Bodybuilding Tips for Beginners
Have you always been fascinated by the world of bodybuilding but only just recently decided to become a part of it? Beginnings can be pretty hard so we’ve gathered some of the best bodybuilding tips for newbies. If you’re just starting out, keep on reading.
Understand and master proper form
The first step toward becoming a successful bodybuilder is understanding and mastering proper form. If you don’t do this before everything else, you can comfortably pick up bad habits that will not be easy to break. You can consult with an expert you know from your local gym or you can do your own research online. Whatever the case, learning the correct form of each exercise is a step you cannot skip.
Find the right gym
Speaking of gyms, finding the right one is vital. Not only is there a possibility you’ll meet like minded people you can engage with, but you also have a sparring partner for various exercises. Seeing as how gyms are popping up everywhere now, you need to do your homework and see what each one offers. You need to ensure they have appropriate bodybuilding facilities and equipment. For example, arm, shoulder, chest, and back machines, barbells, free weights, and benches are just some of the necessities you will need.
Pay attention to nutrition
You are probably aware of how essential building muscle is for bodybuilding, which is why you will need a lot of protein. From lean meats and fish to eggs and dairy products, protein is found in many foods so you will not have a problem when it comes to creating meals. At least 1g of protein per pound of body weight is what experts recommend for the best results. What is more, you also need to be in a caloric surplus. However, it’s important to note that healthy bodybuilding diets contain a wide variety of foods, not just those rich in protein and calories. With that in mind, you cannot overlook fruits and veggies as they are all full of micro-nutrients that your body needs as well. Importantly, you need to avoid junk food as it contains mostly unhealthy fats and sugar. You don’t want to feel hungry so it’s okay to eat every three to four hours and have four or five meals a day.
Come up with a program and stick to it
Other than nutrition, a great workout program is needed if you want to achieve your goals. You can develop this on your own or with some help from an expert. You usually want to start with free weight, which are easily found at all gyms. When building mass, you want to stick to barbells and dumbbells as they work a lot of different muscles. Then, you can do exercises that require compound movements, such as squats, deadlifting, and bench press. You can gradually increase the weight to avoid plateauing. It’s vital to remember to stretch before every workout and stick to your plan.
Don’t forget to rest
When creating your workout regimen, you also have to remember that it’s not good to train every day. As a beginner, there is no need to have more than three or four workouts a week. Make sure you put this time off to good use and get the rest that your body needs. Seeing as how your muscles grow when you sleep and not when you’re working out, you cannot afford to miss out on eight to nine hours of sleep each night. Therefore, it’s not advisable to stay up all night and miss out on vital sleep.
Live like an athlete
Once you start your bodybuilding training, you have to start acting like an athlete. That means that you have to live as one, as well. So, it would be for the best to stop smoking and drinking alcohol in excess as well as avoid any other bad habits you might have. Implement good habits and a healthy lifestyle in order to reach your goals.
As you can see, becoming a bodybuilder is not something that happens overnight. From altering your diet to cutting out bad habits, you will have to work hard and make adjustments to your lifestyle in order to be successful.