Ask any fitness trainer in any gym and they will tell you that despite the massive advancements made in science and nutrition over the last two decades the majority of gym users are still totally confused when it comes to learning how to build muscle or improve their overall physique.
Today we are going to run through the prove basics and help you get more from your training if your goal is to add size.
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.
On this page we will be delving into the list of fundamental steps which form the basis of a good strength and size workout plan as well as nutrition guide. Whether you are a complete newcomer to resistance training, somebody who has never even stepped foot inside a gym before or someone who has been training for a while but never truly got the results they were pushing for, you will get something out of today's article.
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.
Write down the weight you want to reach in pounds and then multiply it by 15. Congratulations, you've done it. Now you have your daily calorie target and yes, it was that simple! If you'd like to build up slowly swap out the multiplication of 15 for a multiplication of 12 instead.
Now that you have that target you are ahead of most other trainers at your local gym. That's right. The number one issue in getting more muscular is done with a calculator, not a dumbbell. Most people never take the time to do it and therefore no matter how regularly they hit the weights they never seem to look any different. I am sure you know a few faces from your local gym who fit this category.
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.
You are now coming along swimmingly and should be feeling very confident in yourself here. The next two steps cover less obvious points which are often overlooked.
Rest is just as important as training when you are trying to build. Probably less than 5% of the members at your local gym get their rest right and that's one of the main factors in their lack of real results.
Make it your goal to go to the gym no more than three days each week if you are new to training. If you have already been training for over two months you can increase that to four sessions. You could train with weights up to six days per week by splitting each day to avoid ever training the same muscle group twice in succession, but most people are happy with a four day split routine. Those other three days are very important to your rest and recovery.
Sleep also plays an important role in your potential progress. We have all surely heard the doctor's recommendation that we need eight hours of sleep each night but how many of us pay attention to it? Not very many. Again, as with rest days, sleep is where your body unlocks extra results so neglecting it is silly.
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.
If you are like the overwhelming amount of gym users struggling for results then you are now in a massively advantageous position. The next time you stroll into your gym or local fitness centre you can do so safe in the knowledge that you officially know how to build muscle and are about to make giant leaps on your previous efforts. You don't necessarily need a personal trainer to guide you, you just need to learn the basic rules.
Today we are going to run through the prove basics and help you get more from your training if your goal is to add size.
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.
On this page we will be delving into the list of fundamental steps which form the basis of a good strength and size workout plan as well as nutrition guide. Whether you are a complete newcomer to resistance training, somebody who has never even stepped foot inside a gym before or someone who has been training for a while but never truly got the results they were pushing for, you will get something out of today's article.
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.
Write down the weight you want to reach in pounds and then multiply it by 15. Congratulations, you've done it. Now you have your daily calorie target and yes, it was that simple! If you'd like to build up slowly swap out the multiplication of 15 for a multiplication of 12 instead.
Now that you have that target you are ahead of most other trainers at your local gym. That's right. The number one issue in getting more muscular is done with a calculator, not a dumbbell. Most people never take the time to do it and therefore no matter how regularly they hit the weights they never seem to look any different. I am sure you know a few faces from your local gym who fit this category.
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.
You are now coming along swimmingly and should be feeling very confident in yourself here. The next two steps cover less obvious points which are often overlooked.
Rest is just as important as training when you are trying to build. Probably less than 5% of the members at your local gym get their rest right and that's one of the main factors in their lack of real results.
Make it your goal to go to the gym no more than three days each week if you are new to training. If you have already been training for over two months you can increase that to four sessions. You could train with weights up to six days per week by splitting each day to avoid ever training the same muscle group twice in succession, but most people are happy with a four day split routine. Those other three days are very important to your rest and recovery.
Sleep also plays an important role in your potential progress. We have all surely heard the doctor's recommendation that we need eight hours of sleep each night but how many of us pay attention to it? Not very many. Again, as with rest days, sleep is where your body unlocks extra results so neglecting it is silly.
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.
If you are like the overwhelming amount of gym users struggling for results then you are now in a massively advantageous position. The next time you stroll into your gym or local fitness centre you can do so safe in the knowledge that you officially know how to build muscle and are about to make giant leaps on your previous efforts. You don't necessarily need a personal trainer to guide you, you just need to learn the basic rules.
About the Author:
Writer: Russ Howe PTI is a popular personal trainer. See how to build muscle with our free video guide giving the 5 principles to a more powerful physique and the best shoulder building exercises.
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