Working Out Muscles Archives

bodybuilding Calves


A proper body building program is to be followed in order to tone our body muscles. In general a good body building program will consists of a series of workouts. The workouts are as follows: The first workout involves concentrating on the chest and triceps. The second workout involves performing any of the hamstring and quad exercises. Normally a day break is taken after these two workouts. The third workout involves performing any of the calves and shoulder exercises. The final workout is for the back and biceps. After this workout a full day’s break is taken.

Along with these workouts a good body building diet should also be followed.
In general a good body building diet program should be supplemented by a combination of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The approximate amounts of these components should be about 20% of fats, 40% of carbohydrates and 40% of proteins. This diet pattern should be followed mainly by body builders who would like to increase their muscles by reducing their body fat. Your body building diet program should contain carbohydrates from various different complex sources.

The complex sources should be extracted from brown rice and oat meal. Proteins maybe obtained from lean sources. Lean sources maybe obtained from food items such as red meat and tuna. Fats are obtained from unsaturated food sources. These maybe obtained from flax seed oils and olive oil.

Before starting a body building diet program you must be well aware of your regular calorific intake. It is normally advisable to increase the calorific intake in the body when a person is trying to build there body. Dramatically increasing the intake of calories for periodic days will help increasing the muscles in a better way. In general while doing cardio it is advisable to increase and decrease the speed with which the exercises are done.

The same procedure can be performed to increase the muscles in the body, by increasing and decreasing the amount of food. While in a program periodic rests are advisable. Certain body builders are very busy training all the time that they forget to take rest. Taking a couple of days off when in a program will restore the glycogen, increase the anabolism and also restore the hormonal indexes to optimal levels.

In general there is no good muscle building program’s that suits everybody. There are different kinds of programs that suit different people. In America certain Body Building firms follow Aerobics as a part of there body building program. During body building light aerobics is the only form of aerobics that should be followed. All the exercises are performed towards complete failure. Failure may be absolute, complete or just failure. Failure in the sense a point where the body is unable to perform any more of the particular set in a proper, complete manner.



bodybuilding arms


Are You Sick and Tired of the Image in Your Mirror?

Does a Visit to the Beach Intimidate You?

Are You Ready to Do Something About Your Flabby Body?

Get the Answers You Need to Change Your Image and Do It in the Privacy of Your Own Home!

Dear Wannabe Body Builder,

Have you spent countless hours in front of the mirror wishing you could wave a magic wand and change your body in an instant? Are you tired of women dismissing you at a glance? Do you ever dream about having a body that’s the envy of the locker room?

Don’t feel like you are the only one. Other guys have been in the same place you are at right now. They are tired of carrying the brunt of all the “fat guy” jokes.

The difference between you and those guys is that you are ready to do something about it! How do I know that? I know that because you are reading this. That tells me that you are sick and tired of your lackluster life and are willing to do something about it.

Where Do You Begin?

You’ve made the first step. You are admitting that you have a problem and are willing to change your life. The next thing you need to do is arm yourself with information. Luckily you are in the right place.

You’re a pretty smart guy already. You realize that body building is a viable method to not only pursue weight loss, but to burn that flab and transform it into a sculpted work of art.

All you need now is the road map so you know where you are going and how you are going to get there. You could hire a professional trainer or join a gym. Both can be expensive propositions if you go in blind.

You could order one of those “all purpose” machines that are advertised late at night on television. Again, until you know what your journey requires it can be a risky and expensive avenue.

You need answers. You don’t need to spend hours upon hours just looking for the right questions to ask before you even begin to think about the answers!

There is an easier way. A way that you can have access to right now! At the end of this article, visit a site that has some of the best reviews and programs related to body building. But I digress…

This is truly what every beginning body builder needs to know beginning with:

* What Are the Basics and How Do I Get Started?

* Find out exactly what you need to begin your body building regimen.

* The Technical Stuff

* Learn all about what routines you need to do as a beginner and how to progress to intermediate and finally advanced levels.

* Learning About Supplements

* Discover which ones are the best for you and how to incorporate them into your bodybuilding plan.

* All About Diet

* Discover why what you have been eating is the opposite of what you should be eating as a beginning bodybuilder.

Need to Read More?

Have you wondered about BMI? Like, what is it? How does it affect you? It’s so important that there is a full chapter dedicated to teaching you about BMI and what you need to know about how it figures into your bodybuilding.

Discover how to score really big gains. Anyone can be a flash in the pan one time. Learning how to maintain long-term results is the key.

Should you join a gym? It depends.

This is your opportunity to get the answers to those questions you always wanted to know about body building. For more information…



bodybuilding arms


Along with chest and back, bodybuilders have always thought massive arms to be the most impressive body part of course! When you look at photos of bodybuilders, your attention is usually drawn to the biceps. In order to have impressive arms, you need to work hard at it, which means breaking the muscle down into separate categories and making sure that each gets its share of hard training.

When we picture a well-developed arm, we tend to think of huge, pumped biceps, but the truth is that the triceps are a larger and more complex muscle group than the biceps. The perfectly proportioned arm usually consists of two-thirds triceps and one-third biceps. Like other body parts, the arms no matter how big they get, need to be shocked into responding for total development.

It is important that you don’t pick a weight that will make your face turn purple, but one that is just heavy enough to give you a good pump. You are bound to fail if you’re weight is too heavy.

Want to have big muscular arms ripping out of your sleeves?

Do not forget to work hard on your triceps exercises and do them in good form. And to build big triceps, you must feel the pull of your triceps muscles when the weight is at its lowest position before pulling them back to the starting position.

Make sure to change things up. Put your arms first in your workout order (on the day you lift bi’s or tri’s). This should allow you to weight down heavier and generate some mass.

Another important thing is to do different exercises. Do dips or dumbell kickbacks for your tri’s if you don’t do them already. Change the rep and rest periods. Do 10-12 reps with a 60 second rest period. Then later in the week do 6-8 reps with a 150 second rest period. The main thing is to do something different.

Want a great workout that’ll make those guns pop and make you cry when you’re done?

Stop everything else and hit your arms twice a day for two weeks (with a days rest each week). You’ll be crying for Mom at the end. Remember to then rest, for at least 5 days.

Very Important: To grow your arm muscles as fast as possible you need to train them and then let them rest and heal. They only grow when you let them rest and recuperate. If you train them too much then they will never get the chance to grow as training damages and tears the muscle cells – recovery is when they rebuild bigger than before.



bodybuilding Abdominals


Have you ever wanted to tone your body but seem to have consistently failed in your attempts? Do you want to build more muscle but dread having to lift heavy weights? Do you know that there is a way of building muscle without weights? Yes, there actually is a way to have the toned muscles you have always dreamed of without having to lift heavy objects.

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There are lots of people who want to build more muscle without using weight lifting equipment. One of their main reasons is safety. Bench presses and other weightlifting exercises require a spotter to assist and monitor the person lifting the weights. People also do not like the idea of lifting weights to build muscle because they simply do not have their own equipment. And there are others who find it a bother to constantly change weights and prefer to just simply exercise without any interruption.

How can you go about building muscle without weights? One way is through exercising while using your body as weights. Instead of weights, you can also use resistance bands. Doing push ups is an excellent example of building muscle without using weight lifting equipment. As you do this kind of exercise, you are actually using your body as weights and you are making use of your entire body as resistance.

If you are not familiar with what a resistance band is, it is simply a large rubber tube that people use as a substitute for weighs. Resistance bands come in different sizes and shapes and they are great for overhead presses and arm curls.

There are many other exercises that you can do to build muscle. You can do pull ups, abdominal crunches, squats, lunges, bicep curls, toe raises, and many others. Do these exercises properly and regularly and you will see that you are building muscle without weights in no time. Remember, building muscle mass does not have to be through lifting weights alone; there are many other fun exercises that you can do.



bodybuilding Calves


With the popularity of full body weight lifting routines for beginners and body part split plans for more advanced bodybuilders, the time-tested upper body / lower body regimen often gets neglected. This is unfortunate because lifters of all backgrounds and experience levels have long used this kind of routine to add massive amounts of strength and muscle mass. Here is one variation of this effective muscle-building plan.

Like many good training plans, this one focuses on gaining strength in the squat, bench press, deadlift, overhead press, and a few other compound movements. Each day has a primary lift followed by several of the most important auxiliary lifts. Go through this rotation once per week on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday schedule. If these days do not work well, just make sure you do not have more than two days of training in a row, and that you have an off day between Bench Press and Deadlift days.

Lower Body 1 – Squat:

Squat – Use a strong, medium-width stance.

Dumbbell Split Squat – place one foot on a bench behind you, and squat down with the other leg while holding dumbbells to your sides.

Weighted Sit-ups – Keep the weight behind your head.

Calves – Pick one calf exercise, and stick with it for this day.

Upper Body 1 – Bench Press:

Bench Press – Use your strongest medium or wide grip, an arch in your back, and a full range of motion.

Seated Dumbbell Overhead Press – Use a moderate weight and a range of motion from your ears to lockout.

Decline EZ bar extensions – Use only a moderate decline. Lower the weight over your eyes while keeping your elbows in.

Pullups – Pick one variation, and stick with it for this day.

Chest-Supported Row – To keep your lower back out of the movement, use any apparatus that lets you row with your chest against a pad.

Curls – Pick one variation, and stick with it for this day.

Lower Body 2 – Deadlift:

Deadlift – Use a narrow stance and an over-under grip. Do not use straps for your heaviest set.

Leg Press – Place your feet as high and wide as possible without hurting your hips.

Calves – Pick a different calf exercise from the first lower body day.

Standing Cable Abs – Using a rope attachment, brace your back against the cable attachment and crunch away.

Upper Body 2 – Military Press:

Military Press – Use a medium stance and minimal hip or leg drive. Make sure your shoulders are doing most of the work.

Dips – Use a medium grip that taxes your chest and triceps. Dip at least low enough so that your upper arms are parallel to the floor.

Cable Pressdowns – Use a bar attachment and a slight swaying motion to help. Add weight to the stack if necessary.

Barbell Row – Use a medium-width grip and straps for your heavy sets. Use a little bit of cheating in the motion to help you lift more weight.

Pullups – Pick a different variation from your first upper body day.

Curls – Pick a different variation from your first upper body day.

Sets and Reps – Minimal Volume, Maximal Intensity:

If you follow what the biggest guys in the gym are doing, you will notice that they often focus on performing a few, very hard sets of a few heavy exercises. For this plan, you will perform two main sets per exercise. After doing whatever warm-ups you need to get your body ready for heavy weights, do one set of 4-6 reps and one set of 10-12 reps (in that order). The first set will be your main “strength-builder,” while the following, somewhat lighter set will further tax your muscles and stimulate growth. For some exercises, such as dumbbell overhead press, sit-ups, and extensions, you will need to up the rep ranges a bit for joint safety and consistent progression.

Making Progress – Increasing Your Weight and Reps:

No matter what the bodybuilding “gurus” continue to write about drop sets, super sets, or whatever fancy techniques are in vogue, the only way to make long term progress and gains huge amounts of muscle mass is to get much stronger on all of your key exercises. You should strive to add more weight and / or more reps for every exercise, every training session. Keep a log of your exercises, weights, sets, and reps, so you always know what you must do to surpass your previous records.

Eating for Massive Gains:

No matter how hard you push yourself in the gym, you will not progress in strength or muscle mass if your diet is not up to par. Make sure you are putting your body in a caloric surplus all day, and that 30-40 percent of your calories of coming from sources of complete protein such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy. You will need to work just as hard in the kitchen as in the gym.

Sticking with the Plan for the Long Haul:

Whether you are just starting out lifting weights, or you are changing your current program, stick with this plan for several months before even thinking about switching things up. Following the teachings of so-called “experts” and switching up your workout routine every few weeks to “keep your body guessing” will leave you with no progress and a lot of wasted time and energy. As long as you are eating enough to gain 3-4 pounds per month, you will almost certainly be gaining strength on your lifts and adding some serious muscle mass.



How to Get Big Arms

bodybuilding arms


The reasons for wanting big arms are many and obvious. Arms rank second to a flat stomach as the most noticed and sought after fitness goal. The vast majority of people make three consistent mistakes in training for big arms. Depending on your current size (smaller arms will obviously respond more) my workout can add up to an inch in the first month and will continue adding size after that.

First, all workout plans should be well rounded and full body in focus. So if you are relatively new to training focusing on your arms is a mistake. Your primary goal in the early stages of a mass gaining plan should be the big muscles. Focus on compound exercises (bench, military, and leg presses, seated rows and lat pull downs in particular) that work the smaller muscles as well as the large. But if you have a foundation of training already (at least 6 months) then you are ready to isolate and can start seeing some real gains.

Secondly, did you know that the triceps muscle makes up 60% of your arm size? People who focus on bicep curls as the basis for getting big arms are completely wrong. The primary focus should be on the triceps, if overall size and arm balance are your goals (and it should be). Lastly, the mass gaining principals for arms are the same as for any other body part. You must go heavy and low rep. And I mean heavy. Most people grab up a set of dumbbells and knock out 3 sets of 12-16 reps of curls and wonder why my arms aren’t growing.

Here are the basic principals to remember in an arm workout geared to mass gains:

1) You must have a foundation of training before you start isolating arms

2) Do 3 triceps exercises for every 2 bicep exercise

3) If you can do more than 6 reps of anything with good form it isn’t heavy enough

4) Never do the same number of reps with the same amount of weight in consecutive sets. Never.

5) If you are not sure, on weight and reps, add weight, reduce reps

6) Perfect form is NOT a necessity for all reps (don’t injure yourself but “cheaters” reps with heavy weights are VERY effective)

The last principal is one that I use because of the psychological impact it has, and it may not be for everyone:

7) I train my bi’s and tri’s together, alternating sets, in a workout of just arms. I do this because the rush of fully pumped bi’s and tri’s simultaneously, gives me, momentarily, the biggest arms I can have and it motivates me better than working one or the other on separate days and as secondary workouts.

Follow these basic principals for any arm exercises for a month, eat right (plenty of protein) and get your rest and I guarantee you that in the first month your arms will grow more than they have been.



bodybuilding Calves


If going from skinny to muscle bound is your aim you better look closely at your current training regime because most skinny guys with fast metabolisms tend to be classed as “hard gainers”. This basically means that your body does not gain muscle fast for similar reasons that you do not gain fat fast either.

This does not mean you are doomed to being a runt, it just means a different training regime is needed for the skinny guy which these 3 simple steps can get you started with!

Deadlifting and Squatting

If you do just two exercises for the rest of your life these are the two ones you should choose. These are considered the two best exercises for overall muscle growth which is doubly important for skinny body types who tend to do very poorly with isolation exercises compared to others.

These weight training exercises work out about 75% of your musculature including your shoulders, traps, arms, Gluts, back, hams, calves and core muscles. Not only this but the intensity of these exercises has another important effect which is releasing growth hormones that contribute to overall muscle mass increase which does not happen with isolation exercises.

Compound Exercises Are King

As has been mentioned doing exercises that target just one muscle group has limited effect over exercises that activate multiple muscle groups with multiple joints moving. It is best to stick to exercises such as squats, leg presses, deadlifts, bench presses, barbell rows, pull ups, chin ups, over head presses, and dips.

This should be mandatory to your regime not an optional extra!

Focus on Rest & Recovery

How much of a focus do you currently put on your rest periods between sets? If you are not counting every minute and second then you are doing yourself a disservice in your skinny to muscle quest because your rest period is something that can show that you are increasing strength if you keep the same recovery time between sets but are increasing your weights. If you lose track of your recovery time you do not know if you are getting stronger or you are just resting more to get your energy and breath back!

Not only this but recovery times vary depending on what kind of workout you are doing. If you are training for maximal strength then you need a longer recovery time of about 3-4 minutes while muscle growth need about 30-90 seconds. So keep track of your recovery periods for the type of training you are doing for maximum results and training efficiency.

These three simple skinny bodybuilding steps will have you putting on rapid muscle growth and strength increases all over your body just like a certain skinny guy once did who became a champion bodybuilder and fitness coach.

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Go from skinny to muscle here!



How to Build Muscle for Bigger Arms

bodybuilding arms


With shirt sleeve weather here, the desire for bigger arms increases. Everyone knows the basic arm exercises, but it’s how you assemble an entire workout for arms that matters. Understand that there are variables in training that affect how successful things will be that have nothing to do with the actual weight lifting routine itself. If applied properly though, this arm blasting session will add inches to your arms.

Unlike some, I do not work my bi’s with the back and tri’s with the chest. If you want arms, then work your arms. But take this into consideration when training your other muscle groups. After this arm workout, chest and back sessions will be affected by “tired” arms. Rest and plan accordingly.

All exercises are 5 sets, pyramided, with the 4th set being the heaviest. The first and second set are 10 reps, third is 8, fourth is 6 and the last is done to total failure (should be 10 or so reps). Given the low rep count your weight for each set should be as heavy as possible. For example weights would be, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 70% of max for the 5 sets. Rest 90 seconds between each set. For maximum effectiveness follow this routine in the exact order given:

Barbell curls – Have your back against a wall.

Triceps extension – use a machine for these.

Hanging biceps using EZ curl bar/ weighted dips – alternating sets. This is the difference maker!

Alternating bicep curl/EZ curl bar triceps extension – alternating sets. Use a bench for these set at greater than 45 degrees.

As a guide I use 5% more than my body weight on the hanging biceps curl on the fourth set and 5% more than my maximum bench weight for weighted dips. Hanging biceps curl is performed on a bench set at 45 degrees, laying face down, so your arms dangle to the floor. Most people slack on the weighted dips. DON’T! If you weigh 175 pounds and you can bench 275, than hang MORE THAN 100 pounds for your dips. And by the way, if you can’t bench AT LEAST a 100 pounds more than you weigh, you should NOT be focusing on arms so much. You should be doing more compound moves, but I digress.

The session should take around 45 minutes to complete. I like to finish with a fast set of 21’s at a low weight for bi’s and immediately follow it with a set to failure of body weight dips to get the blood flowing and have that pump that let’s me and everybody else know that we built big arms today!



bodybuilding Abdominals


Muscle Gaining Secrets

Building muscle can be hard at times, but people across the world to be crazy about it. Although 90% get side tracked and not achieving this goal, which is ultimately looking attractive and invested in a good muscular body. Imagine burning fat while trying to growth muscle at the same time, never easy. Perseverance, contribution and extreme endeavors are vital by an individual, eventually to put up muscle or body shape. The rule of thumb is to execute the best muscle workouts frequently and sticking to a balanced healthy diet.

Furthermore patience is a virtue, it wont hurt being a little patient if you want to be successful reaching targets. Here is an ultimate guide to officially the best muscle building workout: Officially the Best Muscle Building Workout: There are no shortcuts or special tips when it comes to finding the best muscle workouts. Many of us try to imitate Arnold or other pro bodybuilders by copying their workout routines, but in vain. Technically as athletes the pros are gifted with naturally a good body frame, therefore can control effectively.

Different body types have varied muscle building approaches to be more effective. The following shows the most efficient tips for building muscles: Improve Workout Period: There will be a point in time when the body is used to the general workouts. For example if a workout is 30 minutes each day, lengthen the timing to around 45 minutes. Or another instance is exercising muscle building workouts 5 days a week, rather than three times, hence assisting in gaining muscles fast. Although make sure your not being overworked.

While performing officially the best muscle building workout routine, again put emphasis on a strict healthy diet plan. Lacking well balanced nutritious diets will certainly consume you. Yours efforts would have been well and truly wasted in building muscle. Try changing eating habits, follow healthy servings but in less quantities, while moderately reducing frequent eating of large quantities in one go.

Now this will support the bodies metabolic rate whilst losing excess fat. Another essential tip is to put emphasis on proper resting time to get the body to fully recover, as the workout schedules can be intense. In due course aiding room for growth and expanding of muscles. Workout to Build Different Muscles: How to improve workouts to build solitary exercises for individual muscle?

Once a week, reserve a time frame for chest muscles, leg or arm exercise and abdominal or back exercise. Although try to not make it a regular habit in performing individual solitary exercise. While mentioning depending on an athlete, some succeed with short-term gains, for instance a soccer player would give more focus on leg exercises. Start taking action to gain your muscles by Getting Your Muscle Gaining Secrets eBook now!



bodybuilding arms


How to get big biceps is one of the first questions many beginner and amateur bodybuilder ask. In fact, just under 35 million people ask Google this question every month! Why would so many people want to know how to get big biceps? Well put simply, owning a pair of fully defined rock hard biceps will work wonders for anyones physical appearance, not to mention self confidence. Whether it be for picking up girls or entering into a bodybuilding competition, having big biceps is pure gold. However, knowing how to get big biceps and solely focusing on them is one of the biggest mistakes newbies fall victim to.

Before I get down to the nuts and bolts of building big biceps, first let me give you a quick down and dirty lesson on anatomy…

To build impressive arms like the pro’s, you will want to be working the three major muscles that make up the arms. These being the biceps, triceps and the forearms. Work all three of these muscle groups combined with a balanced training program and nutrition plan and you’ll be well on your way to building big guns fast. It’s important to note that the bicep itself makes up only 1/3 of the upper arm, therefore the triceps obviously make up the other 2/3 of the upper arm.

OK, lets get into the serious stuff. I’m going to give away 3 of my favorite exercises that I have used to build big biceps and triceps fast.

How To Get Big Biceps Fast – Biceps – Standing Barbell Curl

This exercise without a doubt is the best mass building exercise you can possibly perform to get big biceps. The purpose of the standing barbell curl is to develop overall size of the biceps. It has been a highly regarded exercise throughout bodybuilding history for many pro bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lou Ferrigno and Ronnie Coleman, just to mention a few. You should make this exercise one of your best friends.

Execution: (1) Stand with feet shoulder width apart and grasp the bar with an underhand grip, hands about shoulder width apart. Let the bar hang down at arms length in front of you. (2) Curl the bar out an up in a wide arc and bring it up as high as you can, with your elbows close to the body and stationary. Fully flex at the top. Lower the weight again, following the same arc and resisting the weight all the way back down to the starting position.

Perform: 3 sets of 6-10 reps (perform 2 light warm-up sets followed by 3 working sets)

How To Get Big Triceps Fast – Triceps – Lying Triceps Extensions

The purpose of this exercise is to fully work the triceps all the way from the elbow down to the lats, in particular, the large inner head of the triceps. The triceps brachii muscle (Latin for “three-headed” muscle of the arm, it is called a three headed muscle because there are three bundles of muscle, each of different origin, joining together at the elbow) is the large muscle on the back of the upper arm which makes up 2/3 the mass of the arm.

Execution: (1) Lie along a bench, your head just off the end with knees bent and feet flat on the bench. Take hold of a barbell (preferably an E-Z curl bar) with an overhand grip, hands about 10 inches apart. (2) Press the weight up until your arms are locked out, but not straight up over your face. Keeping your elbows stationary, lower the weight down past your forehead, then press it back up to the starting position, stopping short of the vertical to keep the triceps under constant tension.

Perform: 3 sets of 6-10 reps (perform 2 light warm-up sets followed by 3 working sets)

How To Get Big Forearms Fast – Forearms – Barbell Wrist Curls

For those that have tried this exercise, you’ll understand how incredibly effective it is for building strong flexor muscles and a lock-jaw grip. Having skinny forearms and big biceps/triceps isn’t cool so don’t neglect this exercise.

Execution: Take hold of a barbell with an underhand grip, hands close together. Straddle a bench with your forearms resting on the bench but with your wrists and hands hanging over the end of the bench. Lock your knees in against your elbows to help stabilize them. (2) Bend your wrists and lower the weight toward the floor. When you can’t lower the bar any further, carefully open your fingers a little bit and let the weight roll down out of the palms of your hand. Roll the weight back up into your hands, contract the forearms, and lift the weight as high as you can without letting your forearms come off the bench.

Perform: 3 sets of 6-10 reps (feel the burn!)

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as knowing how to get big biceps, triceps, and forearms. Discover how a self-confessed “skinny guy” by the name of Vince Delmonte overcame his “skinny guy genes” and packed on a massive 41 pounds of rock hard lean muscle to become a National Fitness Model champion ==> How To Get Big Arms Fast.

Click here to download Vince Delmonte’s free e-book – “The Top 20 Ways To Screw Up In The Gym”.