So what does this all amount to and HOW do you incorporate BCAA’s into your diet? Many athletes get their BCAA from a dissolvable powder you put in your water or other beverages, either flavored or unflavored, and then consume either before, during, and/or after your workout. This can be especially helpful in maintaining muscle mass while on a calorie-deficit diet, as dieting can also take a chunk out of your muscle mass IN ADDITION to the fat you are also losing. This is because dieting is a catabolic process, or muscle breakdown. This is because the leaner a body gets, the harder the body tries to hold onto body fat stores. As a result, the body will turn to muscle as an energy source. No bueno!