I have a question for Steve if you are out there.

We started doing the "biggest looser" at my office 2 years ago. And so far everyone has gotten on board and lost weight. Well we recently got a new guy who is super super skinny and wanted to participate but by gaining weight. Now I understand that you are doing the same type thing and I am curious as to what you eat to get the 4000+ calories in each day. Are you cramming tons of healthy foods or do you pretty much eat whatever you want? I don't know how serious the new guy is about gaining weight and my co-worker and I who started this in office competition are mostly curious.

Thanks,
MissDFITT

I'm actually not gaining weight at the moment. There are times throughout the year, however, when I bulk up.

When I do this, I generally am a bit looser in my diet but that doesn't mean I completely pig out on cake and candy.

I'll shoot for 1 gram per pound of protein coming from healthy sources like chicken and turkey breast, cottage cheese, lean ground beef, top round steaks, eggs, milk, whey protein, pork, fish.

I'll also be lenient in terms of carbs. Depending on the training day I'll go as high as 600 grams of carbs coming from a ton of fruits and veggies, whole wheat bread and wraps, rice, potatoes, yams, etc. I'll also add in some junk here but nothing much.... a few cookies or pieces of candy here and there, ya know.

Then I'll make sure I'm getting all my essential fats in. If I'm still not gaining I'll generally bump up more fat since it's the most calorically dense nutrient. Things like olive oil are great for getting the cals in.

Thanks for the reply... I didn't think you pigged out on junk.

I will pass the info on to the new guy see if he is interested at all in putting on some "healthy" weight. I'm really bad about observing what others eat, its a curse from watching what I eat, and he does fast food most days for lunch.... Which I know is not good no matter what your weight status is.

Anywho, thanks again! I'm sure I'll have more questions along the way!

Cheers,
MissDFITT

It's important to note that the surplus of calories is accompanied by proper weight training. This 'persuades' the excess energy to be used to muscle building activities opposed to fat storage.

A caloric surplus of anything without proper training is much, much more likely to just lead to fat gain.

Yes, I don't think I would suggest anyone to eat loads of calories without doing some kind of physical training. But then again I think taking in that many calories is crazy! But only because I myself am wanting to loose not gain. And again I am unsure how serious the new guy is about putting on serious weight. But I will for sure pass the info on.

I have another quick question for you... do women build muscle the same way men do? So if I were wanting to put on muscle would I go about it in the same mannor?

Thanks again for your insight!

Yes, I don't think I would suggest anyone to eat loads of calories without doing some kind of physical training.

I wasn't suggesting you would do this.

But others would.

It's crazy what people believe nowadays with regards to gaining and losing weight.

But then again I think taking in that many calories is crazy! But only because I myself am wanting to loose not gain.

Once you reach your goal, you might change your mind about it.

In my mind, our bodies are a continual work in progress. There is no end... only forward progress and improvement.

And for that to be true, you have to go through cycles of bulking and cutting.

Obviously not everyone is going to see this point of view... but it certainly is my own.

And again I am unsure how serious the new guy is about putting on serious weight. But I will for sure pass the info on.

Everyone is serious until they get into the meat of a program, lol.

I have another quick question for you... do women build muscle the same way men do? So if I were wanting to put on muscle would I go about it in the same mannor?

Yup.

The only do so slower due to genetics/hormones.

Thanks again!

And I agree with you its a continual process as I have learned over the years, which is fine with me! I am sure one day I will want to put on some muscle, right now I am working on getting an overall tone while trying to get rid of these last few pounds...

It always amazes me what the body can do!