Thu, 14 Jan 2010

Essential Nutritional Program For Bodybuilders

You can get better results from your consistent workout regimen and with a sound nutrition program with the aid of a complete nutritional supplement, and have the increase in muscle size, strength and endurance that you want. Almost all professional bodybuilders and athletes go through 'phases' during their training programs to ensure they are meeting their performance goals and eating just enough to feed their muscles. It's important to note that most of the muscle gaining takes place in the off season, a time when eating large amounts of protein, eating small meals, and taking supplements throughout the day is essential for bodybuilding success.

After going through this phase, bodybuilders go through several other phases that requires them to change their intake of carbohydrate-rich foods, lean proteins, and supplements like Stemulite to be able to support each stage of the training program. You can create an effective training program that will give you the results you need by understanding what is involved in each phase.

The Off Season - The goal of this phase is to build as much muscle as possible. Bodybuilders support their performance outcome by eating healthy carbs and high amounts of protein through the course of the day, according to Louise Burke, the expert author of “Practical Sports Nutrition”. They typically follow a consistent schedule of these foods to make sure they're meeting their protein requirements and may design their eating plan around their workouts to further enhance results.

Hypertrophy Phase - During this phase, it is common practice to follow a very rigid eating plan that means eating every 2-3 hours - even overnight. The goal here is to eat just enough food to maintain weight and allow the body to increase strength. This should be done with the right selection of foods that build up muscle and carbs that provide sustainable energy.

Competition Prep - 6 to 16 weeks before the event is when most body builders begin to prepare for a competition. This period may involve severe calorie restriction to reduce body fat, and maintain a schedule of sustained weight loss up to the event. The primary goal here is to lose body fat and not muscle that was built up during the off-season. This can be achieved by eating low-fat, high protein meals, or replacing a meal with a complete nutritional supplement like Stemulite Fitness Formula, and coordinating meals with a consistent workout regimen.

Cutting Phase - This phase typically occurs right before the competitive event, and involves severe calorie restriction to stimulate rapid fat loss. Many bodybuilders drastically reduce their calories and rely on supplements to achieve nutritional balance. This phase may also include intensive circuit training routines and getting more rest so that the body can recover easily.

Post Competition - Many bodybuilders resort to binge eating immediately after the competition since they've been on a near starvation diet for up to 6 months prior to competition. This is a health risk for many because a drastic increase in weight in a short period of time. To avoid compromising their health in the during this stage and to maintain some of the results they have worked hard for, bodybuilders should ease themselves into a healthier diet program.

Maintaining a steady nutrition program is difficult with the different phases that most bodybuilders go through. However, sound nutritional principles, using a supplement like Stemulite, and working with a nutritionist or dietitian throughout training can help you increase your chances of long-term success.