More than likely you've been told or have read over and over again that in order to gain serious muscle weight you "must" eat a very high protein diet....you "must" use certain supplements....you "must" avoid sweets, like chocolate candy bars...etc., etc. So, then, why is it that you have literally millions and millions of dedicated individuals that follow all of these "bodybuilding / hardgainer / muscle mass" diets to the letter, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, yet when they look at themselves in the mirror, they still look no different'? Everyone seems to think that is how all the pros do it. That's the "correct" way of eating to gain muscle weight. Well, if that were the case, why aren't we seeing any results from that sacrificial, monk-like form of eating? As I've stated in many articles time and time again, don't follow what you read....follow what you observe. Read that last sentence again. It may be one of the most physique-changing sentences you'll ever read. It sure was for me. Why do I say that? Well, become someone that observes what those that have had success do, not what's politically correct or what the popular thinking is. See what people are actually doing in the real world to gain muscle. Then, imitate it. Case in point: Mariusz Pudzianowski, multiple-time World's Strongest Man Champion, and probably the most well-built, muscular, ripped, in-shape champion (if not the most well-built), is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Not only does this man have the strength of an ox, but he has the ripped, defined, muscular look. That's very, very rare in the world of Strongest Man competition. Most powerlifters are very large in overall size, and extremely strong, but they are also very fat. Most don't have any visible muscle definition. A lot of them have humungous waist lines, especially when you get into the heavy weights and super heavy weights. But to see someone the has the best of both worlds, a ton of muscle along with very low amounts of body fat, while being extremely powerful, is very rare. In a recent Flex Magazine issue, they detail some of the top World's Strongest Man competitors. With Mariusz, they ask him how he eats and trains. What does he do to have the muscle and strength that he possesses, which is down right phenomenal. (By the way, this guy is 6' 1" in height, yet weighs an unbelievable 320 pounds....all while showing off very defined muscles and abs!!!) What he says about his eating is straight up eye-opening....and myth-busting. I quote him directly, from Flex Magazine,.. "My energy comes from my diet. Breakfast is 10 eggs and two to three pounds of bacon. Between meals, I eat lots of candy. In the morning, it will be several 3 Musketeers and / or Snickers bars; I need them for energy. Lunch...is a double meal of a Polish pork chop, sauerkraut and potatoes....then...more chocolate. .......At 3 or 4 am, I wake up and have more chocolate..." Now, he does also mention that he has a couple of more meals containing meat, sauerkraut, potatoes, and......more chocolate. But what I want you to see is that he eats chocolate candy bars all day long, even in the middle of the night. He's not big on drinking a bunch of protein powders or shakes. If you look at it, his diet is high in protein, high in carbs, and high in fats. Look at it. Two to three pounds of bacon everyday! (Gee, and I thought bacon was a big "no-no", at least according to the internet and mags). Yet, everyone says you have to have high protein, low to moderate carbs, and no sweets on a regular basis....."because it will sabotage your bodybuilding goals". Yeah right!!!!! Now, I'm not saying that this same diet would work for you in particular. The purpose of my referring to this example is to get you to think outside the box. Don't be afraid to not "follow the crowd". Find out what works best for YOUR particular body type and genetics. Do what others with success do in the real world. You may find that eating a ton of bacon or chocolate candy bars doesn't work out for you. Or, you may find that it does. How will you know unless you actually test it? "Don't knock until you try it". You may find that you need to be strict with your eating to acheive your muscle weight gain goals. You may find that you don't. Don't be afraid to experiment, you just might stumble upon something that surprises you! Copyright 2006 Jonathan Perez |
