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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Bodybuilder's Guide to Optimal Nutrition

By Marcus J. Dawson

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of an athlete's career. Still, many athletes do not realize the importance of this or they're just simply clueless about the subject. Not knowing anything about nutrition will lead to bad habits that then result in an unsuccessful career. Take for instance bodybuilders who take weight loss to the extreme before a competition. Extreme weight loss produces a lot of stress on one's body and this can lead to a difficulty in increasing muscle mass and strength over the long-term. Nutrition simply is eating the right food, at the right amount, and at the right time. Knowing this is not enough, you also need to practice it. This entails you to strictly monitor and record your food and calorie intake and abide by nutritional principles.

Many misconceptions surround nutrition. Fairly recently, high protein diets have become popular. However, limiting yourself to eat only protein has its downsides. Catherine Jackson in her book "Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete" maintains that a high-protein diet often causes irritability and lowers endurance in an individual. I'll list here some basic and valuable guidelines on nutrition to help you with your training.

Dwindling Strength - Insufficient protein is the culprit behind this. Strength is an important factor in maintaining a regular training program. Do not solely rely on protein drinks and bars for your daily protein supply. It would be better if you source your protein from organic products such as chicken breasts (or white meat), egg whites and soy-based products.

Moodiness or irritability - irritability is often the result of low blood sugar which means you might not be getting enough carbohydrates in your diet. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels by eating whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day, combined with protein to slow down blood sugar absorption. Not eating enough carbs can also affect your ability to concentrate and focus during your weight training routine, so eat healthy carbs at regular intervals throughout the day to optimize your results.

Increase in sickness - Being sick all the time is a sign that your immune system is weakened. Combat this by incorporating different food groups into your diet. Consume foods that are high in B vitamins and minerals such as milk, fish and soybeans.

Decreased speed - if you've been focused on increasing endurance but can't get past your usual times on the treadmill or during your sprint sessions, you may not be fueling up properly before your workout. Some athletes don't eat anything for 2-3 hours before their workout, but if you're looking for ways to increase energy for speed training, you'll need to eat some type of carbohydrate at least 1 hour before your training session.

Eat right and rest - Lack of motivation is a sign of burnout. Give your body enough time for rest. Not eating right can also cause stress to your body. Experts suggest that we eat several small meals distributed over the day instead of a few heavy meals. Eating heavy will make your body work harder to digest all those food. This will also lead to an unstable energy level. Professional athletes are commonly known to eat mini-meals every 2 to 3 hours. This helps in maintaining a stable blood sugar level needed for training. - 17273

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