Diet and Nutrition for Bodybuilding

There are some particular diet and nutrition guidelines you should follow if you are body building or interested in beginning bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is about increasing your muscle mass and certain foods can promote muscle. If you are body building and you don't eat enough of certain foods then you may make yourself sick or feel less than your best.

It is important to stay away from fats, a lot of salt and simple sugars. Body building adds muscle and muscle burns fat so you don't want to be adding more fat to your frame but working off your fat and building up your muscle. Stay away from sodas and fast food. You will be feeling great in no time by simply eliminating these foods from your diet.

You also need to eat breakfast as this is the most important meal of your day. Make sure you choose foods that provide fuel and muscle building ingredients like complex carbohydrates and protein. The protein is to help build muscle and the carbohydrates are to help provide energy for your body.

Try a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, cottage cheese, protein shake, fruit, and an egg. If you don't have breakfast then your body will breakdown your muscle for the energy it needs during the day. The opposite of what you are trying to accomplish by bodybuilding. You should also take a vitamin and mineral supplement as many vitamins that your body needs they cannot get from food.

It may take some effort but you should feed yourself about every 3 to 4 hours a day. These small meals should consist of a carbohydrate food and a source of protein. So meal combinations of lean meat/potato, tuna/rice, chicken/pasta, and cottage cheese/fruit are ideal. If you are vegetarian than it is of particular important that you get enough protein.

Most bodybuilders and doctors do agree that to build lean muscle you need to eat more protein than carbohydrate. You also should eat about 30-60 minutes before your workout so you have plenty of energy. Eat something with a complex carbohydrate, like whole grains, and you will have enough energy to work harder and longer. You also won't get dizzy or any other symptom from having low blood sugar.

Additionally after your workout, between 60-90 minutes after you need to eat a high protein meal. When lifting weights your body actually breaks down muscle and then when your body recovers, that sore period, you are building more muscle back in its place. To build that muscle you need protein. Protein drinks are great at this and come in many different flavours and varieties.

Finally the most important piece of nutrition information is to drink plenty of water. Water is important for everything. Your workout will suffer if you are dehydrated and any muscle you build will not be top quality without water. Drink water throughout the day and especially during your workout. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, as this is when your body will add that lean muscle to your frame.