December 2001

The question-of-the-month for December comes from Ertan in Turkey, who asks a question in follow-up to the Question-of-the-Month for July 2001 regarding putting on body fat in order to gain muscle.  His question is: 

Dear Mike:

Can you tell me why we have to gain fat in the off season for gaining muscle mass?  Is it possible to keep our weight the same and gain muscle by a very careful diet?  

Dear Ertan:

Thank you for your question.  I hope you are doing well in Turkey.  It is nice to hear from fellow bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts who live so far away.

As I stated above, your question is a follow-up to the Question-of-the-Month for July 2001 where I discussed that, in order to gain muscle, one should expect to put on some body fat.  However, I didn't discuss why, so thank you for asking.

Gaining some fat in the off-season is essential for improving your physique, i.e. adding muscle mass.  The goal isn't to gain fat per se.  However, in gaining mass, it is inevitable that you will gain some fat due to the large amount of food you need to eat in order to recover and grow.

If you stay lean all the time, you probably won't gain a lot of strength.  As a result, you probably won't gain much mass and therefore you will never reach your true potential.  Look at it this way: When you are heavier, you are able to lift heavier weights, which results in increased muscle mass and strength.  If you stay lean year-round, at contest time you will look virtually the same, time after time. 

By staying lean year-round, yes, you can make improvements and add minimal amounts of muscle.  But, if you want results now (i.e. one year vs. five years) you must be willing to add some body fat.  

Good luck and keep training hard.  Thanks again for your question.

As always, don't forget to visit the Past Qs & As and my Training Tips section for more great tips and training info.

Until next month, train hard and stay healthy.

Mike Francois

Do you have a training question for Mike?  If so, visit our Ask Mike section and submit your question.

Note: Before embarking on any nutrition, supplementation, and/or training program, consult with your physician or other licensed health-care professional.