Fitness Motivation Tracker: The Fastest Ways to Build Muscle

Building muscle is a marathon, not a sprint, but there are ways to make sure that you make progress faster. An area that people often overlook is their nutrition. Use these guidelines to make sure you are nailing the basics:

Create a Calorie Surplus

Most people don’t eat anywhere near enough food, let alone enough nutritious food. Don’t be afraid of eating, especially when it comes to carbs. They are vital for your success. Let’s break down the three main macronutrients (proteins, carbs and fats) in to the actual amounts that you will need.

Take your bodyweight in kilos. Now multiply it by 2.5 – the number that you get is how many grams of protein you should be eating every day. That number will stay the same, until you put on weight and it can be increased accordingly.

On to Carbohydrates – multiply your bodyweight in Kilos by four. That is your starting point – if you are going to put on muscle, you are going to need carbohydrates to help you recover, and to drive your thyroid hormones higher. This in turn will switch on your metabolism, allowing you to eat more. A healthy pancreas should be able to deal perfectly well with about 300g of carbs a day in fit individuals. Try to avoid excess sugar.

Fats are essential (Even saturated fat!). They go on to create your hormones, which are essential for muscle building. Take your bodyweight in Kilos and multiply it by one, and that number in grams is your daily minimum. I’m not saying you need to go out of your way to eat loads of fats – but they are the most calorie dense of the three macros (at nine calories per gram, compared to four per gram for protein and carbs).

Consistency and Meal timing

Now that you have worked out your minimum daily amounts (and I stress minimum), consistency is the next step. Half an hour in the evening is enough time to get most of your food sorted out for the next day. Four or five meals (three main meals + pre and post workout snack) is fine. Just get the food in.

Consistency and Meal timing

Now that you have worked out your minimum daily amounts (and I stress minimum), consistency is the next step. Half an hour in the evening is enough time to get most of your food sorted out for the next day. Four or five meals (three main meals & pre and post workout snack) is fine. Just get the food in.

Five Tips for Bigger Biceps

Gradually Increase

The first time you increase your calories, you will likely notice a slight increase of body fat over the next few weeks. You’re not doing anything wrong – what you are doing by eating more is pushing your body’s set point higher. Your body will catch up, so carry on – you will get leaner again.

How much do you increase? 500 calories. It’s enough of a difference for you to make changes to your diet and to get things moving. 500 calories may sound like a lot, but remember that 100g of carbs is 400 calories. So, simply add in an extra 125g to your daily totals of carbs. That’s it. Give it another two weeks of absolute consistency, and then reassess. If you’re not tipping the scales up, then add another 500 calories/125g of carbs. Try to rotate through these foods every two weeks.

Protein sources, choose:

Chicken, Eggs, Turkey, Tuna Steak, Beef, Duck, Lamb, Venison, Prawns, Squid, Shellfish, Salmon, Herring, Mackerel, Sardines

Carbohydrate sources, choose:

Sweet Potato, Basmati Rice, Rice Noodles, Butternut Squash, New Potatoes, Baked Potato, Swede, Pasta

Fat Sources, choose:

Avocado, Feta Cheese, Olives, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds, Full Fat Organic Butter

Finally, vegetables – fruit is fine, but prioritise vegetables.

Broccoli, Kale, Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, Watercress, Spinach, Leeks, Fennel, Rocket, Mixed Leaves, Bok Choi, Celery, Courgette, Peas, Cucumber, Lettuces, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Aubergine, Beetroot, Carrots