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.
There are a number of different strategies you can use, a number of different physics which work. In fact one of the biggest barriers in the fitness industry in general is the sheer amount of different styles and techniques out there. What should be a great asset and provide great variation instead serves only to confuse the majority and they end up getting nowhere, unable to commit to anything for fear that in three months they'll be told everything they have been doing is 'wrong'.
So don't be fooled. There are a number of ways to build a better body, there is not just one right way of training and a million wrong ways. Realizing that fact will help you get past the first stumbling block you'll encounter on your path to building a better body, erasing the self doubt in what you are doing and why you are doing it.
So how about we dismiss all of the typical hype and nonsense you usually get when you try to get some fitness tips, we'll cut to the proven facts on how to get results. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter whether you are experienced or inexperienced, these tips will provide the backbone of your training from this day forward and they simply work.
The first port of call is your diet. Don't be fooled into believing you only need to diet if your goal is weight loss. On the contrary, if your goal is to get more muscular your diet is very, very important. You can train all day long if you want but your nutrition is the thing which is going to determine what happens to your body.
So before we head off for our next workout we need to your next workout session is figure out how many calories you need to eat each day for maximum results. The worst part about this segment is that most people think it's going to involve some sort of rocket science or magic formula. It doesn't, it's actually pretty easy to work this out for yourself.
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 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.
Now we have to take a quick look into your training program. Your workout plan, if you're like most gym users, will be in desperate need of two things. Most notably a specific goal and consistent progression. Without either your plan will fail. Focus on the compound exercises and try to land each set between 8-12 reps, your perfect zone for muscle growth, this will get you on the right track.
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.
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.
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:
Coach: Russ Howe PTI is a trusted fitness coach. See how to build muscle with our new video guide showing the five principles to a more powerful body and the best shoulder building exercises.
