5 Bodybuilding Tips You Must Know
Recently joined a gym as a beginner and feeling overwhelmed by all the bodybuilding tips that are relayed to you by the “brofessors”?
Thanks to the internet, getting information isn’t a challenge anymore. But with over-flow of information, deciding what to focus on, is.
“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
―
Having faced the same struggles as you may be facing right now.Here are the 5 most important bodybuilding tips you must focus on,to accelerate your results,and help you along your bodybuilding journey:
1) Free Weight and Body Weight exercises are the key:
As a beginner to get the maximum bang for your buck,80% of your exercises should be free weight exercises and body weight exercises.
Free weight exercises are done with the help of barbell or dumbbell(Bench press,dead-lifts,squats,dumbbell curls,etc.).Whereas,body weight exercises are those that involve pulling or pushing your body, against the force of gravity, to perform an exercise(push-ups,pull-ups,chin-ups,dips,etc.).
These exercises provide us with full range of motion and engage multiple muscle groups that help us speed up the muscle building process.
2) Bodybuilding is 70% diet,20% exercise,10% rest:
Out of all the bodybuilding tips,this is the most important of all. The pillars of bodybuilding constitute of balanced diet,an efficient workout regimen,and an optimal amount of rest. Screw up in any of these constituents and your results will suffer.
What does the 70-20-10 Rule mean ?
As beginners we tend to think bodybuilding is just about lifting some heavy ass weights in the gym.However,its much more than that.
When we lift weights in the gym,we are essentially causing microscopic damage to our muscle tissues.The muscles get repaired with bigger stronger muscle fibres, during the time we spend outside the gym.
Nutrition: Nutrition is the fuel our body needs to carry out the muscle repair process.Contrary to the latest fad diets these days,for you to look aesthetic as a bodybuilder and be powerful as a power lifter,you have to have an optimal amount of Protein,Carbohydrates(yes Carbs!) and Dietary Fats each day.Try to include some form of protein in each meal you have.Also Micro nutrients such as Vitamins and Minerals are essential for our organs and skin.So don’t skip your veggies and fruits folks !
Exercise: The way you train determines the path you are headed for in your bodybuilding journey.Depending on your goal,your training should vary,assisted with proper nutrition and rest.
Rest: The muscle repair happens during the time you sleep.Since showcasing a bodybuilder or an athlete having rest, isn’t glamorous,this part of bodybuilding is often ignored. An elite athlete ensures 7-9 hours of sleep daily ,for optimal performance.
3) Whenever in doubt always seek help:
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”-Confucius
When you have just started your bodybuilding journey,it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the plethora of exercises you are asked to perform.The technique used to perform a particular exercise can feel complicated at first. Without the watchful eyes of a trainer,beginners tend to falter in the technique, they are using, to perform the exercise.As a result,their results lag .Also,they expose their bodies to long term injuries.
When starting out ,always ask the experienced lifters around you ,for guidance.When you have doubt whether you are performing an exercise correctly or not,ask someone experienced to watch you, while you perform your set.
Always remember,no lifter looks down at you if you ask something.They know that,everyone has a starting point.Rather,they would appreciate you, for your keenness to learn.
4) Consistency is the key:
Rome was not built in a day and so weren’t any of the bodybuilders.Long term Consistency trumps Short term intensity,always.
A mistake lot of beginners make is,at the start of their bodybuilding journey,they go berserk about training,about their diet.They will spend insane amount of hours in the gym.They will consume all sorts of bland foods,which they don’t enjoy eating one bit.Soon they find out that such life style is unfeasible.Then they quit altogether.
Always remember bodybuilding is a journey not a destination.The only way you can make long term progress in bodybuilding is, by making it compatible with your daily schedule.Eat the nutritious foods, you like eating.Train for an hour but with intensity.
Remember,you should be the tortoise and not the hare.
5) Don’t forget to celebrate small milestones in your bodybuilding journey :
When starting your bodybuilding journey,having the right mindset is important.If you don’t have the Right Mindset you will quit in between.
Years ago when I used to train for endurance runs,my coach taught me how to set smaller targets while aiming for the destination and congratulating oneself on reaching those milestones.
So always congratulate yourself on seeing progress,no matter how small.The dopamine rush,we feel on achieving smaller victories,propels us forward, in our bodybuilding journey.
What are some of Bodybuilding Tips that you have found helpful?I would love to hear from you in the Comments Below ! Cheers !