How much to eat on rest days when bulking?

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I’m doing the 5x5 program 3 days a week. I eat 3000 cal on lifting days. How much should I be eating on rest days?

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  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
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    Either the same or at maintenance. Personal preference depending on your goals, recovery, workout routine and current rate of gain.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,293 Member
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    I’m doing the 5x5 program 3 days a week. I eat 3000 cal on lifting days. How much should I be eating on rest days?

    Are you following MFP and logging exercise and eating those back, or using a TDEE calculator?

    If you are suing TDEE then you eat the same everyday regardless if you workout, as cals burned, is in a way, averaged out over the full week. If you follow MFP, then eat what MFP tells you to
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
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    erickirb wrote: »
    I’m doing the 5x5 program 3 days a week. I eat 3000 cal on lifting days. How much should I be eating on rest days?

    Are you following MFP and logging exercise and eating those back, or using a TDEE calculator?

    If you are suing TDEE then you eat the same everyday regardless if you workout, as cals burned, is in a way, averaged out over the full week. If you follow MFP, then eat what MFP tells you to

    Yup. I do TDEE method and am eating 2700 regardless of it's a lifting day or not.
  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    You can’t log strength training on mfp.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
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    You can log it under cardio add strength training to get an approximate calorie burn or you can log it under strength training to note your sets and reps.
  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    I’ve been using the Strong app to log my workouts. It’s free.
  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    And yes I have been following mfp for my food intake. Sticking more closely to numbers I got off bodybuilding.com for bulking tho.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
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    Okay...
  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    David...do u 5x5?
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
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    1. Not a dude.
    2. I did 5x5 five years ago when I started lifting. Now I use Wendlers 5/3/1 for my primary lifts.
    3. If you're doing 5x5, there's literally an app specifically for that program.
  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    Haha, I know but didn’t know how to reference you.

    The strong app is free and has a template for the 5x5 program that works great.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
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    Fair enough LOL

    I feel ya, I use WorkIt to track my lifts in addition to the 5/3/1 app.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
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    Haha, I know but didn’t know how to reference you.

    The strong app is free and has a template for the 5x5 program that works great.

    So you can just created a custom experience and enter the apps numbers into mfp.

  • Strongerxthanxyesterday
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    I think I’m just gonna try tacking on another weight gainer shake after my workout, see what happens.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
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    Whatever amount that helps your weight goal. Rest days don't require a different amount.