Tip: 4 Hacks for Gettin' Lean or Gettin' Huge

Simple strategies for controlling your food intake when you're cutting or packing in the extra calories for mass gains.

1. Shake it up.

If you're going out to eat, slam a Metabolic Drive® Protein shake right before you leave. If you're trying to keep the calories in check, this keeps you from overeating.

2. Don't buy it.

You can't eat it if you don't buy it. This is how most people end up cheating on their diets. The food is simply there. It exists! In the cupboard no less! So when the urge strikes, that crappy food is right there waiting. But the junk food can't call to you from the grocery store like it can from the kitchen.

3. Eat pickles to lose fat.

Pickles are basically a zero-calorie food. So when you're really having the crazy cravings you can just go to town on a vat of pickles and be fine.

4. Fire up the blender for mass.

Gaining mass is really a form of food progressive overload, especially for naturally skinny guys who "can't eat enough." You just have to eat a little more each day than you did the day before. Of course, after a while this hits a limit. Otherwise you'd just be eating and sitting on the toilet the entire time you're awake.

But a pretty easy trick is to get a blender and fill it with whole milk, some protein powder, a few eggs, chocolate syrup, ice cream, a banana, and peanut butter. (Beanpoles only!) Stick it in the fridge and make sure it's gone by the end of the day. It should add up to a couple thousand calories. Just add a few swigs at the end of each meal and presto, more calories.