Getting strong and building all kinds of muscle isn’t easy. You need to eat like a starving man at every meal to make the kinds of gains that crush your competition on the field.
And when you’re training hard and putting in crazy amounts of work in the gym, nutrition needs to be a big priority in order for you to recover as fast as possible and be able to train as much as possible. Quality calories and huge amounts of high quality protein and carbs help your body repair and fuel performance in the gym. Like it or not, eating is just as important as training if you want to get results.
And therein lies the problem. Quality nutrition isn’t cheap, and eating six meals or more each day certainly isn’t cheap either. However, it is still possible to get the most for your money and build muscle on a small budget. You need to be smart and diligent, and you need to discipline yourself.
But fear not, we’re here to help We’ve compiled 10 tips and tricks for obtaining as much quality nutrition as possible on the cheap. Let the penny pinching begin!
1. USE SIX STAR® WHEY PROTEIN PLUS.
Yes, building muscle on a budget can include supplements. At three cents per gram of protein, Six Star offers one of the best protein values in America, and it’s high quality whey protein, which has the highest biological value of any protein type. One scoop offers a whopping 30g of protein, which is perfect immediately after a hard workout.
1In a six-week, double-blind study involving 36 test subjects divided into three groups with at least three years of weight-training experience, subjects combining the core ingredients in Six Star® Whey Protein Plus with a weight-training program gained 70% more lean muscle than subjects using regular whey protein (8.8 vs. 5.1 lbs.).
2. GET YOURSELF A CLUB MEMBERSHIP.
The savings on the staples of a high-quality diet are substantial over the course of a year and will pay for the membership in the long run. Better yet, make use of a friend of family member’s membership once a month and stock up!
3. STOP EATING OUT.
That $8.99 “value” meal you just ate could have bought you 20 lbs. of rice at your local Walmart. Restaurant food, no matter how cheap, is always marked up higher than if you simply purchase the ingredients yourself. Put the effort in and cook your own food.
4. EAT EGGS!
They’re not just for breakfast. Buy them in bulk and eat them as often as possible. With 5 to 6 grams of protein in each egg, they’re one of most cost-effective proteins on a cost-per-gram basis.
5. GET THE NEWSPAPER AND SHOP THE WEEKLY SALES CIRCULARS.
Make the junk mail work for you. Don’t rely on just one supermarket. Shop around each week and get what you need where the best deals are. Don’t forget to price match!
6. GO FOR GROUND BEEF.
It’s not as pretty as a nice steak, but ground beef certainly gets the job done when it comes to building muscle on the cheap. It has 6 to 7 grams of protein per raw ounce, and you can buy it in bulk at nearly every supermarket.
7. HIT UP THE LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS.
You’ll likely find great deals on organic vegetables and even on meats. Also, because most vendors at farmers’ markets grow seasonal products, there is often a large surplus of certain products at certain times. If you are willing to purchase large quantities of surplus vegetables in peak season, you can save considerable money.
8. LEARN TO LOVE TUNA.
Tuna is one of the best foods you can eat if you want to build lean muscle. Not only is it loaded with protein, but it’s cheap and rich in fish oils, which have numerous benefits for athletes.
9. CLIP COUPONS.
Use them without shame.
10. SUPPLEMENT YOUR PROTEIN SHAKES.
Add cost-effective foods to your protein shakes to add more calories and to boost their protein content. Foods like peanut butter, cottage cheese and oats are inexpensive but add considerable musclebuilding calories and macronutrients.
