Building muscle is a great way to get fit, healthy and look amazing. It is important to know what you are doing to maximize your efforts and avoid painful injuries. The following article contains a number of tips and tricks to help you get the most from your muscle building efforts.
Obtaining a workout partner can drastically improve your muscle-building results. Your partner can be a valuable source of motivation for sticking to your workout session, and pushing you to maximize your efforts while you work out. Having a reliable partner to work out with can also help keep you safe because you will always have a spotter.
Train at least three times per week. You need at least three training sessions every week if you want to see significant muscle growth. If you are really new at weight training, this can be reduced to two at the start; however, you should increase the number of sessions per week as soon as you are able. If you already have some experience with strength training, you can add more sessions as well.
Genetics are one of the most important factors in building muscle mass. There is not much you can change about your interior genetics that shape your body, but you can improve the way you look by becoming more tone. Some of us just do not have the bodies that will have large muscles, so accept that and strive for better tone.
Have protein before starting a workout. Whether you have a sandwich with about 4 ounces of lunch meat, a protein bar or a shake, it’s important to remember that protein synthesis is what is important for building muscle. Have your protein about half an hour to an hour before starting a workout for best results.
Even though you might believe lifting heavy weights is the best method of building muscle, this isn’t always the case. Lifting light weight is also very important when it comes to building muscle. Lifting different amounts of weight work different muscle fibers, which can help you ensure that your muscle gain is of higher quality.
When you are planning to build muscles on a certain day, eat good. Consume many calories at least an hour before exercising. A sufficient calorie intake does not mean eating to excess. You just need to consume enough additional calories on the days you exercise to provide your muscles with nutrition.
If you want to optimize your muscle building ability, make sure to eat something after a workout. Eat within an hour of finishing your workout. Ideally, your snack or meal should contain a protein and a carbohydrate. This food will get your body started doing the things it needs to do to start building muscle.
Do not skimp on the amount of sleep you get. The process of building and repairing your muscles happens while you sleep, and without adequate recovery, you run the risk of hurting yourself during workouts. Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night to maximize the benefits of the exercises you perform.
It is important to workout until you have reached muscle failure with your muscles. Many people stop working out when they begin to feel the weights getting a bit hard to lift. Containing to push until your body cannot push anymore will give you the lean, strong muscles you really want.
Always use your own intuition when working out. Although planning out your workouts ahead is good for making sure that you stay accountable, sometimes you can’t always stick to this schedule. For example, you might not be ready for another quad session after your last session left you exhausted. On the other hand, your arms could be well rested after a good workout just a few days ago. Listen to what your body tells you, and follow it.
Remember that it is never a good idea to use the scale to determine your progress when you are trying to build muscle. If you find that your scale is increasing in numbers, remember that you just might be losing fat while gaining muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, this is a familiar site for many who are trying to do both at the same time. Gauge your results by what you see in the mirror rather than what you see on the scale.
Any time you are lifting a heavy free weight, it is very important that you have a spotter. This is someone who knows the routine that you are doing and also understands when you are requiring help. Many times this person can become a type of gym buddy as well.
Done properly and with diligence, a good muscle building routine will have you in great shape in no time. Before you know it, you will look strong and feel fabulous! Apply the advice in this article to your fitness routine to build your muscles and build a lifelong commitment to your health and well being.
