Old school protein-monger here, I grew up being told drinking a gallon of milk was a MUST, so what did this farm boy do...I drank 2...I carried around gallon jugs with me all day, EVRY DAY, and I was the biggest kid in my class throughout, being over 300 lbs in high school. This was BEFORE I ever touched gear, and while in 10th grade, my dad saw the potential, and he was than buying whey protein in bulk.
Between protein, Reg Park's 5 x 5, and genetics, Katey-bar-the-door. (I won't get too much into how AWFUL that whey tasted back in the 70's, but yeah, awful doesn't touch it, lol)
I was eating a minimum of 400 grams of protein, at least according to those era's labels...**cough**, and as I eventually started competing first in powerlifting, than in bodybuilding, 500 grams, than at my most (off season) 600 grams plus. Now, that will NOT work for most folks obviously, but I've found in all my decades in the strength game, those that have the most LBM got there by eating copious amounts of protein. Those that LATER claim to not done so are either lying, or the very rarest of genetic outliers.
For ME, Dropping fat for competition involved tightening up an already strict diet, shedding carbs and bad fats, and increasing protein and good fats. Eating more protein would alleviate hunger to some extant (other than the last few weeks of course), and seemed to spare my hard earned muscle.
In almost EVERY case, hard gainers are not eating enough calories, and especially protein. When I get asked about gaining weight, muscle, etc. it is always about food (more protein) and sleep, than training, and given certain circumstances, gear (TRT, etc). For those looking to lose weight, it is more about keeping the muscle you have, and losing bodyfat, what isn't to love about eating more protein?
Heya,
Old school protein-monger here, I grew up being told drinking a gallon of milk was a MUST, so what did this farm boy do...I drank 2...I carried around gallon jugs with me all day, EVRY DAY, and I was the biggest kid in my class throughout, being over 300 lbs in high school. This was BEFORE I ever touched gear, and while in 10th grade, my dad saw the potential, and he was than buying whey protein in bulk.
Between protein, Reg Park's 5 x 5, and genetics, Katey-bar-the-door. (I won't get too much into how AWFUL that whey tasted back in the 70's, but yeah, awful doesn't touch it, lol)
I was eating a minimum of 400 grams of protein, at least according to those era's labels...**cough**, and as I eventually started competing first in powerlifting, than in bodybuilding, 500 grams, than at my most (off season) 600 grams plus. Now, that will NOT work for most folks obviously, but I've found in all my decades in the strength game, those that have the most LBM got there by eating copious amounts of protein. Those that LATER claim to not done so are either lying, or the very rarest of genetic outliers.
For ME, Dropping fat for competition involved tightening up an already strict diet, shedding carbs and bad fats, and increasing protein and good fats. Eating more protein would alleviate hunger to some extant (other than the last few weeks of course), and seemed to spare my hard earned muscle.
In almost EVERY case, hard gainers are not eating enough calories, and especially protein. When I get asked about gaining weight, muscle, etc. it is always about food (more protein) and sleep, than training, and given certain circumstances, gear (TRT, etc). For those looking to lose weight, it is more about keeping the muscle you have, and losing bodyfat, what isn't to love about eating more protein?
(The article above)
As always, thanks for the weekend fix of TC.
Take care.
A great reminder delivered right on my birthday! Thanks TC!