Building muscle is part of every fitness journey. While strength training plays a big role in achieving ripped abs, strong calves, or Popeye biceps, sufficient high-quality protein intake is essential for weight loss and optimal muscle growth. This is because amino acids in protein act as building blocks to repair muscle tears that occur during exercise, support muscle tissue, and help you feel full longer which fuels muscle mass development.
Research shows that proper protein intake is important for muscle growth because it increases muscle mass, optimizes the metabolism when consumed at the right time, and burns fat layers under the skin to help with better muscle definition to show off those gains.
Check out the 3 ways adequate protein intake can boost your muscle growth.
Protein ice creams are produced with all-natural ingredients and are usually 100% vegan. They taste as good as any other sugar-loaded ice cream but are way healthier. The best part about protein ice cream is that it can be served at lunch, dinner, or even breakfast, as it is light, fluffy, and nutritious.
Protein is uncountably the main component of every cell in our body. It doesn’t only help in repairing and building tissue muscles but also makes our hair and nails shiny and long. All body chemicals and enzymes need protein to function properly. Hence, people on a diet often take a high-protein diet to fulfill their body requirements.
Let’s look at how easy it is to make protein ice cream with a few ingredients in just a few simple steps.
The MRE protein shake is a ready-to-drink meal replacement shake that contains all the nutrients your body needs in one convenient serving. It is perfect for those who are looking for an easy and convenient way to get their daily dose of protein, without having to prepare a meal or snack.
Here are the top 10 things you should know about the MRE protein shake.
High Protein Kitty Litter Cake Recipe for Halloween
This is one of the more disgusting Halloween recipes I’ve found. It is also not the healthiest recipe on Project Swole, but it is definitely fun for the kids. Just don’t let Fluffy near the final product or you might end up with more ‘Tootsie Rolls’ than you thought.
In an attempt to get as much protein into this recipe as possible, I am literally adding scoops of protein powder to everything and substituting protein bars for candy whenever possible. The recipe might not come out that great if you use every one of my substitutions, but you can pick and choose which substitutions to use based on personal preference.
I’ve also listed several substitutions for the cake recipes. If you use them all, the cake might not be that great, but using applesauce in place of oil never seems to ruin any recipe that I have ever tried.
This original post was all about the Shakeology product. Let it be known I no longer use Shakeology and instead, I use Muscle Milk, which is a far better and less expensive product that also tastes better. Muscle Milk is a protein powder that tastes great mixed with water.
If you are looking for a pure protein powder, check out Muscle Milk. Muscle Milk protein powder comes in about 20 different flavors, and is available in 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, and 10 lb containers. Learn more about Muscle Milk. Finally, a protein powder that tastes great mixed with water!
Maybe you prefer all-natural whole-food protein bars. Visit RX Bars for awesome tasting bars. My favorite is Maple Sea Salt.
“Like eating 3 egg whites, 2 dates, and 6 almonds. With no B.S.”
The Healthiest Meal of the Day
Please note: you’re about to read my original story from 2011.
So I was hungry the other day at work and didn’t have many meal choices. The cafeteria was closed, I didn’t have any money for the vending machine, no protein bars, and only a couple of packets of Sweet & Spicy Tuna in my desk drawer. I’d already eaten tuna earlier that day, so I wasn’t in the mood for more.
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue peptide that is both the strongest in pulse release and has the most accessible side effects. Compared to other pulsating peptides, such as Hexarelin and GHRP 2, it can raise growth hormone levels on demand and maintain its presence in the body for a longer period. But there’s a lot to know about what is ipamorelin and what are peptides. Let’s go ahead and examine some of the basic ipamorelin facts.
Hardcore bodybuilders, powerlifters, weightlifters, and even most other athletes eat a ton of protein in a day. OK, they don’t eat a “ton”, but they do eat more than the average person. There are myths and stories about professional bodybuilders and strongmen who eat 300-500 grams of protein each day. Most of us can’t follow that prescription so we end up with the nagging question, “how much protein should I eat in a day?” This leaves us with a number of additional oft-debated questions, such as:
“How much protein do the professionals eat?”
“Exactly how much protein do I eat?”
“How much protein is appropriate for me?”
“Can I physically eat ‘too much’ protein?”
“If so, what are the side effects?”
“Exactly how much is ‘too much’?”
Let’s stop to consider all of the factors that go into determining how much protein we should eat.
Since the late 1990’s Dr. John Berardi has published 8 scientific abstracts; 15 scientific papers and textbook chapters; presented at nearly 50 scientific, exercise, and nutrition-related conferences; and published countless articles online.
Berardi’s articles at Testosterone Magazine so many years ago provided me with the foundation of my fitness and nutrition knowledge today. If you want to know more about the Carb to Protein Ratio Diet, this is the man to ask.
These days bodybuilding supplements are as common as bottled water. All our retail and grocery stores sell them, GNC is usually just down the road, but what about the history of bodybuilding supplements? From whey powder to creatine and everything in between, the bodybuilding supplements industry has steadily been growing both in popularity and in the sheer number of products available.
But how did it ever get to be this way? At what point in human history did we equate the intake of supplemental foods with the construction of the perfect physique? Interestingly enough it started with a man named Eugen.
Nineteenth-Century Supplementation
Over a hundred years. That’s how far back you would have to travel back in time to find the first traces of what is now known as bodybuilding supplements, consumable goods that were shown to have a direct impact on developing muscle and physique in the user.
Regarded as the first modern bodybuilder, Eugen Sandow was a staunch advocate of the impacts that eating or drinking certain foods can have on muscle development. Earle Liederman, a friend of Sandow’s, drank beef juice and extracts to help him his muscles and body heal faster after rigorous exercise, inadvertently developing what some argue to be the first post-workout supplement.
It’s high time to bust out a couple of new Halloween recipes since October is my favorite time of year and Halloween is my favorite holiday. These nice high-protein pumpkin cookies are perfect for breakfast, brunch, post-workout, or any time you might need a snack.
Recipe
Down below I mention a couple of ways you can make the recipe healthier or tastier; for example, swapping applesauce for oil and egg whites for eggs.
Generally, though, this is a pretty healthy recipe without changing anything.
The original recipe called for 1/2 cup of soy flour instead of protein powder, so if you find the protein powder ruins the recipe, you can back out and just use the soy flour. Of course, that will decrease the protein content in each cookie. 🙁
Are you trying to get in the habit of working out but just not feeling motivated? Or, maybe you’ve been working out for a while and you’re not seeing results. There are many factors that can lead to that sluggish feeling and to a lack of results. Here are a few tips and tricks to better support your workout routine.
Whenever you’re working out, you’re working hard. Whether your goal is fitness, bodybuilding, or simply losing a few pounds, the combination of exercise and nutrition is key to making progress. In layman’s terms, pumping iron creates tiny micro tears in your muscle fibers, which are then repaired by your body to build the muscle itself. The recovery process is just as essential as the workout itself. In fact, you technically can only build muscle AFTER your workout. That’s why you need to maximize your recovery with the right post-workout foods. Protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats all contribute positively to the recovery process. Here are a few foods and supplements to try out for your next post-workout recovery. For best results, consult with a physician or nutritionist prior to making any significant changes in your diet. Now that we got that out of the way, read on!
One of the biggest concerns that many vegans and vegetarians face is making sure that they get enough protein into their diet. With meat being the highest source, it can be complicated to plan meals around your new requirements. However, it is possible. All you need to do is look into the different substitutes.
In this article, we are going to discuss six high protein alternatives for vegans and vegetarians. Interested? Then keep on reading!
Branched-chain amino acids, which are commonly referred to as BCAAs, include amino, isoleucine, valine, and leucine. Your body cannot make them out of other amino acids, which means you must ingest them via nutritious food or BCAA supplements.
BCAAs make up 40 percent of your essential amino acid requirements each day and for good reason. Amino acids are responsible for facilitating most of your bodily functions including muscle growth, digestion, and hormone production.
Ingesting enough BCAAs, via food or supplementation, leads to the following health benefits.
Many people are easily deluded that they can increase their muscles’ level by simply drinking whey protein without working out. Yep, the lure of protein is that strong. You would be more likely to find someone who enjoys exhausting him/herself reaching their goal. Everybody wants to have a perfect body, while only a few enjoy the idea of sweating in the gym.
Protein shakes, on the other hand, are a convenient and affordable way to the desired biceps and triceps. But you might read a review that you stumbled upon on the internet, and it turns out that those shakes have a lot of downsides. So, let’s check out what happens when you drink protein shakes without sweating in the gym.
Since the late 1990’s Dr. John Berardi has published 8 scientific abstracts; 15 scientific papers and textbook chapters; presented at nearly 50 scientific, exercise, and nutrition-related conferences; and published countless articles online.
His first articles at Testosterone Magazine so many years ago provided me with the basis for everything I know about nutrition today. Now I will turn some of that knowledge over to you in the form of Nutrition Tips written by Dr. Berardi himself.
Today’s Topic – Protein for Fat Burning
Protein is one of the most important nutrients for gaining muscle, and in fact, is the MOST important macronutrient. We already know this.
When you want to supercharge your body before your morning workout or after it, there’s nothing better than a glass of homemade protein-rich smoothie. Though there are protein powders that you can buy and mix with water or milk, some are highly processed and may not give you all the basic amino acids that you need to power up your body. Additionally, they may be packed with heavy metals and unhealthy chemicals.
So, what do you do to ensure that you take healthy smoothie? It’s simple – prepare your own smoothie from scratch. In this case, you’ll need some protein-rich ingredients to add to your smoothie.
Here is a top 10 list of the most popular add-ins to consider:
People drink meal replacement shakes for a multitude of reasons. Some of the more popular reasons are weight loss, an inability to consume solid food or simply not having enough time to prepare a full meal.
No matter what your reason for using a meal replacement shake, there are certain rules of thumb that you should remember and apply so that your shake not only keeps you full but also provides you with other nutrients to keep your body functioning optimally.
Most commercially prepared meal replacement shakes (the best ones, at least) already have these considerations in place but if you are making your own, here are some ways to get the most out of it:
Don’t skimp on protein
Protein will keep you feeling fuller for longer by increasing the production of satiety hormones (such as GLP-1, peptide YY, and cholecystokinin) while also reducing the levels of ghrelin(a hunger hormone) in the body. This leads you to crave less so you can stick to your weight loss plan much easier.
To boost the protein levels in your homemade shake, you can use a protein powder or add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter to the mix. You can also use milk instead of water – milk has about 8 grams of protein per cup.
Nonfat Greek yogurt is another protein-rich food that you can add to your shake. (more…)
Looking for the best-tasting meal replacement shakes for weight loss reviews? Here we go.
There are many protein-rich drinks available on the market, but let’s find the best-tasting meal replacement shakes for weight loss. The problem is that many weight loss shake, in particular, whey protein powders, throughout time, have been known to taste like a tin can and have the consistency of a bowl of grit. We have gone ahead and reviewed 5 popular shakes used for both fat loss and lean muscle gain. Here is out list of the best-tasting meal replacement shakes to help kick start your latest fitness goals. (more…)
Women looking to build muscle are already at a disadvantage compared with men because they have naturally lower testosterone and growth hormone levels. Due to this, women must be much more careful about their diet and training routine to build muscle.
Especially considering their diet, women must be completely focused on choosing the correct foods and drinks to build muscle.
Keep reading below to find out the best diet choices for women to make building muscle easier!