Click here for AnswerPool.com Home page




Google

    AnswerPool.com  Hop To Forum Categories  Health  Hop To Forums  Fitness & Nutrition    Food = Mussles

Moderators: Silja
Go
Post
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
  Login/Join 
Picture of Doug
Posted
What kind of foods can help build muscle? I'm drinking protein drinks but food would be nice also.
 
Posts: 258 | Location: Cleveland,OH USA | Registered: 06-04-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Diamond Enthusiast


Site Administrator
Picture of MrsS
Posted Hide Post
Mussels, as it happens, are an excellent food, along with clams, oysters and other seafood.
Lean protien like seafood, chicken and lean beef are an important building block.

As with ANY major change to your diet and/or physical activity, you should consult your doctor before jumping in, but here's what little I know...

A well balanced diet, including about 15% lean protiens and lots of fruits and vegetables will help you in this along with an excercise routine that blends strength training with cardio and flexibility focused workouts.
For example=
20 minutes, 3 x a week of lifting,gradually increasing the amount of weight as your strength develops- the amount you lift should be "work" but not a struggle. It's best to have at least a few sessions with a trainer to learn correct form to get the most out of your strength training and to avoid injury resulting from poor technique.
20 minutes 3 x a week of running, cycling, swimming or other aerobic activity, gradually increasing either duration or intensity as your endurance increases.
Plus 15 minutes of stretching/light yoga before AND after each workout to warmup, cool down and to promote flexibility and good balance.

You won't build loads of muscle overnight this way, but you will gradually build bulk without overtaxing your body and without developing the nasty stretch marks one often sees on guys who bulk up too much too quickly. Slow and steady will give you healthier, more attractive results.
 
Posts: 2235 | Location: Western United States | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Diamond Enthusiast

Posted Hide Post
If you are aiming for lots of muscle mass then you need lots of proteins. Fish, Chicken, beef and I guess pork (I do not eat pork) and shellfish (I do not eat shell fish.

Body builders do eat an impressive amount of carbohydrates as well. Carbohydrates are converted to sugars which are released into the blood stream. Sugars are the body's source of energy they are what makes it possible to move.

If you eat a carb 20-30 minutes before a workout you will have more energy to work more, lift more and hit extra reps per set.

There are two kinds of "diet" that body-builders have. the first is composed of a lot of meats, proteins, carbs, with essential fats for mass building the other is lean and designed to maintain the muscle while stripping down the fat layer to the bare minimum. This last is used for competitions ONLY - it is somewhat dangerous and a sane serious bodybuilder knows to lay off that diet as soon as they run the competition.

Diet and the routine can not be a general one size fits all thing. You need to experiment, study and try on different things to find what is optimal for you. I would strongly urge you to go to the public library and look at the thousands of books on the subject of working out, routines, diets, etc. You will find that there are many out there and in most of the serious books they will tell you that to find your optimal program is half of the battle.

You will also need to learn about protein types, there are simple/partial proteins and complex proteins. If you are vegan/vegetarian you will already know that you have to combine food like lentil beans and rice to produce a complex protein.

Supplements are good, the basics would be protein shakes (taken after and during the two day rest period between works outs - the muscle is actually built during the rest period) and multi-vitamins which will balance out your nutritional needs. The rest come with debate, issues and risks.

These are supplements not replacements. Meaning on top of a well balanced diet you take these. This does not mean you take these instead of a proper diet.

Water - lots of water, rest (at least 8 hours a night of sleep) low to no intake of caffeine (coffee, coke, tea), alcohol and sugar based sodas play a huge roll in muscle building.

You will actually eat more than before, you will also find that eating six meals spread out over the course of the day instead of 3 big meals will work best at maintaining what your body needs for growth.

Fats and sugars do play a huge roll in muscle building - however you need to study to learn which fats and sugars are best at doing what.

hit the local library before you register at a gym or hit the iron pile. Check out all you can, read, study, compare and then experiment with different mixes to find your optimal program.

Muscle building is a life style, as with all life styles you make life changes. If you are a party person you will have to choose between late night parties and the program. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
 
Posts: 3885 | Location: Leaving land, heading for the ocean | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 

    AnswerPool.com  Hop To Forum Categories  Health  Hop To Forums  Fitness & Nutrition    Food = Mussles

© 2002-2008 AnswerPool.com



Visit DiscussionPool.com!