Muscle-building can seem like a daunting task. You have to do a tough workout a few days a week and watch your diet carefully. Failure to achieve your goals can leave you discouraged. The next few paragraphs will give you pointers that will maximize the success of your body-building program.
You have to add protein to your diet so that your body does not cannibalize itself. Muscles rely on protein to perform all of their major functions. If you do not supply adequate protein, muscle mass will be difficult to obtain. Your goal should be to eat protein as a main part of at least two meals and one snack each day.
Make sure to mix things up in your exercise routines. If a workout routine becomes mundane and boring, you are less likely to stick to it. Use different exercises every couple workouts to ensure that you are targeting all of your muscle groups. If you alter your workout, it’s more likely you’ll enjoy it and stay committed.
Compound exercises are crucial when building muscle. Working out many muscles in one lift is more efficient. One popular example of a compound exercise is bench pressing. This exercise works three muscle groups at once: the triceps, shoulders, and chest.
Don’t workout for more than an hour. Your body will begin to produce some cortisol, after the first hour of working out. Cortisol is a hormone which can block testosterone, wasting the effort you exert in your muscle development program. You will optimize your efforts by keeping your workouts short and intense.
When your exercise workout is complete, be sure to engage in a series of stretches to ensure the best environment for your muscles to build and repair themselves. For those who are under 40 years old, they need to hold stretches for at least 30 seconds. If you are over 40, hold each stretch for a full minute or more. Stretching properly protects you from injuries related to working out.
Building muscle is not necessarily an easy thing to do. The schedule you must adhere to, as well as the workouts themselves, can be a great challenge. Also, make sure you watch your diet. Not paying attention to your diet could make your efforts useless. Use the advice contained within the following paragraphs to maximize the odds that your bodybuilding program will be successful.