Exercise and Fitness: Building Muscle Mass
Building muscle mass does not happen overnight and consistent training is the key. Training heavy is important, but you must make sure you are performing enough exercises for each body area and enough sets per exercise. An example of a muscle building program is to perform on average four exercises per body part and four sets of each exercise. That is about 16 sets per body part per workout. Many people pyramid the weights up while other people pyramid the weight down. I would suggest a combination, one week go up and the next pyramid down. You should not pyramid down until you know what your sub-max weight is for each exercise. It is a good idea to hire an experienced fitness trainer to help you with this type of training. With strength/muscle building training you should train each body part one time per week. It is very hard training, but this is one way to add substantial muscle mass. Make sure you vary the exercises and workouts so that your body does not adapt to the training. Once your body adapts to the training you will plateau. You must constantly challenge the muscles in order to build muscle mass. Core gets trained more often than once per week and ,make sure you keep up with your flexibility training.
In other words, if you want to look like a bodybuilder you must train like a body builder. If you cannot hire a trainer to get you started try to find a workout partner who has been successful with muscle building training for a number of years. You should be performing squats, bench press, overhead press, and many other exercises with free weights as well as use the machines for some exercises. Training for muscle mass is very intense. You must be injury free and very healthy to train for muscle mass. Please make sure you discuss your exercise plan with your doctor before you begin.
To add muscle mass you must also take a look at your diet. Nutrition is extremely important for any type of training. You may be eating healthy, but there is a chance you should make a few changes to help with your goals. You must look at the number of calories you are eating vs. the number of calories you are burning. You should be eating some protein and carbohydrate at the end of each workout, within 20 minutes. I would not recommend you start drinking protein shakes because you can get all of the nutrients you need through good food. The quality of the food you eat will play an important role in your success. You may not be eating enough calories. Go to WWW.MYPYRAMID.GOV for safe and accurate nutrition information. There are nutrition tools on that website to help you design the best eating plan for you. Another healthy eating website is WWW.EATHEALTHY.ORG . You must also remain well hydrated. Drink Gatorade before, during, and after your workout. For information on Gatorade and sports nutrition you should go to WWW.GSSIWEB.COM . There are many useful articles on that website.
Be sure to take a close look at the cardiovascular training and your other calorie burning activities. Many people training for muscle mass limit their cardiovascular training to a few days per week. Building muscle mass is not easy if you are burning too many calories. Many people training for mass use stationary bikes rather than elliptical machines and stair climbers. Riding a stationary bike does not burn as many calories as the weight bearing cardiovascular machines. It is a good idea to alternate your cardiovascular training.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you would like me to help you more with your training. Let me know how your training is going in a few months. You should see my “Legs Plus” workout! It’s a favorite!
You can download the FREE workouts from my website. They are general conditioning workouts. If you decide to use swing set fitness as part of your summer training you should perform the more challenging workouts near the end of the book.
By Karen M. Goeller
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘Body Builder’
Anyone who wants to get into the fray of body building understands that to produce the best possible results, one needs to have the discipline needed to undergo the long and tedious process of building muscle. Some people may also get into the use of body building supplements in order to achieve better results. As most commercial products go, not all body building supplements are guaranteed to work. Some manufacturers advertise and market these supplements with claims of producing lean muscle in just short periods of time. One should be wary of these false claims and should never accept any supplement at face value.
There are, however, some supplements that cause positive effects in a body builder’s body. Before starting on any of these, one must know the effects these supplements have.
- Protein supplements
A body builder’s protein requirements greatly exceed that of the normal individual. Body builders constantly tire out their muscles through dieting and training. Because of this, they will need a proper and well balanced diet for muscle growth and recovery. Protein supplements do just that. This body building supplement contains the required amount of protein for body builders, with no fillers, carbohydrates and sugar. It is most preferable for body builders who are training for competitive body building. Body builders may get this supplement in the form of powders and bars.
- Meal replacement powders
Meal replacement powders, also referred to as MRP’s, are a well balanced meal in itself with all the nutrients needed to fulfill a body builder’s daily requirements. These supplements offer a convenient way to take in your protein needs and are a great fast food alternative. Meal replacements should be taken instead of a meal, not with a meal or in-between meals. These supplements are sold in pre-measured packs that are usually mixed with milk or water. The price of meal replacement powders is very varied so it is best to shop and do research before buying anything in bulk.
- Fat burners
Most often derived from plants, fat burners are compounds that affect the body builder’s metabolism by increasing the body’s production of heat. Almost all commercial fat burns are made based on a substance called ephedrine which is a thermogenic aid. An effective fat burner is essential for good muscular definition but before using any fat burners, it is always best to get the advice of a physician.
- L-Glutamine
One of the essential amino acids, L-Glutamine is vital to any body builder as it has a sparing effect on the muscles especially after extensive physical stress. L-Glutamine supplements can aid in the reduction of muscle deterioration that may happen because other tissues that need glutamine take from the muscle-s stored glutamine.
When you are involved in the sport of body building, taking supplements can help you hone your body to new levels. There are literally hundreds of supplements on the market you can choose from. The choices can be confusing. A body building supplement review can help you make the choice about which one is right for you.
There are lots of different supplements you can use depending on your body building goals. Which one you choose to take makes a difference in the effectiveness of your workout program. We’ll review some of the high points of each of the most popular, legal body building supplements.
Creatine
Creatine has a variety of uses. Besides being used to gain strength and muscle mass, the other benefits of creatine can really help body builders achieve their goals. Creatine is also known to battle fatigue as well as muscle atrophy. It can reduce cholesterol and enhance the body builder’s metabolism to better process food. Creatine has also seen a therapeutic benefit in Parkinson’s disease as well as other brain problems.
Nitric Oxide
This supplement is known to increase and sustain the flow of muscle building agents to skeletal muscle. It can increase the amount of weight you are able to lift, boosts your power output, and quickens muscle contraction. Some people also report that taking nitric oxide as a body building supplement enhances their sexual feelings and stamina.
Proteins
Protein is very important in the diet of a body builder. It is the building block of muscle building nutrients that can build mass in ways you never thought possible. It is an amino acid that lends itself to building massive muscles that are toned and fit. It is often recommended that protein supplements be taken with some form of carbohydrate for it to be effective. Whey protein is considered to be one of the best types of protein supplement for most body builders.
Glutamine
Some body builders call glutamine creatine’s “sexy sister”. Glutamine is also an amino acid that is produced naturally by the body on its own. The problem is that stress, including the stress of a workout depletes the natural glutamine found in the system. Without glutamine, you will suffer muscle loss which can undo all your hard work in the gym. That’s why a glutamine supplement is important in any body builder’s arsenal.
Most body building supplements are reviewed on a regular basis by fitness magazines and experts. Getting a review of body building supplements can be the best way for you to figure out which ones you want to include in your regimen. Then go for it and realize some great gains in muscle tone!