Dave Tate would disagree with you. The relevant part is near the bottom. Is it a bit overboard? I suppose. Not everyone wants to lift more, some are more concerned with aesthetics or athletic performance and that's ok. But if you're looking to gain strength and put on weight, then you need to eat more.
The one thing that stands out to me...he's working out twice a day, 4 times a week. And looking at all the supplements he is taking, dude is getting after it. Its like when Michael Phelp's diet came out and other high level athletes, you absolutely need to eat everything you can get your hands on, with calorically dense food, or you're going to see no results or lose weight. Someone like me who works out for an hour 3-4 times a week and has a desk job? There is no way I'm going to be putting on tons of muscle without fat like he's claiming. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's full of shit or it doesn't work, I'm just saying its a special case.
It's not that special of a case, the Elite FTS guys are generally catering to people who really want to put on some size and strength and will put in the gym time (lifting, not cardio) to make sure the excessive calories won't make them fat fucks. I realize you and a good chunk of this board know you can eat fast food and gain muscle while staying lean, but most people equate it with clean eating and would be shocked to know that a lot of good, lean weightlifters eat like assholes.
I'm about to incorporate some Bulgarian methodology to my training. Should be interesting. I'm kinda shoehorning it in with 5/3/1 and experiment around. My legs can take more punishment and have always recovered quickly (see: Smolov) so I'm going to be using 5/3/1 for overhead and press work while working to a smooth single on squats 3-4 times a week and on pulling twice a week.
Be prepared for the dark times. They are well documented and only the truly strong of mind and body can persevere through them. If you can pass through them, your body will have adapted to become almost superhuman.
Just signed up for my first 50 mile trail race. 3 months and a day to go... Anyone else run distance?
So after snatch work today we finished off with box squats. Because me and my friends are idiots. Here is 10 reps at 315. Form gets a bit shaky at the end, but that's because my hips were protesting vigorously.
Nice. Something I've always wondered: Why do you (and many other guys) where a hoodie when working out? Doesn't it get uncomfortably hot?
Eh, I actually like feeling warm when I train, plus in a commercial gym you got so much shit going on that for sets like this it's nice to put the hood up so you don't see stuff in your periphery. Helps me focus at least.
Thinking I might switch to a new gym once my contract is up with my current one. I don't dislike my current one, but this new one is really close to where I work and has similar pricing but without contracts. Also it's a strongman/powerlifter gym, and I'm hoping being around those guys will keep me movitated to keep on improving.
What's the best way to eat your meals to encourage strength gains? On training days I'll have an average-light breakfast, large lunch, afternoon snack, workout after work, light dinner, evening snack. Would I be better served by having my large meal after my workout instead of at lunch?
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.leangains.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.leangains.com/</a> He'd say to skip breakfast, workout early afternoon in the fasted state, and then start eating. That is his blog and he wrote a book that you could probably get at your library. He definitely gets results.
I've found more progress eating after working out, but thats just me personally. I would try to load up at lunch and after work/pre work out with limited success. But then going moderate snack before, and big meal after plus a shake for bed, started to pay some dividends. EDIT: Leangains doesn't really seem feasible to people in an office setting, but thats just me. I'd kill myself fasting all day
It's really not "all day" and you eat a lot once you start eating. It might be hard with your personal work situation, but I would imagine it would be far more difficult for someone with a physically active job, like construction, farming, hell...even the fedex dude. I can suck it up for awhile against my hunger, but I am incapable of performing any physically demanding tasks while hunger is gnawing at my gut. I've heard people say they were dreading it but once they've started it was super easy. This is all "what I've heard"...I am not working out right now so I am not doing any kind of fasting system. It seems to give fantastic results to the people I have talked to personally though.
If you don't want to do the program per se, the major takeaway is to get your biggest meal and most protein immediately post-workout.
Also skip breakfast. His methods are very precise and there are reasons for each part of his diet and workout plans. Skipping breakfast is quite important. I have an obese e-friend who uses his fasting methods twice a week for weight loss with excellent results. I might give it a try just because.
Ok, just to be clear I'm looking to optimize my eating times for strength gain, not weight loss. I checked out that site but couldn't find a clear explanation for why morning fasting will help build muscle.
It's both though. The eating program is about optimal gains during a cutting phase type thing, although I don't think I've read anywhere that he actually calls it "cutting." He has used his clients as sort of a case study, or testimonials as he calls them, and they all make strength gains while losing a small amount of weight, or if the client was super skinny to begin with, s/he just bulks up. I'm not a diehard fan of this guy, and I haven't even tried his methods myself. I only have what people I know personally have tried and what his clients went through (assuming he isn't just making shit up for his site, which I doubt. He seems to be a fairly reputable trainer and writer). I'm not trying to convince you; I am merely suggesting this as a way to get the results you seek. You can look into it yourself.