Problems eating to get muscles?

[Obshobs]

I posted this on the healthy recipies section but didn't receive any answer:

Having gained 10 kg of weight, though much of it not muscles, during the last year, i suddenly reached a 'limit'(72kg). Going to the gym regularily and being sure that i do the required exercises with good reps and so on, i have a question to you guys.

I've read from several places that you should eat 5-6 meals per day if you want to gain weight and muscles. It's close to impossible for me to do this. Assuming it takes half an hour to cook, eat and wash the dishes of one meal, it will make 3 hours of daily spending on food.

Not only this, i read that the meals should contain 25% proteins, 25% carbs or some other values close to those mentioned above. Literally none of the meals i cook contain that much protein. All the chicken / turkey / meat products and milk contain less than 15% of proteins. And i don't eat eggs.

Lastly, i sleep on average 10-12 hours a day, now that i don't have any school or job and as such there is no need for me to wake up early. This means i'm awake 13 hours a day, give or take an hour. That makes one big meal every 2 hours. Again, assuming half an hour for each meal, it means you have only one hour of spare time after your meal until you have to prepare your next meal.

So i'm asking some help from you guys, how do you manage to eat so many meals a day, with a high amount of protein and good carbs?

 

[Scott_Free]

Well a couple of things that may or may not help.

I prepare several meals at one time. I will cook a large pot f brown rice that is good for several servings, cook up 6-10 chicken breasts all at one time and store them in the fridge. Make a large salad that is good for a couple meals etc. I only do dishes once a day so ...

Eating 5-8 meals a day allows your metabolism to work harder longer. This keeps it at a higher rate throughout the day. Eating more often will not necessarily make you gain weight, eating more food will. So if you take the same amount of food (calories) you eat in 3 meals and space it into 5-6 you should actaully see some weight loss, via the metabolism increase.

If you don't go to school and don't work, and complain about not having enough time to eat .... Dude I hate to be the one to break it to you but, you need re-evaluate yourself. You have nothing but time to eat ...

You need to make the decision for yourself, what are you willing to give in order to have the health and fitness you want.

 

[abear]

I've read from several places that you should eat 5-6 meals per day if you want to gain weight and muscles. It's close to impossible for me to do this. Assuming it takes half an hour to cook, eat and wash the dishes of one meal, it will make 3 hours of daily spending on food

multiple meals each day are essential for gaining weight and losing bodyfat. what most do is rely on simple meals as much as possible. say for instance mid morning and mid afternoon meals. ideas include pop top cans of tuna or chicken, fruits, nuts, cottage cheese, bread, etc. no cooking required and very little preparation needed.

Not only this, i read that the meals should contain 25% proteins, 25% carbs or some other values close to those mentioned above. Literally none of the meals i cook contain that much protein. All the chicken / turkey / meat products and milk contain less than 15% of proteins. And i don't eat eggs.

an easy way to look at it is to first detemine how many calories you need each day, then determine how much will come from protein, carbs and fats. then divide that up by how many meals you have. so say you eat 3000 calories a day with 25% of it coming from protein. thats 188 grams of protein per day and roughly 31 grams per 6 meals a day. its not perfect but just to give some kind of ballpark figure.

 

[AJP]

Food on the go as well, I only cook probably twice a day on average. Postworkout shake - I throw it in the bottle, thats 400-500 calories there. Sandwiches to go, thats more there, cottage cheese, tuna, etc, make extra food when cooking, not just enough for the meal.