A Result Producing Guide to Nutrition
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or improve your performance in a sport, you can lift all the weights and do all the cardio you want, but without proper nutrition, diet and supplements you will find yourself falling short of your goals. In this article we will help you gain a better understanding of what kind of foods you should eat and which ones to stay away from, how to set up a daily meal plan and what supplements you should take. MICRONUTRIENTS Protein: Muscles need protein to grow, so you need to make sure you are getting plenty, between 1 and 1 ¼ grams per pound of bodyweight. Calories from protein should be about 35 percent of your total daily calories. It is important to remember, when setting up your meal plan, that each gram of protein has 4 calories. Some good sources of lean protein are; chicken breast, lean beef/hamburger, whole eggs, egg whites, milk, cottage cheese and protein powders. When eating eggs limit yolks to no more than half of the total number of eggs you are eating, to lessen cholesterol and saturated fat. intake ( example: 3 whole eggs and 3 egg whites). Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are your body's main energy source. If you are training hard you need to take in a good amount of quality carbohydrates, about 45 percent of your daily caloric intake. There are 4 calories for every gram of carbohydrates. Complex carbs are slow burning and will give you a more steady source of energy. Good choices for complex carbs are: oats, potatoes, yams, whole wheat pasta/bread, brown rice, vegetables and maltodextrin powder. White rice, pasta and bread are over processed and have little to no nutritional value at all, so keep them to a minimal intake. Simple carbs are fast burning giving you a quick burst of energy and insulin release and then a quick drop off. These are best used for pre and post workout drinks. Fruits, juices, some cold cereals, white rice/pasta and carbohydrate powders are some sources of simple carbs. Keep these to a minimum in your daily meal plan. Fat: Your body needs certain fats for proper function of your vital organs and brain. These fats have also been proven to improve your metabolism and aid in building muscle and fat loss. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature or when cold, these fats you want to stay away from as much as possible (animal fats, egg yolks, butter). Some good fats are omega 3 and 6 which are found in salmon and some other fish, olive, safflower and flax oil. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories. 20 percent of daily calories should come from fat. Water: Muscles are made up of about 2/3 water, so if you want big muscles, drink a lot of water. Try to drink 16 ounces of water with each meal or ½ to 1 gallon of water a day. SETTING UP YOUR MEAL PLAN Counting calories can be a painful and time consuming experience, so here is an easier way to plan your meals. Keep the portion size of protein to about the size of your palm, more if you are trying to get big. For carbohydrates the portion size should be about the size of your fist, a little less if you are trying to lose weight or a little more for gaining weight. You shouldn't need to focus much on fat intake because there will be some in most everything else you eat. If you find that you aren't getting enough try adding natural peanut butter or some oil to protein shakes, or oil to veggies and salads. You can also supplement with CLA, ALA or FISH OIL capsules. Eating 3 big meals a day is very outdated and is not effective for losing fat or building muscle. Your body needs constant nourishment throughout the day and in order to do this you must eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, every 2-3 hours. Each meal should contain protein and carbohydrates for better utilization in your body and to keep blood sugar levels constant. Try to spread your daily protein, carbohydrates and fat equally between 5-8 meals a day, this doesn't need to be exact. If you are trying to lose fat, lower the amount of carbohydrates you eat in the evenings. SUPPLEMENTATION For fat loss, in addition to lowering you carbohydrate intake, you will want to take a high quality fat burner in the morning and again about 6 hours later. These supplements have been proven to dramatically increase the amount of fat you can lose and will give you the extra energy you will need when on a lower calorie diet. Meal replacement shakes (MRP) are also a good idea, they contain all the nutrients you body needs for a complete meal with only about 250 calories. If getting huge is your goal, be sure to try creatine with your workout shakes. There have been hundreds of studies performed that show creatine is very effective in building size, strength and endurance. Pre and Post workout drinks are vital for helping you recover and grow from your workouts. They should contain a quality whey protein (30-50 grams), a carb powder like maltodextrin(60-100 grams), glutamine(1-5 grams) and creatine(5-10 grams). Try taking a testosterone booster twice a day to dramatically increase the amount of muscle and strength you will gain. Make sure you are getting all of your essential vitamins and minerals by taking a good multi vitamin and mineral supplement. ZMA is a great night time formula that will improve your sleep and increase your testosterone at night. Studies have shown that the majority of people who exercise are deficient in magnesium and without proper supplementation (ZMA) they will find it very difficult to make progress. Vitamin C is another one that you can't go without. Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and connective tissue and is crucial for speeding your recovery from intense exercise. Depending on your size and activity level take 2-5 grams spread throughout the day, but mainly before and after your workout. This should be enough information to get you on the right track. Keep an eye open for our future articles that will go more in depth with more advanced techniques for building your best body. Remember that training, diet and supplementation are all equally important in developing your body, and if any one of them is deficient you will fall short in realizing your full potential. Work hard, stay motivated and be consistent and you will build your No Limits Physique. Sam Anderton
No Limits Physique
www.nlpbodybuilding.com Sam has 12 years of experience lifting weights and has always maintained a lean muscular physique. He has Deadlifted 675 pounds in competition at a bodyweight of 240, and has beaten a professional strongman at the Conan's Wheel strongman event.
MORE RESOURCES:
Higher education, with yogaGlobe and Mail, Canada - 4 hours ago... a gymnasium and a 1700-seat varsity centre that can host convocation ceremonies, as well as dozens of dance, fitness and yoga studios. ... |
Princess Offers In-Room Fitness, Yoga for KidsCruise Critic, NJ - 9 hours agoPrincess Offers In-Room Fitness, Yoga for Kids Princess Cruises is expanding its onboard spa and fitness offerings. Among them: In an industry first-ever, ... |
Yoga At Cranberry Lake PreserveWestchester.com, NY - 2 hours agoThen join certified Kripalu Yoga instructor Franklin Shire for an outdoor morning session, Saturday, September 13, 9:30 am at Cranberry Lake Preserve in ... |
Kundalini Yoga ‘Awakens’ Cancer PatientsCancerWise - 9 hours agoBy Darcy De Leon Kundalini yoga is a practice that uses a series of postures, movement, sound, breathing and meditation to free energy starting from the ... |
Yoga teacher to hold outdoor workshopsThe Newark Advocate, OH - 15 hours agoLisa McKivergin will take yoga out of her studio and into the open air this month by offering two workshops in scenic settings. ... |
The Medicinal Powers Of YogaSify, India - Sep 4, 2008But medical research that's been accumulating over the past 10 to 15 years is showing that yoga can provide health benefits that many people may not realize ... |
Outdoor yogaBay Windows, MA - Sep 4, 2008outdoor yoga Join the folks of Keshet, the social and support group for Jewish LGBTs, for some trailside trances. After a scenic hike through the Blue Hills ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Virtues of Water
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes from not drinking enough water? If your skin is dehydrated, then what is drying up on the inside? The human body is over 70% water. Water is not only important for hydration, it is the primary transporter of nutrients throughout the body and is essential for proper bodily functions including elimination.
Things You Should Know about Vitamin K's Unique Power
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin is probably not as popular as other vitamins. But still you need this vitamin for your health.
How to Use Flax Seed
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to chew them good to break them up. Your stomach will not dissolve whole flax seeds and many of them will come out in your stools.
Calorie Deficit
I am sure you have heard you have to build more muscle so you can burn more fat. I'm sure you have also heard that you have to put your body into extreme calorie deficit in order to lose weight.
Bye Bye Holidays and Holiday Eating
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and relaxing mix of Holiday eventfulness or lack thereof. Whatever it was that you did, that it most suited your moods and needs.
Death, Aging, Rejuvenation (Part 4)
Biological clockObviously you need biological clock to time and alarm the point when you need to die and when you need to age. Aging is the same death as in those one-day butterflies, but a little bit prolonged one.
Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Decrease the Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes
What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your cholesterol, let's take a look at what exactly cholesterol is.Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced by the liver and its job is to:-? produce bile acids to help with the digestion of fat ? build and repair cells and ? produce estrogens and testosterone hormonesTherefore cholesterol is an important function of the body, but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Finding the Elusive Complete-Protein Source
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their labels help inform consumers that protein is a critical macronutrient in strength training success. Yet what is sometimes lost in this protein-bodybuilding link is that protein is an essential component for everyone, regardless of physical activity.
What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar?
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand. When you say, "I'm on a DIET", it usually means you are depriving yourself of something.
The Isometric Diet and Balanced Health
The concept isometric has been a part of the health care vocabulary for decades. The most common application of the term, until now, has been with respect to physical exercise.
Children Get Constipated, Too
Do you notice your child putting off going to the bathroom because he/she is busy doing more important things? Do you notice avoidance of the bathroom for fear of a painful bowel movement? Is your child not experiencing daily bowel movements? These actions may be signals of constipation.Parents often hope their worries about their children's bathroom habits will end with the final diaper.
Eating Healthy in a Time-Starved World
Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life balance, which is still a luxury for tens of millions of working parents, has been overtaken by an even greater demand: a work-life-nutrition balance.
Learn the Basics of a Successful Low Cholesterol Diet
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to lower your cholesterol, you will have to follow a diet that is? low in saturated fat and ? low in cholesterolThis is absolutely essential in helping you to lower your cholesterol. You must understand that although cholesterol lowering medications can be prescribed by your doctor, you will still need to follow a controlled diet specifically to help reduce your high blood cholesterol levels.
Summer Sun Cures
With summer comes more sun and with more sun comes an extra desire to be outdoors and with spending additional time outdoors comes ? you guessed it, sunburn.We all know the major importance of using sunscreen these days.
Homeostasis and Complementary Therapies
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words: homeo; meaning the same or similar, and stasis; meaning stable, or standing in the same place. The body's systems participate in maintaining homeostasis, keeping the body's internal environment healthy despite external environmental change.
Glyconutrients
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars that are responsible for making up the structure of every body cell. First discovered in Aloe Vera, Glyconutrients are essential to good health.
The Cost Of Being Sick And One Possible Alternative: Glyconutrition
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements usually are coming from about the same place - you know: "been there, done that." People are tired of hearing about the latest and greatest and - for the most part - figure that all supplements are pretty much the same.
Nutrition and Exercise Tips to Walk Away From Death
Recently yet another super-heavyweight Iron Immortal died from a heart attack at age forty-five or thereabouts. Typically, when I read of these tragedies I search my memory banks and then write some sort of tribute.
Help Your Heart Grow
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked the car. Before I could even step out and close the door, Mom flew out of the backyard, gesturing frantically.
Fructose Short-Circuits Glycolysis
First some terminology.Fructose .
|
