To Build Muscle You Have to Eat Properly
Now that you have decided to bulk up with additional muscle mass you must have a plan that works. Weight training is essential if you want to add muscle to your body. What is not as obvious to most people is the need for correct, healthy eating. It takes healthy nutrition to build the muscles that you want.
The following suggestions will help guide you through the basics of a diet that is designed for muscle building success.
You need to eat regularly if you want to build muscle mass and get stronger. The best plan is for you to switch to 5-7 meals each day. Muscles burn more calories than fat and you need to keep your bigger muscles supplied with the fuel they need so that they can grow even larger and stronger.
If you are not taking on enough calories then you will not be able to build muscle. 5-6 small meals every day will mean that you can take on enough calories without stuffing yourself too much at any single meal.
Now is the time to eliminate junk foods from your diet. Most people have some guilty vices and junk foods are one of the most common. If you are eating processed sweets, gooey doughnuts or swigging carbonated soft drinks in between meals you need to stop these habits now.
Thirdly, you will need to drink a good deal more water than you had been doing before. try to keep a bottle of water to hand at all times, perhaps leave one in your car. nearly all reactions in the body require water to some degree and that includes muscle building reactions also.
Your meals should be composed of carbs, proteins and a small amount of fats. These are all essential for building solid muscle. A good rule of thumb is to split your meals so that each one is about 50% carbs, 35-40% protein, with fats making up the final 10-15%.
Fifthly, you need to learn what foods you should be eating for muscle growth. Here is a start to illustrate what some of the best muscle building foods are:
Use poultry, seafood, red meats and dairy items as your protein sources. These are perfect muscle building foods and should be included in your daily diet.
Be aware that these are high in saturated fat so you would be wise to mix them with the following foods that supply protein but with much less fat: Egg whites, Lean meats like poultry and fish, Non-fat or low-fat milk and dairy products (skim milk and cottage cheese are terrific foods), Turkey breast, Lean cuts of red meat and skinless chicken breast.
For carbohydrates and sustained energy release: bread, bagel, pasta cereals, brown rice, oatmeal, and potatoes. For instant hits of energy take on board: fruits such as grapes, bananas, apple, raisins, orange and sports drinks.
You do not have to concentrate on the fats that your body needs. If you are eating plenty of foods that are rich in carbs and protein you will satisfy the fat requirement for muscle building success. Do not overlook the importance of veggies. Yellow vegetables and leafy green veggies contain important nutrients and vitamins. If you can afford a muscle building supplement you may want to add this to your diet. You can get one that contains all of your vitamin needs in addition to the essential fatty acids, proteins and creatine that help you bulk up quickly.
The timing of meals is important if you wish to build muscle mass. You can bulk up faster if you pay attention to the times that you eat. You need to eat before you go to bed and again when you wake in the morning. It is also highly recommended that you eat within the 1st hour of completing a heavy workout. If you follow these basic suggestions you will soon see how easy it is to build muscle mass onto your body.
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