Basics of Bodybuilding

Training
41

[quote]kravi wrote:
I’m not an expert on bodybuilding, but I’m pretty knowledgeable about food and biochemistry.

The concept that you only need to worry/focus about the 3 macros is crap. Sure you need to make sure you get the right amounts of each (don’t discount fat which is absolutely required for hormone production - and a million other things), but there is a whole lot more. Preservatives, pesticides, GMO food can all impact your endocrine system and impact your body’s ability to create hormones, to metabolize food, to deal with chronic inflammation, etc.

Micronutrients are also key to your body functioning the way it is supposed to, and mass produced foods, vegetables, etc are lacking in them. Just because you don’t see or taste it, doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need it.

In short, the people who say “I get all my food from McDonalds” may be able to put on mass, and if young enough, not get too fat, but… The long term consequences to your health are significant, and this means your ability to keep lifting weights 5 and 10 years in.

–Me[/quote]

This. I’m not going to get into IIFYM because I’ve done it and actually cut down body fat while maintaining mass. Eating from Burger King btw not that it makes much of a difference so I know it works. My point is that now that I KNOW better like what Kravi is talking about here, I’d much rather cook my own meals, yes. 1000x yes. There are certain ways to do things that just work better for you overall, and I’m talking about long term here. I’m only 24 but I’m already thinking ahead and rather my lifestyle now NOT impact my life in the future because I din’t bother to research what I was eating because “I’m only worried about macronutrients and they’re all the same” Fuck that noise.

This doesn’t mean I don’t eat fast food ever, but if I have the time which I mostly do, I will cook it myself.

42

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]youngster543210 wrote:

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I’ve found that age, genetics, and of course just random luck of the draw will determine how many ‘minor’ details an individual has to worry about in order to progress towards their goals. While my own initial training was a lot of spinning my wheels until I was able to discern exactly what needed addressing, once I sort of hit my stride and had packed on a good amount of LBM, I found that I could have more latitude in my training and diet. Obviously the issue of consistency and training smart vs just training hard factor in, but in hindsight, it’s very easy to see missteps.

Over the last few years, I’ve had clients that have needed nothing more than a well thought out program and diet outline to keep them moving steadily for months at a time. Others, have been a constant fight with their metabolisms, injuries, and recovery abilities (physical demands outside of the gym). Saying that everyone either obsesses more than they need to, or even that they should focus more is a pretty serious generalization.

S[/quote]

Gawdd, I hope this post isn’t directed at me. You won’t quote me saying either “everyone obsesses more than they need to” or “they should focus more.” [/quote]

I didn’t quote anyone, relax :slight_smile:

S[/quote]

Agreed, relax :slight_smile:

43

[quote]zraw wrote:
Top guys dont live like monks beside the weirdo Kai Greene

[/quote]

lol

44

[quote]recreational wrote:

[quote]LoRez wrote:

[quote]kravi wrote:
I’m not an expert on bodybuilding, but I’m pretty knowledgeable about food and biochemistry.

The concept that you only need to worry/focus about the 3 macros is crap. Sure you need to make sure you get the right amounts of each (don’t discount fat which is absolutely required for hormone production - and a million other things), but there is a whole lot more. Preservatives, pesticides, GMO food can all impact your endocrine system and impact your body’s ability to create hormones, to metabolize food, to deal with chronic inflammation, etc.

Micronutrients are also key to your body functioning the way it is supposed to, and mass produced foods, vegetables, etc are lacking in them. Just because you don’t see or taste it, doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need it.

In short, the people who say “I get all my food from McDonalds” may be able to put on mass, and if young enough, not get too fat, but… The long term consequences to your health are significant, and this means your ability to keep lifting weights 5 and 10 years in.

–Me[/quote]

From a micronutrient standpoint, would you say that supplementing with a good food-derived multivitamin is sufficient? Even if you’re getting the majority of your food intake from fast food? (Not talking about preservatives, pesticides, etc., just nutrient intake.)[/quote]

What about the mini-mili ones ?

I mean your question sounds a little like if you trust that the scientifics know all. Why ?
About vitamins, over the last 70 years they sell more and more of them and their profits go up and up. I do not remember wich year the cancers went down. They cause more arm than good. We never really know how much is absorbed and we never know what we are missing.
When i was young there were 1 more planet. Science evolves.

If we shoot for health we should never eat anything that was not available to our great great grandparents. It takes about 4-5 generations to really know if the results of what we can ingest are positives(about 100 years).

Just kiwis, many books rate them at or near the top for vitamin C source. I do not argue that it is false if you pick them in your background but many buy them 1600 kilometers/1000 miles + from the tree and that is a waste of money. If not tree ripened it is a bit like eating a pic of that food. It looks like it but the value is just not there.

Many tribes have way less health issues without pharmacies every 3 street corners. Process foods are meant for profits, for nourishment we do not need the majority of what is offered in grocery stores.

All the best ![/quote]

lol whey protein supplements are processed, does that mean we shouldnt consume that. i have honestly never met someone huge who eats nothing but non-processed food or items.

45

[quote]LoRez wrote:
Thanks. I actually do appreciate your take on it. I’m not going to presume that crappy food + multivitamin/multiminerals + a couple other things is as good as fresh, quality, home-grown produce, but I am interested in finding realistic alternatives that don’t leave you in a deficient state.[/quote]

I didn’t think you did presume :slight_smile: Was just running at the mouth the things I discovered. Obviously take what I say with a grain of salt. What I have found works for me, but it doesn’t mean it is truth if there is any such thing.

Someone mentioned something about “I don’t know a bodybuilder who only eats whole foods and gets big”. I agree. Bodybuilding requires you doing things to your body (whether natural or with supplements) that your body never meant to do in the wild. One is eat massive amounts of protein to stimulate muscle growth beyond what is “normal”.

Is this a bad thing? Probably not, as I think bodybuilding, despite the low fat diets (boo!), the repetitive damage to the body, chronic injuries, etc, is actually, in the grand scheme of things not bad for you, and a damn site better than sitting on the couch eating pizza.

At the same time, I think you can increase your gains and minimize systemic damage to your body by eating whole foods (preferably organic). And yes, protein powder may be considered a processed food, but it is necessary for mass and I have no reason to believe bad for you either. I certainly wasn’t trying to argue against that.

For inexpensive life hacks, outside of a multi vitamin (or dessicated grass fed liver), vitamin D, and magnesium, I would definitely recommend trace mineral drops. One bottle lasts a long time as you only use 1/2 tsp or so a day.

As for why I specify grass fed dessicated liver, well, it is simple. If you are eating organ meat, especially an organ which is reponsible for detoxing (for lack of a better word) the body, you don’t want an organ that has been abused by cattle being force fed a nasty diet (full of corn, soy and wheat). You want a clean organ that was able to function as 4 billion years of evolution intended.

–Me

46

[quote]kravi wrote:
I would definitely recommend trace mineral drops. One bottle lasts a long time as you only use 1/2 tsp or so a day.

[/quote]

We’ve been using them for years. We distill our tap water, and add back those very minerals you prescribe.

47

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]kravi wrote:
I would definitely recommend trace mineral drops. One bottle lasts a long time as you only use 1/2 tsp or so a day.

[/quote]

We’ve been using them for years. We distill our tap water, and add back those very minerals you prescribe.
[/quote]

They are rocking! I noticed that ever since I started supplementing vitamin D and trace mineral drops I get sick (usually pretty mild) only about once every 2 years. I have kids. In the old days I’d get sick every five or six months.

This is purely anecdotal, of course, and n=1, but I am a believer :slight_smile:

–Me

48

[quote]kravi wrote:
For inexpensive life hacks, outside of a multi vitamin (or dessicated grass fed liver), vitamin D, and magnesium, I would definitely recommend trace mineral drops. One bottle lasts a long time as you only use 1/2 tsp or so a day.

As for why I specify grass fed dessicated liver, well, it is simple. If you are eating organ meat, especially an organ which is reponsible for detoxing (for lack of a better word) the body, you don’t want an organ that has been abused by cattle being force fed a nasty diet (full of corn, soy and wheat). You want a clean organ that was able to function as 4 billion years of evolution intended.

–Me
[/quote]

Thanks for the pointer to the mineral drops. Also yes, I have a bottle of liver tablets next to me :wink:

Although, I’m curious, how many do you take?

49

[quote]optheta wrote:

[quote]zraw wrote:
Top guys dont live like monks beside the weirdo Kai Greene

[/quote]

lol[/quote]

Only when he’s being filmed

50

Well Arnold was big he tooks drugs(they were legal).
Before i go further i have to mention i know nothing about BB.
Some take supplements. Your profile says you are 18 so in my mind you can do what you want.

51

[quote]LoRez wrote:

Thanks for the pointer to the mineral drops. Also yes, I have a bottle of liver tablets next to me :wink:

Although, I’m curious, how many do you take?[/quote]

I’m one of those weirdos who lifts weights fasted, and I don’t take supplements outside of whey protein. I’m not ever going to be a competitive bodybuilder, I just lift to be strong, to look good (relatively speaking) naked, and to be healthy. So I put about a teaspoon (5ml) of trace mineral drops into my litre sized water bottle and drink it while lifting. I usually drink about half of it during the lift, and add whey protein to the remainder for post workout protein. But whatever is recommended on the bottle is probably good. I don’t know if they come in different concentrations where one would recommend 5 ml vs another which would recommend more or less.

It does make the water taste a bit funky though :slight_smile:

–Me

EDIT: I just re-read your question and I assume you are talking about the liver tablets now… In that case, I take two after each meal, so 4 a day. They are bloody huge, too!

52

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]LoRez wrote:

[quote]BigBen0331 wrote:
Why do anything part-time? What benefit is there to be had?[/quote]

Well, a little thing called “balance”. It’s kind of important.[/quote]

I took what BigBen said as meaning “why do anything half-assed?”[/quote]

Correct Iron Dwarf. Gotta break it down “barney style” for some folks haha just kidding ppl. I enjoy working out and eating healthy. I have my own goals as do all of you on here.

Why are we on this website???

  1. To learn from each other
  2. To share personal experience and insight
  3. To socialize about whatever it is on our minds
  4. To get away from the normal life
  5. For help

Why not to join this forum???

  1. To criticize
  2. To overrule
  3. To exaggerate or lie
  4. To make others feel insecure

I’m no professional, obviously. I’m young (25 years of age), prior military (USMC-Machine Gunner), and love anything to do with exercise and nutrition. I have A LOT to learn.

53

[quote]kravi wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]kravi wrote:
I would definitely recommend trace mineral drops. One bottle lasts a long time as you only use 1/2 tsp or so a day.

[/quote]

We’ve been using them for years. We distill our tap water, and add back those very minerals you prescribe.
[/quote]

They are rocking! I noticed that ever since I started supplementing vitamin D and trace mineral drops I get sick (usually pretty mild) only about once every 2 years. I have kids. In the old days I’d get sick every five or six months.

This is purely anecdotal, of course, and n=1, but I am a believer :slight_smile:

–Me[/quote]

Ditto!