What Is Body Building? Food List, Supplements For Body Builders | Body Building Benefits & Pros Cons
What is Body Building?
Bodybuilding is a specialized exercise program designed to increase muscle growth and overall physical fitness. Competitive bodybuilders aim to achieve a well-defined and aesthetically pleasing physique, with pronounced muscle mass, symmetry, and definition. To accomplish this, they utilize various resistance training equipment such as barbells, dumbbells, and other tools. Weight training is another exercise method that incorporates similar techniques and equipment for sports training, general conditioning, and rehabilitation treatment.
Nutrition for Body Building?
To achieve their fitness goals, individuals must pay attention to their calorie intake and macronutrient consumption. Whether the goal is to gain muscle mass or reduce body fat, calorie intake is crucial.
Calories are important for controlling body weight. Calories are important for controlling body weight. Consuming more calories than the body needs leads to weight gain while consuming fewer calories than the body needs leads to weight loss. To bulk up, bodybuilders should consume more calories than their body needs for weight maintenance. On the other hand, to reduce body fat while preserving muscle mass, bodybuilders should consume fewer calories than their body requires.
During the off-season or bulk-up periods, bodybuilders should aim to increase their caloric intake by 15%. Conversely, to lose body fat, they should aim to consume 15% fewer calories than what their body requires for weight maintenance. Along with calorie intake, bodybuilders should also pay attention to their macronutrient consumption and eating patterns.
Macronutrients
The three main categories of nutrients that provide a person energy are called macronutrients, or macros. They are:
- Proteins
- carbs or carbohydrates
- fats
For individuals who follow a bodybuilding routine, a balanced consumption of the three macronutrient groups is essential for achieving their fitness goals. There are several approaches to determining the optimal proportion of each macronutrient that a person should consume.
One approach, as suggested by an older review, recommends the following macro distribution during the bulking and leaning stages:
- Protein: 25-30% of total daily calories
- Fat: 15-20% of total daily calories
- Carbohydrates: 50-55% of total daily calories
A more recent review suggests the following macro distribution:
- Protein: 2.3-3.1 grams per kilogram of lean body mass per day
- Fat: 15-30% of total daily calories
- Carbohydrates: the remaining calories should come from carbohydrates.
By following a balanced macronutrient consumption and eating strategy, individuals can maximize the effectiveness of their bodybuilding routine and achieve their desired physique.
FOOD LIST FOR BODYBUILDERS
When creating a meal plan for the week, a bodybuilder has a wide variety of food options to choose from. However, it’s important to focus on consuming foods that provide sufficient nutrients and calories.
During the cutting phase, bodybuilders aim to feel satiated on a specified number of calories. This can be challenging because they must maintain a calorie deficit to achieve their desired body fat percentage. On the other hand, during the bulking phase, bodybuilders may struggle with the opposite problem. They may need to continue eating even when feeling full to meet their high-calorie intake goals for muscle gain. Despite these challenges, bodybuilders must stay committed to their meal plan to achieve their desired physique.
PROTEINS:
- Proteins should make up a portion of a bodybuilding diet. Sources should include lean proteins, including:
- Eggs
- lean red meat
- poultry like chicken and turkey breasts
- fish
- beans and legumes
- yogurt and low-fat dairy products
- nuts and seeds
CARBS:
- Someone who is bodybuilding needs carbohydrates to offer additional energy during workouts. They could include the following as examples:
- Entire grains, like oatmeal, quinoa, rice, cereals, and popcorn.
- starchy veggies, such as berries.
- fruits, such as oranges, apples, and peanuts.
- other vegetables, such as leafy greens, cucumbers, and broccoli.
FATS:
- Fats are the third macronutrient people will need to concentrate on in their diet. Health-promoting fats comprise:
- Nuts and seeds.
- healthy oils, for example, olive oil.
- high-fat fruits, such as avocado.
SUPPLEMENTS USED FOR BODYBUILDERS
- Amino Acids:- Amino acids serve as the fundamental building blocks of muscles in the human body. Consuming high-quality amino acid products can assist in reducing recovery time and repairing muscle tissue, which ultimately promotes muscle growth.
- Carbohydrates:-Carbohydrates play a vital role in providing energy to the body, especially when bulking. However, not all carbohydrates are equally beneficial. Carbohydrates can be obtained from a variety of sources, and it’s essential to choose the right types of carbs that align with your fitness goals. Be sure to understand what you’re consuming to optimize your results.
- Fat Burners:-Fat burners are among the most sought-after nutritional supplements worldwide, as many people aim to shed a few extra pounds and reduce their body fat percentage. Fat burners work through various mechanisms, including targeting fat stores and inhibiting their formation.
- PROTEIN BARS:- Protein bars can be a great substitute for junk food, such as candy bars. However, not all protein bars are equally healthy. Protein bars come in various forms, with different types of protein and ingredients used to enhance their taste. It’s important to research and identify the best protein bars available in the market to ensure you are consuming a healthy and beneficial snack.
- PROTEIN POWDER:– Protein powder is a diverse category that encompasses various types of proteins. Some of the most popular protein powders include whey protein, whey protein isolate, whey protein hydrolysate, beef protein, milk protein, casein protein, and vegan proteins. It’s important to explore and choose a protein powder that aligns with your dietary needs and fitness goals.
BENEFITS OF BODYBUILDING
- Calms muscle endurance.
- Is a superb means of body shaping.
- Increases bone and ligament strength, cartilage thickness, and capillary density in joints.
- Improves health and physical fitness.
- Improves athletics performance.
- Increases power and speed.
- Helps relieve the stresses and tensions of daily life.
- Teaches motivation and discipline that carry over into the other regions of life.
PROS & CONS OF BODYBUILDING
Experts:
- Fitness in the body and calming mind because of the secretion of feel-good hormones.
- Muscle development and healthful weight gain
- A gain in strength.
- Weight control as resistance exercises burns calories for many hours after completing the exercise.
- Cardiovascular health and improvement in lung capacity.
- Longevity due to great health.
Disadvantages:
- Exercising requires patience.
- Minimum equipment like dumbbells and weight plates. But it costs minimal and is cheap.
- Requirement of time and availability of space. A gym at a very affordable cost is an alternative.
- Injuries and bodily disorders.
- Deficiency of minimal nutrition to provide energy to do workouts.