Stop Struggling To Build Muscle

By Russ Howe


Most people get stuck when trying to figure out how to build muscle and in today's article we give you two simple, proven steps which have stood the test of time. This query is second only to people wondering how to lose weight.

These steps are all tried, tested and proven.

If you have been training consistently but not seeing any results or if you have never picked up a weight in your life but would like to try, the two proven points below will help you get your progress on the right track.

* Your diet is vital to your success

* The importance of supplements

By laying down the solid foundations of your nutrition and diet you will put yourself ahead of about 90% of the members at your local gym. The sad truth is most people pay no attention to their diet and have no structure to what the do, they just turn up at the gym, do their workout and hope for the best.

The first port of call is to correct your eating habits. Even if you think your diet is okay right now, if you're not getting results you need to accept that it isn't okay. Building muscle isn't just about piling on weight by eating whatever you want.

There are several ways to diet, many of which are proven to work. Today we focus on one of the most popular ways, the 3-5-2 diet. To do this, simply multiply your goal body weight in pounds by 15. So a 180 pound man would require 2700 calories per day in total.

The 3-5-2 system gets it's name because it means 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 20% fats. It's good knowing what total calorie target to aim for, but it's even better knowing exactly how many grams of each macro nutrient to look for.

Take your 2700 calories and work out 30 percent to see how many calories need to come from protein. In this case, a 180lb man would require 810 calories per day from protein sources. You can use the 3-5-2 system to then establish your carb and fat intake, too.

If you'd like to see exactly how many grams of each macronutrient you require each day, take the number of calories and divide it by 4 for both protein and carbohydrates, and 9 for fats. So your daily protein intake would require you to divide 810 calories by 4, giving you a target of 202 grams of protein each day.

When it comes to bodybuilding supplements there is a massive gulf between manufacturers and customers. Many supplements survive purely on the confusion and doubt surrounding what they actually do. Too many people put far too much importance on their range of supplements but the truth is they need to be viewed as an extra, not as the main event.

Two very valuable, proven supplements when engaging in a muscle building diet and program are creatine monohydrate and whey protein. Both are proven and both do their job. The protein is especially useful as it allows you to reach your calorie target easier throughout the day, too.

Now that you are a little more up to speed on the two foundations of how to build muscle you will be able to reap hugely enhanced results in the gym compared to those who fail to sort out the basics before diving in head first. If you are serious about changing your body, now is the time to do it.




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