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It can be difficult to accomplish your goal of building muscle. Not only do you have to remain dedicated to a workout regimen that stresses the muscles, but you must also eat right. When you don't get good results, it's easy to feel discouraged. The following advice can give you the edge you need to make sure that you reach your goals.

Eating meat can help with muscle-building. A good protein target is one gram of protein per pound of mass. Having the protein your body needs will help you get the muscles you desire.

Vegetarians are seldom successful in building muscle! A good daily goal is to eat a gram of meat for each pound you weigh. Having the protein your body needs will help you get the muscles you desire.

Rewards for setting and achieving short-term goals are a great way to maintain your focus and motivation. Due to the fact that gaining muscle is a commitment that is long-term and requires a significant amount of time, maintaining motivation is vitally important. You might also choose rewards that will further your muscle-building efforts. For instance, get a massage; they increase the body's blood flow and assist you in recovering on your off days.

Short-term goals which are reasonably attainable are a great way to motivate yourself through rewards. While long-term goals for muscle gain are important, it is sometimes hard to maintain motivation without shorter, and more quickly measured goals. Setting rewards can also help you stay with your muscle building goals. For instance, reward yourself with a massage, it can improve blood flow and help your recovery.

When building muscle is important, do not forget about carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are crucial for maintaining the necessary amount of energy you will need during your workout routine. If you aren't getting enough carbs, the body ends up breaking down protein and using that for energy. Your workouts will be easier and more productive if you make sure that your body gets the carbs it needs.

See if you can work opposing groups of muscles within the same workout, using the chest muscles in conjunction with back muscles or hamstrings together with the quad muscles. This procedure allows the muscle to rest while the opposing one is working. You will ultimately raise the intensity and efficiency of your workout while also reducing the duration of your routine.

Try eating protein rich foods right before and after you exercise. Fifteen grams of protein about an hour prior to training and after you train is recommended. This is roughly the same amount of protein contained in a glass or two of milk.

Do not exceed 60 minutes, when working out. Your body starts producing excess cortisol, the stress hormone, after 60 minutes of a workout session. Cortisol blocks testosterone--a hormone that promotes muscle growth--and undermines all of the work you are putting into building muscle. You will optimize your efforts by keeping your workouts short and intense.

Getting just the right calorie intake will significantly affect your muscle building results. It's not enough to count calories; you need to know what kind of calories are healthy and understand what foods you should eat to optimize your muscle building efforts. Click here!