Should you add extra calories on weight lifting days

lee41major
lee41major Posts: 18 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've just started doing the 5x5 lifting programme - squats,deadlifts, bent over row and bench press.
Should you add extra calories on training days and if so how much?

Replies

  • hill8570
    hill8570 Posts: 1,466 Member
    A typical StrongLifts 5x5 workout generally only burns 100-200 calories, so it's up to you. If you're eating at a deficit, then that gives you a bit more room for the additional protein your should be getting. If you're eating at maintenance or bulking, it's pretty much noise level.
  • lee41major
    lee41major Posts: 18 Member
    Im bulking and a hardgainer, so all calories are crucial. I'll try increasing the my calories by 200 on training days and see how I get on with that.

    Thanks for the help.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    No more than 100.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    You state you are bulking, I presume that you have setup MFP accordingly and you mapped out your bulking plan in advance of setting up calories to intake for MFP? If not, you need to setup how much you wish to gain a week and setup MFP for that.. not nessartly on exercise day alone.. Perhaps you want to eat higher protein on certain days etc... this where you would have mapped out your plan...

    If you are still loosing weight which you last post say you are "bulking" then eating more or eating back any exercise calories are not in the equation.
  • Working2BLean
    Working2BLean Posts: 386 Member
    Protein calories at the extra 50 grams is good

    Sleep is equally important.

    Adding muscle is

    Work to failure

    Feed the muscle

    Rest and grow back stronger

    If you fall short on either aspect your results will not be optimal.

    Good luck
  • lee41major
    lee41major Posts: 18 Member
    gia07 wrote: »
    You state you are bulking, I presume that you have setup MFP accordingly and you mapped out your bulking plan in advance of setting up calories to intake for MFP? If not, you need to setup how much you wish to gain a week and setup MFP for that.. not nessartly on exercise day alone.. Perhaps you want to eat higher protein on certain days etc... this where you would have mapped out your plan...

    If you are still loosing weight which you last post say you are "bulking" then eating more or eating back any exercise calories are not in the equation.

    Yes I've already set up MFP and am aiming to gain 1lb a week. For my height weight and age MFP put me on 2800 calories to increase but it didn't work out so I've steadily increased over the weeks until I got to 3600 and now I'm starting to gain a pound a week.
  • lee41major
    lee41major Posts: 18 Member
    Working2BLean wrote: »
    Protein calories at the extra 50 grams is good

    Sleep is equally important.

    Adding muscle is

    Work to failure

    Feed the muscle

    Rest and grow back stronger

    If you fall short on either aspect your results will not be optimal.

    Good luck

    My protein intake is set to 1.1 for every 1lb of body weight. And getting plenty of rest and sleep. Also watching the macros. So hopefully I'm doing tall the right things to help build up the muscles.
    Thanks

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