Maximize your time in the gym with protein shakes

We all want to make the most out of our time in the gym and training for optimum performance is one of our a top priorities. Boxing is some of the most intense and demanding exercise you can do, which means that we need to eat right, so we can train harder and longer and achieve better results.

The problem for boxers is that this intense type of training means that our bodies need serious time to recover between sessions, so many of us look towards supplementing our food with protein shakes.

The key here is that these are supplements and without a balanced diet and plenty of sleep, taking protein supplements is just wasting your money. They do not replace real food, but if you want to build muscle fast, taking a protein shake an hour after an intense workout and eating right – will give you the results you are after.

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How do protein shakes help to build muscle mass?

Protein builds muscle and the more exercise we do and the more intense this exercise, the greater our bodies demand is for protein. This is because intense exercise depletes our muscles of glutamine, which is one of the most abundant amino acids in our body.

Since proteins are made up of amino acids and we need proteins to build muscle, including a protein supplement that includes glutamine, helps muscle growth recovery after intense workouts. Glutamine also boots our immune system, helping to prevent colds and flu that can seriously undermine our training efforts.

The benefits of whey protein shakes

Your main source of protein should come from meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seafood. These foods should make up your main meals and are your first stop in your protein requirements. With intense exercise and training however, it can be next to impossible to take in enough protein, so this is where protein supplements can make the difference.

Whey protein contains all 9 essential amino acids, is low in lactose and helps to build muscle mass. Other benefits of whey supplements include:

• Weight loss
• Increased muscle mass
• Decrease in cholesterol levels
• Increase in immune functions
• Decreased recovery time after intense training

Whey protein usually comes in two different forms – isolate or concentrate. Isolate is more processed and of the two, contains more protein per gram. It has no fat or carbohydrates and either contains no lactose or only a trace amount.

Many protein supplements used by Boxers are available at Supps R Us, with whey isolates popular for after body muscle growth recovery and the concentrate, if you are lactose intolerant.