*** The 2010 Gym Rats Thread ***

150-200g is bang on IMO, well certainly for my weight and metabolic rate. Pre/post WO is vital though.

Currently, shooting myself in the foot, I've not had any carbs pre/post workout as I've been trying to keep them low.

I know how important the insulin spike is so don't know why I haven't introduced them again. I want to keep them low so will split 1 scoop pre and post workout, unless you think it would be more beneficial to have it all after?

I'm actually excited to start my next bulk :D now my nutrition is much much better. Not that it was bad before but it got cleaned right up recently.
 
Thanks, Im just trying to think of some ~300 cal snack as Im allergic to nuts :(

Then oat cakes and cottage cheese is a good snack.

As are sardines, smoke mackerel and that sort of thing. :)

Currently, shooting myself in the foot, I've not had any carbs pre/post workout as I've been trying to keep them low.

I know how important the insulin spike is so don't know why I haven't introduced them again. I want to keep them low so will split 1 scoop pre and post workout, unless you think it would be more beneficial to have it all after?

I'm actually excited to start my next bulk :D now my nutrition is much much better. Not that it was bad before but it got cleaned right up recently.

Post is more important, but splitting is a good idea IMO. Gives you a bit of fuel for the workout.
 
What cottage cheese do you have FF? I tried some asda brand a while ago and it was utterly disgusting...

I've found sainsburies/tescos to be far better tasting than asda, currently having it nearly every night (kinda making myself a bit sick of the taste, as I prior liked it but oh well)
 
I've tried the Sainsbury's and Waitrose versions and both are good. However cottage cheese is an acquired taste. I buy mine from a small cafe/deli near work and just leave it in the fridge at work so not sure on the brand I'm afraid!
 
I'd rather have more proteins than fats, but more fats than carbs - and that's exactly how my diet is at the moment, and how I've been tailoring it over the years. When I started lifting I just used to eat lots (well) but lots, and I just included lots of complex / low gi carbs, but I was hitting 4-5k cals a day. But at the expense of fats, so it was 40/40/20. I've slowly been reeling myself in over the past 2-3years now that I'm at a very good condition (i.e. heavy, good development and relatively low BF), and I've been chipping away at the bodyfat, and it's coming down, whilst my size is increasing. So it's all good.

Anyway, it just proves that you can lose fat, gain lean muscle mass and get stronger all at the same time. It just takes dedication and hard work, and a bit of discipline.

However, when I get back from skiing, I'll be focusing more on size for a bit, whilst staying as lean as possible of course, nutrition will be bang on, but calorie intake will be high.

When bulking are you planning on keeping carbs at about the same level, just increase cals through extra proteins and fats.

I've read through lots of articals that suggest taking in any more than 1g of protein per pound of body weigth doesn't have any more benifit than just getting in the exact amount. Any additional proteins will either be broken down into fat storage or if carb/calorie levels are low glycogen. So taking in more proteins shouldn't have any negative effects, it's just not necessary.
 
Currently, shooting myself in the foot, I've not had any carbs pre/post workout as I've been trying to keep them low.

I know how important the insulin spike is so don't know why I haven't introduced them again. I want to keep them low so will split 1 scoop pre and post workout, unless you think it would be more beneficial to have it all after?

I'm actually excited to start my next bulk :D now my nutrition is much much better. Not that it was bad before but it got cleaned right up recently.

If you don't suffer with low energy levels during your workout, I'd go with all post workout. Thats what i generally do, normally get a meal in about 90 minutes before my workout that consist of a few carbs, maybe 30-40 grams.

Taking whey protein on its own does actually provide an insulin spike. but you really need to replemish carbs after a workout.
 
Definitely a tin of mackerel, loaded with healthy fats and proteins. I prefer Morrisons version in spicy tomato sauce. Think there about 69p each. I tend to keep a stock pile of around 5-10 tins in my drawer at work.

never had tinned mackarel before and dont recall eating any other variety, whats the closest thing it tastes of? do you just put it in a sandwich?
 
Went to the doctors earlier and explained my possible rotator cuff problems, he was really helpful and basically checked my feild of motion and said to keep doing the light exercises I was doing and if it persisted he would refer me to a sport physiotherapist.

He also asked me if I done gummiberry juice:eek:.
 
When bulking are you planning on keeping carbs at about the same level, just increase cals through extra proteins and fats.

I've read through lots of articals that suggest taking in any more than 1g of protein per pound of body weigth doesn't have any more benifit than just getting in the exact amount. Any additional proteins will either be broken down into fat storage or if carb/calorie levels are low glycogen. So taking in more proteins shouldn't have any negative effects, it's just not necessary.

Yeah keep carbs low, but probably refeed a bit over the weekend. I'm just not bothered about carbs that much anymore - I don't feel the urge to eat them as much as I used to which is handy. :)

There's a lot of debate about whether or not we need 0.8g per kg or up to 2g per kg of lean body weight. The basic fact is that optimal protein synthesis is around 20-30g at one time. Any more than that, you will still synthesis, but the excess will just be oxidised (either turned into energy, fat, or moved to another part of the body that requires amino acids of some kind for different purposes other than protein synthesis for skeletal muscle.

Whilst excercising protein synthesis decreases (naturally). So we need to get it back up to nominal levels. Conversely we can try and minimise the reduction of protein synthesis, by taking bcaa/eaas before workout. For example Leucine is one of the BCAAs that is important in regulating the initiation and of protein synthesis, certainly after exercise. After exercise, protein and/or BCAAs (depending on the amino acid profile of your protein source) is required for kick start in getting your protein synthesis going again, this is done by increasing L-Leucine concentrations. Increased L-Leucine PWO releases the inhibition of the initiation factors. This ties in with insulin which also has a control over the inhibition of translation initiation.

Insulin and L-Leucine regulate prtoein synthesis within the muscles, though clearly this is dependent on your body type and diet, and the way you train etc... In fact it goes to levels that are too complex for me! :o

This leads on nicely to EEAs and protein synthesis. Although the effect of insulin and the time spent in muscle protein anabolism after taking EAAs differ from person to person, EAA ingestion is nonetheless effective at acutely stimulating muscle protein synthesis in people.

A mixture of EAAs containing a certain amount of leucine (I can't remember the amount, around 3-4g I think) increased protein synthesis up to 60% - though this is taken from basal values, I can't remember the name of study, I just remember the figure. This is why I bang on about amino acid profiles of protein that people want to buy, it's far more important than how much "whey" or hemp you get down your neck. You get leucine in eggs, chicken and beef too. (in fact have a look here for foods containing leucine: http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/leucine-rich.php). So if you keep your leucine intake to that level with most meals your effectively optimising protein synthesis, minimising catabolism and atrpohy.

The protein intake required to reach that much leucine is only around 25-30g whey isolate, or aound 40g from eggs, 40-50g from chicken, and about the same for beef. If you look through that link I sent, it's so easy to keep your amino acid intakes high without even using supplements - hence why, I again, bang on that a diet is far more important than reaching for supplements all the time. :) For what it's worth the elevated amount of protein synthesis can last anything from 2 to 4hrs, hence the proposed argument for eating every few hours.

Incidentally, amino acids are typically absorbed within about 15mins and peak within about 30 mins or so. Hence the argument for drinking amino acids before a workout and during a work out as well as post work out. However I've often questioned whether or not you want to keep protein synthesis active which may block or diminish other proteins and hormones from reacting to the work they are having to undertake during a workout - but that's another debate altogether!

Now going back to the carb/protein question, or more specifically carb and EAA from all that I've read post workout creates a significantly great anabolic response than EEAs/protein alone, I'm convinced this is to do with insulin transport within the protein synthesis process.

I can't categorically state how much protein per meal is ideal, but taking into consideration protein oxidisation if you injest more than can be synthesised, there must be a maximum. There is, and it's all to do with their amino acid profiles. Can you work it out for each meal? Not really, and if so it's a ball ache. So I aim between 30-40g as I know that I'll be getting enough leucine in to release the inhibition of the initiation factors for protein synthesis. There's so much more to it than that though, you have to take into consideration the fats you injest the rise in anabolic hormone response that that offers, clearly all the hormonal responses should be taken into consideration. I know there's a bit of a standard distribution curve which shows peaks at around 30-40g, but I can't remember where I found that. However, in purely biological/science reasoning it would make sense that there's a bell curve distribution and a "peak" so to speak. That doesn't mean to say that any more won't mean more bang for buck, it just means that gramme for gramme you're getting more at around 30-40g.

Now this is just from studies, and from research I've done, not everyone agrees with this, but it does seem to make sense. Do I follow this by the book? No, as I cant' always feed when I want to, but I do try and eat the right things, in the right quantities, when I can. So take what you want from this post, do your own research, agree/disagree I'm happy to hear other theories and ideas - I'm by no means an expert, just someone who reads a lot of information and absorbs it like a sponge! :D I know I haven't really answered the question, but maybe it's given enough direction to your question for you to be able to seek out what you need? If so I'd be happy to hear back from you! :)
 
Nothing like doing a big arm workout in 30oc heat and beating sun


RAWR
I AM MAN!!!!

Arms session? Meh, not that manly, even though it was in the sun. ;)

Come back and tell me you've done deadlifts, squats and other big exercises in the sun, then I'll give you the respect you want - not for arms I'm afraid :p

Try squatting in the rain (on a slipsafe mat). Now that makes you feel like an animal.

Now this my friend, THIS is a manly session. :cool:

Went to the doctors earlier and explained my possible rotator cuff problems, he was really helpful and basically checked my feild of motion and said to keep doing the light exercises I was doing and if it persisted he would refer me to a sport physiotherapist.

He also asked me if I done gummiberry juice:eek:.

You going to a sport physio anyway? I went to my sports physio directly because I trust my doctor as much as I can throw him (albeit probably quite far :p). I'd still go.

And clearly you're on the juice mate, don't deny it! ;)
 
I need to ask you guys about squatting, and how much you should be doing during a squatting session.
Let me lay out what I did today, I'll be honest with the weights otherwise there's no point... but please don't laugh :(

50kgs X8 Back Squat
50kgs X8 Front Squat
55kgs X8 Back Squat
55kgs X8 Front Squat
60kgs X8 Back Squat
60kgs X8 Back Squat
60kgs X8 Back Squat

Then after the last set I immediately unloaded to 30kgs and did 20 reps as slow as possible without any lockout at the top or pause at the bottom.

Afterwards my legs felt pretty destroyed but it seems like a lot of sets, should I be doing less sets and trying to up the weight more? I don't mind the time involved, I just want to make sure I'm doing the best I can.

Thanks.
 
If you're able to do all 8 reps of all the sets, and squat DEEP (and I mean deep, doesn't have to be ATG but bellow parallel) then you probably should up the weight.

Remember your legs are a big muscle but are used day in day out, and as such need a lot of extra stimulus to get them to grown and break the muscle fibres down within them. I always do about 6 sets of leg work so it doesn't seem too bad to me. :)
 
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