Clean Food vs. Junk Food?

Nutrition
1

Alright I’d lke to say I’m starting a new diet plan I made up. It consists of eating to bulk on my workout days, and eating to maintain on my off days. Pretty much just taking my bodyweight and multiplying it by 20 on my on days, and on my off days multiply it by 18.

My only question is if I eat 4200 cals of CLEAN food. Chicken, pasta, veggies, fruit, milk, protein shakes, eggs, bagels, whole wheat bread sandwhiches, tuna etc etc. VS. Substituiting some of these foods for peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches, frozen pizza etc. What would I make the biggest gains from?

This might be a dumb question but is eating 4000 cals of clean food vs “junk” food. As in pizza etc, would the gains better come from eating more sloppy or eating more clean. I’ve read before that people who eat a lot of clean calories don’t make the same mass/strength gains from eating more “sloppy” calories. Or is it just if you eat the same aount 4000 cals of clean vs. sloppy. Gains will obviosuly be better with the clean food. That’s pretty much I was wondering. Also do you think it’s a good idea to eat as much on my off days, or is it better to not eat as many calories. Thanks!

2

[quote]dl- wrote:
Alright I’d lke to say I’m starting a new diet plan I made up. It consists of eating to bulk on my workout days, and eating to maintain on my off days. Pretty much just taking my bodyweight and multiplying it by 20 on my on days, and on my off days multiply it by 18.

My only question is if I eat 4200 cals of CLEAN food. Chicken, pasta, veggies, fruit, milk, protein shakes, eggs, bagels, whole wheat bread sandwhiches, tuna etc etc. VS. Substituiting some of these foods for peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches, frozen pizza etc. What would I make the biggest gains from?

This might be a dumb question but is eating 4000 cals of clean food vs “junk” food. As in pizza etc, would the gains better come from eating more sloppy or eating more clean. I’ve read before that people who eat a lot of clean calories don’t make the same mass/strength gains from eating more “sloppy” calories. Or is it just if you eat the same aount 4000 cals of clean vs. sloppy. Gains will obviosuly be better with the clean food. That’s pretty much I was wondering. Also do you think it’s a good idea to eat as much on my off days, or is it better to not eat as many calories. Thanks![/quote]

As far as muscle gains go,a calorie is a calorie.
As far as fat gains go,a calorie isn’t just a calorie.
Sure you can eat a diet of 90% junk food. Sure you’ll gain muscle. But you’ll probably gain more fat than you planned to gain.
When I’m bulking I prefer 85-90 % clean,10-15,sometimes 20%, dirty.
It depends on what you call junk though. If you’re bulking and have a hard time putting on mass then pizza isn’t a junk food, nor is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
In fact, homemade chili, gourmet pizza, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the staple of my diet when bulking.
Junk food is usually something that’s bad for you. I don’t see how a well-made pizza is bad for you-especially when bulking. Even if you do decide to eat fairly clean, allow, at the very least, one or two cheat meals a week-it will help. In the end it all depends on your goals and who you are.

3

dl-, you’re an athlete, and you have performance goals. If you want a competitive edge over people who are just as good as you, you need to work harder, work smarter, skip the junk, eat for health, speed, strength, and mental sharpness. You need to provide your body with the building blocks it needs to make repairs and to grow. Leave the pizza, junk food, alcohol and smokes to people who don’t want what you want as badly as you want it! (grin)

Seriously, allow yourself a cheat/treat meal every week, anything you want, and other than that go for the gold!

4

People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em.

5

I can definatly see here your all coming from and pretty much share the same thoughts on this subject. Tampa-Terry you couldn’t be more right with that shit lol. The only I guess you could say non-clean food I am eating right now that is meal #3 would be natural PB and jelly sandwhiches on whole wheat bread. But I do have fruit + a protein shake with it, so I guess it kinda balances itself out. I think I’ll just stick with the NPB sandwhiches unless I feel like I don’t need it, then I’ll switch to something else. I was thinking turkey sausages, I had them today. High in protein, low in fat. Pretty expensive though so I don’t know how it’ll hang. We’ll see.

Besides that what are your thoughts on how much food to eat on off days of training?

6

[quote]UB07 wrote:
People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em. [/quote]

Best.Post.

7

I’ve found that I can eat around 4,500-5,000 clean calories, 90% of the week. When I’m really trying to gain, and consequently will need more cals than that, I need to resort to less clean foods in order to continue to eat big day-in, day-out.

Otherwise, I get diet burn-out and end up binging on crap or skipping my clean meals a few weeks in.

I still feel that there are better “junk” foods than others though; an Arby’s Giant roastbeef sandwich is damn tasty and easy to eat and is still far superior to, say, corn dogs or french fries or ice cream.

8

[quote]UB07 wrote:
People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em. [/quote]

I’m still confused here though, so if I eat 5,000 cals of junk food like you listed, compartefd to 5,000 cals of clean food for a bulk. I’ll gain better strength and size gains off the 5,000 cals of junk?

For me to start gaining weight I shuld be eating about 4000+ cals. Now I’m eating all this in CLEAN foods right now. It’s hard yeah, but I am/can definately do it. Therefore is there any merit in me even having this junk food?

9

[quote]dl- wrote:
UB07 wrote:
People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em.

I’m still confused here though, so if I eat 5,000 cals of junk food like you listed, compartefd to 5,000 cals of clean food for a bulk. I’ll gain better strength and size gains off the 5,000 cals of junk?

For me to start gaining weight I shuld be eating about 4000+ cals. Now I’m eating all this in CLEAN foods right now. It’s hard yeah, but I am/can definately do it. Therefore is there any merit in me even having this junk food?
[/quote]

No junk food wont be better. It just wont will it work sure its energy. Its easy, usually easily digested etc… This also boil;s down to general health and optimal vs. working. If you want a treat from time to time have it hell even daily base your diet 90% on GOOD whole food and your better off then 99% of the population.

If your working your butt off, looking to gain weigth and want a peice of pizza by all means. Just dont try and trick your self into thinking its optimal but enjoy the TREAT!!

Phill

10

[quote]dl- wrote:
UB07 wrote:
People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em.

I’m still confused here though, so if I eat 5,000 cals of junk food like you listed, compartefd to 5,000 cals of clean food for a bulk. I’ll gain better strength and size gains off the 5,000 cals of junk?

For me to start gaining weight I shuld be eating about 4000+ cals. Now I’m eating all this in CLEAN foods right now. It’s hard yeah, but I am/can definately do it. Therefore is there any merit in me even having this junk food?
[/quote]

Are you being deliberately dense? if you can get everything you need without ever eating “junk food” fine, have at it. I remember being a broke college student and Mc Donald’s 99 cent double bacon cheeseburgers (often with someone else’s money) were what was helping me keep my calories above maintenance, along with several trips through the line for lunch and dinner in the cafeteria. The point being made (extremely clear by the way which makes me wonder why it needs to be repeated) is that the overall calories become the most important factor, especially if the choice is between either “not eating enough but wow is it CLEAN” or “eating enough food to make gains in the weight room even though a couple of hamburgers were thrown in”.

I grew just fine in college despite being broke. It was probably because I never had the mentality that the only thing I should eat should be chicken breasts when gaining. I also had no problem running off any excess.

11

[quote]Professor X wrote:
dl- wrote:
UB07 wrote:
People gain more strength and size by eating junk vs eating clean only when they are getting more of what they need with junk food. Allow me to clarify that;

Eating 5000 kcal a day of junk is pretty easy. Fried chicken, tub of ice cream, Gallon of chocolate milk and you are pretty much there. Its so tasty that its easy to eat.

But if you eat chicken breasts, vegetables, fruits, lean beef, beans, etc. it will be much harder. the clean stuff is usually a lot less calorie dense. Plus, a big mac is pretty friggin tasty even though it is really low in quality.

bottom line: when bulking you need calories. clean calories are the prefered fuel, but take em where you can get em.

I’m still confused here though, so if I eat 5,000 cals of junk food like you listed, compartefd to 5,000 cals of clean food for a bulk. I’ll gain better strength and size gains off the 5,000 cals of junk?

For me to start gaining weight I shuld be eating about 4000+ cals. Now I’m eating all this in CLEAN foods right now. It’s hard yeah, but I am/can definately do it. Therefore is there any merit in me even having this junk food?

Are you being deliberately dense? if you can get everything you need without ever eating “junk food” fine, have at it. I remember being a broke college student and Mc Donald’s 99 cent double bacon cheeseburgers (often with someone else’s money) were what was helping me keep my calories above maintenance, along with several trips through the line for lunch and dinner in the cafeteria. The point being made (extremely clear by the way which makes me wonder why it needs to be repeated) is that the overall calories become the most important factor, especially if the choice is between either “not eating enough but wow is it CLEAN” or “eating enough food to make gains in the weight room even though a couple of hamburgers were thrown in”.

I grew just fine in college despite being broke. It was probably because I never had the mentality that the only thing I should eat should be chicken breasts when gaining. I also had no problem running off any excess.

[/quote]

Alright man I get it now, but I wasn’t deliberately being dense or anything. I’m just trying to learn a bit more about nutrition cause I can say that I don’t know that much about nutrition…just more basic stuff…NOT that I’m say this ISN’T basic or anything I just wanted to make sure I’m on the right track with things and shit like that. Anyways thanks for the replies. I will go eat now.

12

The pizzas I make have close to 200 grams of protein for about 1800 calories with whole wheat dough.