weights but not-so-great diet - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

Smartpants · 04-29-2007, 07:22 PM

quick question - if I lift weights (targeting different muscle groups on a regular basis), but continue to eat a not-so-great diet (not very healthy, sometimes eating more calories than i should) will this poor diet impact the muscle gain? obviously its not ideal to eat a poor diet, but how will this affect my weights routine?

Willapp · 04-30-2007, 07:31 AM

I think it's difficult to say exactly how much effect it might have. It really depends on how bad the diet is, and how much/hard you lift.

My understanding is that muscle gain requires a good protein intake as muscle fiber requires protein to build it, so if your diet was very poor in protein then it's likely this would prevent you gaining much muscle as it would be like trying to drive a car without gas!

Eating a lot of fat and/or sugary foods should affect muscle mass that much, but obviously will prevent/slow down getting a toned look since your body will continue to store excess fat, besides it being physically unhealthy to have a very poor diet (too much junk food, soda, sweets etc).

BTRRR · 04-30-2007, 11:35 PM

it shouldn't affect muscle gains, but might gain u some body fat.
if u like to eat, u could eat high-calorie diet, just dont eat stuff that ONLY has calories and has no muscle benefits (like soda), cuz then you're gonna get stuck with those calories. and dont stop exercising keep it up!

mod-anon · 05-01-2007, 12:26 AM

Please spell out words so that people can read and understand what you are saying. This is not an sms message site or chat room. Many readers have difficulty understanding shorthand (u, r, ppl, cos, etc).

luzon · 05-01-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartpants

quick question - if I lift weights (targeting different muscle groups on a regular basis), but continue to eat a not-so-great diet (not very healthy, sometimes eating more calories than i should) will this poor diet impact the muscle gain? obviously its not ideal to eat a poor diet, but how will this affect my weights routine?

You need to eat more calories if you want to gain muscle mass ,however those calories need to come from good quality food ,high quality protein like chicken breast ,tuna in brine and egg whites are staples plus fruit vegetables ,unrefined carbs . To see the muscle that you are building you need low body fat so cut the junk ! Remember your body need protein to build muscle and repair tissue and carbs for energy as weigh trainning is an anaerobic workout which uses stores glycogen for energy ( which comes from cards ) , You should eat a small meal containing both within 40 minutes of your workout to replenish your glycogen stores and for muscle repair .
would be a shame to work hard and not get the gains due to bad diet . Good luck !