How To Make Sure Your Diet Is Optimized To Build Muscle

By Russ Howe


Everybody has different goals in the gym, but usually they revolve around learning how to lose weight or build lean muscle mass. If you are to do either, however, you will need to discover how to build your diet plan to suit your individual goal. Diet is the most overlooked part of any workout routine, and overlooking this aspect is a very costly mistake to make.

You needn't worry, though. Learning how to do this is not very complex at all.

Fat loss is a common goal in the gym. However, ninety percent of people who list this as their primary goal have overlooked the one aspect which is going to get them there - their daily calorie intake. The basic science behind fat loss is that if you eat less, you will lose more.

However, when it comes to building lean mass we need to look at something a little bit more in depth. That is because we don't simply want to add some size, we want to ensure it is the right kind of size. In order to do this, we need to see where those calories are actually coming from. []

There is more than enough conflicting information out there to over complicate the process of dieting. That's why so many people at your local gym are completely lost. However, it's not very difficult to set yourself some proven, effective goals.

* Your goal body weight in pounds x 15 = Your total target for calories each day.

If you wanted to bulk up to 180 lbs, for example, you would do the following sum: 180 x 15 = 2700. This now sets you a goal of 2700 calories per day.

* Your protein intake = Total calories x 30%, divided by four.

Getting the right split of the three macronutrients is critical to ensuring your calories are coming from the right places. For protein, we can establish that 30% of 2700 is 810 calories. Now divide this by four and you'll be given a target of 202 grams per day.

* Total daily carbohydrate intake = 55% of overall calories divided by 4.

Our highest intake when trying to bulk up is carbohydrates. We need 371 grams per day for the individual in question here. That's because we need 55% of our calorie target coming from carb sources.

* Your daily fat intake = Take 15% of your total calorie figure and divide the answer by nine.

Healthy fats are one of the key strategies behind building a better body in a very short space of time. 15% of our calorie target here would be 405 in total. Divide this by 9, you'll get a fat intake of roughly 45 grams per day.

The difference between bulking up safely and cleanly, as opposed to simply eating everything in sight, is the fine line which separates those who add good size from those who simply add a ton of fat. You don't want to gain size on your arms at the expense of your gut, of course. Learning the science behind how to lose weight and build lean muscle can be a confusing affair, so playing around with the principles is a key factor in striking a balance which suits your individual body.




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