Weight lifting can be fun when you do it right. You will like the workout and the results from all that hard work. Read on to learn how to find the exercise routines that work for you so that you can begin building muscle.

Proper warm ups are critical if you want to build muscle mass. The process of increasing muscle mass subjects your muscles to increased stress, which increases the probability of injury. If you take the time to warm up first, you can do your best to prevent any type of injury from happening. Before doing any heavy lifting, exercise for about 10 minutes then do warm up sets.

When working to build muscle, make sure you are consuming plenty of protein. Protein is what muscles are grown from. It will be difficult for your body to increase its muscle mass if you are not consuming enough protein in your diet. Aim to eat lean and healthy proteins at least three times a day.

It is possible to make yourself look larger than your actual size. Build up your upper chest, back and shoulders through targeted exercise. This makes your waist seem smaller than it really is, which makes it appear that you are larger.

Work opposing muscles at the same time by performing exercises that work the chest and back or quads and hamstrings. Doing this allows a muscle to rest during the time the other one is working. You will ultimately raise the intensity and efficiency of your workout while also reducing the duration of your routine.

Building muscle does not necessarily mean that you will appear ripped. All different kinds of muscle-building programs exist. You have to determine which type you want to do prior to beginning one. If you are aiming for bulk over strength, then you may need a supplement to help build mass.

Make sure that you are consuming enough calories. There are a variety of calculators online that can help you determine your caloric need based on the amount of muscle you wish to gain. Use one or two of the calculators; then change your diet accordingly, including the proper amounts of carbs, proteins and other vitamins to build your muscles.

Add some plyometric exercises to your workout routine. Incorporating these exercises into your routine will strengthen the fast-twitch fibers in your muscles and boost muscle growth. Plyometrics are considered ballistic moves in that they require a certain amount of acceleration. For example, when you do push-ups that are plyometric, your hands leave the floor, propelling your body upward.

When the lifting gets tough, the tough cheat a little. If you need to finish a few extra reps in order to get the most out of your workout, don’t use your entire body. Don’t do this too much though. Control how quickly you complete each weight lifting cycle. Don’t do an unreasonable number of reps in a short period of time. You should be careful to never compromise your form.

15 Grams

When trying to increase muscle mass, snack on protein-rich foods prior to working out, and again after you finish. Try eating 15 grams 30 minutes prior to your workout, followed by another 15 grams once you finish. To give an example, one to two cups of milk has 15 grams of protein.

Having a healthy body will make you feel your best, and developing lean muscle can help you achieve that goal. Weight training combined with cardio exercise is best for helping you to see considerable results more quickly, than cardio alone does. Put them together, work out a lot, and you’ll see the changes to your body.