Shape Up: The Best Diet for Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding-DietIf you want to create a leaner body with more definition, the most important factor to understand is that hitting the gym alone will not give you the results you are looking for. Both exercise and nutrition play a crucial part in creating the definition you admire in your favorite bodybuilding magazine.

So, what’s the best diet for bodybuilding?

The most important factor to look at when trying to lose weight is burning more calories than you take in throughout the day. However, if your goal is to BOTH shed some weight and also maintain for a lean body, you need to pay close attention to ensure you are not burning muscle. To achieve this, a bodybuilder’s diet concentrates on the correct macronutrient intake.

Including a generous amount of protein into your diet is essential since muscle is made up of protein. If you are restricting your diet to lose weight, you will not want to lower your protein intake.

omega3-fatsInstead of cutting out fat, this macronutrient will be kept low for a bodybuilding diet, encouraging the intake of healthy fats. Omega-3 essentials fats, from foods like salmon and avocado, will actually aid in weight loss.

Where you will find the most restriction will be in your daily carbohydrate allowance. Your body can convert protein and fat into carbs, making carbohydrates an unessential macronutrient. For weight loss or maintenance, begin by cutting down on your carb intake for results.

So, you may be asking what else to look for on the nutrition label. We like to stick by the idea that the best foods, like lean meats and veggies, do not have a nutrition label. This is where you will find the best options for your new diet. If you are looking at a nutrition label, be sure to keep the sugar content lower than half the amount of carbs and zero trans fats.

Before you get ahead of yourself, don’t think of any diet for bodybuilding as a reason to skip meals and take in fewer calories. Eating less during the day will not aid in achieving your goals. When your body doesn’t receive the nutrients it needs, you could force it to go into starvation mode, slowing your metabolism and storing fat.

To achieve the body you’re aiming for, remember to build muscle and focus on increasing protein, while lowering carbs.

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