Question about bulking and carbs

[Tom Treutlein]

Is it necessary to intake carbs to put on mass? What if one is eating 20.3xBW in calories, 290 grams of carbs, but most are sugar? I'm intaking 305 grams of protein daily, and about 110 fats maybe. I forgot the exact numbers and I'm not looking at my spreadsheet. Anyway, will I grow? I'm hearing now that if I don't have enough quality carbs I won't put on size. I don't see how this can be true. First it's "you need an excess of calories" and a certain amount of protein. Now I'm hearing that a lot of those calories must be carbs, or you won't grow. What gives? I'm not deprived of carbs entirely, as you can see, but I don't have a bunch of complex ones in there.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

Anyone?

 

[supersizeme]

no, you won't grow muscle off simple carbs like sugar. if that was true, we'd all be pounding sodas and hershey bars instead of oatmeal, rice, or pasta. you need quality complex carbs like the ones i just listed in order to build muscle. and yes, you do need carbs to put on mass. protein is the tool to build muscle, while carbs provide the fuel to facilitate the growth as well as your workouts. it's not simply about exceeding your caloric maintenance level. you have to do it with a combination of quality food(protein, complex carbs, healthy fats) in order for the weight gain to be muscle, otherwise it's going to be mostly fat.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

Well, that's good to know for sure now. Very good post, K for you man. Thanks!

 

[Tom Treutlein]

By the way man, since you knew that maybe you know this: Do you need solid food to grow? Or can liquid calories cause growth?

 

[casualbb]

Calories are calories.

Liquid is just fine b0r, as long as it's a good complete source of protein and/or low GI carbs.

Hell, liquid calories is one of the best-kept secrets of bulking. When you feel like you'd die before you could take another bite of chicken, you can always swallow a shake without issues.

 

[supersizeme]

like casualbb said, you can effectively grow off liquid food. however it's not nearly as good as putting down real food. my six meals a day are 4 real food meals and two that are basically shakes. it's difficult to eat 6-7 meals of actual food per day, which is why liquid calories are a savior. however you don't want to get to the point where you're eating more liquid meals a day than real food.

the basic rule of thumb in training - if it's harder, it's probably more effective(e.g. compound exercises) - applies to diet as well. it's harder to eat the real food, but it's more effective.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

I have more liquid meals than solid meals. I hear ya', that they're prolly better (solid ones) but could you explain why?

 

[bigp3]

Alright here are the basics I have found over the years and I hope this helps.

Avoid sugar like the plague unless you want to be a fatty or a diabetic when you hit 50. The only time to take in sugar would be postworkout. Thats it never any other time.

As for your meals try not to mix fats and carbs. The key is to eat high fat low carb meals or low fat high carb meals. When you mix fats and carbs together you body will produce an insulin spike and if fats are in the blood it tends to push them into the fat stores.

Always keep your protein high. I would strive for 2 grams per lb of bodyweight. 1.5 works fine for some people but I personally perfer 2 grams. Your protien should come in quality forms such as chicken, lean steak, tuna, eggs.

I recomend 6 meals a day like most guys on here. I think this is reasonable and doable by most people. I would do 3 high carb meals, 2 high fat meals, and one low car low fat high protein meal before bed. Your high carb meals shoul your post workout shake, the meal you eat after your post workout shake and breakfast.

Hope this helps

 

[Tom Treutlein]

So I should avoid the sugar in milk too, yes?

I heard it's okay to mix fats and carbs due to the fact that the fats digest more slowly, and by the time it is in the bloodstream, the insulin spike will have faded.