Proper Nutrition And Building Lean Muscle Mass

In order to build lean muscle mass effectively you need to look closely at just how much weight you are lifting and the intensity of the workouts that you are carrying out.
By: Robert Woods
 
Jan. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- If you are someone who is looking for a way to build lean muscle mass then by reading this article you may find an answer to your problems. Certainly there is lots of information now readily available on the internet which can help you to build much better lean muscle mass than you ever thought and not all of it through the use of supplements.

In order to build lean muscle mass effectively you need to look closely at just how much weight you are lifting and the intensity of the workouts that you are carrying out. The only really good way of gaining lean muscle mass is through high intensity workouts as well as lifting heavy weights. So if you are not seeing the results that you would have expected then it may be because you are not actually working out hard enough or pushing yourself hard enough in order to achieve your goals.

The top 10 tenents of proper nutrition and building lean muscle mass to be discussed in this article include protein, carbohydrates, fats, eating more frequently and pretraining meals, pretraining nutrition, post workout nutrition, nitric oxide, growth hormone, and BCAA's.

1. Protein: Never underestimate the significance of protein in your diet. Of all the macronutrients nothing is more valuable than protein in assisting your muscles in growth and repair. The common rule of thumb is to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight on a daily basis. If you find that recovering from a workout or adding size is becoming a struggle or you are not achieving the results that you want you can try to up your protein intake to 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight.

2. Carbohydrates: Consider carbohydrates as having a dual function in your mass building efforts. If you want to maximize growth you need to have an adequate carbohydrate supply. When digested carbs will convert into glucose which can be used as immediate fuel or a source of energy during your workouts. When the body has surplus stores of glucose it will be used as muscle glycogen which is stored energy that can influence your body's ability to recover as well as its endurance for exercise. Carbohydrates can also influence muscular growth because they help boost insulin levels. Insulin in turn helps move amino acids into the muscles which can ultimately enhance growth.

3. Fats: Many bodybuilders will shy away from fats as they are trying to create a slim and muscular appearance. The good fats, mono and polyunsaturated fats, can play a significant role when trying to achieve greater muscle mass. Fat will work within the body to help decrease the burning of both glucose and amino acids. The more slowly your body burns glucose or amino acids the more readily available these components are in assisting muscular growth. Restricting the fat in your diet can also minimize the production of testosterone which will limit your ability to achieve greater muscle mass.

4. Meal Frequency: If you've been involved in weightlifting or body building for any length of time you have likely heard that it is better to eat 5 or 6 small meals spread throughout the day vs. 3 bigger meals. The idea behind this is to supply your system with nonstop distribution of nutrients to encourage continuous muscle healing and growth. If you tend to eat fewer and larger meals then your system will respond with bloating, poor absorption of nutrients and increased fat storage. Plan your meals and in between snacks so you are consuming some nutrients every 2 to 3 hours.

5. Pretraining Meals: It's in no way recommended to eat a huge, heavy meal prior to working out but a well-proportioned preworkout meal can work wonders to helping you accomplish a productive workout followed by solid recovery. Eating a well-balanced preworkout meal can help raise your level of insulin which will help decrease the amount of tissue damage that goes along with aggressive training. Elevated insulin levels with an acceptable supply of amino acids can minimize the affects of muscle fiber breakdown during your workouts.

6. Pretraining Nutrition: As discussed in the first article in this series a well proportioned pretraining meal is recommended to give your body a constant supply to give your body the appropriate nutrients it needs to help minimize muscle breakdown as well as give you the energy to help you get through your workouts. However, in some cases eating before working out can cause some individuals to become bloated and lethargic no matter how well they proportion their preworkout meal.

In these cases it is recommended that you substitute a pretraining workout meal with a nutritional protein shake. This kind of shake can consist of 20 grams of whey protein and 20 to 40 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate or some variation of that combination. Consuming this type of meal before or during training can help minimize muscle fiber breakdown.

7. Post Workout Nutrition: consuming adequate post workout nutrition gives you the opportunity to jump start the muscle rebuilding and growth process. when you finish a workout that is when your muscles are hungriest for macronutrients. This is the time when your muscles can utilize protein and carbohydrates to begin the muscle repair process and growth. Since your muscles are so hungry for proteins and carbohydrates after a workout it is a good idea to consume a protein shake consisting of 40 to 60 grams of whey protein combined with easy to digest carbohydrates in the area of 40 to 100 grams. When you consume this combination of macronutrients post workout they will assist in minimizing the muscle wasting effect of the hormone cortisol.

8. Nitric Oxide: Nitric oxide is a compound that is facilitated to the use of arginine based products consumed before training. Arginine is an amino acid that facilitates nitric oxide release. Nitric oxide (NO) has an expansionary function which means it facilitates blood flow to the major muscles. Increased blood flow to the muscles promotes muscle recruitment and the repair process thus stimulating growth in muscle mass.

9. Growth Hormone: Growth hormone is naturally occurring in the body. This hormone helps burn bodyfat, build muscle mass as well as increasing insulin like growth factors. These are hormones that help promote the muscle building process. OUr bodies will naturally release growth hormones primarily while we're trainnig and while we are sleeping. You can augment the release of growth hormone by utilizing or consuming 7 to 10 grams of arginine before bed. It is a good idea to avoid carbs before bedtime as increased glucose in our systems can potentially minimize growth hormone output.

10. Branched Chain Amino Acids: These amino acids play an important role as far as supplements go. They have a significant effect in blocking muscle tissue breakdown, increasing protein synthesis and suppressing other hormones that might interfere with the recovery process. The recommended dose to be taken in 5 to 10 grams both before and after your workouts. There is also evidence to suggest branched chained amino acids may help keep testosterone levels from falling.

And remember that it doesn't take long to build up the muscle mass you want, but it doesn't happen overnight either. If you keep up with your routine and make sure to incorporate these tips, you may be surprised at the results you see. And of course if you're still not getting the results you want, ask a personal trainer for some help or find a workout program online that has proven results in helping people in gaining lean muscle mass.

Author Bio: Robert Woods invites you to try an explosive muscle building program that shows you how to pack on solid muscle mass without using harmful supplements. Read his review at: http://www.bestinbodybuilding.com/no-nonsense-muscle-buil...
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