Today we shall be solving some of the myths surrounding how to build muscle safely and effectively. There are many common misconceptions when it comes to weight training and supplementation, so today we'll get to the bottom of the top five.
Should women lift weights? Are supplements good or bad for you in the long-term? These are all questions which will be answered for you. Sadly, many people get so lost in all of the myths out there that they convince themselves building a better body is too confusing for them to succeed. That needn't be the case.
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?
This is a commonly asked question and dates back over 30 years. Resistance training is perfectly safe for females, but most are terrified by old myths that they will get big and bulky. Females do not have the necessary testosterone levels to achieve such growth, so fearing it doesn't make sense. If you want to get the type of body displayed by Jessica Ennis and other Olympic athletes in London last year then resistance training is crucial.
2) How important are 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) How many times per week should you workout?
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 many calories should you eat per day?
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.
At one stage or another, everybody who uses the gym hears one of the myths discussed today. Now you know the facts, leaning how to build muscle becomes an altogether more straightforward affair.
Should women lift weights? Are supplements good or bad for you in the long-term? These are all questions which will be answered for you. Sadly, many people get so lost in all of the myths out there that they convince themselves building a better body is too confusing for them to succeed. That needn't be the case.
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?
This is a commonly asked question and dates back over 30 years. Resistance training is perfectly safe for females, but most are terrified by old myths that they will get big and bulky. Females do not have the necessary testosterone levels to achieve such growth, so fearing it doesn't make sense. If you want to get the type of body displayed by Jessica Ennis and other Olympic athletes in London last year then resistance training is crucial.
2) How important are 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) How many times per week should you workout?
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 many calories should you eat per day?
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.
At one stage or another, everybody who uses the gym hears one of the myths discussed today. Now you know the facts, leaning how to build muscle becomes an altogether more straightforward affair.
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Further Info: You can see how to build muscle with 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.
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