Is body building unhealthy?

Are the high calories/protein required to build muscle mass detrimental to health, or can one 'body build' in a healthy way? I've noticed that since I have become more 'healthy' I have leaned out dramatically, but I would like to put on 15 pounds or so of muscle. Another aspect is insulin. Insulin from what I understand is THE largest player involved with muscle mass, but it has also been described as "the death hormone". Sugar consumption in the presence of increased insulin after working out is a standard practice for muscle building...so is bodybuilding just speeding ourselves toward death, or can these seeming contradictions be reconciled?

-I think the short answer would be no, it isn't inherently unhealthy. Check out some of the threads I have started or posted in and see what CS and others have to say.

-Yes, insulin is in fact an important hormone for bodybuilding and spiking it post workout is important. However, experienced trainers, bodybuilders, nutritionalists etc. would advise you to not spike insulin during the rest of the day. This can be achieved be eating lower GI foods and eating smaller but more frequent meals. Overall, I think your daily insulin levels can be kept pretty low, despite the postworkout spike.

-I think bodybuilding becomes unhealthy when you start taking shortcuts. I put on close to 20lbs last year, and eating some junk to get my surplus calories helped me achieve that. I also cut waaaayy back on cardio, maybe a little too much. Im sure there is a lot of fillers and other garbage in a lot of the bodybuilding supplements. Try to avoid most of them.

-Im sure CS and others will chime in, but I honestly think that you can be an avid bodybuilder and keep your health. Avoid all those bodybuilding supplements - you dont need them! Get a decent protein powder and thats it. If you can avoid the junk food and eat clean, keep your insulin low throughout the day, (except post workout spike) keep at least a decent level of cardio in there, and stay off drugs, I think you can have your cake and eat it too. If you want that 15lbs, take your time to get it, dont take shortcuts.

Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid with ALCAR post-workout with my Creatine and Shake and whatever else I consume helps to deal with too much insulin in a spike.

nid if you don't mind me asking what brand of ALA and ALCAR do you use? And what's in the shake? Also, what else do you use to specifically deal with insulin spikes?

Currently using IH's recommendations for the Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid and Acetyl-L Carnitine. For my shake:

- 1 scoop of organic green mix (can be anything

- 1 scoop of chocolate whey isolate

- couple raw eggs (free range usually)

- 10g Creatine when I feel like it

- 1 scoop of organic berry mix (sometimes)

- Some honey

- Cinnamon

- organic banana

I mean, you can be creative here...some organic peanut butter (or better yet grind up your own peanuts!), etc.

Thanks nid!

Do you have a recommendation for a small blender?
By the way, assuming that you work out at a gym, and that you consume the shake right after working out, how do you manage to carry all the ingredients before combining them?

zerx wrote:Thanks nid!

Do you have a recommendation for a small blender?
By the way, assuming that you work out at a gym, and that you consume the shake right after working out, how do you manage to carry all the ingredients before combining them?

haha wait the 15 min it takes to drive home

i do - protein powder, coconut oil, 1 egg, l-glutamine, blueberry yogurt, and either chia seeds, oatmeal or flax seed. all this fits in to a magic bullet cup.