Tim Martin Q&A

[Tim Martin]

Thanks for the shirt!

[BrolyLegendary]

Hey tim,
was hoping you could point me in the right direction, i want to learn more about setting up a proper bullk diet and was hoping you could give me some tips in regards to determining daily caloric needs and daily protein/carbs/fat needs (I know everyone's different but some basic info would help). I've googled alot of this but every site seems to have their own formula and beleifs. If your 2 bizy maybe you could recommend a website or a book that talks more about this, i am 19 and just doing my best to educate myself and do things smart and safely
Thanks for your time, All the best

[Tim Martin]

^^^
I'm not a proponent of bulking diet for the sole fact that if I let my own body fat get too high I end up just looking sloppy and not particularly thicker like some physiques. That said I think there is no substitute for trial and error, all the while keeping accurate accounts of food eaten for relatively long durations. A good starting point is Joe Klemcseweski's diet book "Metabolic Transformation".

http://www.amazon.com/Metabolic-Tran.../dp/0595292682

Good luck.

[daciz2]

I just read in fitadina's forum that you had twins. damn dude must be a blessing. congrats man!

[vcjha]

^^^
I'm not a proponent of bulking diet for the sole fact that if I let my own body fat get too high I end up just looking sloppy and not particularly thicker like some physiques. That said I think there is no substitute for trial and error, all the while keeping accurate accounts of food eaten for relatively long durations. A good starting point is Joe Klemcseweski's diet book "Metabolic Transformation".

http://www.amazon.com/Metabolic-Tran.../dp/0595292682

Good luck.

2 questions: You eat 400 g of protein offseason and on-season? Yow that's alot. And when you say you don't do bulking, do you still eat somewhat higher calories in your offseason? I ask this because I'm so tempted to bulk(clean food only, relatively bland with chicken, rice, eggs, and potatoes) since all the natural bodybuilder I look up to do, the ones that have appreciative size on them, like Isaiah Southward, not the usual ripped string beans everyone knows.

[Tim Martin]

When I say I don't bulk I mean I don't allow myself to eat a shit-ton of crappy food and look sloppy in the offseason. Of course calories are higher but they just come from more clean food. Interestingly, I've been doing pretty much a keto diet (with no cardio) for the past month or so and my weight is around 230 (contest weight is around 210).

Here's a clip from this morning's back and hamstring workout. The strength was there, but I honestly felt like I might pass out at the end and I didn't want that captured on video!!!

405 x 24 reps

[douggiefresh]

Regardless of the number of reps, was truely an impressive lift to see! Anybody who reps heavy weight out on deads over 15, 20 reps is a beast in my book.

[Tim Martin]

Just want to post on this thread that it sucks being shit on in these forums every time you defend natural bodybuilding.

[douggiefresh]

Agree, especially when you have people that aren't even natural posting in the natural forums, and people who are supposed to be representing the site posting nasty comments about forum members.

[vcjha]

I apologize for not replying back earlier. I thought u left the thread most like anybody else who becomes really busy during bodybuilding season: training and dieting all day because shows are not far away. But now that I have the answer on bulking, I was always curious why some people felt they had to eat up to 400 g of protein a day. Then, I remembered you're a top tier natural bodybuilder and eat upwards of 8 times a day!!! Just one more question: out of all the diets you've tried which one has given you the best results? High protein, low fat, and low carb sounds like strictly protein, but if it works for you, looks like you're one person who defies the myth "you need to eat something other than protein otherwise you will burn up protein, i.e. muscle. Talk about dedication!!

[Tim Martin]

^^^ This will contradict most of the expert opinions out there, but the way I look at it I've got plenty of fat on my body to support metabolism when dieting, so as long as I get enough protein things will work out fine. If some of that protein is burned up for energy, oh well, that's just expensive calories. Of course you need some additional staples like green veggies, supps including EFA's, I also use a lot of Benefiber. Bottom line is that as you are dieting start dropping carbs and fat but try to keep your protein high. Just remember that back in the day guys like John Hnatyshak dieted on tuna fish alone and got shredded.

[vcjha]

No problem. It's really what works for you, I'm not an expert or anything though. Thanks for the fast and detailed reply. I'll keep all of what you said in mind. Just curious, what diet has worked for you what you found has brought you into your best condition, shape, and size for contest? I only ask because you've tried plenty of ways to diet and was curious if you've found what's the best for you yet.

[vcjha]

No problem. It's really what works for you, I'm not an expert or anything though. Thanks for the fast and detailed reply. I'll keep all of what you said in mind. Just curious, what diet has worked for you what you found has brought you into your best condition, shape, and size for contest? I only ask because you've tried plenty of ways to diet and was curious if you've found what's the best for you yet.

Sorry. I guess I meant to ask how long it took you before you found what works for you. and also, if you just decided to keep protein constant, but only cut out some fat and carbs. That's literally eating just meat and I don't know any precontest bodybuilder who's willing to do that.

[Brad2317]

Just want to post on this thread that it sucks being shit on in these forums every time you defend natural bodybuilding.

I feel your pain man. I'm planning on getting ready for a show in Tunica, MS. and I have people who look at me like I'm stupid when I tell them I'm doing it clean......... I plan on proving them wrong! That show is on Sept 17th, I also might try to do a new show in Germantown, TN ( Memphis basically ) called The Dexter Jackson Classic on Oct 15th. Any advice for no going insane between shows lol. I plan on cutting with a keto diet for 18 weeks for the first one.

[Tim Martin]

You'll always improve in your later shows.