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There is one significant difference between increasing your overall strength (as in, the ability to lift more weight) and the ability to build muscle mass (as in, muscle size and weight). That big difference is the types of foods that you eat after your workout, as well as how quickly after the workout you choose to eat the foods.

For those that are trying to build muscle mass, you are supposed to eat food literally as soon as possible. In fact, if you can hope off the machine and eat a protein rich food right after you hop off the machine, that is perfectly acceptable - actually preferred. Consuming proteins ensures that the shape that your muscles are in after the workout stay that way, because the new cells you have created are able to heal using the protein you ingested.

However, most people do not want to hop off a machine and consume something with a great deal of protein - they want to eat something that has actual taste and substance. They want to eat a real meal after they workout, especially because most people go to the gym right after work and are often on their way home for a nice, fulfilling dinner.

So if you are working out for the purpose of building muscle mass, there are a number of foods that have a great deal of the protein you need to keep your muscle size. Here are 5 protein rich foods that you can eat in order to increase the size of your muscles:

1. Dairy Products

Dairy products are loaded with protein. Cottage cheese, milk, regular cheese - all of these are filled with the protein you need, and can be made in such a way as to taste delicious.

2. Eggs

Eggs, like dairy, are very high in protein. Adding just one or two hard boiled eggs to your diet are able to increase the amount of protein you are ingesting, and can still leave you with a great deal of space in your stomach for a non-protein rich food if you also want to have a regular dinner after you get home.

3. Beans

Beans are another incredibly high in protein food - and the best part about beans is that there are a number of delicious meals that you can make with beans that are healthy in every way. Dairy products and eggs often are high in fat and cholesterol, which makes them less ideal, but beans have almost no bad ingredients, so they are more versatile if you are also trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and want to stay away from lacto-ovo products.

4. Soy

Soy is another high protein food. It does not have as ideal the types of proteins that the other products do, but they are still effective and you can add soy to your meal in a number of places. Soy milk, Tofu, Soy cheese - all of these are soy products and all can be in any meal you make.

5. Whey Protein

Whey protein is the most effective type of protein to build bigger muscles. It is not necessarily that tasty, however, but can easily be mixed in drinks which will allow you to avoid having to even eat a high protein meal - instead, you can simply drink a whey protein shake and then eat whatever dinner you were planning on eating anyway.

All of these foods are known to help you build bigger muscles. And all of them can either be made in a way that tastes great or, in the case of whey protein (and eggs, in some ways) can be quickly consumed and a full dinner can be had anyway.

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