What to Put On Your Plate to #GetBig, Pt. 2
August 24, 2022 | Words by Gabe Yanez
Eating to #GETBIG, Part 2
If you’ve missed any of the previous #GetBig write-ups in this series, you can catch them here:
If you’re trying to #GetBig, you need to train hard and prioritize protein in your diet. But what about carbs? What role do they play in helping you build and maintain muscle?
Let’s get into it!
It’s About More Than Just Protein
Carbs sometimes get a bad wrap in the fitness space because consuming too many can lead to unwanted weight gain, insulin sensitivity, and a whole bunch of other adverse health outcomes we want to avoid.
But when it comes to putting on muscle, carbs do play an important role.
You simply can’t #GetBig off protein alone. Carbs not only help jumpstart the muscle-building process and aid in recovery, they also serve as the prime energy source to fuel you and make sure you get the most out of your hypertrophy training.
If you’re someone that has struggled to put on muscle in the past, sufficient carb intake might be the missing piece of the equation.
Tough workouts deplete your glycogen stores. Failing to replenish those with carbs increases the likelihood of your body breaking down muscle instead. If you’re looking to improve your body composition, this can be counterproductive and lead to the loss of valuable lean muscle mass.
This doesn’t mean you bring Sour Patch Kids to chew on after a workout; quality matters and the number of carbs you need will largely depend on how lean you are and the intensity of your training.
For most people, replenishing their glycogen stores with smart carbs may mean eating fruit before and after training and consuming plenty of starchy carbs with dinner. You don’t need candy, other refined sugars, or highly-processed carbs in order to #GetBig.
One Thing to Try This Week
We’re getting closer and closer to the start of our NCMETCON Olympic lifting cycle on the NCFIT App!
Start dialing in your recovery and nutrition to #GetBig by incorporating some smart carbs around your training. Make sure to have some fruit pre-workout. Experiment with different higher carb options like bananas or grapes and see how you respond in your workouts.
After training, opt for something a bit more satiating such as oats with some protein powder or some greek yogurt with a liberal drizzle of honey.
Embrace carbs around your workout and enjoy the boost in energy and recovery!
It’s time to #GetBig! LET’S GO!
