Muscle development is the same as any other type of self-improvement: if you have the right information and know where to begin, it can be a simple, straightforward process. No one can do the work for you, but you can be pointed in the right direction; here are some muscle building tips that work well.
Aim for a high number of reps with medium-intensity weight when you train. For each individual exercise you do, try to do a set of 10 to 15 reps, resting less than one minute in between each set. This causes lactic acid to build up in your muscles, which makes you “feel the burn” while stimulating growth.
Refrain from performing both strength training and cardiovascular exercises, if your goal is to build muscle, and not necessarily to improve overall fitness. The reason for this is that these two kinds of exercises cause your body to respond in contradictory ways. Focusing strictly on building muscle will help you to maximize your results.
Many people who wish to build muscle use protein shakes and meal replacements. It is important to note however that there is a distinction between the two. It can be dangerous to your health to use protein shakes frequently as a meal replacement. A full meal contains many essential nutrients that are not included in protein shakes. In addition, living off protein shakes can leave your muscles soft which negates your weight training efforts.
Try varying your grips. Once you become experienced in working out, your muscles will start to resist any growth on exercises that are familiar to them. Different grips can help to make these familiar exercises different, which can cause additional muscle growth. Examples of exercise where you can change the grip are barbell rows, barbell curls, pull-ups, and bench presses. Try using wide grips, close hand grips, reverse grips, and even mixed grips that include having one hand up and one hand down.
Before starting your muscle building, you need to sit down and come up with a realistic plan for yourself. This is important because it helps you to follow a set guideline and helps you to reach your goals much faster. If you don’t do this, you are likely to give up.
Try to cycle your food intake when you are trying to gain muscle mass. The best way to do this is to eat well on the days you exercise, and cut back on the days that you do not. Your body will burn the calories more effectively when you exercise on the days you eat well.
When lifting weights, you should attempt to end your session with a pump. Studies have demonstrated that your strength and muscle size can be increased by pushing an additional amount of blood into your muscles through a high-rep set after your normal sets. Try ending with a set of twenty reps or even one hundred reps of an isolation exercise.
Calculate your dietary intake to coordinate with bodybuilding workouts, for faster and better results. On the days you workout, eat well and eat plenty. Taking in the best foods about an hour before your workout will maximize the effects, but make sure not to overeat or consume unhealthy foods as this will be counterproductive to your bodybuilding efforts.
Keep good records. Have a workout diary, which notes the exercises in your workout routine, and how many reps and sets you perform. This not only helps to keep your workouts organized, but you can see your progress. This is inspiring, especially at first when progress is made rapidly. You can see how far you have come and set goals.
Make sure you are eating enough. Even if you are trying to lose weight while you build muscle, it is important that you are consuming sufficient calories. When your body is deprived of its fuel, it will be difficult to build muscle. An ideal diet for muscle gain is high in protein and low in fat and refined (processed) carbohydrates.
When attempting to grow muscle mass, utilize the buddy system method. This involves you and your partner pushing each other in a different manner. One person competes a set, and then he or she passes the dumbbells or bar to the other person. Except for the amount of time that you are waiting on your partner to finish a set, you do not rest.
If your training regimen has reached four days weekly, then try to avoid having more than one pair of consecutive down days. Your body will build and recover better with the down days spread out. If your life and schedule make this impossible, do not lose any sleep over it though, as you are still working out four days a week.
Building up your muscles takes the same commitment, time and effort that any self-improvement activity does. You have to do the exercise, but the right information and learning the right techniques can be more helpful than you know. Use the tips in this article to put you on the right path.