We all know protein is important for building muscle, but how much protein should we eat, and which protein sources are the best?
Sitting down with us today is Enhanced Athlete Craig Golias. Craig has earned the reputation as one of the biggest bodybuilders on the planet, and for good reason. Craig maintains a bodyweight of 350-360 pounds year-round, with minimal body fat. Craig Golias is a behemoth of a bodybuilder and he’s joining us today for a question & answer session on protein to find out how much he eats to stay so huge.
About Craig Golias
Craig Golias is one of the biggest bodybuilders in the world and his massive physique has garnered him attention in both the online fitness community and social media, as well as those involved with bodybuilding. As a thin teenager, Craig sought to become like those monsters he saw in bodybuilding magazines and began lifting huge weight and eating more and more.
As things would have it, his approach to getting huge paid off and he gained serious size over the next few years. Now a fitness sensation and pinnacle of strength and size, Golias has collected a fan base all around who simply love his giant physique.
Q&A With Craig Golias
We sat down with Enhanced Athlete Craig Golias for an exclusive interview to discuss his protein intake and the importance of protein for your workouts. As someone who values serious strength and size, Golias is definitely someone to gain valuable insight from for he’s been there and done that when it comes to learning about training, nutrition, and supplementation. Let’s jump right into this interview and see what Craig has to say about protein and how much you should eat. For those of you bodybuilders wondering how Craig keeps on his massive size, the answer is all about protein.
Generation Iron:
Hi Craig. Thanks for joining us today!
Craig Golias:
Of Course. I’m always happy chat with you guys!
Generation Iron:
Let’s get right into it. What is your current weight and how much protein are you eating to maintain that body weight?
Craig Golias:
Right now I’m hovering between 350-360 pounds. I make sure to eat at least 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight, which equates to at least 525g of protein each day. I often end up eating more than that, but I make sure to eat 525g of protein each day as a minimum.
Generation Iron:
Wow! That is sure a lot of protein! How many meals do you eat per day to achieve that?
Craig Golias:
I eat 5-6 meals and 2 shakes every day. The shakes make it a lot easier. I use 4 scoops of the Enhanced Isolate Protein in each shake. That’s 100g of protein per shake!
Generation Iron:
That’s a good tip! What protein sources are you using for your meals?
Craig Golias:
My favorite protein sources are chicken breast, ground beef, steak, eggs, and cottage cheese. Bodybuilders often forget about cottage cheese but it’s super high in protein. 1 cup has 28g of protein!
Generation Iron:
I noticed no fish. Is there a reason for that?
Craig Golias:
I hate the taste. I often include fish in client programs, but I don’t eat it personally. Because of that I make sure to take a fish oil supplement each day.
Generation Iron:
Do you recommend 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight for your clients too?
Craig Golias:
Absolutely! It takes a lot of protein to build muscle. I sometimes go as high as 2g of protein per pound of bodyweight for skinny guys who are really struggling to build muscle.
Generation Iron:
This has been really helpful. Thanks Craig. How can people reach you if they’d like to hire you as a coach?
Craig Golias:
Send me a DM on Instagram! @CraigGolias
Generation Iron:
Thanks again Craig!
Proper Supplementation
When it comes to achieving that massive physique like Golias himself, looking to a solid supplementation routine is imperative. Looking at your workout, those three important stages, being pre-, mid-, and post-workout, are vital for energy, growth, and recovery. A pre-workout will allow for great energy boosts and muscle pumps while an intra-workout BCAA will help handle all of your fatigue and energy needs mid-workout.
For those post-workout gains, a protein powder is essential, for as we found out from Golias himself, protein is the secret weapon for any bodybuilder seeking huge gains. For that extra boost to strength and size, give a creatine supplement or mass gainer a look for they can really send your gains to new heights.
Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate
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Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate is a high quality whey protein with just 110 calories and 25g protein. Fortified with DigeSEB digestive enzyme blend, this allows for better protein utilization in your body.
Enhanced Labs starts by selecting the highest quality whey proteins which undergo a series of sophisticated filtration processes to ‘isolate’ out excess fat and sugar. The final product is a complete protein containing no lactose and over 90% of pure protein per serving. Enhanced Whey is then fortified with the trademarked DigeSEB digestive enzyme blend for better protein utilization within the body. With 25g of protein at just 110 calories, this high quality whey is perfect for your muscle building and recovery goals.
Price: $64.99
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Check out our list of the Best Protein Powders for more great protein supplements!
Wrap Up
It’s clear that protein is imperative for training and performance and Craig Golias’ dedication and motivation is proof that the right nutrition paired with the right mindset can help see those gains you want most. While it can be challenging to get adequate amounts of protein into our bodies, it is possible and will work wonders for our gains as we seek the best for our overall health and performance. Craig knows how hard it is to increase strength and size but with the right amount of protein and proper supplementation, those goals are closer than ever. We want to thank Craig for taking the time to sit with us and for helping us understand just how important protein is.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Enhanced & Craig Golias Instagram