Our bodies are growing machines which intake compounds (delivered from both food and supplement sources) and use the nutrients and energy for various functions. We use food to grow and maintain healthy organ and system functions. Supplements help with recovery. As the total workload we place upon our bodies varies, the total amount of food and supplements we require will vary as well. After all, a 250-pound bodybuilder will require more calories and nutrients than a 120-pound untrained individual.

Breaking this down further, there are debates as to whether the body needs differing levels of nutrients and supplements on days when it is trained, versus days when it is not trained. A fair amount of theory exists to support a few different positions on this, and there is definitely not a clear answer as to which is right. There are three schools of thought when it comes to this issue. Let’s examine each of them, although the reader should be warned there are no absolute conclusions to be reached in this discussion.

Many bodybuilding nutritional gurus believe you should keep food and supplement intake identical on training and non-training days. Consistency is the key in bodybuilding. Just as we work to get our bodies on training and sleep schedules, we should work to deliver food on the same steady schedule. Our systems should know when the food is coming, and in what portions. Work to find an ideal diet, and stick to it. Change as little as possible!

Some people believe the body needs MORE food and supplements on non-training days. They feel that these days are an idea time to effectively ‘carb up’ and provide the muscles with the glycogen stores is needs for the next day’s workout. Additionally, since we all know our muscles grow when we’re at rest, not while we’re in the gym, wouldn’t it make sense to have additional protein on hand for these rest periods, so that additional resources are available when we are at rest?

As with all arguments, there are people who seem to take every position. Some bodybuilders believe the body requires LESS food and supplements on non-training days. Their thinking is simple. You burn fewer calories on those days, so you need to intake fewer calories on those days. It’s hard to argue with this level of thinking, especially in terms of weight-control. Why eat 3500 calories one day if you can safely estimate you are only going to burn 2500 calories, since you’re skipping the gym trip?

Finally, following none of these theories, is the belief that the body should always be kept guessing. Deliver a high-protein, low-carb day every two weeks. Or, once a month, “carb up” for 7 days before returning to your reasonable diet for the remainder of the month. As you can see, there is no clear cut “best” answer in this debate. The best solution is the one that works best for you. Try out the various methods, and see which one you like best!

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