Muscle Building Information

Build More Muscle and Lose More Fat by Discovering the Power of Training Variables!


Everyone will inadvertently hit a frustrating plateau in their training at one time or another. You're cruising along for a while, gaining strength, losing fat, looking better, and then all of the sudden it hits. Suddenly, you find yourself even weaker than before on your lifts, or you find that you've gained back a couple of pounds. It happens to everyone. Most of the time, these plateaus occur because people rarely change their training variables over time. Many people stick to the same types of exercises for the same basic sets and reps and rest periods with the same boring cardio routine. Well, I hope to open your mind and bring some creativity to your workouts with this article!

There are many ways that you can strategically modify your training variables to assure that you maximize your fat loss and/or muscle building response to exercise. Most people only think about changing their sets and reps performed, if they even think about changing their routine at all. However, other variables that can dramatically affect your results are changing the order of exercises (sequence), exercise grouping (super-setting, circuit training, tri-sets, etc.), exercise type (multi-joint or single joint, free-weight or machine based), the number of exercises per workout, the amount of resistance, the time under tension, the base of stability (standing, seated, on stability ball, one-legged, etc.), the volume of work (sets x reps x distance moved), rest periods between sets, repetition speed, range of motion, exercise angle (inclined, flat, declined, bent over, upright, etc), training duration per workout, and training frequency per week. Sounds like a lot of different training aspects to consider in order to obtain the best results from your workouts, doesn't it? Well, that's where a knowledgeable personal trainer can make sense of all of this for you to make sure that your training doesn't get stale. Below are a few examples to get your mind working to come up with more creative and result producing workouts.

Most people stick to workouts where they do something along the lines of 3 sets of 10-12 reps per exercise, with 2-3 minutes rest between sets. Booooorrrrring! Here are a few examples of different methods to spice up your routine.

?Try 10 sets of 3, with only 20 seconds rest between sets.

?Try using a heavier weight and complete 6 sets of 6 reps, doing a 3 minute treadmill sprint between each weight lifting set.

?Try using a near maximum weight and do 10 sets of 1 rep, with 30 seconds rest between sets.

?Try using a lighter than normal weight and do 1 set of 50 reps for each exercise

?Try a workout based on only one full body exercise, such as barbell clean & presses or dumbbell squat & presses, and do nothing but that exercise for an intense 20 minutes.

?Try a workout based on all bodyweight exercises such as pushups, pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, bodyweight squats, lunges, etc.

?Try a circuit of 12 different exercises covering the entire body without any rest between exercises.

?Try that same 12 exercise circuit on your subsequent workout, but do the entire circuit in the reverse order.

?Try your usual exercises at a faster repetition speed on one workout and then at a super-slow speed on your next workout.

?Try completing five 30 minute workouts one week, followed by three 1-hr workouts the next week.

?Try doing drop sets of all of your exercises, where you drop the weight between each set and keep doing repetitions without any rest until complete muscular fatigue (usually about 5-6 sets in a row).

There are many more ways to continue to change your training variables. I hope this article gave you some ideas on methods for you to take your body to the next level.

©2005 truthaboutabs.com

Michael Geary - NCSF CPT, AFAA CPT;
Author of "The Truth About Six Pack Abs" ©2004-2005

Visit http://truthaboutabs.com to discover innovative training and nutritional strategies for losing body fat and developing a rock hard body!

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Examiner.com

Can I build muscle and keep my six pack??
Examiner.com - Jun 29, 2008
Yes, you can keep your six pack and build muscle. However, it is extremely difficult and you almost need to hire a nutritionist to do it. ...


Do we have the technology to build a bionic human?
New Scientist (subscription), UK - Jul 4, 2008
The most common are pacemakers, which take over from the clumps of cells that synchronise heart muscle with pulsing electricity. ...


News & Observer

Build muscle with exercise
News & Observer, NC - Jun 18, 2008
If you want to build muscle, work your muscles -- and eat a well-balanced diet. By Suzanne Havala Hobbs, CorrespondentComment on this story What's the best ...


E. Texas group hopes prosthetics foster independence in Sierra Leone
Dallas Morning News, TX - 9 hours ago
Knee-replacement surgery is fairly common, but replacing a knee for a person with no lower limb of muscle, nerve and bone is a much greater biomechanical ...


Now, a T-shirt that 'can measure your muscular activity'
Hindu, India - Jul 5, 2008
According to them, the prototype cloth contains small sensors that measure the electrical activity of contracting muscle tissue -- in fact, ...


NewsOK.com (subscription)

Problems can bring opportunities to build psychological 'muscle'
NewsOK.com (subscription), OK - Jun 16, 2008
How do you build muscle? You lift weights, do sit-ups and push-ups, jog, etc. Any muscle that is not allowed to work will atrophy. ...


Finally, some WTC realism
Newsday, NY - 6 hours ago
11 Memorial to 2011 - and then apply the muscle needed to meet that schedule. Finishing the memorial by the 10-year anniversary of the attacks would be an ...


Building Strength and Muscle without Illegal Substances
South Idaho Press, ID - 21 hours ago
... creator of Endothil CR, says that body builders and athletes are using this product instead of steroids to build and sustain strength and muscle mass. ...


Lack of respect? Race walking relegated to the parking lot ...
ESPN - 12 hours ago
"It's less stressful on your body than running and it uses almost every muscle in the body. You build up your triceps without you even noticing. ...


Local seniors say they don't have to drink the water in Seminole ...
Orlando Sentinel, FL - 5 hours ago
Bright-colored plastic noodles and Styrofoam weights add resistance to build muscle strength. Bob Boomhower walked over to the Winter Springs Therapy Pool ...

build muscle - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.