How you train is crucial. But what you eat is just as important. You’ll need to make sure that you are getting the right mix of foods. This will give your body the nutrients it needs to put on muscle mass. Plus, it will determine how much energy you have and how you feel heading into the gym. Here are some of the things you need to know when making your meal plan.
What Types of Foods Do You Need to Use?
There are a few types of foods that bodybuilders will need to make sure that they are getting. First, you will need to make sure that you are getting plenty of lean protein. This is needed to facilitate muscle growth. There are a few foods that are packed with protein, these include:
- Eggs
- White meat and fish
- Greek yogurt
- Protein powder and bars
You will also need to make sure that you are getting enough starches. These are the body’s main forms of carbohydrates. This is how you will be able to get energy. There are two types of carbohydrates.
First, types that will quickly release their energy into the body, slowly raising the blood sugar. These can give you a faster hit, but they won’t be as effective as a form of energy. A good example of these is fruits.
Secondly, you have those that take longer for the body to absorb. These are things like pasta. These are preferable, as they will be better during the recovery process. There are a few types of foods that will give you plenty of starches, these include:
- Brown rice and quinoa
- Potatoes
- Bread
- Oats
- Pasta
Thirdly, you’ll need to make sure that you are eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These contain a huge range of beneficial nutrients. Try to eat a wide variety, rather than sticking to a limited number. You’ll also need to make sure that you are getting plenty of oils. These help create healthy cell membranes. You can get Omega oil by eating fish products. You can also healthy oils by eating nuts and seeds.
Spread Your Meals Out
When you start working out, you’ll need to be providing your body with constant energy. This will give your body the fuel it needs for muscle growth. Plus, you will be able to control your blood sugar, which is linked to your metabolism. This is most common among those who are new to working out, as their bodies struggle to adjust to the new regime.
When you are spreading your meals out during the day, it’s best to break them down into small snacks, rather than bigger meals. These smaller items will be a lot easier for your body to digest.
It’s also important to be strategic about when you are eating these meals. For example, it’s best to have a meal that is high in carbohydrates immediately after a workout. This will give your body the energy it needs to recover. This will help you retain your lean physique.
Reduce the Number of Processed Foods You Eat
It should go without saying, but fast-food and other processed foods aren’t good for your body. They don’t contain many helpful nutrients and will be loaded with sugar and fat. When you first try to stick to your new menu, you might find that you are getting cravings for these processed foods. This is normal. But if you stick it out, and resist the temptations, they will start to go away.
Drink Plenty of Water
You’ll need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. The last thing you want is to become dehydrated. This can become a significant health problem. Because of this, you might want to use an electrolyte mix after an intense workout. This will allow you to regain any fluids that you lost.
You will also need to look at the drinks you are having during the day. You should avoid anything high in salt or sugar. So, soft drinks and coffee will be out. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy, low-calorie drinks for you to choose from.
An Example of a Meal Plan
Now that we know some of the rules that you should be following when putting this meal plan together, let’s look at a sample meal plan. This will tell you what you should be doing.
First, you’ll need to decide how many grams of calories, carbs, protein, and fats you need to eat each day. This will depend on your age, weight, and how active you are. It will also depend on what your targets are. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, you will need to lower the number of calories you are eating.
You will need to have five meals a day. They should be structured like this:
- Breakfast, which should include some starchy carbs. For example, you might want to have some oats and fresh fruit.
- Snack, stick to something that doesn’t have a lot of carbs. You can use a a protein bar
- A low-carb lunch. This can be a salad with lean protein.
- Post-workout snack. You should aim to include some starchy carbs. You might also want to use a shake.
- Dinner, which has some starchy carbs. For example, you might want to have some seafood, salad and some rice.
It should be noted that this is just a basic meal plan. Sometimes, when you are bulking, you will need to increase the number of carbs you are eating. As a result, you might need to have seven or eight meals a day. You can consult with a dietician when coming up with this plan, to make sure that it’s right for your body.
Taking Supplements
If you are planning on building your muscle mass, it can be a good idea to take some supplements. These are specially formulated to help you build more muscle, getting the most out of the time that you are spending in the gym. The good news is that you don’t need to turn to the dangerous anabolic steroids that plague the bodybuilding community. At Crazy Mass, we have plenty of healthy, effective alternatives for you to use.
Our Products are Made with Your Health and Safety in Mind
Crazymass produces safe and legal anabolic supplements. We use only natural ingredients with no known side effects. Our facility is cGMP certified so you can feel confident in getting products that are made with the highest quality ingredients using strict controls. Current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) are monitored by the FDA. We earned this certification by adhering to guidelines that… assure the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products by requiring that manufacturers of medications adequately control manufacturing operations. Our labs are FDA inspected annually so you can buy with confidence.
Products You Can Trust
Products produced in facilities that are not FDA certified may not be all you think they are. Differences in the strength and quality of the product may mean you are getting less of the product than you think. In worst case scenarios, you may be ingesting dangerous ingredients, ingredients that are inconsistent with product labeling or inappropriate amounts for your needs. Don’t gamble with your health or fitness goals. Know what is in the bottle.
Reliable supplements are manufactured under conditions required by cGMP (current Goods Manufacturing Process) standards to assure that quality is built into every step of the manufacturing process. FDA cGMPs provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. cGMP requirements assure the safety and efficacy of supplements. You won’t gamble with Crazymass.
We are proud to offer products that are manufactured in an FDA certified facility. Our commitment to quality means you can count on safe, legal alternatives to steroids for sustained growth…
Made with 100% natural ingredients, our products do not pose the risk to your organs that illegal steroids, nor will they interfere with drug tests the way steroids do. You can choose any of our supplements with confidence.
Sticking to Your Meal Plan
Developing your meal plan is only part of the issue. You also need to stick to it. The key to doing this is getting organized. For example, you can cook the meals during the week and separate them into containers. Then, all you need to do is pull them out of the fridge and eat.
It’s also important to get plenty of variety. You don’t need to be stuck with chicken as your lean protein all the time. There are plenty of other options that you can use. You can use some Greek yogurt, white fish, or get some protein powder. Just because you are on a strict diet doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy delicious foods.
Thirdly, you’ll need to make sure that you are giving yourself a cheat day. You can do this once a week or once a fortnight. To reward yourself for all your hard work, you can enjoy some of your favorite unhealthy foods. Just make sure not to overdo it, or you might wake up feeling nauseous.
Final Thoughts
For many people, the word bodybuilding will conjure images of people sweating in the gym. But, in reality, what you are eating will determine the gains you are getting. This is why getting the right meal plan is so important. You need to give your body the nutrients it needs. Now that you know what to look for, you just need to put this plan into effect and start watching your muscles grow.
Gary David is the founder and CEO of CrazyMass, one of the nation’s leading supplement companies. Before starting CrazyMass in 2006, Gary was a bodybuilder and personal trainer for several gyms throughout Northwest Michigan, helping clients meet their fitness goals. Gary happily worked in this profession for over 15 years. He saw that most weight gaining products to increase muscle were made with ingredients that were dangerous or of poor quality. He knew there was a safer and healthier way to do this, so he created a special blend of herbs, amino acids, and nutrients to help bodybuilders slim down and gain muscle.
Although Gary no longer participates in bodybuilding competitions, he continues to be involved in the community, helping others prep for shows and attending events where he can advertise CrazyMass products. When Gary isn’t working long hours, he likes to spend his time working out at the gym, boating on Lake Michigan, traveling the trails around Northern Michigan by four-wheeler, and spending time with his family. He also loves to take a yearly trip to Europe with his wife and children.