Add to Flipboard Magazine. With so much contrasting information out there these days online and in magazines, it can be very confusing to know what the right way to build muscle is. In truth, there isn’t one set rule. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your body won’t be either. ‘I don’t want to get too big’ is a frequent quote I hear from beginners. Worry about that once you have started adding muscle. You will not become muscle-bound monster over night. Start by setting small achievable goals and progress from there. For example, aim to add 1-2lb per week of lean muscle tissue and increase strength with it.
1) Leave The Ego At Home
Where I see a lot mistakes, is people (especially younger guys) trying to lift too heavy with incorrect form. I was no different when I first started. I was too busy thinking about the number written on the dumbbell or what others would think if the weight was light, rather than thinking about how to move it properly. Quality of movement wins every time and prevents injury that can hamper continual progress. If you can’t lift it correctly drop the weight and your ego. You can have the best plan, diet and supplements in the world, but if you aren’t training properly you will not grow.
2) Track Your Progress
Tracking your results is essential to both short and long term goals. Without an actual plan, workout log or goal you could be banging your head against a brick wall for years in a quest to build some muscle, wasting a lot time and money in the process.
Take pictures, your body weight and body fat before you start training, and again the same time and day the following week. Not only is this good for motivation but also makes your accountable to yourself to stay focused with your weekly workouts.
You should also be recording your workouts, beating your previous numbers, and setting new targets each week. In the end, however you do it, track your workouts and your body so you know you’re making progress! If you’re not making progress, it’s time to change the routine.
3) Don’t Over Complicate
Keep it simple. Develop a simple workout program that includes all big lifts like the squat, incline bench press, overhead press and deadlifts for around 6-8 reps maximum each set. Then work the rest of your exercises around these big muscle builders for around 8-12 reps. It’s not necessary at the beginning to look into advanced workout protocols. This will allow you to build a solid foundation for future gains.
Work the biggest muscles of your body first (glutes, quads, hamstrings, pectorals and back). By training your big movers with compound lifts, you’ll be able to lift safely – and heavily – in the gym.
Use a simple workout, work hard, refuel post-workout, and rest properly. For as hard as you train, you must recover harder for quicker muscle gains. That’s the best advice I have for everyone — from beginning lifters to experienced gym rats.
4) Eat Big To Get Big
You can be the hardest working guy in the gym but if your nutrition isn’t right you won’t grow. Your diet doesn’t need to be perfect, but pay attention to these basic rules:
1. You must be in positive caloric balance to build mass. If you want to put on weight of any kind – whether muscle or fat — you need to eat more! That’s how the mathematics of weight gain works.
2. Eat your protein! You can’t build new muscle without it. Good sources of complete proteins include fish, beef, chicken and any other dead animal. Milk, Greek yogurt and eggs are also great choices. Your bare minimum should be 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day. For more rapid muscle gains, bump that amount up to 1 1/2 or even 2 grams per pound.
3.Eat fat! It will support healthy hormone production and testosterone levels, both crucial for building muscle, fat loss and a health heart. Great choices are nuts, oily fish and avocado.
4. Don’t be scared of carbohydrates. Eating sufficient carbs are essential for both energy and recovery around sessions, especially if you have fast metabolism trying to grow. Choose your carb intake from oats, white potato, sweet potato and whole grain rice to minimise body fat gains as you get bigger.
5) Take The Right Supplements
You’re not going to need a barrage of supplements your first day in the gym. In the beginning, focus on eating healthfully, recovering, and performing well.
However, a good protein powder is a must if you’re going to want to add some muscle. Whey protein isolate (Iso:Pro 97) is essential post-workout and beneficial any time of the day. Multivitamins (Alpha Men) are your insurance against any vitamin deficiencies.Creatine Monohydrate will help maintain and build new muscle tissue, as well as increase your strength.
It’s okay to add more supplements as needed, once your priorities are in order and you can make good use of them.
