The Basics: Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Great Bodybuilder?
Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Great Bodybuilder?
Thinking of becoming a bodybuilder? For most this can be a daunting experience. Bodybuilding is not just about lifting weights to develop huge biceps. It takes discipline, dedication and determination, along with a strict nutrition plan to reach success. It also requires patience.
You can’t expect to see results right away, and you shouldn’t give up just because you think you aren’t getting anywhere. The mental and physical benefits of bodybuilding will be worth the time and effort. So if you’ve got the drive and passion for becoming a great bodybuilder, there’s no reason you shouldn’t give it a go! Follow these bodybuilding tips to get you started.
How to Become a Bodybuilder
Educate Yourself
Before you commit to a lifestyle of bodybuilding, it’s important to have a good understanding of what goes into the process. There are different types of strength training exercises you can do to achieve certain bodybuilding goals.
Weightlifting is a tried and true form of strength training that works to strengthen your muscles dramatically and quickly. Calisthenics on the other hand relies solely on your own body weight for resistance, and doesn’t require the use of any exercise equipment. Common exercises include sit ups, lunges, pushups or crunches, which you can do conveniently at any time in any place. However, as you are limited to your body weight, it may take longer to build muscle mass.
Try to find out as much information about strength training as you can before planning a fitness routine. Do research on the important muscle groups and learn the right exercise techniques by
talking to experienced bodybuilders. This extra knowledge will help you determine what type of exercise is right for you and come up with clear, realistic goals for your body.
Plan and Develop Your Fitness Routine
Your strength training routine will largely depend on where your body is at and what your specific bodybuilding goals are. For instance, if you’re a bit overweight, you will need to focus on getting your body fat percentage down before you can begin building your muscles. Doing regular cardio exercises is a great place to start with this.
If you’re ready to begin building muscle, it’s generally a good idea to start with compound exercises. Compound exercises, such as pull ups, dips, rows or squats, focus on training all areas of your body as opposed to a single muscle group. Later on in your strength training routine you can choose to target specific muscle groups through isolation exercises like bicep curls, leg extensions, or triceps extensions.
If you’re going to do weight training, you will obviously need easy access to a range of weightlifting equipment to build your physique, like free weights and weight machines. Join a gym closest to you, or invest in your own home gym equipment for even more convenience. When you start, you will need to figure out the maximum weight you can lift. Choosing the accurate weight for your training level will help you avoid injury and build the right type of muscle.
Set a Meal Plan
A well-designed nutrition plan is crucial if you want to become a great bodybuilder. Without good nutrition, you are unlikely to see much progress in your muscle size and strength. A diet rich in protein can help you to build muscle more quickly. The general rule is to consume about 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. You can find loads of protein in foods such as fish, beans, egg whites, and lean cuts of meat.
It’s also important for a bodybuilder to consume plenty of complex carbohydrates, like whole grain bread, oatmeal, whole grain pasta, brown rice or sweet potatoes. It’s best to consume these on your workout days to ensure you sustain your energy and minimize any unwanted fat. Healthy fats are also an essential component of a good bodybuilding diet regime as it helps to boost testosterone.
Healthy fats can be found in avocados, olive oil, eggs and nuts. Finally, make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as these contain important vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and fiber that are good for your health and digestion.
To ensure you stay on track with your diet, keep a detailed food diary. Don’t forget to also take photos of your bodybuilding progress along the way so that you can see what you need to work on.
Alex Cordier is a freelance writer, who has been published across various sites on topics including home, travel, health and lifestyle. She is most passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. You can check out more of her articles here.
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Photo sources:
Photo 1 – Pxhere – CC0 Public Domain
Photo 2 – Pixabay – CC0 Creative Commons
Photo 3 – Pxhere – CC0 Public Domain
Photo 4 – Pixabay – CC0 Creative Commons
