High protein foods are very important for gaining muscle, but carbohydrates and fats are also necessary sources of energy. If your goal is to gain lean muscle, you should focus on exercising regularly and eating more calories each day from muscle building foods.
Mesomorphs build muscles easier than other body types. Bodybuilding comes naturally, and with the right fitness regimen a mesomorph can develop an impressive physique. Easier to lose weight. Mesomorphs may be prone to weight gain, but they also tend to lose weight easier than people with other body types.
Avoid or limit alcohol, foods with added sugars and deep-fried foods. In addition to your diet, whey protein, creatine and caffeine can be useful supplements.
Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. Most individuals gain one to two pounds of lean muscle per month with the right strength training and nutrition plan.
Keep that intake up, hit the gym hard, and you can expect to start to see some muscle growth in the mirror after three to four weeks.
Playing sports too often can sidetrack your muscle-growth goals. Muscles typically need 48 hours of rest to adapt to the stresses placed on them during exercise. "Engaging in extra activity also makes your body more likely to use any excess calories it has for fuel, and not for rebuilding itself," says Bell.
High-protein snacks you could eat on the go include nuts, protein bars, roasted chickpeas, hard-boiled eggs, pumpkin seeds, and low-sodium jerky. Quick-and-easy high-protein snack options include canned fish, overnight oats with berries, wholegrain crackers with cheese, edamame, whey protein shake, and protein balls.
Peanut Butter
Unfortunately, research shows it can also prevent you from separating from your own fat stores. In addition, trans fat increases muscle breakdown and discourages muscle growth. Smart play: “Go for natural brands that are just peanuts,” Gidus advises.
Bodybuilders spend hours at the gym building large amounts of muscle mass, and they support that with regular feedings—this usually means six meal times a day. Of course, these aren't runs to Burger King. Bodybuilders typically have protein at every meal, some consisting of shakes.
Whey is the consensus-MVP protein for building muscle, so if you can swing it, make sure you're taking the good stuff. Ascent's powder is made using native whey, which the company calls the "least-processed" form. There are 25 g of protein per serving and 0 artificial ingredients, so you're getting the good stuff.
To safely and effectively gain muscle, you need to increase your total calorie needs by at least 3500 calories per week, or about 500 extra calories per day, depending on your activity level. As much as you may dislike calorie counting, it is vital for your weight gain as well as for fat loss.
You're not eating enough – one of the main causes of not being able to build muscle is not eating enough and more importantly, not eating enough of the right food. Everyone bangs on about the importance of protein, but carbs and fats are just as important when it comes to growing muscle.
If you're looking to build muscle quickly, whether you've been training for years or are just starting out, then doing slower reps is the way to go. Workouts with slower reps cause your muscles to experience more time under tension, much more than with faster reps.
Muscle soreness is related to muscle damage, which can promote, but is not required for, muscle growth. In a nutshell, unless your goal is to feel sore, then you don't need to be sore after every workout.
Downtime between workouts (whether you're lifting, doing cardio or training for a sport) is when our bodies have a chance to actually build muscle. Strenuous workouts cause muscle breakdown, while rest allows our bodies to build it back up.