A beginner bodybuilder would be wise to follow sound nutritional practices for long-term success. Eating right will give you ample energy that will help you last each workout session. The only path to long-term muscle and strength gain is through adequate rest and eating sufficient amounts of calories daily. Not eating the right foods at the right time will just decrease your potential growth and render all your hard work useless.

Bodybuilders don’t always get the best nutritional advice, according to Catherine Ratzin Jackson, author of “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete”. She explains that bodybuilders source these advices from tips provided by magazines and nutrition stores’ experts. These sources may mean well in giving out advices, but most of the time, these sources do not bother to be as precise in giving out information. Take these advices with a grain of salt. Get your facts about nutrition right. Here is some nutrition basics accepted and followed by professional bodybuilders.

1. Avoid rapid weight loss. Rapid weight loss can result in the loss of lean body tissue and make it very difficult to increase muscle size and strength. Extreme weight loss often results from starvation or low-calorie diets, and may result in electrolyte imbalances, water and important lean body mass. High protein, low-fat diets can be harmful to your health and may prevent you from achieving your ideal body weight.

2. Calculate your protein requirement and track your protein intake daily. Our bodies use protein for building and repairing muscles. You won’t see any results if you consume too little or overload your body with protein. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) gives us a measure of how much protein we need to take. RDA is different for every individual but it is usually set at 0.8 g/kg for physical inactive individuals and 1.0-1.5 g/kg for athletes. Check the nutrition facts of every food product you consume to keep track of your protein consumption.

3. Quality counts. Eating quality food - wholesome, unprocessed food - as often as possible is an important part of your bodybuilding program. Eating nutrient-rich foods from plant and animal sources will help you achieve your goals faster; avoid counting solely on meal replacements and supplements that leave you feeling hungry and are not metabolized as efficiently as real food.

4. Select your supplements wisely. Using supplements is a widespread practice among bodybuilders and athletes; taking supplements that give you energy, encourage muscle gains or provide you with essential vitamins and minerals can help in some cases, but they can also have adverse side effects. Use supplements with caution, and avoid using them as a replacement for a sound nutrition program or consistent exercise regimen. Large doses of protein powders and other performance-boosting supplements can have adverse side effects.

5. Watch what you eat before and after a workout. Muscle builds up significantly before and after you exercise. What you eat at this time will surely influence this process either positively or negatively. Always monitor what you eat at this time by keeping a written record.

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