ORIGINAL: somethingreat
does it really matter what i eat?, because i am eating pretty crappy at the moment, my diet consists mainly of meat, junk food, minimal veges . i know health wise its not that great to be eating so much of crappy foods, but does it really matter what i eat if want to bulk up?
That all depends on what kind of bulk you're looking for
Yes, you can bulk up on junk food, but I guarantee it will be more fat than muscle, and you'll screw up your metabolism and your general health BIG TIME.
Not all calories are created equal. Some foods can be loaded with calories, yet not contain nearly enough of the essential nutrients your body needs when bulking. Take "Popy****" for example. Popy**** is caramel covered popcorn with almonds, peanuts, walnuts and cashews. In a cruel twist of sadism, the folks at Lincoln Snacks make a version of this snack without the popcorn, and (despite my better judgement) I am enjoying a can right now. Besides the unfortunate name, this stuff has (arguably) the worst nutrition profile of anything in my kitchen. A mere quarter cup of it contains almost 200 calories, and 14 grams of fat. In one sitting, I'm likely to put away a cup of this scrumptious yet evil concoction -a whopping 800 calories! But those 800 calories are almost entirely from simple carbs that will send my blood sugar into the stratosphere. There isn't but a whiff of protein to be found in that cup, and what dietary fiber it contains is no match for the amount of fat in it. So why am I eating it?
Because it tastes good, and I'm an idiot.
As I was explaining to another new member this morning, the quantity of food you eat is every bit as important as the quality. Every bite you take affects your metabolism and your endocrine axis. Best to stick with those foods that elicit the greatest hormonal response, without playing fast and loose with your glucose levels, and by extension, your energy. That means complex carbs like rice, potatoes (go for sweet potatoes whenever possible -they have beta carotene that white potatoes lack), and whole grains, clean protein sources like beans, nuts, legumes, LEAN meats & fish (if you must), and fat-free dairy, and quality fat sources like fish liver, olive oil, and flax seeds. Stick with fresh, organic vegetables when you can, and avoid canned anything (always too much sodium and preservatives added). Last, make sure you're eating lots of roughage for fiber, and drinking tons of water. These last two are crucial for moving all that food bulk through your digestive tract efficiently.
Yes, that's me in my avatar, and NO, I don't look like that today. That was taken back in Jan '07, and I lost most of that progress when I slacked off last year. I'm on my way back, tho, and I'm using that photo for inspiration.