The Student Room Group

Diet Paradox

I'm in my early 20s and underweight for my age, so i've done some research into getting a diet fit for my purpose. Basically I'm looking for a plan that is high in protein, calcium, etc. all the growth foods. Calorie intake must be higher than normal, and carbs must be kept to a minimum as I have a high metabolism.

But I also have problematic, acne scarred skin, and while both sides promote plentiful intake of fresh foods, fruit and veg, nuts etc. they are the complete opposite regarding the growth foods!

For example, red meat is high in protein, creatine. But it's also a big no no if you want your skin to clear. Same with all dairy products... I can compromise and incorporate both, but Im worried that I won't be able to achieve any of the two aims as a result. Need advice please!
Reply 1
Anonymous
carbs must be kept to a minimum as I have a high metabolism.

What? You're not going to bulk up without carbs, my lad, especially if you have a fast metabolism. If you have a fast metabolism, why must carbs be kept to a minimum?
Reply 2
isnt protein intake more important than carbs for growth? thats what i read anyway.
Reply 3
You need a diet high in carbs and in protein for muscular bulk. It's a complicated physiological process, but basically carbs = energy, protein = muscle repair. It's not quite that simple though, because carbohydrates also contribute to muscle repair.

Either way, if you're going to be lifting heavy weights, you're going to need those carbs for energy. You want at least 50% of your diet to consist of carbohydrates, if you're trying to gain weight.
Reply 4
should i forget about the whole pizza face issue then while i weight train? i dont see an alternative
Reply 5
No. You don't need to eat red meat. Construct your diet from fruit, veg, oats/oatmeal, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal rice, wholegrain bread, sweet potatoes, chicken, turkey, tuna, lean ground beef, cottage cheese, eggs (more the whites than the yolks), skimmed milk, almonds, peanuts and walnuts.

I doubt eating any of that will give you spots.

You can do without the milk and cottage cheese if you have to, same with the eggs, although they will be helpful.
Reply 6
Here we go, dug this up in one of those weight-muscle gain pdfs.

"Eating big meals with foods that have a high glycemic index will force your body to produce a large amount of insulin to help in digestion. This will effectively block out the flow of growth hormone into your bloodstream.

That is why a diet high in sugars and carbohydrates is bad for growing taller. That is a big reason why Asians are generally short. They eat way too many carbohydrates.

What is better is to have more meals with less carbohydrates. The typical bodybuilder diet is a good example to follow. Eating 5-7 small high protein meals is the best way to keep insulin levels low and your growth hormone production high."

which goes against the motion that most of the diet should consist of carbs - normally pdfs aren't 100% clear on fact, but it has merit.
Reply 7
Anonymous
should i forget about the whole pizza face issue then while i weight train? i dont see an alternative


Provided the "diet" in question is not such as to render you nutritionally deficient, your acne (assuming that this is the correct term) will most likely be a moot point.
Reply 8
Profesh
Provided the "diet" in question is not such as to render you nutritionally deficient, your acne (assuming that this is the correct term) will most likely be a moot point.


if anything it will be more nutritional all round. but certain foods like red meats and dairy products are known to flare up reactive skin, so i'm in two minds whether to use dairy as a big part or not.
Reply 9
Can't you use products for your skin and bulk up your body with food? And drink lots of water. That will help clear your skin.
Reply 10
Anonymous
if anything it will be more nutritional all round. but certain foods like red meats and dairy products are known to flare up reactive skin, so i'm in two minds whether to use dairy as a big part or not.


That depends: have such things been proven (i.e. by your own experience) to adversely affect your complexion? If not, I doubt that there should be any real cause for concern.

Incidentally; try this. Also, to re-iterate the above post: drink plenty of water; I should recommend at least a litre per day.
Reply 11
Anonymous
Here we go, dug this up in one of those weight-muscle gain pdfs.

"Eating big meals with foods that have a high glycemic index will force your body to produce a large amount of insulin to help in digestion. This will effectively block out the flow of growth hormone into your bloodstream.

That is why a diet high in sugars and carbohydrates is bad for growing taller. That is a big reason why Asians are generally short. They eat way too many carbohydrates.

What is better is to have more meals with less carbohydrates. The typical bodybuilder diet is a good example to follow. Eating 5-7 small high protein meals is the best way to keep insulin levels low and your growth hormone production high."

which goes against the motion that most of the diet should consist of carbs - normally pdfs aren't 100% clear on fact, but it has merit.

That really is absolute crap, to be perfectly honest.

Go on any single bodybuilding forum, and a typical bulking diet will be at least 50% carbs.
Reply 12
You dont need less carbohydrates, you need different carbohydrates. Complex carbs found in junk food and sugary foods will give oyu short burts of energy and probably make you have mood swings and worsen your complexion etc etc. As previously stated, you need to eat more low GI foods which release energy slower. So, oaty things and lots of vegetables as well as chicken and low fat protein. Also eat fish and avocadoes and nuts which are high in fat, but good fat, which will help you bulk up. Just general healthy eating plus freee weight training will have you muscular and glowing in no time!!!