At 04:33 PM 03/24/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>Dave or anyone.....
>
>When trying to increase muscle mass through weight training, is it true that
>you should increase your calorie intake alot?

        It really matters what your current bodyfat levels are and what your goals
are.

> Is higher calorie intake
>associated with excessive training?

        Sometimes but not always. One sign of overtraining can be an excessive
appetite because the overtraining can cause greater nutritional
deficiencies than without training. This happens often even in untrained
individuals. They consume enough calories but when it is nutrient deficient
food the hunger is never satisfied no matter how full the stomach. Junk
food manufactures know this all too well.

>...and how can this work without putting
>on body fat?

        Usually it doesn't but it is still done because the much more difficult
fine line that has to be walked to  both gain muscle and lose fat at the
same time. It can be done though it requires very great patience, a very
strict diet, specific training protocol with records kept, extra
consistently timed sleep, exposure to sunlight, etc. Most get disheartened
because they see their weight loss as simply weight loss not fat loss and
more importantly as point to be reached instead of a lifestyle which
promotes health besides leanness. Most won't make the commitment to change
their lifestyle except temporarily and therefore experience only temporary
satisfaction with the whole weight loss process.

> Are these body builders eating most of their calorie increase in
>low fat proteins?

        If you are talking about bodybuilders in the magazine/professional level
or any competitive level then the answer is yes. Protein as well as carbs
stimulate an insulin response which is needed to transport amino acids into
the cell for increased muscle. Unnatural ingestion of carbs stimulates a
super elevated insulin response which throws one into storage mode. You can
gain muscle this way but also considerable fat. Take your time and although
your gains will be much slower than these Yo Yo er's they will be much
longer lasting, healthier, and more satisfying.

Dave