Its understandable many people out there feel they haven’t the time nor discipline for diets such as the example above. Although many people may find the strictest of diets realistic, it’s also important to find a diet that suits you, your needs and your lifestyle, or you risk burnout and the inevitable binge-eating. Sports supplements such as those available on www.powermyself.com can fill many of the gaps your diet misses. Again, dependant on your goals, the following supplements can all supply your body with the nutrients it needs to meet its goals.
Protein is a must for virtually all sportsmen. It supplies the body with crucial protein to repair and rebuild muscle and through whey does it in the most efficient and effective way. They also act as a great meal replacement when your body starts craving nutrients.
Creatine is also a must-have for bodybuilder’s, increasing protein synthesis, activating satellite cells within the body and increases the amount of energy stored in your muscles.
Great for preventing muscle loss and damage that can occur following extremely heavy training sessions, Glutamine is essential in any bodybuilder’s list of supplements. It also enhances the immune system and can be used as an energy source as continuous exercise depletes your bodies glycogen stores.
Another supplement that shouldn’t be underestimated, Amino Acids are commonly known as the building blocks of protein and not only stimulate muscle growth, but aid recovery and prevent muscle loss, key to promoting and improving the muscle reactions required during boxing.
As a steroid hormone, testosterone supplements have proved invaluable to bodybuilder’s looking to take the sport to the next level. As testosterone levels are depleted post-workout, natural boosters encourage the bodies’ natural testosterone production which encourages protein synthesis, boosts energy and increases muscle mass, as well as a number of other benefits for the body in general.
Fat loss supplements can safely increase metabolism, encourage fat loss, prevent muscle loss through catabolism and increase energy levels. A great product for those looking for help when trying to shed a few extra pounds.
Professional bodybuilding (the art of displaying muscles) requires extreme dedication to both training and the very strictest of diets. The time and techniques you use in the gym and the strict nutritional guidelines, combined with the best supplements money can buy will no doubt result in how far you go in the sport.
Bodybuilding, like most sports, has gone from strength to strength in the last few decades, especially since Arnold Schwarzenegger first appeared and became 6-time Mr Olympia Champion. Many bodybuilders’ have followed in Arnold’s footsteps, at least in the bodybuilding game, and the sport has become recognised, respected and internationally acclaimed.
At all levels, bodybuilder’s strive for perfection, and indeed it is this that sets them apart from many athletes and at the very top of the game, it is usually the most conditioned and symmetrical athlete who finishes in first place.
Whatever your level or goal, each body part is to be focused on, studied, sculptured and improved upon and this places huge pressure on each individual muscle. As you train, muscle fibres are stretched and strained, nutrients are depleted and your body faces a daily struggle to repair before the next gruelling session. Your diet and sports supplement intake essentially determines your bodies ability to do this and is something all bodybuilder’s should spend time, money and effort investing in.
As in most sports, training techniques have been tried, tested and developed and bodybuilder’s are finding more ways to push their bodies to the limit and take the sport to the next level. As attitudes to training develops, so too has the reliance on nutritional information and the advancement sports supplementation to give professional’s more energy, strength and better recovery, to compete in one of the world’s most competitive sports. As usual, each person’s body reacts differently to different diets and supplements, but there are many strict rules to follow that will ensure you get the maximum benefits from all your hard efforts in the gym.
A Bodybuilder’s Diet
As with most athletes’ dietary requirements, there are several simple rules you should follow, including the obvious avoidance of saturated fats and fried foods, drinking lots of water and following strict meal plans with sports supplements used to fill the gaps. Without listing all the foods available, obvious foods you should aim for are: lean meats; dairy products; fish; wholemeal bread; fruits and vegetables; and good proteins/fats.
Essentially however, you are sticking to a few basic rules whilst adhering to the right foods, as mentioned above, such as a general intake of Carbohydrates (40%), Protein (40%) and good Fats (20%) and consuming more regular meals (these are touched upon in our ‘5 Simple Steps to Bodybuilding’ article.
There are many more important aspects and theories to the best bodybuilding diet but as is always the case, results and dietary requirement depend on the individual implied and the desired result. That said, the only way to truly improve you physique and get closer to the body you long for is hard hours in the gym and a strict nutritional intake.
So, here’s a typical example of a strong bodybuilder’s diet.
- Meal 1: Dry oats mixed with water. Egg beaters.
- Meal 2: Meal replacement supplement mixed with water or a protein powder plus rice or oatmeal (to give you essential protein and carbs). 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil.
- Meal 3: Brown rice or a baked potato or oatmeal. Plus some vegetables such as green beans or broccoli and some chicken or lean fish (around 6-8 ounces).
- Meal 4: Same as meal 2.
- Meal 5: Same as meal 3
- Meal 6: Same as meal 6
OK, so it’s not the most vibrant diet but as far as nutrition goes, it’s excellent. Don’t feel you have to follow this to the letter; it’s certainly important to get a variety of different foods with all the differing benefits they offer. Recent research also suggests it’s important to cycle your caloric intake so your body doesn’t get used to a certain amount of calories and the diet becomes ineffective. Whatever level you intend to reach, choose one day of the week i.e. Sunday, and eat a lot of the foods that aren’t on the list. This will also stop you getting too bored with your weekly diet and give up all together.
