Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Nutrition Basics for Bodybuilding Success

Eating right is an important element of bodybuilding success, especially if you’re a beginning athlete. Sound nutrition will help you maintain a steady level of energy and ensure you can complete each and every workout session; the only way you’ll be able to build muscle and strength in the long-term is by eating enough calories throughout the day and getting enough rest. Eating the wrong foods at the wrong time can set you up for disaster, and severely limit your performance and muscle gains.

Bodybuilders don’t always get the best nutritional advice, according to Catherine Ratzin Jackson, author of “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete”. She explains that bodybuilders source these advices from tips provided by magazines and nutrition stores’ experts. These sources may mean well in giving out advices, but most of the time, these sources do not bother to be as precise in giving out information. Take these advices with a grain of salt. Get your facts about nutrition right. Here is some nutrition basics accepted and followed by professional bodybuilders.

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. Calculate your protein requirement and track your protein intake daily. Our bodies use protein for building and repairing muscles. You won’t see any results if you consume too little or overload your body with protein. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) gives us a measure of how much protein we need to take. RDA is different for every individual but it is usually set at 0.8 g/kg for physical inactive individuals and 1.0-1.5 g/kg for athletes. Check the nutrition facts of every food product you consume 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. Pay attention to the foods you eat before and after your workout session. These are your primetime muscle building periods, so it’s essential to keep track of what and when you’re eating. Maintain a food log if necessary so you can become more conscientious about your food choices and get the timing right.

Natural Supplementation is an Effective Way To Enhance Your Well Being and Improve Your Performance. Stemulite is an Excellent, All-Natural Supplement, Used by Many Bodybuilders and Athletes. People Also Frequently Report Having a Deeper, More Restful Sleep when Taking Stemulite Before Going to Bed.

Posted by stemulite in 07:16:14 | Permalink | Comments Off