If you are reading this then we know you are looking to lose weight and get a leaner body. For those who are serious about building a leaner body, don’t rush into it. There are a few things you need to know about the process.
Exercise
Getting a lean body is more than just going to the gym and getting on the treadmill for 45 minutes or an hour each day. You do need cardio, yes, but that has to be balanced out with strength training. Cardiovascular exercises will build up your oxygen capacity and endurance to go at it harder with each successive workout. As a result you will begin to see those extra pounds dropping off once you find a regimen of aerobic activities that suits your lifestyle.
A leaner body shows best when you can “see” how hard you have worked. Aerobics trims the fat but strength training tones the muscles so they can be seen through the skin. And, muscle weighs more than fat, so you burn calories while lifting and also while at rest and sleeping. Be sure to leave a full 24 hours between working the same body part or else you’ll break down the muscle instead of building.
Diet
This is just as important as your workouts. After all, you don’t want to sabotage all of your efforts in the gym by eating a box of donuts in the middle of the night. Building a lean body is about getting the right foods in your system to help it work more efficiently at burning fat, building muscle and sustaining your energy levels throughout the day.
Here’s one piece of advice to stick to: Eat more complex carbohydrates. These are your vegetables and fruits along with select starches. They come with natural sugars and very little if any processing. The added sugars and chemicals in processed foods are known to spike your blood sugar and add unnecessary calories. Blood sugar spikes lead to cravings for more sugar.If you eat foods like pasta or rice, avoid those made with refined white flour. Stick to whole grains and brown rice.
Protein Bars and Shakes for Building Lean Body Mass
The flip side is that getting enough protein is crucially important for building lean body mass. When you work out, you’re basically breaking down your body’s tissue. Your body then uses the protein it has to rebuild your muscles even stronger and leaner than it was before. This breaking down and rebuilding process is what makes working out work. This is how muscles are built and toned. In order for this to work, your body has to have enough proteins. If you’re not getting enough protein for your workouts, you’ll feel lethargic and you won’t get the results that you want to get. Protein bars and shakes are a great way to get more protein in your system
Not All Bars and Shakes are Created Equally
It’s entirely possible to get a protein shake that’s high in calories, high in fat, high in sugar and even high in cholesterol. It could contain animal protein, which is harder for the body to break down. Just because it’s a “protein shake” doesn’t mean it’s healthy. The same could be said for protein bars. A “protein bar” that’s covered in chocolate and has “high fructose corn syrup” listed as a main ingredient probably isn’t your best choice if you’re looking to build a lean body. The best choice for a protein shake is one that’s doesn’t have many calories and yet is high in protein.
For many athletes, body builders and health conscious people, the #1 choice is whey protein. Whey is separated from milk and is very easy for the human body to break down. Whey also contains all the essential amino acids, which are protein compounds that your body doesn’t produce on its own and needs to get from the food you eat.
The Bottom Line Is …
The bottom line is protein shakes and bars are a great supplement to your workout routine. It doesn’t replace all the nutrition you’ll get from eating a balanced diet, so don’t overdo it and don’t treat it as the Holy Grail. That said, drinking or eating protein supplements that help your body rebuild after an intense workout are great ways to help your fitness progress along.
