Build Muscle Mass and Losing Fat at the Same Time: Trying to get a strong, muscular physique is a dietary balancing act. Too few calories, and you end up too lean and wiry instead of bulking up. Too many calories, or calories from the wrong sources, and you will gain fat that covers any muscle you gain.
You can be very strong and have a lot of muscle, but if you gain fat on top, you will just look very fat. That is why a specific bulking diet is important. Foods that build muscle, but not fat, will help you achieve the physique that you are looking for.
Eating Chickpeas for Muscle Gain
Chickpeas are a great food to add to your diet for muscle gain. Chickpeas can fill the same role as rice or grain, but with some extra good carbs. Carbs are often thought of as bad news for any diet, but you need carbs to function. Avoid sugars and starches, but go for complex, healthy carbs like those found in chickpeas. Chickpeas are also high in fiber, which is important to fit into any diet.
For meat, lean beef is a great choice. Beef has always been a stable of a body builder’s diet, and there are good reasons for this. Beef contains a full suite of muscle building proteins, amino acids, and vitamin B. Eat some beef in moderation to get a big boost of protein and calories from fat before or after a big workout.
High Quality Lean Protein
Rotisserie chicken from the supermarket is a great way to pick up some emergency protein. This is a convenient way to get a whole chicken full of high quality lean protein without having to cook it yourself. Grab one of these if you find yourself starving out of the house and need a meal. This is an extremely healthy option compared to any fast food restaurant meal you might otherwise resort to.
Lentils are a secret weapon of body builders. These legumes are similar in taste to beans, but contain high quality protein and slow digesting complex carbs. It is very easy to keep dried lentils in the pantry and cook them in 10 minutes to add to a meal. They are cheap, easy, and mix well with rice, on a salad, or tossed into a bowl of soup. Lentils are a truly ideal carb source for building muscle.
Mixed Nuts – Convenient Source of Protein
Nuts are one of the easiest and most convenient foods that build muscle. Nuts are packed full of clean calories from healthy fats for an on the go snack, and also contain quite a good helping of protein. Whenever you might be considering a sugary protein bar or a bag of potato chips, you should be pulling out your mixed nuts. Cashews and almonds are especially healthy, especially raw.
Building muscle means choosing foods that have a lot of energy, but not a lot of simple carbs like sugar and starch. The body needs calories to build muscle, and those from complex carbs, fats, and proteins are by far the best for building muscle. Look out for healthy, high energy food, and you will be bulked up in no time.
