Very Basic Question

[gbrice75]

Just a basic question regarding muscle growth. This may seem obvious to alot of you, so if it seems like a stupid question please bear with me:

We know that in order to grow, you must eat above your maintenance.

We also know that only protein can build muscle; neither fat nor carbs will ever actually be responsible for building a single ounce of muscle.

Having said that - when constructing a diet, what would be the advantage of any additional fat or carbs beyond your TDEE? In other words, if my TDEE is 2500 and I want to eat 3000 calories a day to grow, why wouldn't all 500 additional calories come from protein? I guess i'm just missing what the additional carbs or fat will do for you?

[soulstealer]

Just a basic question regarding muscle growth. This may seem obvious to alot of you, so if it seems like a stupid question please bear with me:

We know that in order to grow, you must eat above your maintenance.

We also know that only protein can build muscle; neither fat nor carbs will ever actually be responsible for building a single ounce of muscle.

Having said that - when constructing a diet, what would be the advantage of any additional fat or carbs beyond your TDEE? In other words, if my TDEE is 2500 and I want to eat 3000 calories a day to grow, why wouldn't all 500 additional calories come from protein? I guess i'm just missing what the additional carbs or fat will do for you?

Carbs = insulin = growth
Fat = essential nutrients and energy = growth
Protein = building blocks for growth...

Its not as simple as just more protein it has to do with too many other factors but simplistically once you get enough protein in the other nutrients and their ratios become important...

[gbrice75]

Carbs = insulin = growth
Fat = essential nutrients and energy = growth
Protein = building blocks for growth...

Its not as simple as just more protein it has to do with too many other factors but simplistically once you get enough protein in the other nutrients and their ratios become important...

Sort of what I figured, I think I just needed that clarification... thanks Soul!

[Hollywood2]

Exactly. Think of it this way: if all you ever ate was protein, your muscles wouldn't be able to grow much because all of the other nutrients would be missing. It takes more than just protein to build muscle in the whole scheme of things. Protein, carbs, and healthy fats all work together.

[bass]

correct me if i am wrong...from what i've read and actually I believe Milos talks about it in his videos, if you don't get all the nutrients that you normally get from carbs and fats then your body will breakdown your muscle tissue to make up for it, and therefore you lose muscle.