Nutrition – The other half of the equation
Working out is like moulding clay. First you begin with a ball of clay. You then begin to mould the clay into the vague shape of the required piece. Next you pile on more clay and then mould a little more. This you repeat until stood before you is the desired result.
Now the gym contains all of the necessary tools that you need to mould your body into a more muscular (and toned) form. However, without adding the required type and amount of clay to the mould, you will never achieve your perfect form.
When to eat
When you eat is almost as important as what you eat. The key to growing muscle is to keep a steady stream of Carbohydrates, Protein and various other nutrients entering the body. This means eating regularly. Ideally you should try to eat once every 3 hours. This means that you will constantly have an influx of fuel into your system. Fuel, which your body will then be able to use to make and to power muscle.
What you eat is obviously very important. A typical meal should be small, so that the body can easily process it and should contain high levels of carbohydrate, intermediate levels of protein and low levels of fat. Remember that we need carbohydrate to power our workouts. We also need protein to build our muscles, however to much protein will either be stored as fat or excreted in urine (which can result in dehydration).
One final key point to mention is that you should not eat within the hour immediately prior to commencing a workout. This is due to the fact that in that time your blood flow will be diverted to your stomach and intestines, thus making exercise more difficult. You should however eat within the hour following a workout. It is at that time that your body is most in need of food.