| Bodybuilding and Nutrition |
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Ever heard of this story; ‘Rich man goes to the restaurant, orders for all kinds of food available because he knows he has enough money to pay for it. He is given the food, eats beyond capacity and loses his senses. Thieves take all his money; he is driven to the hospital and dies after an hour.’ A funny story! Isn’t it? But does the rich man die a happy man or he dies disappointed with the good food he consumed?
There are very many people who behave like this man, the only difference being that they have not died yet. You may in fact put yourself in this man’s condition if you do not take care.
Someone would ask why we should have started with such a scary story if we are talking about bodybuilding nutrition. The answer is simple; we do not want to fall into the trap of eating too much in the name of bodybuilding. All we need is eating the right food and not too much food.
So what is the right food for bodybuilding?
The Right Bodybuilding food
You expect to hear someone mention proteins. Don’t you? If that is what you expect, you are not wrong but proteins are not all. There is more to bodybuilding foods than proteins!
So let us begin the discovery;
You need proteins. Yes, the traditionally renowned bodybuilding foods! This means you should eat such foods as fish, meat peas, beans, ground nuts and other legumes. But this is not all. Proteins alone will not support your body and as such will not serve their purpose as body building foods. So what else?
In addition to proteins or the bodybuilding foods, a bodybuilding nutrition pack has other food nutrients. You should also take a sizeable amount of energy giving foods like starch and whole grains. Vitamins are another important ingredient. This means you should eat fruits, greens, and of course sun bathe. You also need fats and sugars (smaller amounts of these) and iron. Typically, for bodybuilding to be a success, you need to eat all kinds of food. We also need to mention water and other drinks, especially fresh fruit juice. This is a very important part of the bodybuilding nutrition.
However, the bodybuilding nutrition is a bigger concept than just what we eat. Therefore, it is important that we look at the other side of the coin…
More than just eating…
The bodybuilding nutrition is much more than just taking food and water. It comes with aspects like the amount of food you eat, the time you take your food, and the condition under which you take it.
Our rich man who died after a ‘successful’ eating spree surely ate all kinds of food; all that was available in the restaurant. However, he did not eat the right amount. In simple terms he over-ate. Now, over eating is bad, so is under eating (starving oneself). One must eat a reasonable amount of food. You do not have to eat as if there is not tomorrow simply because you want to promote your bodybuilding ambitions. Eat what is just enough!
Important still, for body building to be successful, you need to take the right food at the right time. Most people recommend taking four meals a day. This is correct but not absolutely strict! Having a three to four hours interval between meals is a good idea but also if you feel hungry, please do not wait for the hour mark, and do not just add food on a full stomach because ‘it is time to eat’. Eat when you really have too. Remember it is not an eating competition!
The condition under which the food is taken is also important. You should eat your food in a clean environment and the food should be well-prepared. This is important because it affects your appetite, and for food to yield value, it should be eaten with a positive peace of mind but not as a bodybuilding drug!
Therefore, we have seen the best way to get well-built bodies by what we eat. And remember, it is not an eating competition, neither is it a bodybuilding drug. So play it cool! |
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