Building Muscles

Bodybuilding Muscles| How to Train and Build Massive Muscles

Strength Training

There is a very big difference between strength training and fitness training. Strength training is just that -you are trying to build up your strength. Here you will use weights. Common sense will tell you that if you use weights that are easy to lift, and you stick with these, you will gain some strength because of the repetition - but that is about all. To gain strength you will have to go very heavy with the weights and do a very limited number of repetitions. The purpose is to lift as much as possible and to increase the weight at every given opportunity. This will build strength. You will bulk up in size too if you eat right.

The reason why this will happen is - we all have a certain number of muscle fibres in our body from birth. We do not use anywhere near all of them with the normal lives we live. Even fitness training will not use all of them. (You will use a few more with fitness training but most of them will still not be used). As you increase the amount of weight you lift, the more fibres you bring into play. What actually happens is you tear the fibres in the muscle because of the resistance and the blood that is pushed into the muscle. That is why you are often sore and stiff the following day or two. If you eat right you will then be able to repair the tears. When the fibres knit back together, they are a bit bigger and so you will get some growth and strength.

As you train with heavy weight you will force more muscle fibres to work, and so your strength will increase. Strength training is about trying to lift as much as you can. You will not be doing many reps. Often power lifters will put as much weight as they can and only lift it 2 or 3 times. Each time they train however they will try to increase the weight. They will bulk up, of course, because of the weights, but they really do not end up with a great build. You can have a look at the people who go in for the strongmen competitions; they are big all over. You will find that people training for strength will not be very fit. A lower weight with lots of repetitions is what gives you fitness. Lower reps and very heavy weight gives you strength. It follows then that just because you lift weights, it does not mean you will be fit.

Bodybuilding Muscles| How to Train and Build Massive Muscles

Fitness Training

A lot of people use this for the purpose of losing weight as they want to look good. Fitness training is all about high activity. You workout, normally for 40 minutes plus, to get the heart rate up and the metabolism stimulated. This is what causes the body to burn off excess fat. Because you are not putting much resistance on the muscles, they will work but they will not really change shape.  They cannot unless you use resistance - they have to go above what is normal for them. They will learn to carry more oxygen so you can go on for a lot longer. You will get more energy and you will, without question, start to feel a lot better. It will affect your confidence and how you feel about your self. 

There are many ways to do fitness training. The most recognised way is to go out on to the road and run. This is probably one of the cheapest ways to train too. You will require good running shoes. Never buy cheap. You are putting your knees and other joints under a lot of stress when you run. If you use cheap shoes, the jarring on the joints will wear them out and cause you problems later on in life. Good shoes will give you many years of problem free running. Other ways to develop fitness are dance aerobics, spinning, normal aerobics, cardio training, stationary cycling, seated rowing, x trainers and normal cycling . There is a problem with this type of training. It will burn off the excess fat but you will not change your shape. For example, if you are a big pear shape and you start to do fitness training, you will be delighted with the weight loss. What you will find however is, at the end of the day, you will go from a big pear shape to a little pear shape. It is great if you have a good looking body that is just carrying too much fat when you start, but unfortunately not many people fit this bill.  A number of marathon runners end up coming from just wanting to get fit.

Bodybuilding Muscles| How to Train and Build Massive Muscles

What is the correct training plan? There is so much conflicting information on the market that it is really very difficult to decide what is the best way to train. A lot of the information that is put out is done by the Incredible Hulk, so you feel intimidated before you start. Then there are the academics that hit you with so much technical jargon that you are too scared to start. Then there are the Know-it-Alls and they have only one way of training. Anyone who does not train their way is wrong and normally insulted.

I think it is important to really put training into perspective. There are different ways to train and they are there for different reasons. There is fitness training, strength training and bodybuilding. The first thing you need to decide is what you want.  You need to ask yourself why you want to train and what you want out of it.  It is at this time that you need to take some time to understand what the different training does and how it will suit you. You will have to decide how much time you would like to invest in the training. Some types of training will take hours every day and other training will take less than an hour. Once you have decided on how much time you want to invest in yourself, and what you want, then it is time to have a look at the different training methods.

I'll follow on with this article in the next post.

Bodybuilding Muscles| How to Train and Build Massive Muscles

This is a fantastic way to start the New Year. I wanted to share this message with you that was sent to me on my YouTube site (bazblog). There is nothing that a person cannot achieve if they set their mind to it. Lifting weights is not just about picking up pieces of iron but how you think. If you get your thought process right then the muscles will be a lot easier to build.
What a person believes is so important to any result they want in life. Some times you can even do an exercise that most people will think will not work very well but if you absolutely believe it will then for you it is the right thing to do. Make sure that this year you honestly believe you will get the results you want and that you will do it with intent. MAKE EACH REP COUNT.

kingjumb
Hi Baz, thanks for the plan, I’m going to start training very soon. Your videos are great tips and advice on how to train with care and skill, it is really inspiring. I mean that. I have been reading some advice on your website's and it has really encouraged me to do something with my life, get back on track and make most of the 1 crack I have at life. Because you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it, with motivation and hard work of course :)
For the last year I have just let my life slip away from me, I have had a lot of problems with anxiety and it has been controlling my life to an extent where I could not leave the house it was really bad.
But when I bumped across your YouTube Blog and websites it really helped me to realise how good life can be if you really put your mind to it, your words were really powerful and encouraging it has just woken me to up reality, and I have you to thank for that keep up all the good work up on Bazblog its great.

Thanks again Baz, just a few words has made me realise what life is really about :)
I’ll say it again keep the great work up, because your helping a lot of people get back on track with there life. In 150 days I’ll let you know how my training has gone and hopefully I’ll have some great results.
:)

Good luck with every thing you want to achieve this year. Make it a year that will bring you a lot of happiness.

Bodybuilding Muscles. How to train and build a Massive Chest| Pectorals (pecs)

Happy New Year and fantastic 2010 to you all.

This is the time to make each day count for you to achieve all that you want in life. Obviously this blog is focused on bodybuilding, but in fact, works in all parts of your life.  Bodybuilding can become a habit like brushing your teeth. You will have to do it every day and make it part of your life. The more you do this the quicker it will become a habit. Nearly everything we do in life is done by habit.

I have mentioned this before, and I will say it again, make sure that with each rep that you do that you make it count. If you apply this principal to every part of what you do you, will get some really outstanding results with a lot less effort.

I am starting the New Year with a bang and training with real intent.

Bodybuilding Muscles. How to train and build Huge Back| Massive Lats| Bottom position

I see a lot of people trying to pull the bar down to their mid section. You need to pull it down to the chest and that is far enough.  Have your mind focused on the movement. It counts for so much in the rep. It is the difference between a good rep and a great one. At the bottom of the movement try to contract the muscle as much as you can. The more you can make yourself look like you have wings the better. I find if I do this I get a great workout.

N.B. I would not pull the weight down behind the head it is very easy to do shoulder damage. Rather work in front of the head. I would suggest for any exercise where you have a choice of training in front of the head or behind, then always opt for the front.

Bodybuilding Muscles. How to train and build Huge Back| Massive Lats| Mid position Wrong

Here you will see that the body is leaning too far back, This is not good for the back, and the muscle is not really doing the proper work. It is very easy to put your back out if you are not in control. Allowing the weight to return too fast is also wasted exercise time and you are not taking advantage of the full rep.

Bodybuilding Muscles. How to train and build Huge Back| Massive Lats| Mid position

Here, make sure you keep your form. You need to lean slightly back, and throughout the movement, extend the lat muscles.  (Flex them) As you pull down do the movement in a very controlled manner. It is really important on the return of the weight that you are in absolute control of the movement. Do not allow gravity to take control of the return. When you are in control of the movement you will get a much better growth form the exercise.

Bodybuilding Muscles. How to train and build Huge Back| Massive Lats| Start position

The starting position is at the top of the rep. It is here that you set the tone for the rep. If you can extend the lats out as far as you can, you will be very aware of the muscle. Try to make it look like you have wings. This way as you bring the weight down you will use the lats to do the work and not the biceps. Sit upright and you can lean slightly back.

Bodybuilding muscles| Biceps| Preacher Curls - Midpoint, BAD position

Mid point. Bad
You will see from photo that the body has changed its position and is trying to help the biceps. This then stops the exercise from being effective. To do the exercise correctly you need to train in a relaxed state. Only the muscle that you want to work must be under stress. Remain in a comfortable seated position. Use the bicep to do the lift.