A Bulking diet is a high calorie diet which helps gain weight and builds muscle. With the gain in weight there is also gain in fat. This helps to protect precious lean muscle from being used up during workouts by burning up the extra fat. It also helps you to remain energetic even when on a low calorie diet later. A bulking diet should contain proteins, simple carbohydrates and unsaturated fats along with essential minerals and vitamins. Proteins are necessary to build new muscles and to repair muscle tissue later.

Carbohydrates provide energy and facilitate protein synthesis. Simple carbohydrates are digested more easily. Too much of hard to digest complex carbohydrates should be avoided and bad carbohydrates like sugary sweets, sodas and such should be religiously shunned.

Bodybuilders need testosterone and fats provide it. Fats are a source of energy and also facilitate the absorption of certain vitamins by the body. There are different types of bulking up. The style you should adopt depends on your body metabolism.

Those with low body metabolism should do clean bulking. In this you eat well keeping a strict watch on the amount of fat you consume. Staying clear of all junk foods, candies, chips and soft drinks is essential.

Those who have average metabolism can do regular bulking wherein you stay away from junk food and can eat chicken, steak, eggs, yogurt, skimmed milk, bread, beans and fruits. You should keep an eye on your fat consumption though.

The lucky ones with very high metabolism can eat anything edible. It's the easiest and the most loved diet. But it is the wrong type if your goal is winning bodybuilding contests.

Your body type also decides as to how many meals you should take in a day. Each person has a different body metabolism and body type. So your diet must be planned accordingly.

The period of bulking up also varies from person to person. Some prefer to bulk up for 6 to 7 months while others bulk up for just 4 months or so and then cut the fat. This period also depends on the individual body type.

There are two schools of thought regarding bulking up in bodybuilding. The old school approves of it, while the new school does not. Modern scientific research has proved that it is unnecessary to bulk up. A proper workout followed by proper recuperation and scientifically planned nutritious meals and snacks will help to protect muscle from being used up for energy and you stay lean throughout the year.