The combination of healthy nutrition and grinding at the gym is a recipe for success for anyone working towards a rock
solid body. But there are common diet mistakes made quite often that prevents many from getting great results at the gym. Avoid these mistakes like the plague.
Mistake #1 - Eating Too Many Carbs - Carbs are an essential part of your diet but eating too much of them can be detrimental to your muscle-building efforts.
What to do instead: Eat a well balanced diet that consists of protein, fats(more on that one in mistake #2), and yes carbohydrates. Eating the right carbs is just as important as well.
You should eat complex carbs not simple carbs. A few simple carbs are...
- white rice
- white bread
- candy
- baked goods
- soda
Mistake #2 - Staying away from fats - Eat fat, is you crazy?! Not all fats are created equal. There are actually healthy fats that you can eat that are good for you.
What to do instead: Eat more healthy fats. There are a number of healthy foods you can eat that contain healthy fats. Here is a short list.
- Cooking Oils - olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil
- Avocados
- Nuts - almonds, macadamia, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts
- Fish - salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel, trout
- Flaxseed
You need to be careful when eating some of the foods that have healthy fats in them. Some have a good amount of
calories so you can only eat so much. Avocados for example, if you make a bowl of guacamole dip, don't go crazy and eat the whole bowl. Be nice and share so you don't lose control of your calorie count.
Mistake #3 - Not Drinking Enough Water - This one should be very obvious but some overlook this extremely important part of their diet. Your body is approximately 60% water. If you have a good sweat that water needs to be replaced.
What to do instead: Grab a glass of water, bottoms up. When you don't drink enough water you are making it hard on your body. Your body will have trouble breaking down complex nutrients like protein if you don't drink enough water.
If you are wanting to build muscle, the breakdown of protein should be top on your priority list, so drink your water so
your muscles will get it's much needed protein. Drinking 8 - 10 glasses of water a day should provide your body with the adequate water it needs
Avoiding the 3 diet mistakes listed will help make a difference with your bodybuilding efforts. Pay close attention to what
goes in your mouth to get better results in the gym. Working your butt off at the gym but eating crap will not lead to a chiseled body.
