If you’ve read our extensive Alpha Pharm Guide on Bulking, taken notes on the most aesthetic muscle groups to grow or done your research on top-tier anabolics like Winstrol or Dianabol, you’re pretty much set for the basics of bodybuilding. However, if you’re looking to really bring your gains to the next level, it’s important to nail down every single little detail possible so that you can perfect your physique. As you know, some of the biggest fundamental keys to building muscle are training, a calorie surplus, and recovery, but many people aren’t aware of the proper protein intake for maximal muscle growth. In order to grow as much muscle as possible, it’s important to know what protein does for your body & muscles, how much protein you should be consuming, and when you should be consuming it. Without further ado, let’s crack down on all the protein must-knows so that you can get one step closer to your dream physique.
What does protein do?
Protein is one of the biggest factors to building muscle and packing on size to your frame. To rebuild after being torn down in the gym after a grueling workout, your muscles require calories, protein, and enough recovery time to grow back bigger and stronger than before. Proteins are macronutrients, and are made up of essential amino acids which are chemical building blocks in our nutrition. Your body also uses those amino acids to build and repair bones, to make hormones, and to produce enzymes which help our body function properly. The protein in your body is also responsible for the growth of your nails, bones, and hair!
How much protein should I be eating?
In order to know how much protein you should be eating, you first need to examine what your current calorie intake is. Surprisingly, your body actually needs more protein when you’re in a calorie deficit as opposed to when you’re in a calorie surplus. This is due to the fact that when your body has less calories to recover from, it’s more likely to eat muscle in order to get itself out of “starvation mode”. With that, when you’re cutting it’s important to eat higher amounts of protein, closer to 1-1.2g per pound of body weight, to ensure your body won’t catabolize muscle. When you’re bulking (in a calorie surplus), since your body’s recovery is at it’s peak, you can get away with only 0.75-1g per pound of bodyweight. However, it’s crucial to make sure you’re getting in proper amounts of protein daily and consistently so that your muscles have a consistent recovery process. Anabolics such as Dianabol or Test 400 actually help improve the recovery process, so that you can utilize all the protein you consume and pack on more muscle mass.
What are good protein sources?
Simply put, almost any source of protein is a good source of protein. However, if you’re cutting, you may want to stick to a few less calorically dense options, such as whey isolate protein powder, tuna, chicken breast, turkey, or fish (like halibut or tilapia). If your calories are on the higher end and you can get away with some slightly fattier meats, you can easily include beef, chicken thigh/drums, standard whey protein, or even cheese! As long as it has protein and isn’t processed, you can’t go wrong.
When should I eat my protein?
Since the human body can only digest and use about 30-40g of protein in one meal, it’s important to space your protein out in about 3-5 meals across the span of a day. It’s also crucial that you consume protein before and after a workout so that your body can rebuild muscle as efficiently as possible. Want a pro tip? After your workout, eat some simple sugars first and then eat your protein, as it will spike insulin and help improve muscle-protein synthesis. If you struggle to eat protein due to a lack of hunger, Deca Durabolin is an anabolic steroid that has been known to help boost hunger and make it easier to consume more food — especially protein.
If you’re looking for more nutrition tips just like this, make sure to check out some more of our Alpha Pharm blogs as we have tons of fitness info waiting there for you. Stop by our anabolic steroids category if you’re looking to make massive gains and check out our Cannabis for some killer strains. We’ll see you next time for another Alpha Pharm blog!
