2862: Why Your Bulk Is Making You Fat (And How to Fix It)

2862: Why Your Bulk Is Making You Fat (And How to Fix It)

Author: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge May 21, 2026 Duration: 27:10

In this episode the guys break down exactly how to bulk and build muscle without gaining excess body fat. They cover how to find your maintenance calories, how much of a surplus to eat, where those extra calories should come from, why sleep is the most overlooked factor in a bulk, how protein helps minimize fat gain, why junk food will derail your bulk even if the calories look right on paper, and why staying active with daily steps actually speeds up muscle building rather than working against it.

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0:00 - Intro

1:51 - How to bulk without gaining body fat — the full breakdown

5:57 - Step 1: Find your maintenance calories (two ways to do it)

9:44 - Step 2: How much above maintenance to eat — 300 to 600 calories

11:54 - Where should the extra calories come from — protein, carbs or fat?

13:42 - Step 3: Train for strength — compound lifts are the priority

15:03 - Step 4: Sleep consistently — how poor sleep skews everything toward fat gain

18:32 - Step 5: Bump protein even higher — why protein is the fat-burning macronutrient

20:12 - Step 6: Avoid junk food — the 20% FDA labeling loophole that will wreck your bulk

21:50 - Step 7: Keep your daily steps up — why movement speeds up muscle building

24:13 - Tip: Eat smaller more frequent meals when calories are high


Tired of fitness fads and conflicting advice that leaves you more confused than when you started? Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth cuts through the noise with a no-nonsense approach you can actually trust. Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, and Doug Egge bring their combined expertise to every conversation, dismantling popular myths and calling out the pervasive snake oil in the wellness world. Instead of hype, they focus on practical, science-backed strategies for building muscle, enhancing performance, and-most importantly-sustaining long-term health. Their discussions are grounded in reality, often challenging even the most sacred institutions in the industry with a blend of sharp insight and relatable humor. Each episode of this podcast feels like an honest talk with knowledgeable friends who aren’t afraid to question everything. You’ll find clarity on nutrition, training paradigms, and lifestyle choices, all delivered without an agenda other than giving you the unfiltered facts. For anyone exhausted by the constant churn of gimmicks and seeking a sustainable path to feeling and looking better, this is an essential listen. The raw truth isn’t always pretty, but with this team guiding you, it’s undeniably effective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
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