Learning how to build muscle can be very confusing. Today we will reveal the top myths and help you to debunk them in double quick time. Are you ready to get started?
How many workouts should you do per week? Should women lift weights or stick to cardio? These are questions you'll commonly hear in most gyms but most people never find out the facts on these subjects, such is the level of confusion surrounding fitness in general.
No matter what your fitness goals may be, there are so many myths out there that you can over complicate almost any situation. The moment you feel you have found something which works for you, you can be set back to square one by telling you what you're doing is wrong even though it is working for you... When you base your decisions on scientific research rather than popular opinion you will notice greater results. []
1) Is it okay for girls to lift weights?
Thanks to stereotypes developed in the mid eighties, lots of women are afraid to venture into the free weights section of their local health club. They need not be afraid. If a lady wanted to bulk up she would need to supplement with testosterone pills and eat an awful lot of calories per day, so you needn't worry about obtaining a bodybuilding physique unless you actually want to. Free weights are vital for getting leaner and the also improve weight loss results dramatically, too.
2) Do you need to use supplements?
Another hotly contested area, the importance of supplement is greatly overplayed in the media. Particularly in fitness magazines, who make a great deal of their income by recommending certain brands and products to readers. The key word, of course, is 'supplement'. It's there to help you reach your goal, not to replace food. You should never get to the stage where you feel like you are living out of tubs and packets, unless you are in space working within a NASA crew!
3) Should you workout every day to improve results further?
Contrary to popular opinion, more does not always mean better. This is particularly true when it comes to exercise. In fact, gym newcomers should not train more than three times per week for maximum results. Those rest periods are as important as the training itself, so be careful not to neglect them. Once you feel ready to step things up try alternating onto a two day split routine, focusing on each muscle a little bit more and hitting different body parts on different days of the week.
4) Is your diet important?
If you diet but you don't train, you will find it more difficult to lose body fat and you'll struggle to look any better. If you train but don't diet, you'll enjoy your time in the gym but never see the results your hard efforts deserve because you'll always have stubborn layers of fat covering them up. It's a partnership, not a competition. One aspect is not more important than the other.
5) How do you know your calorie intake is correct?
When it comes to calories there are two common mistakes made. Either you are eating too many or too few. Most people who eat too few are doing so because they want to lose weight, but they don't realize that they are forcing their body into starvation mode. Basically, it is hanging onto every gram of fat it can in order to feed itself because it's not getting enough nutrition. A good system for those who want to build muscle is to multiply your goal body weight (in pounds) by 15. Those who want to tone up should multiply by 12 and those looking to drop weight quickly and effectively should multiply by 10. This will give a good ball park figure to aim for each day with regards to each individual goal.
Many people continue to buy into these myths on a daily basis and it's not uncommon to see folks who believe all of the things we have shown you today, despite the mountains of proof which is widely available to them. Knowing how to build muscle is as simple as keeping things down to the basic, proven methods and staying consistent with your efforts.
How many workouts should you do per week? Should women lift weights or stick to cardio? These are questions you'll commonly hear in most gyms but most people never find out the facts on these subjects, such is the level of confusion surrounding fitness in general.
No matter what your fitness goals may be, there are so many myths out there that you can over complicate almost any situation. The moment you feel you have found something which works for you, you can be set back to square one by telling you what you're doing is wrong even though it is working for you... When you base your decisions on scientific research rather than popular opinion you will notice greater results. []
1) Is it okay for girls to lift weights?
Thanks to stereotypes developed in the mid eighties, lots of women are afraid to venture into the free weights section of their local health club. They need not be afraid. If a lady wanted to bulk up she would need to supplement with testosterone pills and eat an awful lot of calories per day, so you needn't worry about obtaining a bodybuilding physique unless you actually want to. Free weights are vital for getting leaner and the also improve weight loss results dramatically, too.
2) Do you need to use supplements?
Another hotly contested area, the importance of supplement is greatly overplayed in the media. Particularly in fitness magazines, who make a great deal of their income by recommending certain brands and products to readers. The key word, of course, is 'supplement'. It's there to help you reach your goal, not to replace food. You should never get to the stage where you feel like you are living out of tubs and packets, unless you are in space working within a NASA crew!
3) Should you workout every day to improve results further?
Contrary to popular opinion, more does not always mean better. This is particularly true when it comes to exercise. In fact, gym newcomers should not train more than three times per week for maximum results. Those rest periods are as important as the training itself, so be careful not to neglect them. Once you feel ready to step things up try alternating onto a two day split routine, focusing on each muscle a little bit more and hitting different body parts on different days of the week.
4) Is your diet important?
If you diet but you don't train, you will find it more difficult to lose body fat and you'll struggle to look any better. If you train but don't diet, you'll enjoy your time in the gym but never see the results your hard efforts deserve because you'll always have stubborn layers of fat covering them up. It's a partnership, not a competition. One aspect is not more important than the other.
5) How do you know your calorie intake is correct?
When it comes to calories there are two common mistakes made. Either you are eating too many or too few. Most people who eat too few are doing so because they want to lose weight, but they don't realize that they are forcing their body into starvation mode. Basically, it is hanging onto every gram of fat it can in order to feed itself because it's not getting enough nutrition. A good system for those who want to build muscle is to multiply your goal body weight (in pounds) by 15. Those who want to tone up should multiply by 12 and those looking to drop weight quickly and effectively should multiply by 10. This will give a good ball park figure to aim for each day with regards to each individual goal.
Many people continue to buy into these myths on a daily basis and it's not uncommon to see folks who believe all of the things we have shown you today, despite the mountains of proof which is widely available to them. Knowing how to build muscle is as simple as keeping things down to the basic, proven methods and staying consistent with your efforts.
About the Author:
Next Step: You can see how to build muscle using Russ Howe PTI's quick, in-demand guides. Answer topics including should women lift weights with the latest scientific research and eliminate doubt from your fitness routine.
