Getting the lean muscle mass you so desire so you could look like a real goddess without a single flaw in your physique is not an easy job. As a matter of fact, look at it as a real job: you need to do much research first, see where you stand in the whole story, get a gym membership and then start thinking of your goal as a shrine to which you’ll devote 150% of your time, effort and mind. And while sweating buckets in the gym is a non-negotiable variable (yes, some days you’ll sweat more than others), for real results that will affect your entire life not just your physical appearance, you need a solid nutrition plan to support all those efforts.
We women tend to think that supplementation is for men bodybuilders, men with huge arms and backs who look almost like monsters. Well, newsflash: they’re not. As a woman, sports nutrition and supplements of various types (depending on your goals), should be part of your regimen if you want some serious results, and here’s why.
Research has shown that women athletes need at least 46 grams of protein per day and that’s only if you’re working out at a low intensity for about 30 minutes or less. That’s like eating 1 kilogram of chicken breast a day. And if you’re working out at high intensity for more than 30 minutes, then the math is different: you need more than 50 grams of protein intake per kilogram of your body weight per day! Can you do the math on how much chicken breast is that? Yes, you can’t consume that much, you’re not cattle. That’s why you need to have a supplement like protein powder to make up for that loss of calories, fat, muscle and a bit of bone mass which you lose while training.
There’s a study from 2008 in a journal called “Nutrition&Metabolism” that shows the effects of taking a protein powder shake on fat loss. In this direction, a good sports nutrition and supplements intake scheme can help you lose more fat than a simple low-calorie diet. The research was conducted on two groups: one took 2 protein shakes a day as meal replacements, and the other one underwent a low-calorie diet. The second group showed a lot slower results than the first one, which ultimately is a proof of the efficiency of workouts supported by the proper supplementation.
Besides providing your muscles with enough fuel for growth and shaping, sports supplements have nutritional benefits as well. Most of them contain a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals, which are essential for your overall health. Also, the protein you get from shakes or food is an essential nutrient which means it helps your body perform some functions which are necessary for the proper daily functioning of your body.
Besides these general reasons why women need to include sports nutrition and supplements scheme in their lifestyle, the benefits of taking a protein shake after a workout don’t stop there. Your overall physique will start changing faster and you’ll be able to see results in less time than if you were on a low-calorie diet only. Bottom line, do not waste your time lifting weights in the gym only – support all that effort with your much needed supplementation so you can hit the beach looking like a real lean machine!