8 Meal Prep Tips for Weight Loss

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  5 Rules to Build Muscle Mass

  Steph Hofer, 30 October 2018

  Nothing can be more impressive than having a nice body physique. It creates a great first impression from people around you. It provides a unique satisfaction not just from other people but also for yourself because you know that fact that your body is in great shape and so is your health. Of course, you cannot get those perfectly ripped abs and wonderfully toned muscles without exerting efforts and working hard for it. Building muscle mass is not something you can achieve overnight. As they often say, “No Pain, No Gain”. In order to achieve your fitness goals whether you want to build muscles or if you’re aiming to lose weight, you must embrace the pain and overcome those challenging workout routines, which should be done on a regular basis. Once you achieved the frame or the built you want, you must learn how to maintain it through regular exercise and a balanced diet. Take note that building muscles is not just about hitting the gym every day. There are many important factors that you must consider in order to get a satisfying result. Listed below are five of the most important rules you must consider to build muscle mass. 1. Watch Your Calorie Intake One of the most important elements or factors you must consider in muscle building is your calorie consumption. When building muscles, you must create a so-called Calorie surplus. It is basically a state where you consume more calories than you burn which leads to weight gain in form of muscles and body fats. The main question here however is how many calories you must consume on a daily basis to produce great results. To estimate, you can simply multiply your total body weight in pounds by 20. So a 170 lb male must consume around 3,400 calories daily. 2. The Role of Protein Calories play a huge part in muscle building but Protein is the key to achieve the best result. Protein plays a critical role in our body. Our body needs a higher volume of protein on a daily basis in order to live and in order for our body to function. Aside from repairing damaged cells, Protein is also responsible of building muscles. You get the complete protein which contains all the 9 essential amino acids from various food sources like meat, eggs, nuts, fruits and vegetables. For bodybuilding, however, you need to get more protein which you can effectively obtain from various Protein supplements like protein powders and protein bars. 3. Post Workout Routine It is also important to establish your own post-workout meal plan. Take note that when we work out, muscles used up their glycogen stores for fuel. So as a result, the muscles will become partially depleted of glycogen. In addition to that, some muscles also break down and get damaged after a workout. To rebuild the glycogen stores and recover those damaged muscles, we need to supply our body with the right amount of nutrients just after our workout. Doing such allows you to decrease muscle protein breakdown, increase muscle growth, restore glycogen stores and speed recovery from heavy exercise. 4. Drink Plenty of Water Whether you are aiming to build muscle or not, hydrating yourself is extremely important. Drink plenty of water throughout the day especially before a workout. This will give you a feeling of fullness and reduces hunger pangs. It is important to take note that you must consume at least 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes during the training. You can go for those low-calorie energy drink to fuel you up. If the body is dehydrated, the performance is also affected. 5. Be Patient Last but certainly not least is to condition your mind and set goals and expectations. Take note that mass gains will vary depending on many factors including your body condition. Focus on what you do and discipline yourself by doing the right thing. If you do not see any improvements immediately, try to have more patience because results cannot be achieved overnight! Monitor your progress to motivate yourself.

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  5 Achievable Weight Loss Tips

  Gemma, 15 June 2017

  You've tried the extreme diets but now you want something that works. Check out our 5 weight loss tips that won't leave you feeling tired and hangry!

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  4 Reasons You Need to Buy Whey Protein to Achieve Your Fitness Goals

  Sportsfuel, 25 March 2017

  4 Reasons You Need to Buy Whey Protein When you are trying to lose weight or build muscle, the key is protein. We're sharing the 4 reasons why you need to buy whey protein in this post! Read here!Transforming your body has as much to do with vitamins and minerals as it does with actually working out. Vitamin deficient but still hitting the gym? Your gains or weight loss goals are probably out of reach.That's partly because the human body needs 0.8 g of protein per pound of bodyweight to build muscle.It doesn't seem like much, though the reality is most people couldn't even guess how much protein they eat per day.The uncertainty is one reason why people buy whey protein to supplement their weight loss and workouts. Buy Whey Protein: It Reduces Post Exercise Eating Losing weight takes a combination of many different factors. Admittedly, it's no easy task. Though one thing you can easily hone in on is reducing your post exercise meal. It's tempting to over eat after you've just expended energy. Don't!Instead, drink your whey protein. A study found that whey protein intake after exercising reduces subsequent energy intake. Less food means fewer calories, fats, and eventually less weight. Not only are you getting protein, but you're getting full. It's "Complete" Whey protein contains all the essential and nonessential amino acids. This means it's "complete," in the sense that your muscles are getting the maximum benefit.Your body also can utilize 100 percent of whey protein. Another notch on the "complete" scale.This efficiency is especially important because other proteins offer much lower absorption rates.Think you're getting all the protein you need from foods? Think again. It's Proven Whey protein has been used for years and years in both the bodybuilding and weight loss industries.Why? Well, because whey protein works. Studies have proven that whey protein helps increase fat loss while sparing lean muscle mass. We also have evidence that whey protein in conjunction with exercise promotes muscle hypertrophy and enhances gains in both untrained and trained individuals.If you want the scientifically backed supplement that'll boost up gains and shed your pounds, buy whey protein. It's Versatile Whey protein comes in a standard powdered form that's usually mixed with water and consumed.However, those of us using whey on a consistent basis might want to make our intake methods a little more interesting.If that sounds like you, you'll be glad to know that whey protein can actually make a great cooking ingredient.You can use it to make baked goods, soups, salad dressings, ice cream, pancakes, mashed potatoes and more. Any extra treat you want can become supercharged with protein after only a few easy adjustments to your recipes. Conclusion If you're looking to increase your muscle mass, or lose weight, buy whey protein. The supplement does wonders for anyone looking to get fit.Though if you're still not convinced, check out our store. We stock a large variety of supplements, including whey protein. There's no better way to get acquainted with whey protein than to shop its different varieties and try a few out for yourself.Trust us, you won't end up disappointed.

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  4 Key Sports Nutrition Supplements for Vegetarians

  Sportsfuel, 19 April 2016

  A vegetarian or vegan diet has been shown to have distinctive health benefits, and many people today choose to give up meat, dairy and eggs in order to be kinder to animals. While a vegetarian or vegan diet can be healthy and conducive to natural lifestyles, serious athletes and bodybuilders who restrict or eliminate animal-derived foods from their diets can end up deficient of certain nutrients. This can make it difficult to see results from workouts and interfere with athletic performance. The good news is that it's possible to bridge the diet gap with the right sports nutrition supplements.Here are four of the best supplements for vegetarian and vegan athletes and bodybuilders: 1. Vegetable Based Protein PowderProtein is absolutely essential for building new muscle cells and for repairing the strain put on the body during exercise. You can get protein from plants, but most plant proteins are incomplete, which means that they do not contain every single one of the amino acids that are used as building blocks for proteins. Vegetable based protein powders can supply a vegan-friendly form of protein to ensure that you're getting enough of the amino acids that your body requires. Soy protein powders tend to be preferred by many people as they contain a complete amino acid profile. You can also try vegetarian blends with ingredients like pea protein and hemp, or if you eat dairy, a whey protein powder is a vegetarian option with a complete amino acid profile. 2. Branched Chain Amino AcidsLeucine, isoleucine and valine are three key amino acids for muscle development. Called the branched chain amino acids or BCAAs, these amino acids decrease the risk of muscle breakdown when you're completing a grueling workout. The BCAAs have also been shown to stimulate muscle cell production after exercise and to reduce fatigue and increase endurance. Most vegetarian and vegan diets are lacking in these important amino acids, but you can add them to your diet easily in pill or powder form. 3. CreatineCreatine is an important fuel for producing energy in the muscles during exercise, and much of the nutrient stored in the muscle tissue comes from animal proteins in the average adult diet. Since you don't eat meat, there is a good chance you have lower amounts of creatine stored in your muscles than the norm. Taking just 5 grams of creatine per day can help you to promote muscle growth, reduce fatigue and increase your strength. 4. Beta-AlanineBeta-alanine is another amino acid that is found primarily in meats that plays an important role in energy production and that amplifies the benefits of creatine. Experts recommend that vegetarians take 3 to 6 grams of the amino acid per day divided into 2 to 4 even doses. Be prepared to experience a tingly feeling when you take your supplement; that's a normal side effect of beta-alanine and no cause for alarm.For help selecting supplements that are vegan or vegetarian-friendly, feel free to contact us. We'll be glad to help you put together the best sports nutrition programme to help you stick to your diet and get better results at the gym.

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