Athelte/Gym goer-difference?

Hi, I've been a avid gym goer for about 5years now but whenever I research nutrition for gym go-ers it always comes up with nutrition for atheltes.

I was just wondering whats the definition of an athlete? Do you have to be training for something to call yourself that? Or can go just be a person who is active (goes to the gym about 5 times a week)?

Thanks for your replies in advance!

An athlete will have a higher caloric requirement than the average gym goer because they are eating for performance. Typically they will be eating a surplus to increase strength, endurance, speed etc. The average gym goer on the other hand is probably trying to lose weight, thus eating in a caloric deficit.

Nutritionally, however, in terms of the types of food you should be eating. It's pretty much exactly they same. You need to eat clean healthy foods and you need to eat often.

Universally its pretty easy to say that no matter what your goals are (unless your goal is to be fat) you need to eat clean and unprocessed foods as much as possible. Cut out the middle men of excess sodium, preservatives, unnatural flavor enhancers, monosodiumglutamate, etc etc etc and you will improve your physique, health and performance.

There is no specially prescribed diet for "an average gym-goer", which is probably why you won't find it in a search. There are only healthy and sensible choices, which you are perfectly capable of determining on your own. Or with a little research.

Check out Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet.