Being Fit Through Proper Nutrition

All good personal strength muscle-building programs take into account not only the physical training aspect of the regimen but also the nutritional aspect. What we eat can contribute greatly to the muscles we are trying to build. The key is proper calorie intake to help build lean muscle mass. We burn a huge number of calories during our workouts and we need to replenish these in order to build out muscles and tissues. Ideally, we are able to load up on calories that are rich in carbohydrates, protein, fat and other nutrients. The main energy source for strength training to build muscles is carbohydrates. These carbohydrates provide the fuel that and .They are stored in the muscles as glycogen, the all-important fuel that propels a person for short, intense bursts of power. This fuel is glycogen and if your level of glycogen is low, then you will tire faster. Notice how many athletes regularly ingest heavy doses of carbohydrates to maintain high glycogen levels. Protein is another essential nutrient that the body needs for muscle building, particularly as the main building block for muscle tissue. Nutritionists recommend a daily protein intake of 0.6 to 0.8 grams per pound of body weight. For example, if you weight 140 pounds, that would mean a protein intake of about 90 to 115 grams/day. If you weighed 200 pounds, that would mean a protein intake of 128 to 164 grams/day. The body also needs fat but only in small quantities. Fat should comprise no more than 30% of a person’s total daily calories, specifically with regard to unsaturated fat. It’s true that eight glasses of water is good for our health and it’s also good for building our muscles. Physical therapists recommend drinking two cups of fluid two hours before exercise, four to eight ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during workouts and 16 ounces of water after exercise. In terms of health supplements that can help spur muscle development, the main nutrient to look for is creatine because it provides the body with more power during workouts. Note that meat is one of the best sources of creatine.