Nutrition for bodybuilders: what is the first thing they teach you in elementary school in the basic topic of nutrition? Usually it’s the food categories and what they offer, like foods to go, grow and shine. Children learn things like that bread is a good food because it falls under the carbohydrates that give our bodies energy and that too much sweets are not good because our systems need a balanced diet.
In the same way, those who want muscle growth should learn the basics of bodybuilding nutrition so they know what to eat and what not to eat. In this way, they will be able to achieve the best results and combined with the right exercises, they will begin to tone and sculpt in a healthy way.
eat frequently
All professional trainers and those who have reached peak muscle mass say the same thing about nutrition for bodybuilders: smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day are better than three large meals. Why? It’s simply because the more often you eat, the faster your metabolism becomes. This equates to more fat loss and prevents your body from going into its catabolic state, or the state where muscle growth stalls, which happens after 3-4 hours. This is when your body thinks you’re hungry and uses your lean muscle tissue, leaving behind fat, something you don’t want. Therefore, eating every 3 hours ensures proper muscle growth, in addition to replenishing energy lost from weight lifting or cardio.
Eat the right amounts
As everyone learns in elementary school, not following a balanced diet is bad for your health. The same is true for bodybuilder nutrition, although the ratios are quite different from the average person’s diet. The ideal amounts are: 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates and 20% healthy fats. If you eat too little or too much of one thing, the results can be disastrous for you. You may find yourself overly tired, lacking the energy and strength to finish your training sessions, or training for several weeks without seeing any change. Bill Phillips’ method of measuring is to use a closed fist as a measure for a serving of carbohydrates and an open palm to measure a serving of protein.
eat calories in a cycle
As your body changes, it also adapts. So when your metabolism gets used to a certain amount of calorie intake, it can stay there and you’ll have a hard time getting it back. To avoid this while getting stronger, go on a calorie cycle, which means rotating the number of calories you eat on a weekly basis. For example, high caloric intake for 5 days followed by 2 days of low caloric intake, or 2 weeks of high caloric intake followed by 2 weeks of low caloric intake. That way, you’ll keep your body alert as it adjusts to handle your strenuous activities, and your metabolism won’t stall. With such as part of your bodybuilding nutrition plan, you can’t go wrong and you’ll find that eating healthy and following a proper dietary regimen will give you great success.
