How important are calories when bulking?

[Jariel]

This is something I've always been a little confused about. I gather that muscle growth is essentially down to protein intake, but if that's so do you really need extra calories when bulking? And if so, why is that?

 

[Phantasmal]

The body requires a certain amount of calories to use as energy throughout the day, varying by your base metabolic rate and the activities you've done throughout the day. If you just meet these requirements or have a deficit, it'll be very very difficult for your body to create new muscle mass. You basically need a surplus to create new body tissue, unless you're getting newb-gains.

 

[Jay-X]

Originally posted by Jariel
This is something I've always been a little confused about. I gather that muscle growth is essentially down to protein intake, but if that's so do you really need extra calories when bulking? And if so, why is that?

your body needs calories for everything you do, even sleeping (several processes occur into your body even at night). where are these calories taken from? carbs, fats and PROTEINS... that's why you need to take in as many calories as you can, in order not to use all the proteins in your body as a source of calories (thus, not as for what you mean them to be used for)

 

[Warboss Alex]

"Protein is the bricks, but calories are the bricklayers." (read that on Intensemuscle, a masterful summary I think.)

If you're not getting enough calories in to promote growth then 2g per lb protein or even more than that will not help you. A common measure is 20 calories per lb target bodyweight but that's a very rough idea, you might need more or less than that depending on your genetic makeup.

 

[Jariel]

Thanks! This clears things up for me!