People have long thought that junk food is a major cause of weight gain, which makes many people wonder why bodybuilders eat it all the time.
Despite their seemingly unhealthy diets, bodybuilders are undoubtedly known for their impressive physiques.
The truth is, bodybuilders rely on junk food to attain the necessary calorie intake required for muscle building.
However, their intense exercise regimes ensure that they rarely gain any fat. The specifics of bodybuilding diets can account for this seemingly odd behavior.
While junk food may not benefit most people, bodybuilders have found a unique way to incorporate it into their diets to achieve their desired results.
What is Junk Food?
Junk food is a term that is widely used to refer to foods that are high in calories, sugar, and salt, while being low in vitamins and minerals.
Common examples of junk food include chips, ice cream, pizza, and fries. Even though it can be tempting and convenient, eating junk food all the time can be bad for our health.
A healthy diet should consist of a variety of nutrient-dense foods, and junk food should only be consumed on occasion.
It is important to remember that junk food is calorie-dense but nutrient-sparse, meaning that it provides little to no nutritional value to the body.
In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is crucial to limit our intake of junk food and make healthier food choices.
Can You Eat Junk Food On Steroids
While it’s technically possible to eat junk food while taking steroids, it’s generally not recommended, especially for bodybuilders or athletes who are using steroids to enhance performance or muscle gain.
Steroids increase protein synthesis and muscle growth, but they also can alter metabolism and fat distribution in the body. Eating a diet high in processed, sugary, or fatty foods could lead to unhealthy weight gain and other health issues.
Moreover, steroids can increase appetite, making it even more challenging to resist junk food. However, giving in to these cravings can lead to poor nutrition, hindering your fitness progress and potentially causing health problems.
Instead, individuals taking steroids are often advised to follow a balanced diet that’s rich in lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This kind of diet can support the muscle-building effects of steroids while also helping to maintain overall health.
While you can eat junk food while on steroids, it’s not the best choice for your health or your fitness goals.
Bodybuilders Require the calories found in fast food
While it may seem counterintuitive, fast food can actually be a helpful tool for bodybuilders looking to meet their high calorie requirements.
With its high calorie content and low volume, junk food allows bodybuilders to eat more and pack in extra calories without feeling overly full.
This is especially important for bodybuilders who struggle to reach their daily calorie goal while still getting the necessary 150 grams of protein per day.
While foods like chicken and steak may be high in protein, they are often low in calories and filling, making it difficult for bodybuilders to consume enough calories to support muscle growth.
Bodybuilders can make sure they get enough calories and protein by eating fast food with a lot of calories.
As bodybuilders strive to build muscle, they are often focused on consuming foods with high protein content, such as steak and chicken.
However, these foods do not provide the necessary amount of caloric intake needed for muscle growth.
In fact, eating two steaks only amounts to a mere 1,000 calories. This is where junk food comes into play.
Despite its negative reputation, junk food provides a high amount of calories in a small amount of food.
By incorporating junk food into their diet, bodybuilders can more easily reach the 3,000–4,000 calorie intake needed for muscle growth in conjunction with protein-rich foods.
Even though moderation is key, eating junk food along with the right sources of protein can give you the fuel you need to build muscle.
Muscle Growth Requires a Caloric Surplus
Muscle growth is a goal that many fitness enthusiasts aspire to achieve, but it takes more than just a grueling workout routine to accomplish it.
In fact, one essential factor that often gets overlooked is having a caloric surplus in your diet. This means consuming more calories than your body needs to maintain its current weight.
For bodybuilders, this typically means eating an additional 300–400 calories per day, but this number can increase to more than 4000 calories for larger athletes.
However, it’s important to remember that not all calories are created equal.
While junk food may seem like an easy solution to packing on the extra pounds, it’s important to focus on nutrient-dense foods to ensure that your body is getting the fuel it needs to grow and perform at its best.
Junk Food on a Cutting Diet
As bodybuilders strive for a lean and defined physique during cutting cycles, consuming junk food should be avoided.
Junk foods can cause water retention, obscuring their hard-earned definition and adding unwanted bulk. Instead, athletes should prioritize a clean diet during cutting cycles.
Compared to bulking diets, these diets have more important nutrients and less calories, salt, and sugar.
It’s important to note that while Rich Piana suggested using junk food to meet protein and calorie intake, it’s crucial to consider the adverse health effects that may come with such a diet.
Ultimately, for a successful cutting cycle, a focus on clean eating is crucial.
Junk Food is Simple to Consume
When it comes to food, simplicity is key. Junk food, despite its negative reputation, has the advantage of being easy to consume.
This is especially true for bodybuilders, who need to consume a high amount of calories to build muscle mass.
Ice cream, for example, can be a quick and delicious way to satisfy hunger while also getting the necessary calories.
Even though potato chips aren’t the healthiest choice, they are made to make people feel hungrier and encourage them to snack more.
It is important to note, however, that junk food should only be consumed in moderation and not relied upon as a primary source of nutrition.
Junk Food Is High in Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a fundamental element for bodybuilders. While some diets, like keto, may curb carbs, many bodybuilders prefer to use them during the bulk stage and decrease them for the cutting phase.
Carbohydrates give a bodybuilder energy and help keep them from losing muscle by taking energy from glycogen stores instead of muscles.
It is critical to consume sufficient carbs while bodybuilding to achieve peak performance. While junk food may seem like a quick fix for loading up on carbs, it is important to make healthy choices when consuming carbs.
A fantastic post-workout meal, with high-calorie content, protein, and carbohydrates is chicken shawarma.
It will give you the energy and nutrients your body needs to heal after you work out.
Summary of Do Bodybuilders Eat Junk Food?
Bodybuilding is a sport that is hard on your body and takes a lot of energy to do well.
In order to fuel their workouts and gain muscle mass, bodybuilders tend to consume more calories than the average person.
To achieve this, many turn to junk food as a quick and easy way to pack in extra calories.
Even though junk food isn’t the best choice for nutrition, bodybuilders usually don’t gain a lot of fat from it because they work out so much.
Even though moderation is important, adding junk food to a bodybuilding diet can help add calories and help muscles grow.
Hi, I'm Dave Moffat the founder and Chief Editor of steroidsourcetalk.com and certified International Personal Trainer and Certified Nutritionist. My passion has always been bodybuilding but with 15 years' experience in weight loss programs too, it's hard not to mention all that when you're working at your fitness level fullest (I hope). When Im not in the gym or spending time away from my family i often think about what advice would help others achieve theirs goals just like these inspired mine.
