Fat Loss 4 Idiots Secret

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Essentials of Nutrition for Beginning Bodybuilders

By Frederick K. Mendez

A beginner bodybuilder would be wise to follow sound nutritional practices for long-term success. Eating right will give you ample energy that will help you last each workout session. The only path to long-term muscle and strength gain is through adequate rest and eating sufficient amounts of calories daily. Not eating the right foods at the right time will just decrease your potential growth and render all your hard work useless.

Catherine Ratzin Jackson, author of the book "Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete", explains that eating habits of bodybuilders aren't usually based on correct nutritional principles. She adds that bodybuilders are accustomed to get advice from magazine tips and nutrition store 'experts'. These sources are sometimes biased and do not provide detailed information on nutrition; topics such as calorie intake, protein requirements and foods for weight loss are often discussed hastily. Below are concise nutritional guidelines essential for bodybuilding success:

1. Avoid rapid weight loss. Rapid weight loss can result in the loss of lean body tissue and make it very difficult to increase muscle size and strength. Extreme weight loss often results from starvation or low-calorie diets, and may result in electrolyte imbalances, water and important lean body mass. High protein, low-fat diets can be harmful to your health and may prevent you from achieving your ideal body weight.

2. Always calculate your protein requirements. Muscles need protein to build up strength and mass. Just make sure that you are getting the right amount of it. Too much or too little of this nutrient will not produce your desired results. Different people need to take different amounts of protein as measured by their Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA of protein for sedentary individuals is 0.8g/kg per day. While for athletes, the RDA is set at 1.0-1.5 g/kg. Make it a habit now to check the nutritional labels of each food you eat to keep track of your protein consumption.

3. Get used to eating organic. The best foods we can eat are still unprocessed, natural foods. Eating foods from plant and animal sources that are loaded with nutrients is the often-neglected key to bodybuilding success. Our bodies cannot efficiently digest meal replacements and supplements. Better stick to real food so that your body will get all the nutrients it needs to develop.

4. Use supplements sparingly. Supplements are now in the mainstream of sports. Taking supplements can help in most cases but be careful as some supplements have negative side effects. In addition, supplements are really not that essential. What's essential are a proper nutrition and efficient training programs.

5. Watch what you eat before and after a workout. Muscle builds up significantly before and after you exercise. What you eat at this time will surely influence this process either positively or negatively. Always monitor what you eat at this time by keeping a written record. - 17274

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