Muscle Building Differences: Men Vs Women :

Like just about everything else in the world, building muscle is different for men and women. Because their bodies function differently and need different things in order to gain and maintain muscle mass, it is important that the program each chooses to build muscle and increase health is tailored for their particular sex. Some elements of workouts and dieting can cross over but for the most part a man and a woman that are embarking on body reshaping programs will have to plan and follow them differently to maximize the benefits and achieve the greatest results as quickly and effectively as possible.

For the most part, when thinking of muscle gain, men are thinking of bulk and size while women are thinking of being lean and toned. While there are definite exceptions to this idea----the world of female bodybuilding is growing in both size and fame--- the muscle-building needs for men and women are different, so the way they must go about achieving their goals must be different. Men tend to want large, defined and impressive-looking muscles. This requires extreme effort supported by carefully designed diet programs including large caloric and protein intake. Experts recommend between 2700 and 3200 calories a day to begin for men looking to gain muscle.

A formula using factors such as weight and BMR can determine the number of calories you should consume a day. Studies suggest that the most effective way to get amino-acids, the "building blocks" of muscle tissue, is to consume liquid supplements such as whey-based protein shakes that contain 35 grams of carbs and 6 grams of amino acids. By ingesting these nutrients in liquid form, your body will be able to absorb them more quickly so they will be available for fuel. It is recommended that these shakes be consumed 30 to 60 minutes before a workout for maximum benefit. As for the actual exercise, building bulk requires a few repetitions with very heavy weights to stress the muscles into impressive growth.

Women should approach muscle gain differently. If you are a woman interested in what muscle gain can do for you, you should consider that improving your muscle tone can contribute to weight loss and posture, which will greatly improve your overall appearance. Muscle tissue burns more calories per day than non-muscle tissue even during periods of rest, meaning even when you are sleeping, the muscle tissue in your body is burning extra calories. If you eat fewer calories a day than you are burning, your body will look to your fat stores for fuel. This means pounds lost! While women need protein and carbohydrates just like men, they need a much smaller amount and, because they are not looking to bulk up, the balance in different. Protein shakes and bars are good for women as well, though, because they support healthy muscles and offer quick meal alternatives. While exercising, women should focus on light weights used for several sets of many repetitions. This type of workout results in long, lean muscles that will give a slim, toned appearance.