Being new to bodybuilding can be quite daunting. After all, seeing those experienced and long-time builders will leave you impressed with their strong build. Nevertheless, this makes you realize how tough it was for them to get there.
Some people may feel intimidated by the work and effort required to build and develop muscles. But remember, those experienced bodybuilders also started from scratch. This means that even newcomers like yourself can jump right into the world of bodybuilding any time you want.
Bodybuilding can be an excellent way to improve your physique, strengthen your muscle development, and boost your overall physical health and wellness. So, if you’re ready to commit and get started, here are ten bodybuilding tips to help you get going:
Learn The Proper Forms Of Exercise
Before you start any bodybuilding routines, it’s ideal to learn and master the proper forms of exercise. Some bodybuilders often pick up bad fitness habits and eventually find it hard to break them. As a result, some bodybuilders end up risking themselves to injuries and accidents.
You may hire a personal trainer to assist you in learning the proper forms of exercise. You may also research and find a great page online for more resources about proper forms and start your bodybuilding exercises on the right foot.
Set Realistic Goals
It’s common for novice bodybuilders to start their exercise routine and expect instant results. However, that’s not how it goes. Like the rest of the experienced bodybuilders, it’ll also take you months or years before you finally see results.
But to keep you motivated, it’s essential to set realistic personal goals to keep you on track. Begin by taking small steps, then increase them as you go.
Use Free Weights
Even if you see plenty of high-tech workout machines in the gym, not all can help build a solid foundation for your muscle mass. As a beginner, starting with free weights like barbells and dumbbells to build your muscle is ideal. Free weights can provide a wide range of motion which helps you build more muscles than gym machines.
Start With Compound Lifts And Movements
Bodybuilding beginners tend to be too quick to try all the possible bodybuilding exercises they can find on the internet or in magazines. However, bodybuilding is a slow process. This means you shouldn’t try to do all the possible exercises in one session.
As a beginner, you can start with compound lifts and movements to help your body and muscles get used to the exercise routine. Exercises like the barbell bench press, military shoulder press, deadlift, and squats should always be part of your routine. These specific exercises can help your muscle groups adjust to the bodybuilding routine.
Stretch Before You Workout
As with any exercise, make sure you do stretches before starting your routine. Doing stretches will prepare your body and muscles for the intense incoming workout. It’ll also reduce your risk of experiencing muscle soreness or damage after the training.
Have An Exercise Program You Can Stick To
It’s hard to visit the gym and grab any dumbbell you see without following any routine or program. To ensure you succeed in bodybuilding, you need to have an exercise program you can follow closely.
It would be wise to seek help from an advanced bodybuilder or a personal trainer. They can help you create an exercise program that includes all the specific exercises you must do and the number of sets and reps needed.
This way, when you arrive at the gym, you’ll know exactly what to do for the whole session. It’ll also be easier for you to consistently commit to this daily or weekly routine, leading to more muscle mass.
Take A Rest Or Day Off
Bodybuilding isn’t always about working out. Taking a rest or a few days off from your routine is also necessary to give your body enough time to recover, repair, and relax. Training too much could lead to muscle strain and soreness and cause debilitating injuries, hindering you from achieving your goals.
Remember that every time you do a bodybuilding workout, you’re tearing your muscle fibers. So, to give them time for recovery, take at least one day off between each workout to allow your muscles to rest and keep them healthy.
Train And Focus On Each Muscle Group Weekly
Bodybuilding focuses on developing all the muscles in your body. Thus, make it a habit to train and focus on different muscle groups per week. Having bulky arms while your legs still need work will make you look out of proportion.
Work on each muscle group to see the effects of your workout efforts. Additionally, ensure you increase the weight you’re lifting to challenge your muscles and keep building them up continuously.
Eat Before And After A Workout
Your diet can significantly impact the results of your bodybuilding workout. As a beginner, it’s recommended to load your diet with more protein and carbohydrates, which are essential for muscle growth. You should also try eating four to five times a day.
Include Cardio In Your Routine
Many novice bodybuilders focus all their time and energy on lifting weights, so they forget about doing cardio. But remember, cardiovascular exercises are essential for muscle development and should always be part of your exercise routine. For best results, you may perform cardio exercises after you’ve completed your bodybuilding workouts.
Wrapping Up
These tips are a great place to help begin your bodybuilding journey on the right track. Remember to start slow, stay safe, and be patient with the results. The benefits of bodybuilding aren’t only limited to developing strong and bulky muscles, but it’s also about promoting your general health and wellness.
