When going to the weight room, it is important to know that there are many different factors that impact strength. There is much more to building strength than just lifting the actual weights. When building strength, some of the following factors play a big role: taking supplements, proper nutrition, and using different types of heavy compound lifts.
Using Supplements
There are a large variety of supplements that are quite affordable to the public that can greatly assist you in building strength. The first type of supplement is protein supplements. There are lean protein supplements which contain little to no carbs. There are also protein supplements which contain a significant amount of carbs. Both types of protein supplements will assist in muscle recovery after a workout, but the protein with carbs will encourage weight increase as well. Protein supplements with carbs are generally taken by individuals that are bulking. Another quite popular, and important supplement is creatine. Creatine is one of the most studied supplements on the market today. Creatine is naturally found in many types of meats, particularly red meats. Creatine works by allowing cells to draw in more water than they normally would. This will allow your muscles to lift more weight. Creatine also works to allow your muscles to work harder by assisting in changing ADP to ATP. ATP provides direct energy to cells. Some experts recommend following a creatine cycle when using this supplement. This means taking it for no longer than 3 months, and then not using it for at least one month. It is believed that creatine can become excess after a few months, so taking more creatine will just become a waste.
Proper Nutrition
When trying to boost strength and promote muscle growth, it is essential that you eat often, and eat the right types of foods. Eating every 3 hours is the best way to promote muscle growth. This will ensure that your body isn’t being starved of any type of macronutrients that it needs in order to replenish and build muscle. Eating a source of protein with each meal is also essential. It is recommended that a person consume at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body-weight in order to optimize muscle growth. Next, a person should only eat a significant amount of carbs after their workout. After working out your muscles needs the carbs in order to replenish energy. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include foods such as bread, fruit, sugary drinks, ice cream, and candy. Excess carbohydrates will cause weight gain and muscle growth still, but some of the excess weight will be fat. Last, it is important to eat breakfast and to drink plenty of water. Drinking water is important to keep your muscles hydrated, especially if you are taking creatine. Creatine partially dehydrates your body because water is being taken up by the cells in the muscles partially. It is important to eat breakfast to boost your energy in the morning and to also promote your metabolism to begin working early in the day.
Using Different Types of Heavy Compound Lifts
Whenever a person is lifting weights, the goal is to tear the muscle in order to build it back stronger. This can be done in a variety of ways, but usually lifting heavier weights will allow your muscles to tear more, which will cause them to build back strength. A compound lift is a movement that engages two or more joints in order to engage a whole muscle group. Using different types of heavy compound lifts will allow you to tear entire groups of muscle groups on different days. This will help maximize muscle growth throughout the entire body.
Conclusion
When trying to promote muscle growth, there are many different factors to consider. A few of these factors include taking supplements, proper nutrition, and using different types of heavy compound lifts.
