Want to build a muscular, toned and defined body?
We tell you how, but before that it’s important for you to know what happens to your body during this process.
Definition ≠ Weight Loss
You might be at your ideal weight (according to the Body Mass Index) but you still have excess fat, which might be preventing you from having the body you want.
By losing weight, you lose fat and muscle, but in order to be more defined, that’s not what you want. During the process of acquiring more definition, the goal is to lose fat while maintaining or increasing the amount of lean mass (muscle).
When the priority is definition, the volume would be less and your body would be more toned and the muscles more visible. The volume of 2kg of fat is far more than the volume of 2kg of muscle, as you can see in the photo. Two bodies with the same weight but with different fat and muscle indexes can have completely different appearances. That’s why you shouldn’t be concerned if the numbers on the scale start to increase during this process. To get a defined body, follow the following tips:They’re the key element in this process.
They’re the building blocks of muscles.
Consuming protein will avoid lean muscle mass loss and help build and repair muscles after exercise. In addition, it will help you feel full, reducing appetite.
The best sources are: meat (such as chicken or turkey breast), fish, eggs and dairy products.
They’re necessary, though in the right portions, since they’re the main source of energy and you’ll need them for your workout.
Choose complex carbohydrates. They’re absorbed more slowly, releasing energy gradually.
Examples: oats, bread, whole grain pasta and rice and sweet potatoes.
Fats are important for the proper functioning of the body.
They give energy and help maintain healthy levels of good cholesterol, maintain the immune system functioning properly and are important for hormone production.
The best sources are: fish oil, olive oil, seeds, nuts and avocado.
When the goal is definition, it’s important to make proportional adjustments in the amount of macronutrients you consume.
Protein should be your priority. As a macronutrient with the greatest influence in muscle building and maintenance of lean muscle mass, you should increase its consumption. Our suggestion is to increase your protein consumption by 20-35%.
On the other hand, the amount of carbohydrates you consume should be reduced, since they’re one of the main sources of our body’s energy, consuming them in excess can result in the accumulation of fat, affecting your goal of achieving a defined body. That’s why you should reduce your carbohydrate consumption by 35-45%.
Fat is also important in this process. It should represent 15-25% of calories in your diet so that it can be used as a source of energy by your body.
This diet will be effective if you pair it with physical exercise.
Depending on your goal and your level, you can select (below) the muscle definition plan most appropriate for you!
Supplements are a great way to help you complete this process in the most effective and fast way possible.
To have a defined and toned body, the maintenance and development of muscles is essential.
Protein, while being an essential nutrient for all your body’s tissues, will be essential for muscle building and recovery and for the maintenance of lean muscle mass, especially while you’re losing weight.
Protein shakes are an easy, effective and delicious solution to maintain and develop lean muscle mass.
Branched chain amino acids or BCAA’s are essential amino acids which means that our body isn’t able to produce and only obtains them through supplements or diet.
They form the protein structure. That’s why they’re essential since muscles are made of protein.
They help prevent catabolism, promoting the synthesis of protein and muscle building and repair.
Glutamine is also an amino acid and is the most abundant amino acid in muscle tissues.
During physical exercise, the muscle fibers rip and supplements like glutamine can help prevent them from entering a catabolic state. It promotes muscle tissue building and recovery post-workout, protecting against muscle fatigue and helping to maintain lean muscle mass.
L-carnitine will be a great help for losing weight and for defining and toning your body.
Its function is to transform excess fat into energy. That way, it can promote fat burning while boosting the use of energy for daily activities and to practice physical exercise, helping to promote muscle definition.
To build a defined body with the least amount of fat possible, these recommendations will help make that process easier. Try them!