Struggling to eat enough, or bulking/gaining weight?

HeidiMightyRawr

I've seen in the forums quite a few times about people who are struggling to meet their calorie allowance, usually because exercise brings up the total, or they're trying to gain weight / bulk.

I'm trying to bulk myself, minimum goal of 3000 calories a day. So I decided to make a blog post for those of you who are gaining as well, and might need some ideas of what sort of foods to eat to get the calories up, or those who are just after new recipes that aren't low calorie.

I'm aware that a lot of people struggle because they don't want to eat any "junk" at all. I don't eat 100% clean, but I don't think I eat junk either. I try to get as much nutritional value as I can with what I choose to have, so hopefully it helps for that too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/heidi_1990/view/higher-calorie-meals-with-pics-448858

Martucha123

:flowerforyou:

SideSteel

I've seen in the forums quite a few times about people who are struggling to meet their calorie allowance, usually because exercise brings up the total, or they're trying to gain weight / bulk.

I'm trying to bulk myself, minimum goal of 3000 calories a day. So I decided to make a blog post for those of you who are gaining as well, and might need some ideas of what sort of foods to eat to get the calories up, or those who are just after new recipes that aren't low calorie.

I'm aware that a lot of people struggle because they don't want to eat any "junk" at all. I don't eat 100% clean, but I don't think I eat junk either. I try to get as much nutritional value as I can with what I choose to have, so hopefully it helps for that too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/heidi_1990/view/higher-calorie-meals-with-pics-448858

^ Female bulking at the same intake I bulk on. @#$# my life.

I'm going to go cry in the corner now, thanks.

Meg_78

Great Post Heidi! I'm gonna take a looksee! :happy:

TavistockToad

^ Female bulking at the same intake I bulk on. @#$# my life.

I'm going to go cry in the corner now, thanks.

best response i have seen in a long time!

EvgeniZyntx

Dang, your blog just made me hungry. That never happens.

A good goto for high calories is mixed nuts.

Matt_Wild

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

feast4thebeast

Heidi I love your diary restores my faith in humanity and makes me feel less guilty for my huge intakes too

IronSmasher

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

You should probably take your diary off of public before you make a post like that.

Matt_Wild

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

You should probably take your diary off of public before you make a post like that.

Go ahead, tell me whats wrong with mine pray tell?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/Matt_Wild?date=2012-10-30

Ainar

Have reached your minimum carb limit and protein limit for a day but still has a ton of cals left? ATE SOME FAT! ATE SOME SIMPLE SUGARS! GET A HAMBURGER!

Simple...

HeidiMightyRawr

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

I'm aware I don't eat all clean foods and I don't intend to. I follow IIFYM. My personal aim is to hit my macro/calorie goals, get enough fibre and hopefully in that, sufficient fruit / veg.

I don't think the choices I listed are particularly bad though. I see them as sort of a middle range, not junk, not 100% clean. It's great that you eat that much, all clean. I'm just trying to throw ideas out there for people who struggle to eat more, and show that you don't have to go down to McDonalds, or sit eating burgers, crisps, chips, cake etc all day to be eating more.

IronSmasher

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

I'm aware I don't eat all clean foods and I don't intend to. I follow IIFYM. My personal aim is to hit my macro/calorie goals, get enough fibre and hopefully in that, sufficient fruit / veg.

I don't think the choices I listed are particularly bad though. I see them as sort of a middle range, not junk, not 100% clean. It's great that you eat that much, all clean. I'm just trying to throw ideas out there for people who struggle to eat more, and show that you don't have to go down to McDonalds, or sit eating burgers, crisps, chips, cake etc all day to be eating more.

He does, although he's deleted it now. Ironically, it was the most vegetables he's had since September.

Leiki

Wow, you look fabulous, already. You are my idol.

Matt_Wild

He does, although he's deleted it now. Ironically, it was the most vegetables he's had since September.

What are you on about? I've deleted nothing.

I have spinach or broccoli with just about every savory meal my pedigree chum.

And yes, I have the odd McDonalds/KFC/Pizza Hut etc etc. Nowt wrong with a cheat meal once or twice a week when bulking. The other 54 meals a week I have out of 56 are clean.

Get back in your cage you silly person.

Matt_Wild

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

I'm aware I don't eat all clean foods and I don't intend to. I follow IIFYM. My personal aim is to hit my macro/calorie goals, get enough fibre and hopefully in that, sufficient fruit / veg.

I don't think the choices I listed are particularly bad though. I see them as sort of a middle range, not junk, not 100% clean. It's great that you eat that much, all clean. I'm just trying to throw ideas out there for people who struggle to eat more, and show that you don't have to go down to McDonalds, or sit eating burgers, crisps, chips, cake etc all day to be eating more.

Just my personal opinion. I feel it carries some weight as I coach people to bulk and also into comp shape, I have a good grasp of healthy options.

Not an attack, just casting my opinion on your post - which I thought your post was for? Sorry if not.

KS_4691

Matt_Wild-- Do you feel sick after eating so much? How do you work up to that sort of caloric intake? I eat about 2200 calories and feel so full. (Granted, I'm smaller than you, but still.)

HeidiMightyRawr

Just my personal opinion. I feel it carries some weight as I coach people to bulk and also into comp shape, I have a good grasp of healthy options.

Not an attack, just casting my opinion on your post - which I thought your post was for? Sorry if not.

That's fine, you coach people for comps and no doubt know a lot about that stuff so your opinion is welcome. There might be some people here who want that approach and could benefit from hearing your ideas I'm not aiming to get in competition shape though or follow a strict clean diet. Nor will I claim this is the best option for those who are.

Giving ideas out for meals that were higher calorie, could suit a wider range of people, (not all clean, but not "junk" either) was the aim of the post.

Do you feel sick after eating so much? How do you work up to that sort of caloric intake? I eat about 2200 calories and feel so full. (Granted, I'm smaller than you, but still.)

I know this question wasn't aimed towards me, but while I've always had somewhat of a large appetite, I did have to work myself up to this. 2500 has nearly always been easy for me to reach, but at the beginning of my bulk (2 months ago) I had to make extra effort to hit 3000 half the time. Now I can hit 3500 pretty easily. You do get used to it, which makes it all the more difficult when you cut I think!

Matt_Wild

Matt_Wild-- Do you feel sick after eating so much? How do you work up to that sort of caloric intake? I eat about 2200 calories and feel so full. (Granted, I'm smaller than you, but still.)

TBH I'm at 255-260lb in weight so its getting easier as I'm getting used to it. The trick is to gradually increase your calories. I didn't go from 2500-3000 cals when cutting to 6500. For 6-8 weeks post diet, I increase calories to 4500, and your belly adjusts to the increased food. And then up to 6500 calories.

weloveourboys

Yummy!

SideSteel

Sorry, I think the choices of food you bulk on aren't great. I eat 6500 cals a day, all clean. Not liking your chicken currys etc. Not really that clean IMO.

You should probably take your diary off of public before you make a post like that.

Go ahead, tell me whats wrong with mine pray tell?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/Matt_Wild?date=2012-10-30

What benefits do you believe she will gain by keeping identical calories and macronutrients but choosing different food sources?

Matt_Wild

What benefits do you believe she will gain by keeping identical calories and macronutrients but choosing different food sources?

I'd imagine plenty of good vits and minerals assuming the food is nice and clean. I just cannot call a chicken curry nor pizza a good bulking diet on a regular basis myself. Nor would I want anyone I train to do that either.

testease

What benefits do you believe she will gain by keeping identical calories and macronutrients but choosing different food sources?

I'd imagine plenty of good vits and minerals assuming the food is nice and clean. I just cannot call a chicken curry nor pizza a good bulking diet on a regular basis myself. Nor would I want anyone I train to do that either.

You probably got enough vitamins and minerals in your system after 500g of veggies a day and a multi vitamin. Rather eat cheaper "dirty" food to get the rest of my calories in.

Matt_Wild

You probably got enough vitamins and minerals in your system after 500g of veggies a day and a multi vitamin. Rather eat cheaper "dirty" food to get the rest of my calories in.

Sorry, I didn't go into much detail beyond that.

I'd rather have lower LDL and higher HDL, better insulin sensitivity (e.g. less likely to put down fat and less likely to develop diabetes when I'm older) and general all round health the clean protein/fats/carbs I consume.

But that's your call. I'm around 10-12% at 255-260b, with abs. It works. Its keeps me lean, I don't pile on fat. Less work for me to get into stage shape each year.

testease

And thats fine and reasonable.

Was just questioning the vitamins/minerals aspect, they get covered pretty easy these days.

SideSteel

You probably got enough vitamins and minerals in your system after 500g of veggies a day and a multi vitamin. Rather eat cheaper "dirty" food to get the rest of my calories in.

Sorry, I didn't go into much detail beyond that.

I'd rather have lower LDL and higher HDL, better insulin sensitivity (e.g. less likely to put down fat and less likely to develop diabetes when I'm older) and general all round health the clean protein/fats/carbs I consume.

But that's your call. I'm around 10-12% at 255-260b, with abs. It works. Its keeps me lean, I don't pile on fat. Less work for me to get into stage shape each year.

And you believe the above is a factor of the cleanliness of your food selection? This is a genuine question. I just don't see how any of the food sources are inferior unless you're viewing the entire diet as a whole. If she's deficient in vitamins/minerals, then it's definitely a problem.

Matt_Wild

Yes, I genuinely do.

Unless you'd like to correct me and tell me where I'm going wrong?

HeidiMightyRawr

What benefits do you believe she will gain by keeping identical calories and macronutrients but choosing different food sources?

I'd imagine plenty of good vits and minerals assuming the food is nice and clean. I just cannot call a chicken curry nor pizza a good bulking diet on a regular basis myself. Nor would I want anyone I train to do that either.

This is why I try to get sufficient fruit and vegetables included in my diet. In order to take care of micro-nutrients as well.

A genuine question about the 6500 calorie diary entry you showed earlier. What vitamins and minerals do you get from a diet that is pretty limited (mostly mince, rice cakes, PB and rice), that you can't get from a balanced diet? (that includes pizza and curry)

Matt_Wild

What benefits do you believe she will gain by keeping identical calories and macronutrients but choosing different food sources?

I'd imagine plenty of good vits and minerals assuming the food is nice and clean. I just cannot call a chicken curry nor pizza a good bulking diet on a regular basis myself. Nor would I want anyone I train to do that either.

This is why I try to get sufficient fruit and vegetables included in my diet. In order to take care of micro-nutrients as well.

A genuine question about the 6500 calorie diary entry you showed earlier. What vitamins and minerals do you get from a diet that is pretty limited (mostly mince, rice cakes, PB and rice), that you can't get from a balanced diet? (that includes pizza and curry)

Tell me, which vitamins and minerals do you think I am NOT getting.

I've already demonstrated my reasoning here on this thread.

SideSteel

Yes, I genuinely do.

Unless you'd like to correct me and tell me where I'm going wrong?

I would question what the differences are between two scenarios where calorie and macro intake is matched, and micronutrient needs are being met.

I don't think there's any significant difference in body composition. I DO think there's are individual differences preferentially, and I think satiety differences obviously exist, but not body composition.

Matt_Wild

So you are saying the fats are are all equal?