Every bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast loves bulking season. Right now it’s starting to get a bit colder outside, and for many athletes thatmeans EAT TIME! As long as you are exercising consistently and rigorously, there should theoretically be little fat gain. However, there are a few things about the human body that make this a bit more complicated. First of all, an athlete is an athlete because he or she has reached a peak level of conditioning. That is to say, they have high-performance assets they have both developed with training and were given by birth. Therefore we can assume that an athlete in peak condition should exude optimum effects by all foods. So no matter what amount of food is obtained, the body will attempt to utilize it to a high degree of efficiency. That is, until the body is experiencing nutrient super-compensation…
What is nutrient super-compensation?
When your body is experiencing nutrient super-compensation, it has ceased efficiently utilizing dietary amino acids and other nutrients and has become overwhelmed. Your testosterone will lower, growth hormone release is impeded, and insulin sensitivity is lowered. It’s time for some nutrient deficiency.
So what do you do?
You starve yourself in order to clear your system. Most people do it every night when they sleep. (Hence the name Break-Fast) However, many athletes, bodybuilders etc… will just keep eating. Pounding protein shakes, fried chicken, potatoes, etc… is fine as long as you give your body a break. Get at least 8-9 hours of sleep per night, and do not eat before bed. Despite popular belief, unless you’re starving, you shouldn’t eat before bed unless you are supplementing with strong anabolic substances. So you could either give your body the nightly fast it needs, or you can condense it all into one day. That’s right – fast for a day. The “cheat day” phrase that is so commonly used these days is really just an excuse to not eat.
“I personally will utilize this sort of nutrient cycling technique year-round. However, there are multiple ways to use it, and different ideas on why it works. Go ahead and skip that pre-bedtime meal and drink a tall glass of water instead. You may really like the fullness in your muscles from the extra GH release. And you may really like the extra hunger “kick” it gives you. And on my “cheat days” I make sure to cut something either out completely or minimize it. It may be protein, fat, or carbs. If you play around with it, you’ll certainly find your sweet spot.”
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Dr. Rex is a natural bodybuilder and a local authority on training for muscle development.
www.everydaymuscle.com
Copyright 2010
Tags: diet theory, Dietary Amino Acids, Fitness Enthusiast, Growth Hormone Release, Insulin Sensitivity, nutrient super-compensation, Peak Condition, Popular Belief
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on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 at 9:53 pm and is filed under Diet, Muscle Theory.
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