You've tried just about everything, but no matter what, you can't seem to gain more than a few pounds of muscle. After weeks at the gym, the fruits of your labor are small, but if you skip a couple of days, it seems like the scale goes right back to where it was. Believe it or not, you are not alone. The muscle-bound “freaks” you see in bodybuilding magazines or competitions are either genetic anomalies or have a near-toxic amount of chemicals coursing through their veins. Most people don't have the natural genetic ability to build lean muscle quickly.
If they did, there wouldn't be magazines, websites, or products for people looking to gain weight. Or maybe you are in the group who, after just a few weeks at the gym, you notice the scale has jumped up several digits. Looking in the mirror, you realize that all you managed to do was look bloated and pudgy.
No matter what your issue is, the first thing you need to do is realize that you do have options. Unfortunately, for many people, the only option they consider is steroids. If you've never used them, great. If you have started using them to get your desired body, put the syringe down and read the rest of this article.
Bodybuilding alone is not enough to help you reach your goals. Every bodybuilder, even that on steroids, needs supplements. If you want to pack on lean muscle, you have to equip your body with the ability to do so. The only way to do that is with a good workout plan, a proper diet, and a few essential supplements.
Must Read: 6 Best Supplements to Increase your Stamina
Imagine bodybuilding as a pyramid. You can't build a very tall pyramid if you don't have a large base. Assuming that base is your workout plan, the next layer will be made of the most basic bodybuilding supplements – Protein. Your diet should already be protein-rich. Lean proteins like fish and chicken breast for lunch and dinner will get you part of the way there. Now supplement with protein powders.
Must Read: Whey Protein Explained: Isolate, Concentrate, and Hydrolysate
Here is what to look for in a good protein supplement:
- High Yield. Use this formula to help you make a good decision (Grams Protein per serving X 100) / Grams Serving Size = Yield. If it’s in the neighborhood of 50%, you are wasting half your money. Look for anything that yields 70% or higher.
-Amino Acids. Make sure it contains both Branch Chain Amino Acids and Essential Amino Acids.
-Taste. Realize that you will taste the protein you choose daily, morning, noon, and night. Sometimes even though you don't want any food, you'll have to choke it down. So get something that tastes great and can be blended easily with fruit, juice, or coffee to give the flavor profile some variety.
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Understand this. Creatine is not going to make you grow. Sadly many people buy creatine not understanding this and then get frustrated when they don't see the results they were promised on the label.
The primary function of creatine is to help you work a little harder at the gym. It replaces a high-energy compound called creatine phosphate.
So it allows your muscles to contact with the intensity you need to get bigger. So once you start supplementing with creatine, it's up to you to make sure your workouts are more intense and longer.
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This is an essential compound for skinny guys. The whole point of bodybuilding is to stress your body to the point it starts building muscle to handle the increased stress. Glutamine helps your body deal with daily stresses.
Must Read: How Effective are Glutamine Supplements for Building Muscle
Your body naturally produces glutamine, but with all the extra work you put in at the gym, it probably isn't enough. The second most important part of a good workout is the recovery period. Glutamine will help you recover quicker.
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Also called green foods or essential greens. This powder takes all of the essential vitamins and nutrients from an extensive list of vegetables and lets you consume it without all the water that comes with it. Vegetables are essential in any well-balanced diet.
If your diet is already well balanced and you need to add another 500 calories, the last thing you want to do is sit down and eat an entire bunch of broccoli (200 calories), two cups of kale (only 75 calories), 5 carrots (150 calories) and you still need to come up with another 75 calories. Instead, use calorie-dense foods and supplement with green food powders.
So are you going to be able to gain 30 pounds of lean muscle with just these supplements? Probably not, but you will notice that packing on a few more pounds of muscle just got a little bit easier. You'll look better, and you'll feel better. The best thing is that, unlike steroids, there are no dangerous side effects.
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