Questions
### Do I need protein powder to gain muscle?
> No, protein powder is a dietary **supplement** as the name suggests, meaning it helps boost your diet.
> You can reach your protein intake entirely through whole foods such as eggs, steak, tofu, etc.
> However, protein powder is incredibly popular as it **saves time** and is **convenient** for busy schedules.
### Am I too heavy for calisthenics?
> No, **anyone can start calisthenics** regardless of weight, gender, or experience level. The beauty of calisthenics are that the fundamental movements all have
> alterations of the exercise which may make it harder (**progression**) or easier (**regression**). It's important to choose a variation of the movement that **fits your needs**.
>
> eg: Assisted Push Up (Easy) --> Push Up (Medium) --> Archer Push-up (Harder)
### Are carbs bad for me?
> No, carbs are not inherently bad and do not cause weight gain. Weight management is dependent on whether an individual eats more or less based on their **TDEE** (read more [here](./recovery/)).
> Eating too many processed, simple sugars can increase your risk of type II diabetes though which is why it is **highly** recommended to incorporate **whole grains** complex carbohydrates.
### Are rest days important, why can't I skip them all?
> Skipping rest can slow your progress, so don't feel guilty about taking a day off — it's natural and essential! Muscle gain actually happens during sleep and rest. When you train hard, your muscle fibers gain small tears and repair themselves to bigger and stronger
during rest.
### What are some of the best diets?
> Most nutritional research shows the **Mediterranean** or **plant-based** diet to be some of the healthiest diets.
> Generally, the healthiest diets are ones that incorporate whole grains, vegetables, fruits, unsaturated fats, lean proteins, and food with high nutritional content.
>
> *NOTE*: With trendy diets such as the Keto or carnivore diet, it is generally not recommended long-term since excluding an entire food group such as carbohydrates deprive
> your body of resources it needs for [specific cellular functions](https://news.uthscsa.edu/a-long-term-ketogenic-diet-accumulates-aged-cells-in-normal-tissues-a-ut-health-san-antonio-led-study-shows/).