Macronutrients: How Bodybuilders Differ From Regular Diets

 

 

Dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals are all considered to be nutrients, and each one is used in a different way; collectively, they are referred to as micronutrients. However, the real powerhouses — the ones packed with calories — are known as fat, protein and carbohydrates. Together, they are referred to as macronutrients.

 

 

 

Take a quick look at any bag of potato chips — it’s not hard to see why eating them in excess can quickly lead to a pudgy stomach, love handles and a sudden scowl every time one walks by a mirror in the house.

Although fat plays a very important role in providing humans with efficient energy, its role still needs to be a fairly small one than most people are used to eating.

 

 

As a general rule of thumb, an average male should be able to maintain his current weight by eating just 2,500 calories every day. The average female, on the other hand, will only be able to eat 2,000 calories in order to maintain her own figure, giving her fewer options than her male counterpart to maintain current weight with a sedentary lifestyle.

It’s not exactly fair, but it’s the unfortunate truth of science; men simply need to consume more calories than women do.

 

 

 

 

When designing a meal plan, consider that most of the body’s calorie requirements can and should be met with carbohydrates. Aside from fat, carbs are the primary source of fuel for the human body; as long as the right kinds are eaten, such as from vegetables, then an individual can expect an ongoing readiness of energy throughout the day.

 

 

Of course, it is difficult to say what exactly the “average man/woman” really is — and for that matter, who is interested in average? — so many wonder how many carbs they should be eating each day. The typical individual should consume about 2.5g of carbs for every 450g (15.8oz) of body weight.

 

 

 

 

Bodybuilders are no strangers to protein; anyone serious about the exercise understands how important the molecule is for repairing, strengthening and growing the muscles. To take it a step further, it’s required for the body’s organs and hemoglobin to function properly.

 

 

In most cases, that means up to 0.8g of protein daily per kilogram (2.2lbs). Naturally, the bodybuilder will want to consume 1g of protein for every lean body pound, collectively consuming up to 40g of protein per meal.

 

 

 

 

Like simple carbohydrates, some fatty foods should be treated with discretion and care, but it is important not to avoid fats entirely. This is because they serve a few essential roles:

– Assist development and growth
– Absorb vitamins A, D, E, K and others
– Maintain cell membranes

In addition to this, stored body fat will perform two functions:
– Cushions vital organs
– Backup energy reserves

 

 

 

The human body is a true machine that can run on different kinds of fuel — collectively known as the macronutrients. It’s even capable of maintaining a reserve of fuel in the form of stored fat.

Like any machine, biomechanical or not, it has other maintenance needs. For instance, it is entirely reliant on food for nutritional nourishment, so a balanced diet is exceedingly important for bodybuilders and everyone else in the world.

They say you are what you eat, and they’re not wrong at all. The case for a healthy diet should easily present itself at this point; it will provide nourishment, ongoing fuel and help the body last longer.