Despite the myriad of nutritional supplements out there making all sorts of outrageous claims about building muscle the only supplement, or better yet, nutrient you need to build muscle is protein. Your muscles are comprised of protein and water so you can see why protein would be necessary to your muscle-building efforts.
When you work out with weights you're actually breaking down your muscle tissue and tearing it. When you feel a muscle pump, your muscles feel like they're swollen or full, in the gym your muscles are actually being stretched to the point of tearing and that's normal and it's actual the beginning of the muscle rebuilding process.
Regardless of everything you've read about building muscle it's actually quite simple. Building muscle is as simple as going to the gym and working out and then consuming enough protein outside of the gym to allow your body to grow.
The key to adding muscle to your frame is consuming one to two grams of protein for every pound you weigh. So if you weigh 225 pounds then you should consume 225-300 grams of protein. Consuming that much protein is not going to be easy and that's where protein supplements can make it a little easier.
In addition to consuming enough protein you also want to make sure you consume protein at the right times throughout the day. The most important time to take protein is right after your workout within 30 minutes of your last rep. Take protein right after your workouts and you will grow and you will build muscle period.
In addition to ingesting some protein right after your workout you also want to make sure you're taking some protein first thing in the morning and a few hours before you go to bed. Going to sleep means your body is going without food for 6-8 hours so it makes sense to take in some protein before you go to bed and first thing in the morning.
If you're just getting started with working out in the gym it's important to not get too confused with all the hype behind all of the products and systems that are out there to help you build your physique. Stick to the basics in the beginning. Train hard and consume lots of protein. You'll get to a point where your growth plateaus and that's the right time to try new supplements.
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