know how to eat and train, and have very specific and unique goals.
2) Most novices that ask me for help are both undereating and undertraining. I am not trying to turn anyone into a sumo wrestler. The approach I advocate is aimed at facilitating muscle gain, not excessive fat gain.

I understand that right now I am a bigger guy, and into powerlifting. But long before I worried about strength I was obsessed with only muscle. I built a solid amount of muscle in my first 2 years of training, and though I stay around 270 right now, I weighed under 210 most of my adult life.

I firmly believe that the fastest way to build muscle is to train hard and eat harder. I tend to not view things in terms of contest cycles and off-seasons because very few of us are competitive bodybuilders. I am trying to help beginners maximize progress as fast as possible.

Novices can add quite a bit of muscle in the first 2 years of hard training, but if they eat too finely they risk a dramatic reduction in this rate.

As someone who has walked in both worlds, I know there are many things we can learn about both. I have gained both strength and size, but am no expert. One thing I do know is this:

If you are young, and still have a fast metabolism, I am confident that if you listen to my advice I can turn you into a beast within 2-3 years.

[Fazc]

I think the input from various sporting endeavours is always welcome. It's great to get advice from a different angle.

In fact, I recently consulted a bodybuilder from this very forum for diet advice! I hardly ever go to people for advice anymore, and I went to him as a fully fledged bodybuilder because I believed he had insight into an issue I was struggling with.

Bodybuilders, Figure Competitors, Oly Lifters, Strongmen and whoever else! All welcome as far as I'm concerned!

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Fazc

Bodybuilders, Figure Competitors, Oly Lifters, Strongmen and whoever else! All welcome as far as I'm concerned!

Yes, please.

I love bodybuilding. It's my first passion. I learn from everyone.

[SeventySeven]

I think this sets the record straight.

[Rich Knapp]

Very well sead.

May want to make this a sticky so it don't get buried.

[Off Road]

We are one big happy family. Let's eat.

[bamazav]

Load up the barbell and pass the steak!

[emekajokammor]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Yes, please.

I love bodybuilding. It's my first passion. I learn from everyone.

I didn't know that BTB, niice

[MC]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Rich brought up the fact that bodybuilders don't like it here because I stress eating big.

I don't get this. I mean, I understand and trust what Rich is expressing, but I don't get why people would focus in your bulking advice and shy away from the site because of it.

I didn't get big until I started eating big while lifting hard. I certainly didn't have the patience for a "slow, clean bulk" where I gain maybe .5 pound a month for 2 years, so I've accepted my fat gain along with my muscle gains.

Now, I don't have a desire to be shredded, but I will eventually cut some fat and at that point, well, yeah, I think the site seems to have a relative dearth of advice and articles on how to lean down without losing tons of muscle (and also on how to add those last few pounds of muscle with minimal fat gains). Heck, I figure I'll just hit up Rich or Titan for advice.

So, as far as your advice on eating, I think it's taken out of context. Bulking is about building yourself up (with quality foods, as you always mention) in order to get bigger and stronger. I can't see the benefit (at first) in doing this slowly as I have found a lack of clear and tangible gains to be discouraging.

I appreciate more than anything the fact that this site has a bunch of people with a bunch of varied goals sharing advice and giving feedback.

[Off Road]

It's always been this way. If you have a big powerlifter looking guy (like BtB), and he says to "eat big to get big", then the message is taken out of context. On the other hand, if you have a lean bodybuilder saying the exact same thing, suddenly it's gospel.