Bodybuilding Nutrition by Chris Slattery

So you want to be a bodybuilder. That means you will need to pump a lot of iron to build mass and then diet down to drop weight to get ripped. That is all there is to it, right?

Actually, there are many other components that go into developing the bodybuilder physique.

One such component is the issue of bodybuilding nutrition. While this is not as complex as some may assume there are facets to proper bodybuilding nutrition that needs to be taken into consideration in order to arrive at the intended results.

The many components and facets associated with bodybuilding nutrition will always centre on boosting lean muscle mass while keeping body fat down. This can create somewhat of a quagmire because you will need a lot of calories in order to boost muscle mass. Does this not come with a risk of packing on excess fat? Actually, it will not if you know how to go about the increased calorie process.

The reason that you need to up your calorie count is because muscles need protein and calories in order to grow. The reason the calories do not end up turning into fat is that lean muscle mass expedited the metabolism. (The body needs to exert energy to repair and grow muscles which is why the calories are burned) So, those extra calories you ingest are used by the muscles.

That does not mean, however, that you should eat anything and everything you want. You probably would be bets served increasing your calorie intake by about 600 per day. These calories should come in the form of lean proteins such as chicken or turkey (avoid red meat); fruits and vegetables; whole grains; and even protein shakes. DO NOT take the extra calories in the form of "slop weight." That is, don't eat junk food, dairy, or processed foods. These just don't help the cause as they provide empty calories and promote fat storage.

Also, when you eat a great deal of calories to gain weight, be sure you are working out hard in the gym. If you are not performing a lot of mass exercises, you do not want to massively increase your calorie load.

Even if you eat good food, if you eat too much of it, the excess will turn to fat. Without the added muscle mass or a cardio routine to burn those extra calories, you will end up gaining weight.

That is another reason why the increase is a gradual 500 calories per day. It takes 3600 unused calories to create a pound of stored fat. 500 calories per day means if you overeat for an entire month, you will end up with a little over 4lbs of excess fat.

That is not too hard to get rid of. If you pack on an extra 15lbs, it could take weeks or months to become lean again.

Yes, bodybuilding nutrition can work against you if you do not go about it the right way. Thankfully, following a few simple tips will keep you on the right track.