Fuel systems / 10

Eat with intent.

Ten separate daily plans from 1,500 up to a 3,000 calorie bodybuilding bulk. Every plan has its own meals, quantities, calories and preparation — open a card to see the full day.

Foundation Cut meal preparation
1500

Measured fat-loss support

Foundation Cut

150 g protein · 130 g carbs · 42 g fat

Smaller frames or non-training days in a deliberate deficit.

Breakfast

330 kcal

3 egg whites + 1 whole egg, spinach (80 g), wholegrain toast (1 slice, 40 g), tomato (100 g)

Scramble the eggs with the spinach in a non-stick pan; serve on toast with sliced tomato.

Lunch

420 kcal

Grilled chicken breast (140 g), mixed leaves (100 g), cucumber, red pepper, chickpeas (60 g), balsamic and olive oil (5 g)

Grill the chicken, slice over the salad and dress lightly just before eating.

Snack

180 kcal

Low-fat Greek yogurt (150 g), blueberries (80 g)

Combine and eat cold, ideally 60–90 minutes before training.

Dinner

450 kcal

White fish fillet (160 g), new potatoes (180 g), green beans (150 g), lemon and herbs

Bake the fish with lemon for 15 minutes; boil the potatoes and steam the beans.

Evening

120 kcal

Cottage cheese (120 g) with kiwi (1)

Serve chilled as a slow-digesting final protein feed.

Daily total: 1500 kcal · Drink 2–2.5 litres of water daily and keep the protein sources lean. Add vegetables freely to any meal.

Lean Momentum meal preparation
1700

Steady calorie deficit

Lean Momentum

155 g protein · 160 g carbs · 48 g fat

Fat loss while training three to four times a week.

Breakfast

370 kcal

Porridge oats (45 g), semi-skimmed milk (200 ml), whey protein (20 g), raspberries (80 g)

Simmer the oats in milk, stir the whey in off the heat and top with the raspberries.

Lunch

470 kcal

Turkey mince (150 g), wholewheat wrap (1), lettuce, red onion, light yogurt-garlic dressing (30 g)

Brown the turkey with paprika and cumin, fill the wrap and add the dressing.

Snack

190 kcal

Rice cakes (2), peanut butter (15 g), apple (1)

Spread and assemble; eat between lunch and training.

Dinner

510 kcal

Salmon fillet (150 g), basmati rice (60 g dry), broccoli and courgette (200 g)

Pan-sear the salmon skin-side down, boil the rice and steam the vegetables.

Evening

160 kcal

Skyr (170 g) with cinnamon and walnuts (10 g)

Mix and serve; skip it if the day's totals are already met.

Daily total: 1700 kcal · Keep the carbohydrate around training. If hunger spikes, move the snack closer to the evening.

Definition meal preparation
1900

High-protein body recomposition

Definition

165 g protein · 190 g carbs · 53 g fat

Holding muscle while leaning out over 8–12 weeks.

Breakfast

420 kcal

Egg omelette (3 eggs), smoked turkey (40 g), mushrooms (80 g), rye bread (1 slice)

Cook the mushrooms first, add the beaten eggs and turkey, fold and serve with rye.

Lunch

540 kcal

Lean beef strips (150 g), quinoa (60 g dry), roasted peppers and onion (200 g), olive oil (8 g)

Stir-fry the beef with the peppers; serve over cooked quinoa.

Snack

210 kcal

Whey shake (30 g) in water, banana (1 medium)

Shake and drink within 30 minutes after training.

Dinner

560 kcal

Chicken thigh, skinless (170 g), sweet potato (250 g), asparagus (150 g)

Roast the chicken and sweet potato for 30 minutes; griddle the asparagus.

Evening

170 kcal

Greek yogurt (150 g), mixed seeds (10 g), honey (5 g)

Layer and serve cold.

Daily total: 1900 kcal · Weigh food on training days for the first two weeks so portions become instinctive.

Daily Balance meal preparation
2100

Active maintenance

Daily Balance

170 g protein · 220 g carbs · 60 g fat

Holding your current weight while training consistently.

Breakfast

470 kcal

Scrambled eggs (3), avocado (half, 70 g), sourdough (2 slices), chilli flakes

Soft-scramble the eggs and serve on toasted sourdough with sliced avocado.

Lunch

600 kcal

Chicken breast (160 g), wholewheat pasta (80 g dry), cherry tomatoes, basil, parmesan (15 g)

Toss cooked pasta with sliced chicken, halved tomatoes and grated parmesan.

Snack

250 kcal

Cottage cheese (200 g), pineapple (100 g), oatcakes (2)

Serve together; ideal 90 minutes before training.

Dinner

590 kcal

Baked cod (180 g), jasmine rice (70 g dry), stir-fried pak choi and carrot (200 g), soy and ginger

Bake the cod 15 minutes; stir-fry the vegetables and serve over rice.

Evening

190 kcal

Milk (250 ml) with a small handful of almonds (15 g)

Serve as a light final feed.

Daily total: 2100 kcal · A simple maintenance baseline. Adjust up or down by 200 kcal depending on weekly weight trend.

Performance Base meal preparation
2300

Training-day performance

Performance Base

180 g protein · 260 g carbs · 60 g fat

Hard training days with heavy lower-body or conditioning work.

Breakfast

520 kcal

Oats (70 g), milk (250 ml), whey (25 g), banana, peanut butter (10 g)

Cook the oats, stir in whey off the heat and top with banana and peanut butter.

Pre-training lunch

650 kcal

Chicken breast (180 g), basmati rice (90 g dry), mixed peppers (150 g), olive oil (10 g)

Grill the chicken and serve with rice and sautéed peppers 2 hours before training.

Post-training snack

280 kcal

Whey shake (30 g) in milk (200 ml), dates (2)

Drink within 45 minutes of finishing the session.

Dinner

640 kcal

Lean beef steak (180 g), baby potatoes (300 g), broccoli and spinach (200 g)

Griddle the steak to preference, rest 5 minutes; boil potatoes and steam greens.

Evening

210 kcal

Greek yogurt (200 g), granola (25 g)

Combine and serve cold.

Daily total: 2300 kcal · Place the largest carbohydrate serving in the meal before your session.

Strength Fuel meal preparation
2500

Strength and recovery

Strength Fuel

190 g protein · 290 g carbs · 65 g fat

Powerlifting-style weeks with heavy squats, pulls and presses.

Breakfast

580 kcal

Eggs (3), wholegrain bagel (1), smoked salmon (60 g), cream cheese (20 g)

Toast the bagel, top with cream cheese, salmon and scrambled eggs.

Lunch

700 kcal

Chicken thigh (200 g), couscous (90 g dry), roasted vegetables (250 g), olive oil (12 g)

Roast the vegetables and chicken together; fold through prepared couscous.

Pre-training snack

300 kcal

Bagel (half) with honey (15 g), whey shake (25 g) in water

Take 60 minutes before the session for quick-digesting energy.

Dinner

700 kcal

Beef mince 5% (200 g), wholewheat pasta (100 g dry), tomato and onion sauce (200 g), parmesan (15 g)

Simmer the mince in the sauce for 20 minutes and serve over pasta.

Evening

220 kcal

Casein or skyr (200 g), mixed berries (100 g)

Serve cold before bed.

Daily total: 2500 kcal · Keep sodium and fluids adequate on heavy days — aim for 3 litres of water.

Volume Builder meal preparation
2600

High-volume training support

Volume Builder

195 g protein · 310 g carbs · 64 g fat

Five or six sessions a week with high total set counts.

Breakfast

600 kcal

Oats (80 g), milk (300 ml), whey (30 g), blueberries (80 g), honey (10 g)

Cook the oats in milk, stir in whey off the heat, top with fruit and honey.

Lunch

720 kcal

Turkey breast (200 g), white rice (100 g dry), black beans (80 g), sweetcorn, salsa

Build a rice bowl; warm the beans and sweetcorn and add salsa to taste.

Training snack

330 kcal

Bagel (1) with peanut butter (20 g), whey shake (25 g)

Eat the bagel before training, drink the shake straight afterwards.

Dinner

720 kcal

Salmon (200 g), sweet potato mash (350 g), tenderstem broccoli (200 g)

Roast the salmon 15 minutes; mash the sweet potato and steam the broccoli.

Evening

230 kcal

Skyr (200 g), granola (30 g), banana (half)

Layer and serve cold.

Daily total: 2600 kcal · Split food across five feeds to keep digestion comfortable between sessions.

Growth Phase I meal preparation
2700

Controlled muscle gain

Growth Phase I

200 g protein · 325 g carbs · 67 g fat

A lean gaining block of roughly 0.25 kg per week.

Breakfast

630 kcal

Eggs (4), wholegrain toast (2 slices), butter (10 g), orange juice (200 ml)

Fry or scramble the eggs and serve on buttered toast with juice.

Lunch

760 kcal

Chicken breast (200 g), basmati rice (110 g dry), mixed vegetables (200 g), olive oil (12 g)

Grill the chicken, fold the oil through the cooked rice and add the vegetables.

Training snack

340 kcal

Whey (30 g) in milk (300 ml), banana, oat biscuit

Blend the shake; take with the fruit around the session.

Dinner

740 kcal

Lean beef mince (200 g), penne (110 g dry), tomato sauce, mozzarella (30 g)

Simmer the mince and sauce, mix with pasta, top with mozzarella and grill 5 minutes.

Evening

230 kcal

Cottage cheese (200 g), pineapple (100 g)

Serve cold.

Daily total: 2700 kcal · Track weekly average body weight. If gain exceeds 0.4 kg per week, hold calories steady.

Growth Phase II meal preparation
2800

Progressive lean bulk

Growth Phase II

205 g protein · 345 g carbs · 68 g fat

The second block of a gaining phase when progress stalls.

Breakfast

660 kcal

Oats (90 g), whole milk (300 ml), whey (30 g), peanut butter (20 g), banana

Cook the oats, stir in whey off the heat and add the peanut butter and banana.

Lunch

790 kcal

Chicken thigh (220 g), jasmine rice (120 g dry), avocado (60 g), broccoli (200 g)

Roast the chicken, serve with rice, sliced avocado and steamed broccoli.

Training snack

360 kcal

Bagel (1), honey (15 g), whey shake (30 g) in milk (250 ml)

Eat the bagel pre-session, drink the shake post-session.

Dinner

760 kcal

Steak (220 g), baby potatoes (350 g), green beans and peppers (200 g), olive oil (10 g)

Griddle the steak, rest 5 minutes; roast the potatoes and steam the vegetables.

Evening

230 kcal

Casein or skyr (200 g), almonds (15 g)

Serve cold before bed.

Daily total: 2800 kcal · Increase by 100 kcal at a time only when weight has been flat for two consecutive weeks.

Mass Protocol meal preparation
3000

Bodybuilding bulk support

Mass Protocol

220 g protein · 380 g carbs · 67 g fat

Experienced bodybuilders in a dedicated off-season bulk.

Breakfast

700 kcal

Oats (100 g), whole milk (350 ml), whey (30 g), peanut butter (25 g), raisins (25 g)

Cook the oats in milk, stir in whey off the heat, top with peanut butter and raisins.

Mid-morning

350 kcal

Wholegrain toast (2 slices), scrambled eggs (2), milk (250 ml)

Scramble and serve quickly between the first two main meals.

Lunch

820 kcal

Chicken breast (230 g), white rice (130 g dry), sweetcorn (100 g), olive oil (12 g)

Grill the chicken; fold the oil through the cooked rice and add sweetcorn.

Training snack

380 kcal

Whey (35 g) in milk (300 ml), banana, dates (3)

Blend and drink within 45 minutes after the session.

Dinner

750 kcal

Lean beef mince (220 g), penne (120 g dry), tomato and vegetable sauce (250 g), parmesan (20 g)

Simmer the mince for 25 minutes in the sauce and serve over pasta.

Evening

260 kcal

Wholegrain toast (2 slices), peanut butter (25 g)

Final feed; skip if the day's totals are already met.

Daily total: 3260 kcal · Six feeds keep the volume manageable. Liquid calories help if appetite is a limiting factor.

Train hard. Fuel properly.

See the training plans