Brad Pilon on Reality Based Fitness Podcast: No extra calories to bulk?

[chaddukes]

I just discovered a new podcast called Reality Based Fitness. Here is a link to the blog. http://realitybasedfitness.wordpress...-3-brad-pilon/

This was the third episode and they interviewed Brad Pilon the author of Eat Stop Eat. They spoke mostly about the book.

There was one thing that Brad said that made me scratch my head. He basically said that muscle gains were entirely dependent upon how hard you work. He never specifically stated that calories were irrelevant but he sure seemed to imply such. I wish I could have gotten some clarification. Did he really mean to say that someone can put on ten pounds of muscle without ever eating above maintenance calories, or even in a deficit?

Anyone else hear this? Anyone know what he is talking about?

[Aoife]

I haven't heard it… and frankly won't… so I admittedly am pulling this out of my ass… but was he talking about gaining mass, or simply gaining strength? Because the way you phrase it, it seems like 'muscle gains' could mean a couple different things.
But again, what do I know?

[Leigh P.]

Yeah I haven't heard it either and likely wont anytime soon, but from talking to Brad before I think what you are speaking of is the ability to keep muscle if challenging it accordingly and strength in absence of a surplus. Basically the debunking of having to freak out about muscle loss in a deficit.

So my curiosity would be if he said gains or preserve. If he said gains then I would have to ask if he meant newbie or not. In general I don't find a lot of what Brad to say to be BS so I would be surprised at a complete shunning of the effects of a caloric intake for muscle gain. Likely it was a wording issue, but if you there is a transcript I would read it.

[chaddukes]

Here is a link to the mp3 file.

http://realitybasedfitness.podbean.c...-BradPilon.mp3

The question starts at the 18 minute mark. Mark begins answering around 18:30. He's talking about how being a teenage to early 20's guy puts you in a position where muscle growth is easy, and then at the 19:06 mark says:

"If your like me and in your thirties and still trying to put on muscle it is the hard work that you put in in the gym, and the hard work alone, thats going to build that muscle. There's a permissive role of nutrition, but its the hard work thats going to make you grow."

I'm assuming that when he says "permissive role" he means that the caloric base must be present to build muscle.

He then says at the 19:59 mark:

"The muscle responds to work, and it doesn't necessarily respond to nutrient intake."

Then he goes into explaining that if training with progressive and demanding protocols you won't lose muscle while on a deficit. That I get.

At the 25 minute mark one of the host ask if this (Eat Stop Eat) is something that you can do while trying to gain muscle mass. At 25:47 Brad says:

"It gets me right back to the thought that it is the work you do, and your ability to pick the right program that allows you to progress in strength thats going to determine the increases in your muscle mass."

I'm going to assume that he is taking it as a given that one has to supply sufficient calories to gain muscle. Perhaps he is trying to say that one doesn't have to massively overeat to gain muscle.

[RedLefty]

That's exactly what he's saying.

I bought ESE a few years ago and have been following Brad's blog ever since. He's very reasonable and is just saying if you want to gain muscle get in the gym and earn it, while eating enough calories to feed the growth. Just don't count on a miracle macro ratio or supplement to get it done.

[chaddukes]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

That's exactly what he's saying......don't count on a miracle macro ratio or supplement to get it done.

Cool. The longer think about it I agree that this was his intent. But, it caused my ears to prick up this morning while dodging cars on the highway.

Move along, nothing to see!

[karky]

I haven't heard the entire thing, but I want to say something on a general note.. sure, the work you put up in the gym stimulates muscle growth, but so does diet. Amino acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis (as does exercise).. Also, energy balance has an effect on nitrogen balance. So diet plays an important role in increasing nitrogen retention, which is basically what you want to do if you're after adding muscle.

[sheffezen]

Originally Posted by karky

I haven't heard the entire thing, but I want to say something on a general note.. sure, the work you put up in the gym stimulates muscle growth, but so does diet. Amino acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis (as does exercise).. Also, energy balance has an effect on nitrogen balance. So diet plays an important role in increasing nitrogen retention, which is basically what you want to do if you're after adding muscle.

maybe he forgot to mention it more clearly, maybe someone can contact him right away now.

[karky]

Originally Posted by sheffezen

maybe he forgot to mention it more clearly, maybe someone can contact him right away now.

Sure, if you want to, go ahead. I don't really see the need though.