Eating for mass sounds like such an easy thing, but honestly, it is one of the most difficult things to do correctly. You have to eat a lot of food to gain mass the right way. So what is “the right way”? The right way involves gaining mass while minimizing fat gain. That's where the difficulty arises.
There are bodybuilders who still believe that “off-season” means they can eat whatever they want whenever they want. The reality is quite different. In order to gain mass without gaining massive amounts of fat. Even the proponents of bulk and cut have changed their approach to something more like what I describe below. It is all in an effort to put on muscle but stay lean.
The following are some tips for gaining mass while keep the fat at a minimum:
- Focus primarily on lean protein with carbohydrates your second area of focus. Gaining mass means keeping both of these items at a reasonable level (40% of your total calories each one).
- Don't avoid fat. Healthy fat is essential for building muscle. It works with your body to raise your testosterone and that is essential for mass building.
- Eat higher calories than your maintenance level. If you do this, be sure to keep track of your body fat percentages.
- Time your meals properly. In order to get in a large amount of calories you might need to eat every 2 hours. Try to hit the 3 hour mark at the very least.
By following the tips above you are going to be well on your way to gaining mass. At the same time, your metabolism will be revved up and you won't be putting on a lot of fat. That is the balance you want.
Even proponents of bulking and cutting would advocate a clean bulk. A clean bulk means you have to eat lean meats and vegetables. That's why I say this is a very difficult thing to do. Think about how hard it would be to get in 4500 calories when it has to involve chicken breast. That's an awful lot of chicken breast!
When you want to build mass, focus on what you are eating. Make sure there is enough food in your body for it to grow. You won't be disappointed by this approach.
