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Feeding the Machine - A Balanced Approach to Meals
Taken from Variables for Weight Lifting and Exercise © 2003 Anthony Sell - All Rights Reserved
Regardless of whether you are training to gain weight or to lose weight, it is important that you eat enough throughout the day to replenish your muscle fuel reserves so that the muscles are capable of growing. It is not uncommon to have a greater appetite as your workout intensity increases.
One of the best ways to get sufficient amounts of nutrients is to eat more meals per day. Though the ability to do this will depend on each individual's schedule and cost of food allowance, it is an important change in diet that will support the training schedule.
Each meal may be smaller amounts, so long as each consists of balanced amounts of nutrients. Another, faster option is a sports supplement based Meal Replacement Powder.
Water is also important, especially during workouts. If the body is not sufficiently hydrated, it will not function properly, especially in a growth phase, as muscle mass is nearly 70-75% water. Furthermore, when the body is not given adequate levels of something that is necessary for functioning, it reacts by holding onto what it does have (the same goes for food intake and weight loss).
The resulting increase in impurities in the system cause the kidneys to work harder to flush the system, taking valuable energy away from their normal role of turning stored fat into usable energy. What this means is that the body is not working correctly and thereby will not grow.
If you are going to expect your body to perform at an intense level, you must take an intensive approach to structuring your diet. Remember, in order for there to be physical progress, there must be a balance between work, rest, and nutrition.