WHY YOU AREN’T BUILDING MUSCLE
No matter how you’re naturally built, building muscle mass is not always easy. It takes hard work, the right exercises, a healthy diet and commitment. You may think you’re doing everything right, but why aren’t you seeing results? The issue lays in the details. Take some time to evaluate your routine, and listen to our helpful tips about what may be stalling your muscle gain.
YOU’RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN
Protein is the fundamental unit of muscles. If you are strength training but not eating enough protein, then you cannot expect to gain on your muscles. Exercising causes wear and tear of the muscles which are repaired by the protein intake. Therefore, your body needs sufficient protein to maintain good weight and health.
Your protein intake can come from various sources like eggs, fish, meat, dairy, supplements, or snacks. The amino acid content in every source is different and that has various impacts on the body. Alex Carnelro of Body Building recommends 1.3 – 1.5 grams of protein every one pound of the total body weight. It doesn’t have to be difficult to get your protein in. Nowadays there are new and innovative snacks that pack in an enormous amount of protein in single servings. For example, the Finaflex Oatmeal Protein Pie has 12 grams of protein per serving. Foods such as this are an amazing way to get a blast of protein while you’re on the go.
YOU AREN’T DOING ENOUGH STRENGTH TRAINING
Cardio is still an important part of your workout routine. Its burns a lot of calories and helps you reduce your overall fat content. When you do build muscle, cardio will help reveal it by shrinking the layer of fat covering your new bulk.
Doing cardio is beneficial but don’t let it dominate your workout plan. Consult your trainer and include high intensity workout training along with cardio sessions. Weight and strength training can help in building muscles.
Additionally, don’t let cardio get in the way of your recovery from strength training days. Many people make the mistake of doing cardio as a “rest day”, but in fact, this will just hinder your muscle recovery by not allowing proper muscle rest.
YOU’RE NOT SLEEPING ENOUGH
When you sleep, your muscles grow, repair and strengthen. During exercising, your muscles go through wear and tear which needs to be repaired. When you sleep, growth hormones work efficiently and contribute to the muscles. While it may seem counter intuitive, your rest period is where some of your best progress comes to fruition.
PATIENCE IS KEY
Gaining muscle doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and a consistent routine to see the results that you’ve been working towards. The first phase of a workout plan usually does not show significant changes. This first phase usually is focused around releasing muscle tension, increasing flexibility and improving coordination. Do not be discouraged if you don’t see results within the first few weeks. Instead, wait it out. Focus on consistency, and establish good habits that you can stick with. You’re in this for the long haul, remember that! The only issue could be that simple, just give yourself the time that your body needs.
Find the right fitness and diet balance can be tricky, since everybody has a unique body with different needs. Here at Finaflex, we try to make it a little easier on you. We make healthy snacks, such as the aforementioned Oatmeal Protein Pie. These types of treats can help you reach your physique goals in a more convenient way! We also have an informative blog where you can read up on diet and fitness topics, so you can make informed decisions about