Every lifter and bodybuilder out there should be looking to maintain an anabolic state. An anabolic state is also known as the muscle building state, and it is an important factor in growing and developing the body properly. This article will help you understand and know how to maintain it.
Understanding Anabolism
Anabolism is the opposite of breaking down; when things are built up instead. Anabolism and the anabolic state is the complete opposite of the catabolic state. For a start, the catabolic state doesn’t require energy.
During the catabolic process, larger food molecules are broken down into smaller energy sources. The body will oxidize these chemical strands and use them to provide the energy necessary for anabolism.
Think of a sphere entering the body. Digestion will turn the sphere from one big sphere into several smaller ones. The muscles, after being worn down by physical exercise and work, absorb these smaller spheres and turn them into larger spheres. It is important to maintain the balance between these processes to maintain our health and function properly.
Creating the Anabolic State
To enter an anabolic state, the body has to burn through energy. The energy often comes from foods or supplements that have plenty of nutrients. If you aren’t eating enough food, the body increases catabolism. Catabolism will damage your muscles over the long run without anabolism to counter the effects.
If you continue to starve yourself for too long, the body will convert even healthy fat deposits and muscles to stay alive.
If it were actually possible for humans to remain in a purely anabolic state, then the complete opposite would happen, and everyone would be covered in bulging muscles all over their bodies. Many bodybuilders and athletes have used anabolic drugs such as steroids and supplements to absorb more food and protein and turn it into muscles. People who use these anabolic steroids are often caught and penalized, and some are even banned from competition for life.
The Benefits of Anabolism
An anabolic state can help people to reach their fitness goals. It helps to develop muscle, but it also helps bones develop and increases bone density.
It is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen to help the areas of the body with a high energy demand. People who do more exercise than others will also need to take in more energy to counter the catabolic state caused by all this exercise. Some exercises actually break down muscles to release hormones that are used to burn through energy stores.
If someone is looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or maintain their current physique, need to take in nutrient-rich foods both before and after doing physical activity. This gives us the energy we need to create muscle tissue.
Maintaining the balance between anabolism and catabolism is important for everyone; whether they are physically active or not. The balance between the processes can be altered through hormonal imbalances.
Basic Guide on How to Maintain an Anabolic State
The three most important parts of bodybuilding are nutrition, metabolism, and hormonal control. What is involved in the maintenance of an anabolic state is a little bit different. Here is how you can enter an anabolic state and then maintain it.
1) Appropriate Nutrients
It is vital that you have proper nutrition if you’re a bodybuilder. If there is a deficiency, then it will have an adverse effect on your body. So it’s important that you eat enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats to build muscle. The ratio is 50% carbs, 30% protein, and 20% fats. Protein is necessary for bodybuilders because it is used to build everything in the body including muscles. So muscles need protein to grow.
It’s also important that you never skip a meal if you want to eat the right amount of food. You need to be eating a decent sized portion of food every few hours. This means that your body will have all the amino acids and other nutrients it needs.
2) Sleep Properly
Another way to maintain an anabolic state is to sleep properly. Sleeping resets the body and mind. Protein synthesis is even empowered while we sleep. Not getting enough sleep leaves us feeling lethargic and unmotivated.
Not only does this make you want to avoid training, but it also shuts down anabolism and leaves the body in a catabolic state; a state where muscles are destroyed.
Sleep deprivation also increases your risk of suffering from an injury. It also slows down chemical activities in the brain which reduces reaction time and dulls the mind as a whole. Getting enough sleep (8 – 10 hours) can be crucial to making the most out of a good workout.
3) Improve Your Hormonal Balance
The anabolic state also needs proper levels of growth hormone and testosterone. Growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland and released through the anterior lobe. It helps develop muscle mass, burn fat, improve kidney function, improves stamina, and promotes healthy sleep. Natural supplements such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), ornithine and arginine can be consumed to maintain the hormonal balance.
Testosterone has some very distinct effects in men. Testosterone is produced in the testicles and adrenal glands. It boosts protein levels and manages sexual behavior. High levels of testosterone can also lead to significant muscle gain. You can improve your testosterone levels by eating food with high-fat content and supplementing your levels of vitamin C, branch chain amino acids, boron, and zinc.
4) Anabolic Supplements
Anabolic supplements are products that are intended to improve and maintain the anabolic state. These products are legal and can be purchased without a prescription. Just as anabolic steroids, anabolic supplements are also available in many variants. You can choose which one fits and suits your needs. Anabolic supplements can also be stacking if necessary to obtain an accelerated and boosted anabolic state.
In addition, anabolic supplements are safe and non-toxic to the liver and kidneys. Also do not cause side effects which are associated with the use of anabolic steroids.
Some other factors affect the anabolic state. You should limit your exposure to pollutants, especially cigarette smoke. So quit smoking if you smoke. It’s also important to avoid stressful situations and stick to a proper training program.