The Importance Of Protein For a Bodybuilder

 

Protein is an essential resource for bodybuilders to use. Without ensuring that you are taking sufficient levels of protein you will not be able to make the gains you desire

After a weightlifting workout you have probably noticed that the muscles you used become a little sore from your exercise. This is entirely normal and is due to the fact that, after exercising, the fibres in your muscles become damaged from their extra exertion. Resting between workouts gives your muscles time to repair themselves and, over time, your muscles become conditioned to working harder and slowly rebuild themselves a little stronger each time.

This is why protein is so important:

 your body requires protein to repair damaged muscles. An average person needs about 0.8g of protein each day for his or her body to repair itself from normal day-to-day effort (walking, lifting, etc.). As you can imagine, if someone (such as a bodybuilder) puts an above average level of stress on their muscles, then they will need a greater level of protein to repair their muscles effectively. However, bodybuilders do not simply wish to maintain their current muscular capacity, but to add additional muscle to their body, which necessitates that they consume a large amount of protein at least 1g of protein per pound of body weight.

Simply consuming extra protein is not enough to maximise muscle building potential:

you must also take your additional protein during optimal periods. consuming extra protein before sleeping and between meals are excellent times to supplement your normal intake of protein, but the most important time to take additional protein is immediately after you finish your workout. This allows your muscles to have the resources they need immediately and minimises muscle loss. Ultimately, taking extra protein, whether through additional meals or powder supplements, is essential for bodybuilders who wish to maximise their efforts in the gym.