So you have finally made the decision that you want to become a bodybuilder and get stronger. You have read in different places online that during the winter you start bulking up on all types of carbs, and once that is over, you hit the gym and turn it all into muscle. There are a few things that you should know however before you start bulking yourself up. Bodybuilding can be a very difficult and stressful adventure, especially if you do not know what you are doing. If proper research is done, it can be extremely rewarding and life changing. Here are several key things that you need to know about bodybuilding before bulking yourself up.
Supplements Are Your Friend
When it comes to food and vitamins during your bodybuilding season, you have to become best friends with supplements and take them. While the standard person doesn’t need to take supplements, if you are looking to bodybuild, it is necessary. The experts at Wilsonsupplements.com recommend pre-workout just before you start your exercise because it will help give you the energy and power to get through a set and beat your personal bests. After your exercise is over, you should look towards something such as a post-workout, as it contains all the vitamins and nutrients necessary to help rebuild all the muscles that you just worked out. The goal with supplements is to get your body recovering as fast as possible and to get you back into the gym as quickly as possible as well.
One common misconception people make when it comes to supplements is that they assume they are steroids. Supplements are completely safe to use and contain the same nutrients that are found in foods, it is just they are more concentrated. Taking supplements in the morning and before bed as well such as proteins and vitamins can also help you gain muscle quicker and recover faster. If you plan on bodybuilding you are going to have to look into supplements and find out which ones are best for you depending on what you want to accomplish.
Get Enough Sleep
All the weightlifting in the world won’t help you become a top bodybuilder if you are not getting the sleep that you need. What is sleep important for? First of all, sleep assists in protein synthesis. This is the act of your body recovering and building more muscle mass. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body won’t be able to do this properly, resulting in less muscle gains and slower recovery times.
The next big thing about sleep is that it mentally recharges you. Bodybuilding and following a strict diet can be mentally taxing. Ensuring that you get the sleep you need means that you will be able to follow your workout regimen and diet regimen that much easier. You don’t want to throw everything away because you stayed up too late.
Finally, sleep assists in your body’s natural production of testosterone and growth hormones. This will once again help with muscle gain and muscle recovery. Sleep is at the core of every bodybuilder’s lifestyle and is vital if you want to find success.
Eat Before You Sleep
While it is important that you get your sleep in, sleeping for eight hours means that you are going eight hours without food. In a normal lifestyle this is not an issue at all, however when bodybuilding, the last thing you want is your body starting to burn muscle because it does not have an adequate amount of food. A solution to this is to eat a high protein meal before you go to bed. Protein is the slowest burning energy source and will ensure your body has something that will go the distance while you are sleeping. When you wake up in the morning, putting some more food in will greatly help your body.
Don’t Forget the Cardio
While some people will tell you cardio is useless, bodybuilders will tell you how important it is, especially if you want to build muscle. There are two aspects to bodybuilding, one is building the muscle itself, and the other is burning the fat around the muscle to give it more definition. Therefore, if you want to look your best as a bodybuilder, you have to take the time to do cardio, even if you dislike it. It will greatly improve your figure and also get your heartrate accelerated which means you will gain more muscle from lifting.
Include Healthy Fats
Fats are another type of food that gets a bad wrap. Although they are called fats, they are essential for your body and can actually greatly boost your metabolism. When we mention fats however, we are speaking of healthy fats that come in foods such as avocado and salmon. Saturated and trans fats should be avoided as these are the ones that are often included in deep fried foods.
Listen To Your Body
At any point during your bulking season or workout session, it is important that you listen to your body and understand what it is doing. If your body is in pain, take a break and relax. Overtraining and working too hard can result in serious injury that will keep you away from the gym for weeks. Overtraining is a common thing that many bodybuilders do. They think if they push their body as hard as it can, that it will result in the best possible gains. While you will still gain muscle, your body will be in much more pain and your risk of injury will be much higher. You always want to push yourself when working out, but you don’t want to go harder than your body allows. Always listen to your body when working out.
These are all important things to know about bodybuilding before you start bulking yourself up. It takes some time to show results and it is a very strict program to follow. With enough willpower however, you can get through all of it and become a stronger and better person. The last thing to remember is that while you are going to be bulking, it does not mean to consistently throw garbage into your body. When do you plan on starting your workout program?