Are you diligently working out and maintaining a strict low-carb, high-fat diet, yet struggling to build muscle? To ensure all your efforts aren’t in vain, check your habits right now!
1. Exercising without rest?
Being passionate about exercise is great, but are you forgetting to rest? Continuous high-intensity workouts can release cortisol, a stress hormone that tires your muscles. This hormone can cause ‘muscle weakness’ and hinder muscle growth. It’s crucial to rest for at least an hour after exercising.
2. Doing cardio on an empty stomach?
Many people do cardio on an empty stomach to burn body fat. However, this can lead to protein loss, which is negative for muscle maintenance. Ensure you include protein in your diet and supplements. The way to reduce body fat while preserving muscle is to increase protein intake.
3. Over-controlling your diet?
Don’t neglect other nutrients by only consuming protein supplements. For muscle growth, you need to consume an adequate amount of calories. Vitamins, calcium, minerals, and other nutrients are also essential. A balanced diet aids muscle growth.
4. Drinking alcohol after working out?
Having a drink after exercising can be a major cause of muscle loss. Alcohol interferes with the secretion of testosterone, which helps muscle growth. Not maintaining a proper diet and drinking alcohol after exercise is also harmful to your liver and stomach. Choose water or healthy drinks after exercising.
5. Having poor sleep quality?
Adequate sleep is essential for muscle growth. Lack of sleep can cause hormonal imbalances that impede muscle formation. Maintain a regular lifestyle and a comfortable environment for quality sleep.
