At least 25 percent of total calories should come from protein, with the remainder from fat. I recommend the high end for mass gains, the mid-upper end for maintenance (45-55 percent), and the low-end for fat loss. Higher carbohydrate ratios augment lean mass gains, while lower carbohydrate ratios tend to accelerate fat loss. They tend to require a greater percentage of carbohydrates to prevent muscle catabolism, as well as a higher calorie intake overall.ĭiet Recommendations: Ectomorphs should stick to the high end of the range for carbohydrates, between 30-60 percent of total calories, depending on whether the goal is mass gains, maintenance, or fat loss. On the plus side, it's easy for them to get lean. Ectomorphs are the classic "hardgainers." They find it hard to gain weight and put on mass. Characteristically, they have delicate bone structure, small shoulders and chest, and a fast metabolism. This will help determine how well you tolerate carbs and establish where in the above ranges you should start.Īn ectomorph is best described as slender. Once you determined your primary fitness objective, it's important to factor in your body type. Prioritizie healthy fat sources like monounsaturated fats like monounsaturated fats (avocados, egg yolks, olives, nuts, peanut butter, canola oil, olive oil, high-oleic sunflower oil), medium-chain triglycerides (coconut oil), and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, and other fish, grass-fed beef, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, soybeans, tofu, edamame, beans, wild rice, and walnuts). Even worse, not getting enough essential fatty acids can increase your risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.īut as you might imagine, not just any fat source will do. Low fat intake can also impair absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. This also has a negative effect on the bodily functions driven by those hormones, including growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and mood. Since hormones are constructed from cholesterol and other fat molecules, getting any less than that can actually suppress normal hormone levels. Notice that fat never goes below 15 percent of total calories. This doesn't have to be extreme or unpleasant in order to work, as long as you stick to these typical macronutrient ranges. Many pro fitness athletes utilize a "building" phase lasting several weeks or months, followed by a "cutting" phase to achieve a well-developed, yet lean physique. Regardless of what method you choose, you'll see more pronounced mass gains, or more rapid fat loss, if you focus primarily on one main goal at a time. However, individual results vary in both cases, and neither is an excuse to disregard your macros altogether. Some recent research also supports intermittent fasting as a means of achieving both fat loss and mass gains. There are ways you can move incrementally toward fat and build muscle simultaneously, such as carb-cycling, where you alternate muscle-building phases of higher carbs with periods of lower carbs to encourage fat burning. Why? Higher carbohydrate ratios augment lean mass gains, while lower carbohydrate ratios tend to accelerate fat loss. While lean mass gains can occur alongside fat loss, neither process will occur at its full potential. You may ask, "What if I want both?" However, this is one of those situations where you're better off tackling one goal at a time. Your first step is to choose what's more important to you: fat loss or lean mass gains. Here are three factors that can help you establish an effective starting point for your journey from "before" to "after." Factor 1: Fitness Goals Does this mean we're all doomed to start from scratch and tinker until we find our way? Definitely not.
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