I've read that bodybuilders need to eat like elephants to gain weight. To be able to get all that food in, a 5-meal-per-day 'dosage' is recommended. However, due to work commitments, it's pretty impossible to graze all day. So, can you tell me which are the most important times to eat (eg. after a workout, etc.) & how much is enough? I would appreciate if you could tell me the amount in terms of real food rather than breaking them down into equations like, "a 130lb body needs 220g of protein, 330g of carbo... ..." By the way, I weigh 66kg (145lb). Thanks!

-- Christopher (activ888@hotmail.com), May 09, 1999

Answers

Mike Mentzer, one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, has maintained for years that eating lots of food and taking in a lot more protein than the average non-lifter is not as beneficial as one may believe. I happen to agree with him.

For the past eleven years, I have been consistently training with weights. As long as I keep my diet straight, that being five medium size meals per day, I keep my weight at a bout 190. 190 is great weight for me at 5'7". I am well proportioned and my weights are as high if not higher than anyone in the gym.

Everyone is different, Rarely does the same routine or diet work for two different people. The keys to success for me have been a good, wholesome diet and training each body part twice a week.

This is my routine (all sets are taken to fatigue): M, Th:

Chest - 1 warm-up set, followed by one "full fledged" set of flys , 1 Warmup, 1 set of DB Bench 1 set of DB Bench Incline 1 set of Dips

Bi's - 1 warm-up, 1 set of BB curls

Tri's - 1 set of Close Grip Press

Tu, Fr:

Back - 2 sets of pull ups

Legs: 1 warm-up, 4 sets of either hack squats or leg press (alternate each workout) 1 set of Leg Ext.

Shoulders: 2 warm-ups, 1 set of press

*** All sets are to fatigue. Fatigue means until you are physically tired, not mentally tired. Physically tired means you go until you cannot do one more rep. Physically tired does not mean you strain and hurt yourself.

Everyone is different, remember that! One set of shoulders may not be enough for you. Four sets of legs presses may be too many. You need to find what works for you.

Please check out my sports oriented web sites at:

www.angelfire.com/pa2/shenny www.angelfire.com/pa2/shenny/page3.html

-- GS (gshenenberger@redrose.net), May 10, 1999.

ask a question about diet and Mentzer fan will give you an answer about your work out. I had a job that kept me from eating the way i wanted to . My solution was to eat those sports bar (i always ate Myoplex or Powerbars) you can cram one or 2 down your throat before your coworkers even realize your eating something

-- just me (justme@aol.com), January 28, 2000.

Poor Christopher! he was asking if someone would be able to let him know how to eat properly as a bodybuilder to be considered enough especially with his working schedule but noone seems intellegent enough to give him that answer!!! Is this what they called with " when you see a muscle men they are usually DUMB!!" ? I hope not!

Don't worry chris, I'm just like you, have the same question and still haven't got any good answer untill know. Hopefully, one of this day I'll find out and I'll let you know - Alec

-- Alec Kenneth (alecken@yahoo.com), October 04, 2000.

The best time to eat is between 1 and 3 hours after you work out. That is when your muscles need the most energy. You always have to be carefull not to over or under eat. That will always trigger your body to store fat and that is why you should eat smaller meals through out the day. You should never be hungry and never be full. That is how I mesure how much food I eat. Check out www.bodyforlife.com

-- bret (juggler157@hotmail.com), October 18, 2000.