Nutrition For Body BuildersWhen it comes to nutrition, you should understand that the diet program for a body builder is not the same as it is for someone that strictly wants to lose weight. Many times people try to build muscle and cut fat but the use a diet plan for weight loss. This may not result in the muscle gains that you are seeking. Instead, you should have a diet plan that is for buidling muscle and increase overall mass while cutting fat. What you eat is equally as important as the workout. No matter how hard your workout, if you don't eat properly, you will not be satisified with your muscle growth.
5 Nutritional Tips for Body Builders1. Increase the amount of protein that you take in. At a minimum, if you want to increase muscle mass you should consume 1 gram of protein for every pound of body weight. So if you weigh 185lbs. you should eat 185 grams of protein each day. For more intense muscle gains or to increase your overall mass, you should consume between 1-1.5 grams of protein for every pound. Some body builders have told me that they take in 2 grams per pound when preparing for a contest.2. Cut calories. If you are increasing your protein intake you do not want to increase your total caloric intake. So you have to cut the carbs and fats if you are adding more protein to your diet. If you don't you will have large muscles covered by fat. Keep in mind that you must balance carbs, fats, and protein for proper nutrition. 3. Take your vitamins. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins. I would suggest taking a good multi vitamin. There are several on the market that are designed specifically for sports and body building. I take 1,000mg of vitamin C every day. Vitamin C is important becasue it helps remove toxins that cause muscle damage and prevent recovers. 4.Cut out the bad snacks. When we count calories we often forget to add in all those little snacks throughout the day. The 1 cookie that really isn't going to hurt. The cake at the birthday party or the homemade brownies that someone brought to the office. These things not only add up without out realizing it but they are really bad calories. Replace these snacks with better snacke like beef jerky, whole wheat bread, peanuts, fruit, etc. 5. Don't forget to eat. Ever heard anyone complain that they can't lose weight even when they drastically cut calories or miss meals? There is a reason for this. The body have it's own defense system to prevent starvation. When is senses that there are fewer calories taken in then is stores fat to conserve energy. What I am saying is that you will lose more weight if you continue to eat than if you stop eating. Also, you have to have enough calories to give you enough energy to get your through your workout. 
A stict diet and workout program is the only way to build the physique of a body builder. Whatever your goal is, diet and exercise work together to help you achieve your results.
Count Your Calories
If you want to gain muscle and cut fat, you will need to start counting calories. Write down everything that you eat in a day. If you don't do this you may be over eating and not realize it. You may also not get the right porportions of carbs, fats, and proteins that you need for proper nutrition.
You should track the following: -Total Calories -Grams of Carbs -Grams of Protein -Grams of Fat -Grams of Saturated Fats -Calories Burned For Exercise
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