Word Count: 719 Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:44 AM
Are Liquid Calories More Effective Than Solid Food For Muscle Mass Gains?
Many who pursue muscle growth are in need of convenient and portable methods of calorie consumption, and liquid carbohydrate and protein sources are therefore a popular option for bodybuilders who are attempting to ingest a constant stream of nutrients for muscle recuperation and growth. Most bodybuilders are aware of the fact that utilizing smaller, more frequent meals enhances metabolic rate, which in turn will improve fat loss and muscle growth, but such a meal structure requires more time, and for most bodybuilders, liquid calories become the logical choice. Some, realizing that liquid meals digest quicker than solid food, aim to consume the majority of their daily meals in liquid form, and this idea is quickly adopted by those who follow very tight schedules.
As a result, some bodybuilders consume the majority of their food from liquid sources and feel as if there is no negative impact towards muscle growth or fat loss when doing so, and, with the time savings that liquid meals provide, many quickly embrace such a tactic without any second thoughts. Yet, frequently the nutrients that are used in generating liquid meals are either potentially harmful (artificial sweeteners and additives in most protein powders, as an example), or focus upon simple carbohydrate foods, which are helpful as part of meals that occur before or after a weight lifting workout session, but can encourage blood sugar to either prevent body fat loss in those who are overweight, or promote stored fat increase in bodybuilders who are pursuing muscle growth.
This potentially negative impact on body fat percentage can be thwarted by focusing on liquid sources during weight lifting workout meals (those that surround a weight lifting workout), while aiming for mostly solid foods using complex carbohydrate sources at other times. Some may have very busy agendas that do not allow for solid meals more than two times per day, and in such a scenario, using three liquid meals is acceptable when utilizing egg based protein powders that are free from artificial sweetening or additives (to avoid negative health ramifications of such ingredients), and organizing the liquid meals properly, which, ideally, involves one of those liquid meals before your weight training workout session, and another following your weight lifting session, with the third occurring in the earlier hours of the day (as although consuming simple carbohydrates at times other than before or after a weight training workout session is not the ideal scenario, when the need arises, such a meal should preferably occur earlier in the day to reduce adverse impact upon body fat levels).
There are also easy to consume complex carbohydrate foods that can be used in lieu of simple sugars to create a very convenient meal for non-workout times, but most who create liquid meals for themselves do not consider such options. But the most effective path for those who wish to avoid simple carbs during non-workout meals is to consume an unsweetened egg based powder with water for protein, and use fat instead of carbs as an energy source, with healthy omega foods such as olive oil, hemp seeds and walnuts, all of which are very dense in terms of their calorie content, providing a simple to consume and tasty alternative to carbohydrates for any non-workout meal where convenience and portability is necessary.
Lastly, using liquid calories to comprise a vast majority of daily calorie consumption can harm digestive health, so to allow your organs to function as God intended, make sure to schedule at least two solid food meals daily, which should not be impossible considering most have time to at least consume two of the main meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner) in a relaxed environment (at home, in a cafeteria, or at least with sufficient time to complete a solid meal).
Unlike some believe, bodybuilding need not morph into an unreasonable chore, as there are many foods that allow bodybuilders to achieve maximum muscle building and fat reduction while living a fulfilling lifestyle, even when working a demanding job, but doing so requires properly timing simple carbohydrate meals to ensure body fat control, while using healthy omega fats and specific complex carbohydrates as alternatives to simple sources during meals where convenience is needed so that results remain consistent and impressive.
About the Author
Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for muscle gain without supplements or drugs. He also owns FatVanish.com, where you will find his natural fat reduction program.
Rate, comment or bookmark this article
Comments 
No comments posted.
Add Comment
Popular Articles in this cathegory
1: Inner Chest Workout - Gain A Fuller And Thicker Inner Chest With This Targeted Inner Chest Workout2: How To Build Up Chest Muscle - All You Need To Know About Building Perfect Chest Muscles
3: Bodybuilding Diet Meal Plan: 5 Tips For Creating Your Flawless Bodybuilding Diet Plan
4: Using Adrenaline Rushes To Max Your Lifts
5: Increase Your Squat By 100 Pounds in 10 Weeks
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

