A body builder needs to consume a large amount of protein every day, as well as other nutrients. Protein can not be stored in the body so the moment there isn't protein, the risk is that hard fought for muscle gains will be lost. The key is to be consuming enough protein to avoid this, whilst not compromising the kind of hardcore training that triggers muscle growth in the first place. Although a balanced diet is essential, body builders do not want to be spending all their time and energy on making and digesting meals. Equally many have hectic schedules and need to be able to get the nutrients they need quickly and easily. Meal Replacement Powders, or MRP's, come in.
MRP's are sometimes jokingly referred to as body builders' junk food because they can be taken quickly, but the truth is they are anything but 'junk'. MRP's are designed to give body builders a maximum blast of essential nutrients in a form that can be taken quickly and digested easily. In fact MRP's before and after training can significantly increase metabolism and protein absorption.
Being able to have a 'meal' that is laden with exactly the right combination of nutrients required to support muscle growth and overall wellbeing, pretty much anywhere and at any time, makes excellent sense for body builders. They are not literally 'meal replacements' of course. MRP's are best used in conjunction with a balanced diet and training plan, to ensure that there is never a time when muscles are not being fed the nutrients they require.
The simple logic of MRP's, their ease, convenience and effectiveness have made them a favourite of the body building scene. Some examples include:
Meal replacements are here to stay and the market has an enormous range of them now available.
The big challenge for most body builders lies not in the gym. What can be really hard is getting enough of the right nutrients. Because the body does not store protein a constant supply is required. And the general wisdom these days is that a series of smaller meals helps crank up anabolic processes and assists with the absorption of vital nutrients, which in turn helps achieve the goal of adding lean muscle mass. Few have the time to prepare six or more meals a day, let alone eat and digest that amount. Meal replacements deliver a balanced nutritional formulation in a way that is extremely quick to prepare and very easy to ingest. They make perfect sense and any serious body builder is now using them.