The delicate balance of building muscle


For most guys, building muscle just seems to happen on its own. My favorite example is from a song that says, "I've worked on a farm, and all I've got to show is the muscle in my arm..."

And really, that's what muscle is for - to allow us to move, to do things. If you move, and do things, you will build the appropriate muscle for that movement. However, if your goal is to build muscle mostly for show (which was my goal when I started in my late twenties) then you have to turn the whole equation around, and yes it does get complicated. This is hypertrophy.

First of all, you will need to be as healthy as possible. Building muscle is a slow process, and anything that slows it down just, well, slows it down. So don't catch a cold, or get the flu. That may not be possible, but at least you can avoid having a hangover, stuff like that. The list goes on and on of things that detract from your body's ability to build muscle, I'm sure that you don't need me to tell you all about them, like not getting enough sleep at night.

Now hang on there, before you set foot in a gym you need to remember to not get injured. Even the most minor injury (like the shoulder strain I had a few months ago) can hold you back. Don't stub your toe wearing flip-flops, don't get blisters on your hands because you don't want to wear gloves. I don't suppose that you need a helmet and a mouthguard to enter the gym, but you see what I'm getting at - watch out for anything that might keep you from working out. Be careful, be cautious.

But of course you can't be so wimpy that you don't challenge your body, that's what sends the message to your muscles to get bigger and stronger. How much weight? How many reps? It's different for everyone, and it's even different for you from day to day.

Now let's talk about eating. Yes, you gotta eat enough to fuel those hungry muscles, but not so much that they get covered by a layer of fat. See what I mean about balance?

Building muscle is a project that goes way beyond just grunting and groaning at the gym. If you want to be successful at it, it will take some precision on your part, and care. But if I can do it, you can do it!

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