The word ‘diet’ brings up varying emotions in people. We’ve all been on one type of diet or another – low carb, high protein, low fat, raw, vegan and so forth. When it comes to building muscle, there’s nothing more important than food and nutrition.
It’s the building block of a stronger and leaner physique and should be the main foundation of any muscle-building program. Whether you’re competing at top level or simply trying to maintain a lean muscle mass to fat ratio, you can’t go past diet.
What is your fitness goal?
There are many factors that come into play when embarking on a successful dietary plan. Are you serious about building muscle or are you doing the exact opposite of what it takes to achieve a leaner body?
Picture this: you’re training 4-5 times a week, doing a good mix of cardio and lifting weights but your diet is still questionable. If you want to put on muscle, you’ve got to eat – but that means eating lots of the good stuff.
Whether you’re training your face off to be a weightlifter or trying to lean out, it all comes down to the food you eat. Sit down, figure out what you want to achieve and work out the best dietary plan for your goals.
Protein, protein and more protein
Do we need to say more? It goes without saying that protein plays a massive role in nutrition and building lean muscle. Consuming protein is the absolute key to adding lean tissue to your body, keeping you fuller for longer and achieving your fitness goals.
Watch your calorie intake
The single biggest thing to consider when embarking on a diet and training program is your watching your calorie intake. If you want to lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you expend on a daily basis. However, to put on muscle, consuming more food (make sure it’s of the healthier kind though) is your best option.
If you’re not fully committed to a good diet plan, then you may as well give up on your fitness goals right now. Three days a week is just not enough. In order to build lean muscle tissue, you need to work your butt off (in the gym that is) and adjust your dietary mindset in order to achieve leaner muscle mass you want.
Eat more of the good stuff
The quality of your food cannot be highlighted enough. Eating wholefoods contains all the good nutrients like protein, fat and carbs that your body needs. You won’t get far building muscle on a poor diet of bread, sugar and saturated fats.
You’ll be surprised at your increased energy levels and how much better you feel on a predominantly wholefoods diet. It’s never too late to change and start the journey towards better health.
With so much information out there, it’s easy to get lost in the hype. Go back to basics and focus on the long-term picture of what you want to achieve. Get started on a healthy, wholesome diet that fits into your lifestyle and keep it up. You can still have your cake and eat it too. Fitness Fit can help you achieve your goals in all areas of strength training, on-site personal training and a variety of group classes. Also read best tips to building strength using lightweights.
