Moving From Beginner To Intermediate Level Bodybuilding
By now you've made significant progress in your bodybuilding career. For the past three to six months you've learnt how to perform the core lifting exercises in a technically correct manner. You've also conditioned the body and developed sufficient core strength to prepare yourself for a whole new level of intensity. Hopefully you've also built some rock solid muscle! But that's only the beginning.
In recent weeks your workouts have probably lost some of their effect so, even though you're lifting bigger weights, your muscles now need even greater stimulation to generate maximal growth. Don't expect miracles though - from this point onwards, every little bit of improvement will take even greater and more intensive work than before.
Because you'll be working your muscles more intensively, they'll also need more recovery time to adapt and grow and that's why you'll be reducing your workouts to three a week. Each primary muscle group trained will now need one full week to recover. After being used to whole body sessions and more workouts per week it may seem as if you're not doing enough but the point is, you'll be working your muscles very, very intensively and making better use of your time.
As you gain more experience you'll be able to tweak or re-design your basic muscle building program to suit your own individual needs, but the program described here should provide a useful starting point. What I'm proposing is basically a 3-split of the body on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
MONDAY (Chest, Triceps, Shoulders)
1. Chest Exercises
Incline dumbbell press - this is a compound exercise that targets the chest but also works the triceps and shoulders to a lesser extent.
Pec-deck flye - this is an isolation exercise that works the pectorals.
2. Triceps
Dips - this compound exercise targets the triceps but also works the chest and shoulders.
3. Shoulders
Front military press - this compound exercise targets shoulders but also works the triceps.
Dumbbell lateral raises - this isolation exercise works the shoulders only.
Bentover dumbbell laterals - this isolation exercise works the rear delts.
WEDNESDAY (Back, Biceps, Forearms)
1. Back
Front lat pulls - compound exercise that targets lats but also works the biceps and mid-back.
Deadlifts - compound exercise that targets the back and quads but also works hamstrings, calves and glutes.
Dumbbell rows - compound exercise that targets mid-back but also works biceps and lats.
Dumbbell shrugs - isolation exercise that works traps.
2. Biceps
Dumbbell biceps curl - isolation exercise that works the biceps.
Dumbbell hammer curls - isolation exercise that works the biceps.
3. Forearms
Barbell wrist curl - isolation exercise that works the forearms.
FRIDAY (Lower Body)
1. Legs
Squats or leg press - compound exercise that targets the quads but also works the hamstrings, calves and glutes.
Leg extension - isolation exercise that works the quads.
Leg curls - isolation exercise that works the hamstrings.
Standing calf raise - isolation exercise that works the gastrocnemius calf muscle.
Seated calf raise - isolation exercise that works the soleus calf muscle.
You could start this program by aiming for two sets of 8-10 reps per exercise but as your strength and size increase you should really introduce techniques that boost the intensity even further. This can be achieved in a number of ways including the use of pre-exhaustion, super sets, partial reps, isometric contractions and forced reps. These techniques are covered in detail elsewhere in this series of articles. Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
Related News
Steroid abuse scars a young muscle man for life - MSNBC
Starting Smart on Strength Training - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine
Starting Smart on Strength Training3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany -Aug 25, 2008Have a great workout! author Caleb Lee knows a lot about building muscle. His website will show you how to build muscle fast. |
Muscle Definition - What It Is - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine
Muscle Definition - What It Is3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany -Aug 25, 2008I can hear you saying out there; you’re probably thinking “Caleb knows all about fitness, he surely has some exercises which build muscle definition”. ... |
Build Muscle Faster - Corsavoo.com
Build Muscle FasterCorsavoo.com, France -Aug 19, 2008If you follow a proven training plan, do the proper exercises and stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle, you will noticeably lose weight and build muscle... |
Bodybuilding Workouts - Muscle Building Workouts - Corsavoo.com
Bodybuilding Workouts - Muscle Building WorkoutsCorsavoo.com, France -Aug 27, 2008As a man, I typically look for exercises that will help me build muscle mass, rather than burn calories. It basically all comes down to your body type and ... |
Market Health Bulks Up Affiliate Program With Muscle Advance ... - PR Web (press release)
What beginners should know about bodybuilding - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine
Should you use Creatine for muscle building? - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine
Should you use Creatine for muscle building?3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany -11 hours ago... from authentic sources and are taken properly. author Caleb Lee knows a lot about building muscle. His website will show you how to build muscle fast. |
J.Lindeberg Announces Joint Venture With People's Liberation Inc ... - MarketWatch
Twice A Day Workouts - AskMen
AskMen |
Twice A Day WorkoutsAskMen -Aug 25, 20081 reason many guys out there cannot build muscle is not a lack of training, it’s the opposite; it's too much training. The second reason why twice a day ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Gain Weight and Build More Muscle Mass
In the health, fitness, and nutrition world, achieving optimal or desired body weight is dominated by a single theme: losing weight. The vast majority of products and services available on the market proclaim to achieve weight loss goals, and even the (often discordant) medical community is in general harmony when it comes to promoting weight loss options, including drugs and some surgeries.
Beach Body Abs
With the return of warm weather in the spring, thoughts can never be too far behind of the approaching summer and the many wonderful outdoor activities that we'll often associate with it and among our top favorite summertime activities will always be the trip to the beach. Warm blue skies, refreshing ocean breezes, hot sand, cool waves and the many attempts at constructing the perfect sand castle; you can swear you're almost there just thinking of it. But that mental image just wouldn't be complete without also including images of hard, bronze bodies in attractive swimsuits soaking up the sun. Let's face it, attractive physiques will always be a top draw at the beach and the abs, or midsection, is the first thing that everyone notices.
Enough Already! Stop Coming Up With New Weight Loss Programs...
Great weight loss techniques are completely worthless.
8 Tips To Building Your Dream Body
Just like routines, this document is not intended to be a
"one size fits all." Take from it what you will, but
please remember that what is most important is your health
and well being. In that light, consider the following list:
Why You Must Use The Right Dumbbells For Your Workout
A dumbbell exercise program is effective with the right
equipment These days, more so that in decades gone by,
dumbbells are growing in popularity in fitness centers and
health clubs across the United States.
Muscle Building Training Tips For Beginners
(*) Proper bodybuilding exercises technique.
Dumbbell Workouts - A Smart Way To Exercise
Dumbbell workouts have been around for many years, especially as part of weight training equipment and programs. Fad workouts and equipment have come and gone, but dumbbell workouts have remained an easy, inexpensive way to get in shape and strengthen muscles. Their reliability and effectiveness are just some of the reasons for the longevity of their popularity. Add in the fact that they take up little space and cost far less than many other types of equipment, and it becomes clear that they are a perfect choice for many fitness fans, especially as part of a home gym. There are many different dumbbell workouts that can be done at home.
Focus on Both Consistency and Variability in Your Workouts for the Best Results
In one of my recent articles, I spoke about the fact that you must alter your training variables that make up your workouts if you want to continuously get good results, whether it is losing weight, building muscle, or toning up.
Why You Do Not have Killer Abs or that 6 Pack Abdominal Muscle
Ask any woman what is the most attractive part of a male body and most of the time, they will tell you it's the six pack abs, meaning that your abdominal muscle showing up with beautiful definition. Your abs is considered by many as a sexy muscle and is a symbol of a fit and healthy man. Women are instinctively drawn towards a man brimming with health and fitness because it is a primitive indication that the man is strong enough to protect her and her brood. A rippling six pack abs is one such indication. So is it any wonder that in every gym, you will see men of all ages doing crunches, leg raisers and sit ups religiously in the hope of obtaining the much coveted killer abs? Unfortunately, most men will never get to see their abdominal muscle in its glorious splendor. Why? The following fitness tip will show you why.
Build 80 Pounds Of Muscle?
Is it possible to gain 80 pounds of shredded muscle without Steroids? Yes, but very difficult. A realistic goal for packing on muscle would be 7lbs/year....yes, 7lbs/year-without steroids. Arnold in his day (late 70's early 80's) weight around 240lbs ripped up at a height of 6'2". So if you weight 190lbs for example and you are around the same height, it could take you up to 7-8 years to get in that kind of shape.
Are You Too Old to Pump Iron?
Are you too old for weight lifting? Will weight lifting help
you stay and look younger? The answer to the first question is
no and to the second is a resounding yes. Weight lifting will
help both men and women stay fit and supple and might even help
you look younger. And, no matter what your age, you're not too
old to start.
Building Better Biceps
Two of the nine pivot points - those stunning body parts located precisely where they attract the most attention - are the lower biceps and long head of the triceps. When fully developed, these muscles lend a mystical beauty to the physique that size alone can't.
Make Sure To Rest For Muscle Growth
One of the best pieces of exercise advice is to make sure you know that your muscles grow when your resting not training. That's right, you don't actually get bigger and stronger when you're in the gym. It's what you do after your workout that's the real key to muscle growth. If you don't let your muscles recover correctly, you're body will become over trained and it will be in a state of constent "catch up". This is far from the ideal state that you want your body in. What you want is to truly prime your body for your next workout and give it enough rest and recuperation to fully optimize your training.
Increase Your Training Intensity - Partial Repetitions
You can only build muscle tissue if you can generate progressively stronger muscular contractions, so this calls for an emphasis on finding ways to increase exercise intensity. This should not be confused with exercise duration as maximum training intensity will actually shorten the time needed to achieve maximal muscular growth.
Bodybuilding Protein
What helps make comedy also builds muscle?
Exercise The Right Way - The Leg Press
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders' training regimes.
Increase Your Training Intensity - Forced Repetitions
You can only build muscle tissue if you can generate progressively stronger muscular contractions, so this calls for an emphasis on finding ways to increase exercise intensity. This should not be confused with exercise duration as maximum training intensity will actually shorten the time needed to achieve maximal muscular growth.
The Health Risks Associated With The Use Of Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids are classed as illegal drugs and are banned by most legitimate sports organizations. There can be no disputing the fact that testosterone boosts the development of muscle mass and aids sporting performance. Equally there is no doubt that its use can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of users.
Build More Muscle and Lose More Fat by Discovering the Power of Training Variables!
Everyone will inadvertently hit a frustrating plateau in their training at one time or another. You're cruising along for a while, gaining strength, losing fat, looking better, and then all of the sudden it hits. Suddenly, you find yourself even weaker than before on your lifts, or you find that you've gained back a couple of pounds. It happens to everyone. Most of the time, these plateaus occur because people rarely change their training variables over time. Many people stick to the same types of exercises for the same basic sets and reps and rest periods with the same boring cardio routine. Well, I hope to open your mind and bring some creativity to your workouts with this article!
Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 5
Welcome to article number five in our 5-part series "Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts". In this article we are going to cover some basic, yet powerful training principles that are often overlooked and are responsible for nearly all bodybuilding injuries?
|
