Why Bodybuilding Without Supplements?
Read any bodybuilding or fitness magazine and the first thing you’ll notice is just how many advertisements there are for some of the many different supplements available for purchase. In many mainstream magazines, there are almost literally adverts for various supplements on every other page, making the magazine almost 50% pure supplement advertisements. The supplement industry is currently booming, doing better now than ever before, and it is worth billions upon billions. For this reason, competition is fierce, with more and more people looking to muscle in (pardon the pun) on the action in order to hopefully establish themselves as a big-time name in the supplement industry. But are supplements absolutely vital when it comes to bodybuilding? Well, if you were to ask people working in the supplement industry, then of course they’ll say yes, otherwise, they’re basically telling you that you don’t actually need their supplements in order to improve your physique. If you get an unbiased opinion, however, things then become slightly clearer. Whilst supplements are indeed very beneficial when used correctly, and chosen correctly for that matter, they certainly aren’t an essential part of bodybuilding, as there are currently more people now than ever before, bodybuilding without supplements. If this applies to you, or perhaps you’re thinking of getting into bodybuilding without supplements, here’s a look at a few helpful tips to enable you to maximize your gains and build a physique to be proud of.
Don’t Alter Your Training
For people who have been using supplements for bodybuilding purposes for a number of years, often times they would actually find themselves fitting their training schedules and workout routines, based upon their supplement intake. For example, if using pre-workout supplements, it’s best that you train relatively early in the day, as if you were to train later on in the evening, the caffeine and various other stimulants could leave you feeling wired and wide awake at night, causing you trouble when sleeping. If you’re used to training early in the day, but decide to come off of the supplements, stick with the same routine at roughly the same time of day. A lot of people will also train heavy when using high calorie supplements, or supplements designed to give them energy boosts, as they believe the supplements will help them lift heavy. Whilst this may be true, if you decide to come off of them, don’t suddenly think that your strength is going to deteriorate, meaning you need to train much lighter because often your strength levels won’t be affected in the slightest.
Focus On Whole Foods
No matter how beneficial a supplement may be, there really is no substitute for whole foods and proper nutrition, yet despite this, a lot of people would much rather spend hundreds upon hundreds on expensive supplements each month, and buy cheap processed foods with whatever’s left. What they should be doing, with or without supplements, is purchasing and consuming a selection of fresh, healthy, natural, and wholesome foods that the body thrives on. If you’re taking up bodybuilding without supplements, make sure you eat clean, healthy, nutrient rich foods, including lean protein sources, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are packed full of vitamins and minerals. As well as that, wash everything down with plenty of fresh water and you’re good to go.
More Protein Food Sources
One of the main things that makes protein supplements so appealing is the fact that they’re so convenient and useful. You simply add a scoop or two of protein powder in some water or milk, give it a good mix or shake, and drink down around 30 – 40 grams of protein per serving. Protein is essential for muscle growth and development, so you will still need to make sure that you’re hitting your daily macro requirements in regards to protein consumption. You need at least 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight, although ideally 2 grams per pound of bodyweight is advised and so naturally getting that much from whole food sources is going to prove tricky. The best advice would be to aim for around 6 – 8 whole food meals each day, all healthy and all providing around 30 – 35 grams of protein at a time. As well as the whole food meals, however, you will also need high protein snacks such as mixed nuts, jerky, cooked meats, Greek yoghurt, boiled eggs etc. It will be tricky, but it can be done.
Prep Makes Perfect
If bodybuilding without supplements, you’re going to be consuming more whole foods than before, which will be very difficult if you try and prepare each meal and snack from scratch. Instead, what you need to be doing is setting aside one day a week, typically a Sunday, and prepping your meals and snacks for the week ahead. Take your meats and fishes and cook them off in batches, placing one serving in one Tupperware at a time. Next, add a carb source, a source of veggies, and drizzle with a little olive oil for your healthy fats. Prep different varieties, don’t shy away from a little cooking sauce, etc, and don’t forget your high protein snacks either. Boiled eggs, for example, are ideal as you can boil as much as you like, cool them down, peel them, and then grab and eat them as and when required. One boiled egg will provide around 5 – 6 grams of protein.
