One of the questions you will be asked on a consistent basis as a Fitness Instructor is how to build muscle quickly and effectively. It is one of those areas which, no matter how many scientific advancements are made in fitness, the majority of gym members never truly get to grips with.
If you're one of the many who feel lost on this topic we're going to help you right now.
Before we begin it is important to point out that there are various ways to get results and almost unlimited variations on training and diet. That's why if you ask ten different people for advice you will more than likely get ten completely different answers. While it's great to have that much variety at your fingertips it often holds people back instead of helping them. They feel they cannot get any further forward because no matter what they do they hear somebody telling that that they're training is incorrect...
Make no mistake about it, there is more than one way to get fit, to lose weight and to get big. Embracing that fact will generally help you rather than hinder you.
Today we shall take a look at some simple rules which, if applied over time, will provide a rock solid foundation for you to build upon. We have used these techniques with seasoned athletes, gym newcomers and reknowned hard gainers alike. To put it bluntly, they work!
Before you head off to the gym you need to do something which will build the starting blocks for your future results. Muscle ain't built in a workout, it's built in the kitchen. If your diet plan is off you will not get the results your hard work on the iron is worth.
So, the first thing we must do is assess your body's desired calories per day. Everybody is different and most people do not have access to the scientific equipment necessary to determine their exact calorie needs each day so we're going to share with you a proven calculation to determine a useful ballpark figure.
Simply by taking your desired bodyweight, in pounds, and multiplying by twelve or fifteen you will be able to set a ballpark figure for your daily calorific needs. Choose fifteen if your goal is all-out size, choose twelve if you want to get bigger but not pack on a lot of size in the process.
Now that the base target is in place we can begin work. You're already ahead of the masses, who don't take the time to do this calculation in their entire fitness lives.
You also need to look at your training program. It needs to be designed to include the exercises which are best for building size and strength and the repetition range needs to hit your hypertrophy zone. This means compound exercises are going to become your best friend and trying to fall into the eight-to-twelve repetition range with each set.
Those are the qualities of a proven weights program designed for strength and size. There are a couple of additional considerations to make.
Most notably is your rest. When you are trying to build a better physique the most overlooked aspect is certainly rest. Most people like training every single day and cannot understand that they need days off just as importantly as they need to training itself.
You should try to hit the weights no more than three times per week if you are just starting out and no more than four times if you are already training regularly. Think of a rest day as a growth day, so it doesn't feel as if you are doing nothing with your time. This is where you grow, where your body builds.
We also need to quickly mention the importance of sleep when it comes to getting stronger and more muscular. You've probably been told countless times that you should get eight hours rest every night but how often do you actually do it? If you are like most people the answer is not often enough. Your body recovers from your day's work while you sleep and if you don't give it that basic need your results will suffer for it.
While you sleep your body releases natural growth hormone which forces your muscles to recover bigger and stronger than they were before. Don't be tricked into believing your body grows while you are in the gym, it does not, it builds while you are resting and recovering. Neglect this rest period and you are essentially hitting the gym hard again while still not recovered from the last session and therefore very little further progress can be made.
Now you know the basics and we're betting it wasn't as hard or as complex as you thought it would be when you first arrived! The next time you hear somebody asking how to build muscle I want you to remind yourself of the basic rules. Sleep, rest, specific training and a focused diet will get you there. Any personal trainer worth his salt will help you set that plan up should you require help however it's not as difficult as most people think, as you discovered today!
If you're one of the many who feel lost on this topic we're going to help you right now.
Before we begin it is important to point out that there are various ways to get results and almost unlimited variations on training and diet. That's why if you ask ten different people for advice you will more than likely get ten completely different answers. While it's great to have that much variety at your fingertips it often holds people back instead of helping them. They feel they cannot get any further forward because no matter what they do they hear somebody telling that that they're training is incorrect...
Make no mistake about it, there is more than one way to get fit, to lose weight and to get big. Embracing that fact will generally help you rather than hinder you.
Today we shall take a look at some simple rules which, if applied over time, will provide a rock solid foundation for you to build upon. We have used these techniques with seasoned athletes, gym newcomers and reknowned hard gainers alike. To put it bluntly, they work!
Before you head off to the gym you need to do something which will build the starting blocks for your future results. Muscle ain't built in a workout, it's built in the kitchen. If your diet plan is off you will not get the results your hard work on the iron is worth.
So, the first thing we must do is assess your body's desired calories per day. Everybody is different and most people do not have access to the scientific equipment necessary to determine their exact calorie needs each day so we're going to share with you a proven calculation to determine a useful ballpark figure.
Simply by taking your desired bodyweight, in pounds, and multiplying by twelve or fifteen you will be able to set a ballpark figure for your daily calorific needs. Choose fifteen if your goal is all-out size, choose twelve if you want to get bigger but not pack on a lot of size in the process.
Now that the base target is in place we can begin work. You're already ahead of the masses, who don't take the time to do this calculation in their entire fitness lives.
You also need to look at your training program. It needs to be designed to include the exercises which are best for building size and strength and the repetition range needs to hit your hypertrophy zone. This means compound exercises are going to become your best friend and trying to fall into the eight-to-twelve repetition range with each set.
Those are the qualities of a proven weights program designed for strength and size. There are a couple of additional considerations to make.
Most notably is your rest. When you are trying to build a better physique the most overlooked aspect is certainly rest. Most people like training every single day and cannot understand that they need days off just as importantly as they need to training itself.
You should try to hit the weights no more than three times per week if you are just starting out and no more than four times if you are already training regularly. Think of a rest day as a growth day, so it doesn't feel as if you are doing nothing with your time. This is where you grow, where your body builds.
We also need to quickly mention the importance of sleep when it comes to getting stronger and more muscular. You've probably been told countless times that you should get eight hours rest every night but how often do you actually do it? If you are like most people the answer is not often enough. Your body recovers from your day's work while you sleep and if you don't give it that basic need your results will suffer for it.
While you sleep your body releases natural growth hormone which forces your muscles to recover bigger and stronger than they were before. Don't be tricked into believing your body grows while you are in the gym, it does not, it builds while you are resting and recovering. Neglect this rest period and you are essentially hitting the gym hard again while still not recovered from the last session and therefore very little further progress can be made.
Now you know the basics and we're betting it wasn't as hard or as complex as you thought it would be when you first arrived! The next time you hear somebody asking how to build muscle I want you to remind yourself of the basic rules. Sleep, rest, specific training and a focused diet will get you there. Any personal trainer worth his salt will help you set that plan up should you require help however it's not as difficult as most people think, as you discovered today!
About the Author:
Author: Russ Howe PTI is a popular fitness coach. See how to build muscle with our new video guide giving the 5 principles to a more powerful physique and the best shoulder building exercises.
No comments:
Post a Comment