How to Build Muscle Effectively: the Role of Protein, Diet and Exercise
If you were to ask most people what it takes to build muscle, they’d probably say that you just need to eat protein, protein and more protein. Protein is important, to be sure. After all, your muscles are made of protein, and your body requires adequate protein in your diet in order to have the building blocks it needs to build up muscle mass. But protein alone won’t do. You need to pay attention to the rest of your diet and exercise routine as well. A lot of people who are trying to bulk up are also trying to lose body fat at the same time. But, sometimes, the approaches they use to meet those goals are at odds with each other. They’ll take in plenty of protein, which, when coupled with a strength training routine, should lead to more lean mass. That can be a problem. If you cut your calories too much, some of the protein that you eat is going to be burned for fuel rather than being used to support muscle development.
So to effectively build muscle mass, you want to ensure that you have enough calories to support your activity and the right balance of nutrients, too. 1. Fuel up with carbohydrates. Many bodybuilders see carbs as the enemy, and that can be a mistake. Yes, highly refined carbohydrates and sweets hardly do the body good. But the right carbohydrates help to fuel activity, including working muscles. Without adequate carbohydrates to fuel your exercise, some of the protein you’re eating might get burned for fuel. So to avoid "burning the candle at both ends," make sure to include enough high-quality carbs in your diet. 2. Get some healthy fats. Dietary fat is sometimes underappreciated by some athletes. Like carbs, fats may have an undeserved bad reputation.
If you were to ask most people what it takes to build muscle, they’d probably say that you just need to eat protein, protein and more protein. Protein is important, to be sure. After all, your muscles are made of protein, and your body requires adequate protein in your diet in order to have the building blocks it needs to build up muscle mass. But protein alone won’t do. You need to pay attention to the rest of your diet and exercise routine as well. A lot of people who are trying to bulk up are also trying to lose body fat at the same time. But, sometimes, the approaches they use to meet those goals are at odds with each other. They’ll take in plenty of protein, which, when coupled with a strength training routine, should lead to more lean mass. That can be a problem. If you cut your calories too much, some of the protein that you eat is going to be burned for fuel rather than being used to support muscle development.
So to effectively build muscle mass, you want to ensure that you have enough calories to support your activity and the right balance of nutrients, too. 1. Fuel up with carbohydrates. Many bodybuilders see carbs as the enemy, and that can be a mistake. Yes, highly refined carbohydrates and sweets hardly do the body good. But the right carbohydrates help to fuel activity, including working muscles. Without adequate carbohydrates to fuel your exercise, some of the protein you’re eating might get burned for fuel. So to avoid "burning the candle at both ends," make sure to include enough high-quality carbs in your diet. 2. Get some healthy fats. Dietary fat is sometimes underappreciated by some athletes. Like carbs, fats may have an undeserved bad reputation.