BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) are a hot topic in the health and fitness world. I started taking them back when I was training for my Half Marathon. Here's an official definition of BCCAs, from the brand that makes my favorite kind: "Branched-Chain Amino Acids are an essential class of amino acids. They specialize in helping your body produce insulin, which helps your body turn sugars into energy. BCAAs also carry nitrogen throughout your body, which helps you form the complex muscle tissues you need to survive, and that you want to make your body look great." (Source: IdealFit)
When I'm talking to women about the benefits of BCAAs, I always compare BCAAs to sunscreen because they protect your muscles from burning and help keep them safe.
What? Let me explain: When you workout, you burn fat, calories AND some muscle. BCAAs help protect your muscles so your body will burn more fat instead of muscle.
That means, you end up targeting that calorie burn a lot more effectively! Yes, you can burn calories without BCAAs, but they help protect those muscles from begin burned off, which then helps you burn MORE calories and tone up your body. Make sense?
So imagine the BCCAs as I mentioned before - like sunscreen. Taking daily BCAAs is like smothering your muscles in sunscreen to protect them from the burning, and instead allowing the calories to burn instead. 🙌🏼
Here are 3 things I think you should know about BCAAs:
RECOVERY
BCAAs help with your recovery, post workout. Remember they are the sunscreen protecting your muscles, so they are also simultaneously helping your body rebuild those muscles you've worked. When you exercise, you're breaking down your muscle in order to build it up and strengthen it, change it, etc. The BCAAs help keep those muscles staying strong! They also help with muscle soreness!
ENDURANCE
BCAAs help give you the endurance your body needs to get through the workout. My favorite BCAAs are formulated with coconut water to aid in hydration. They also include a fat loss blend to help give extra power to your body. Both are a great combo for giving your body the endurance you need to finish your workout!
FREQUENCY
To be the most effective, BCAAs should be taken separate from other nutrients so your body adequately absorbs the BCAAs. In other words, don't take your BCAAs right after a meal, with a meal, or right after a Protein or Meal Replacement Shake. Depending on your meals and workout schedule, you can take them first thing in the morning, during a workout, after a workout, or mid-day between meals. I personally, take mine during my workout as well as on my rest days, too!
BCAAs are an important part of my nutrition because they help me build and maintain the lean muscle I'm working for to meet my health goals!
I love the Ideal Lean BCAAs because they are formulated specifically for women. YES! Plus, they taste amazing. I've tried other BCAAs from other brands and they taste nothing like these. I actually can't wait to get to my workout so I can drink the BCAAs while I workout. They taste so yummy! PLUS - they have ZERO calories, ZERO fat, ZERO sugars, ZERO carbs!
I’ve tried the Raspberry Lemonade and Blueberry Pomegranate. I loved them both and had a hard time choosing flavor for my 30 day container! I ended up going with the Blueberry Pomegranate.
To get your own BCAAs, click the picture below to be directed to the order page. Notice those yummy pink BCAAs in my cup! Make sure you use code: LEANBCAAS15 for 15% off your order!
When I'm talking to women about the benefits of BCAAs, I always compare BCAAs to sunscreen because they protect your muscles from burning and help keep them safe.
What? Let me explain: When you workout, you burn fat, calories AND some muscle. BCAAs help protect your muscles so your body will burn more fat instead of muscle.
That means, you end up targeting that calorie burn a lot more effectively! Yes, you can burn calories without BCAAs, but they help protect those muscles from begin burned off, which then helps you burn MORE calories and tone up your body. Make sense?
So imagine the BCCAs as I mentioned before - like sunscreen. Taking daily BCAAs is like smothering your muscles in sunscreen to protect them from the burning, and instead allowing the calories to burn instead. 🙌🏼
Here are 3 things I think you should know about BCAAs:
RECOVERY
BCAAs help with your recovery, post workout. Remember they are the sunscreen protecting your muscles, so they are also simultaneously helping your body rebuild those muscles you've worked. When you exercise, you're breaking down your muscle in order to build it up and strengthen it, change it, etc. The BCAAs help keep those muscles staying strong! They also help with muscle soreness!
ENDURANCE
BCAAs help give you the endurance your body needs to get through the workout. My favorite BCAAs are formulated with coconut water to aid in hydration. They also include a fat loss blend to help give extra power to your body. Both are a great combo for giving your body the endurance you need to finish your workout!
FREQUENCY
To be the most effective, BCAAs should be taken separate from other nutrients so your body adequately absorbs the BCAAs. In other words, don't take your BCAAs right after a meal, with a meal, or right after a Protein or Meal Replacement Shake. Depending on your meals and workout schedule, you can take them first thing in the morning, during a workout, after a workout, or mid-day between meals. I personally, take mine during my workout as well as on my rest days, too!
BCAAs are an important part of my nutrition because they help me build and maintain the lean muscle I'm working for to meet my health goals!
I love the Ideal Lean BCAAs because they are formulated specifically for women. YES! Plus, they taste amazing. I've tried other BCAAs from other brands and they taste nothing like these. I actually can't wait to get to my workout so I can drink the BCAAs while I workout. They taste so yummy! PLUS - they have ZERO calories, ZERO fat, ZERO sugars, ZERO carbs!
I’ve tried the Raspberry Lemonade and Blueberry Pomegranate. I loved them both and had a hard time choosing flavor for my 30 day container! I ended up going with the Blueberry Pomegranate.
To get your own BCAAs, click the picture below to be directed to the order page. Notice those yummy pink BCAAs in my cup! Make sure you use code: LEANBCAAS15 for 15% off your order!
And if you're interested in trying a couple flavors first, check out this Sample Pack including 2 of the flavors, plus my all time favorite shaker cup! (The shaker cup has a removable storage compartment on the bottom to store mixes/powders/etc. It's GENIUS! And so pretty in pink!) This pack also allows you to try 2 flavors of my favorite protein powder too! (I drink the Chocolate Brownie!). Click the image below to go to the sample pack!
I receive a small % from Ideal Fit when you purchase through my affiliate links. But you should know that I would recommend this brand even if I didn’t. Making a little extra is just a way I can help provide for my family.
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