Post Workout Tips For Bigger Muscles

Many folks new to working out and weight lifting routines are not aware that your muscles do not grow while you're in the gym. If you're still struggling to grow, chances are all you're doing is hitting the gym and not paying enough attention to nutrition and recuperation. Bigger and fuller muscles could be yours if you just take the advice in this article.

The first thing you have to realize is that muscle growth does not take place while you're working out. What you're actually doing when you push and pull weights is stratching and tearing the muscles underneath your skin. That's why you get a pump when you're really hitting your muscles hard... This is how your body reacts to the "damaged" area... by sending blood to the affected area. So if you don't grow while you're working out in the gym when do you grow?

After you put down the last weight and you finish your last rep... that's when your muscles start growing! Matter of fact your muscles have an opportunity to start growing right after you leave the gym if you supply them with some crucial nutrients that they're in desperate need of.

Protein and carbohydrates are the two critical nutrients you need to consume immediately following a workout. If you're going to consume sugar this is the best time of the day to do it. After a workout your body is starving...literally! There's nothing left in your stomach and your body is getting ready to burn your muscles for energy since you burned all available fuel during your workout.There are three nutrients you can take to not only give your body fuel to burn but also give your muscles what they need to start growing!

The three nutrients you need to take are a simple carbohydrate or any kind of sugar really. Protein because your muscles are made up of protein and that's what they need to grow. And finally you also want to take some kind of complex carbohydrate to give your body something to burn beyond the first half hour because sugar is normally broken down or stored within 30 minutes of consumption. The post work out opportunity doesn't last forever and since that's the case most gym goers usually drink their protein and carbohydrates through a protein shake. Post workout protein shakes are a dime a dozen and you're sure to find many at your local supplement shop.

If real growth is your ultimate goal then you'll also want to eat a solid meal within two hours of your gym session. Make sure both protein and carbohydrates are both present in your meal. For complex carbohydrates I usually recommend rice or potatoes and for protein I typically recommend any red meat, chicken or fish. Once you realize that growing bigger muscles is more then just working out in the gym and going through your current bodybuilding workout program, you'll be on the fast track to getting huge and reaping the full benefits of your workouts. Taking advantage of the post-workout window of opportunity is step one to reaching your muscles full potential but it should have a pretty dramatic impact on your growth.