If you want to bulk up and build serious muscles, strength training and lifting weights aren’t going to be enough. Your diet is a crucial factor in the Deep Water Method.

What to Eat to Gain Muscle?

Jon Andersen is one of the faces in the fitness industry who focuses on his diet more than anything else. As opposed to what we heard from other fitness instructors and specialists, Jon believes that protein is the key to a strong body and healthy lifestyle. He loves to step out from the norm and create his own path. “Break the rules, not the laws”, that’s what he believes. Along with his Deep Water Philosophy, he was able to control his mindset and physical shape to change from one venue to the next without too much trouble.

Jon is currently eating 750g of protein per day. Yes, it is a boatload of protein and much more than what standards and recommendations say. But Jon, who has been doing it for two decades, didn’t care about what others say as long as he is seeing better results than following the same path as others would. His philosophy in life is all about testing the limits and finding new ways to accomplish goals and reaching goals faster.

When he experimented with taking a really, really high level of protein, he also experienced a really, really high level of forwarding progress. When experimented with taking a high level of protein with carbohydrates removed, the results were great. That was the time he removed carbohydrates entirely from his diet. He did not need carbohydrates to function in life or athletically at a high level.

Ultimately, fat is what he used to control his weight and condition. A good place to start with fat is to eat about half the amount of protein you get on a daily basis. If you feel that you are gaining quickly, cut back the amount of fat. If you feel that you are losing weight or strength too fast, increase the amount of fat. You might feel uneasy at first but after three or four weeks, you will feel much comfortable. Your blood sugar will be regulated all the time. The carbohydrate is a weak link of the three macronutrients. On the other hand, Protein is the building block for muscle which can be used in excess of fuel. Then Fat is a great source of fuel which is essential for the body and mind to be healthy. Now, carbohydrates can be only be used for fuel, no other purpose. Once you eliminate carbohydrates from your diet, a whole new world will open in front of you. Your body will burn fatter and you will gain muscles faster.

While most articles and books completely disagree with Jon’s philosophy, there are also a number of people who have the same mindset as him. According to Dr. Mike Nelson, an exercise physiologist, “The recommended amount of Protein that the US Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) officially recommended is just designed for the average person who just wants to exist – hang out, watch TV, do nothing. But if you are not an average person, and you are exercising more intensely, you’re going to need more protein.”

How Much Protein Should I take?

For Jon Andersen, his recommended start point of the amount of protein intake if you want to be aggressive is 2g per pound of body weight. Half of that is a good starting point for fat, 1g of fat per pound of body weight. If you want to be less aggressive, you can start with 1.5g of protein per pound of body weight. If you’re committed to mediocrity, you can go with 1g of protein per pound of body weight.

The fats you have to add to your diet must be good fats. Some of these are Fish oil, avocado, nuts, and any grass-fed animal products. Your body needs a balance of fats in order to use them efficiently. That’s the same with Protein. Try not to rely too much on protein powders and eat beef, chicken, and eggs instead as a solid source of protein.

Now, Jon at his age is still committing himself to large workloads and extreme levels of hard work. For him, recovery plays a big role in training and making gains.

People don’t understand the benefits of training their bodies, minds, and souls all at the same time. True commitment is not just a physical thing, it comes from within. It is a spiritual experience. As you develop the mental toughness and the overall feeling of mental immortality, you’ll start to accomplish anything.

Now is your time to step up your game by challenging yourself every single day. Whether it’s with a diet, strength or conditioning. Don’t worry about the norm, don’t worry about what other people say. Put on your blinders and don’t think about the pain and soreness of tomorrow. Surpass others, be positive, be patient, believe in yourself and the hard work that you put in.

Make your own path, blaze your own trail, and swim into the Deep Water with no regard on how to get back to shore.