Bodybuilder Nutrition

Bodybuilders participate in a highly developed and highly competitive sport. The nutritional needs of individuals who engage in this sport are significantly different from the average nutrition requirements of most people. Bodybuilders require several times the number of calories each day of most people who only need 1500 to 2000 calories each day. The reason is bodybuilders burn many more calories each day during their workouts than the average person.

In addition to the caloric needs of bodybuilders, the balance of nutrients is very different in order to accommodate the exercise regimens and increased muscle mass of the contestants in bodybuilding contests.

Proteins are the mainstays of a bodybuilding diet. Workouts that produce micro tears in the fibers of the muscles require a much higher proportion of protein in order to rebuild the muscle fibers and bulk up. Proteins break down into essential amino acids that can be recombined to form the basic building blocks needed for the buildup of new muscle fiber. Soybeans, lean beef, poultry, and fish are classic examples of protein sources that are consumed in bodybuilding diets.

Complex carbohydrates are also an important part of the diet of a bodybuilder. The lifestyle led by bodybuilders and their intense workouts are very high energy consuming activities. Sugars and starches as consumed by most individuals can provide a quick burst of energy which does not sustain the needs of the bodybuilder. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and provide longer lasting energy levels that allow bodybuilders to continue to function at increases metabolic rates for an extended period of time.

Dietary supplements are used by almost all bodybuilders. Vitamin and mineral supplements are an important part of the bodybuilding diet. Even though body builders are prone to eat a much more healthy diet than most people as a matter of their training routine, their bodies burn through nutrients at such an advanced rate that adding vitamins and minerals to supplement their diets is important to maintaining health as well as keeping them energized and healthy during their workout regimen.

On average, bodybuilders consume 5 to 7 meals per day spread evenly throughout the 24 hour day as opposed to 3 meals consumed during the daylight portion of the day. The reason for this is maintaining a fairly constant energy level throughout the day. Snacks between meals are not uncommon, but all foods consumed have high nutritional value. Bodybuilders do not consume high fat content foods or junk foods.

During the off season, bodybuilders tend to focus on building bulk. For this reason, most of the year, diets are based on maintaining higher energy levels and consumption of higher levels of caloric content. During a fairly short period of time prior to beginning competitions, dietary supplements are added that focus on reducing the amount of body fat present that can cover the muscles and obscure their form and shape from the judges who will be judging them based on their physical appearance. Body fat is reduced to the bare minimum sustainable levels going into competitions.

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