Why Do Bodybuilders Take Protein?
February 23, 2009 by Tisha Tolar
Filed under Nutrition
In the average individual, about 55 grams of protein per day is sufficient. For bodybuilders though, the body 
consumes more amino acids (which are the building blocks of protein) while working out and weightlifting. The extra protein will help repair the damage training causes to muscles, and help the muscles grow. If your diet does not have enough protein, your body will be limited to how much it can repair the muscles and the size of the muscles will be limited, as well.
Bodybuilders understand that having less than adequate protein will affect the results obtained from weight training. It will take a bodybuilder two or three times as long to build muscle if you don’t have enough protein; and if your protein deficiency is great enough, you may not be able to grow muscles no matter how hard you work at the gym!
How Much Protein Does a Bodybuilder Require?
It can be difficult to get specific in the amount of protein a bodybuilder requires, because everyone is different. In addition to having bodies that react differently to our diets, a bodybuilder who is very active outside of the gym will require more protein than a bodybuilder who is less active when not at the gym.
A good rule of thumb for bodybuilders is to get one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight each day. If you weigh 200 pounds, you’ll want to consume a minimum of 200 grams of quality protein per day. After you’ve reached this level of protein intake for a few weeks, assess your progress – is your physique improving? Can you lift heavier weights? If you’re not building muscle, but are doing everything else right (consuming the right number of calories, working out properly, getting enough sleep and keeping stress levels manageable) – consider increasing your protein intake a little more, along with water.
What Foods Contain Protein?
Quality protein is contained in most meats, fish, and dairy products like milk and eggs. There is enough variety here that you can keep an interesting diet and still get enough protein. If you can’t seem to get the right number of protein grams per day, you can look into protein drinks to supplement your diet.
Protein drinks work best when you drink smaller sized portions more frequently than to drink a large serving in one sitting. Whey based protein powder is preferred, and it is available in low fat versions if you are watching your calories in addition to increasing your protein intake.
Many fitness experts recommend taking a protein / carbohydrate powdered mix drink after your workouts. Just count the amount of protein the drink contains into your one-gram-per-pound of body weight routine.
Protein Pay-off
The importance of protein in a bodybuilder’s diet cannot be stressed enough! Don’t let your workouts be all for nothing because you have a protein deficiency which prevents your body from growing stronger. Keep a close watch on the amount of protein you consume so your hard work at the gym will pay off.
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