How to Eat in Phases for Competitive Bodybuilding
January 14, 2010
You can get better results from your consistent workout regimen and with a sound nutrition program with the aid of a complete nutritional supplement, and have the increase in muscle size, strength and endurance that you want. Almost all professional bodybuilders and athletes go through ‘phases’ during their training programs to ensure they are meeting their performance goals and eating just enough to feed their muscles. Eating large amounts of protein, eating small meals, and taking supplement throughout the course of the day is essential for success, and to maximize muscle gain, this is usually done during the off season phase.
After going through this phase, bodybuilders go through several other phases that requires them to change the amount of carbohydrate-rich foods, lean proteins, and supplements like Stemulite to be able to support each stage of their rigorous training program. It is possible to create an effective training program that will give you the results you need by understanding what is involved in each phase.
The Off Season – The goal of this phase is to build as much muscle as possible. According to Louise Burke, author of the book “Practical Sports Nutrition”, bodybuilders support their performance outcome by eating high amounts of protein and healthy carbs throughout the day. To make sure they are meeting their protein requirements and will be able to create an eating plan around their workouts to further enhance results, they usually follow a consistent schedule of these foods.
Hypertrophy Phase – During this phase, it is common practice to follow a very rigid eating plan that means eating every 2-3 hours – even overnight. The goal here is to eat just enough food to maintain weight and allow the body to increase strength. This is done with careful selection of muscle-building foods and healthy carbs that provide sustainable energy.
Competition Prep – Most bodybuilders begin their competition preparation between 6 to 16 weeks before the event. This period requires a bodybuilder to maintain a schedule of sustained weight loss up to the event and involves severe calorie restriction to reduce body fat. Losing body fat, and not muscle that was built up over the off-season is the primary goal of this phase. This can be achieved by eating low-fat, high protein meals, or replacing a meal with a complete nutritional supplement like Stemulite Fitness Formula, and coordinating meals with a consistent workout regimen.
Cutting Phase – This involves severe calorie restriction to stimulate rapid fat loss, and typically occurs before the competitive event. Many bodybuilders rely on supplements to achieve nutritional balance as they drastically reduce their calorie intake. So that the body can recover easily, this phase includes intensive circuit training routines and more rest.
Post Competition – Since bodybuilders have been on a strict diet for up to 6 months before a competition, many bodybuilders consume enormous amounts of food immediately after the competition. This can be a health hazard for many, especially for those that end up gaining a lot of weight in a very short period of time. Bodybuilders who want to avoid weight gain during this stage can ease themselves into a healthier eating program so that they can maintain some of the results they worked so hard for and not compromise their health in the process.
With the different phases most bodybuilder goes through, maintaining a steady nutrition program is not easy. However, sound nutritional principles, using a supplement like Stemulite, and working with a nutritionist or dietitian throughout training can help you increase your chances of long-term success.
