How To Build Up Muscle - And Enjoy The Process!

Practically everyone yearns for the look that the health magazines portray, yet most of us are not clear about how to build up muscle. It is not difficult, though it does take some perseverance before you can actually look forward to going to places where everyone strips. Don’t get me wrong, I am talking about the swimming pool.

 

OK, so how do you go about building muscle and actually have fun in the process? To begin with, work on your motivation. What is it that you want? If it is good health you are looking for, then jogging and sensible diet is the way to go. But if it is heads you are looking to turn, then of course, there is only way… you will have to learn how to build up muscle.

It is good if you have a partner with similar motivation before you start off on your journey. If two people exercise together, they tend to perk each other up and provide support when the going gets tough. And get tough it will, when the body begins to protest being woken up from years of sleep, it helps if you have a friend who can pat you on the back and say –‘come on!’

 

To begin with, use free weights to work out. They are more versatile and easier to use than the complex machines that are so aggressively promoted by the advertising campaigns. When you select a weight to use, settle for something you can lift with about 70% – 80% of your strength – in simpler language, it means that you can repeat the movement about eight to ten times before it gets too much.

Next, concentrate on getting the movement right. There have been innumerable cases where people have strained their muscles by either not having warmed up enough before commencing or getting it all wrong. That is also when having a partner helps. Your partner can tell you when you are doing something wrong. Maybe you could use lighter weights till you get the movements perfected and then work up to the heavier ones.

 

You should also be careful about how you spend your time in the gym or wherever you work out. Keeping the schedule tight will help you maintain the heartbeat rate and metabolism and will not allow the body to cool off. A serious workout is just like work. You do not socialize while building muscle.

 

A word about your diet – restrict the amount of empty calories you take in by reducing the junk food you eat. Even if you have a job that requires you to be on the road and you can’t resist the urge to snack, try fruit. It’s great for your body and even replacing one greasy snack with a helping of fruit will work wonders over the long run.

 

Pick a good protein powder and blend it with milk, fruit and peanut butter to make a drink you can use three times a day. You could carry it around with you if you are on the road, a lot. Heavy exercise takes a lot out of your muscles and if you are serious about building your muscles, you must give them the nourishment they need.