Bodybuilding is one of the more analytical sports out there. When a guy plays basketball, he follows the rules of the game, puts in his reps, and maybe comes home for the night and plays some video games to take his mind off his training. Bodybuilders tend to complete their workouts and then come home, hop on the bodybuilding message boards, and learn more about nutrition, training, and supplementation. This analytical nature is great for discovering what works and what doesn’t, and it allows use to track progress and find out which combinations of factors work best.

However, some bodybuilders do take this activity too far. Measuring the amount of grams, calories, and ounces consumed before and after a workout, as well as the number of minutes to wait before consuming it, is going a little bit overboard. You need solid nutrition, but you don’t need to over-think things. Instead, follow a tried and true routine for nutrition that allows you to keep it simple, stupid!

Pre-workout nutrition

Most bodybuilders swear by a solid meal two hours before training is to commence. This will provide their bodies with the adequate protein needed to be present during the workout, the carbohydrates needed to fuel the workout, and the fats needed for joint insulation and organ function. To make things easier, opt for a large serving of lean protein, and 2 different large servings of solid bodybuilding carbohydrates. It’s that simple. Eat a plate full of lean bodybuilding food, wait two hours, and then go to the gym.

Post-workout nutrition

Following your workout, you have to be more detailed, but not by much. Enjoy a shake consisting of 50 grams of protein and 50 grams of dextrose following your workout. Then go home, wait an hour, and eat the exact same meal you enjoyed before your workout, consisting of 1 serving protein and 2 servings of carbohydrates.

Dieting

Most dieting bodybuilders will work to limit their carbohydrate intake in order to force their bodies to burn up body fat stores in lieu of glycogen (sugars) present in the body from food. This is the way to go, if you want to lose fat. Adding cardio to the mix, along with a fat burner such as ECA (ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin) is very effective. However, the bulk of the calories that are removed from the diet cannot come from the post-workout meal. This is an important key to recovery and staying healthy while in a state of caloric deprivation. It is acceptable to eliminate carbs so you burn glycogen in the gym, but you must provide means of recovery.

Bulking

When you’re seeking to add a great deal of weight to the body, increase the servings. Two servings of protein and 3-4 carb sources before the gym will suffice, with an identical meal an hour afterwards. Enjoy a shake of 70 grams protein and 70 grams dextrose immediately following your workout.

Bottom line

The meals before and after your workouts are going to have more impact upon your growth than any other meal of the day – including breakfast. Plan your meals accordingly, but don’t over-think things!

If you like this article, click here to share: