Building Muscle, Not Bulk with a Plano Personal Trainer

A good Plano personal trainer will teach you it is possible to focus on building muscle, not bulk. Getting stronger doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to look like the Incredible Hulk. You can build strength by keeping your muscles toned and lean.

This is especially important for women who want to be fit through and through without losing their sleek physique. Many men on the other hand, want to bulk up. No matter what gender you are, you can get strong in the way you want. The key is testosterone. Ladies, you don’t have enough testosterone in your body to bulk up. It’s just not in your genes. Men, you have it. This is why building muscle is easier.

With this said, men who participate in certain types of athletics need to stay relatively lean as well. Therefore, just like the ladies, you need to focus on building muscle, not bulk.

To gain strength, it’s not necessary to focus on bulking up and a Plano personal trainer can teach you how. Again, it takes a lot of work to increase the actual size of the muscle. What you should focus on is adding strength to the lean muscles you already have. This is just another way of saying that you’re building muscle, not bulk.

Here are some ways to get the energy to jumpstart your muscle building:

* Eat mini-meals and/or increase your lean protein at your main mealtimes
* Eat snacks in between meals
* Drink pre and post workout shakes

As you begin building muscle, make sure that you take the time to learn the proper form needed when strength training. Keep your movements as controlled as possible. If you think you need assistance, hire a personal trainer.

When starting a strength-training program, it’s best to begin with light weights and low repetitions. As a general rule, you should use weights you can lift at least eight to 12 times comfortably. After the first rep, take a break for a few minutes and then begin the second repetition. If possible, start with your larger muscles first and then work your way up to the smaller ones.

Be sure to breathe while lifting. To be more specific, breathe out while doing the most strenuous part of the exercise. Avoid holding your breath, because your blood pressure can spike.

Building muscle requires resistance. Therefore, make sure the exercises are ones that will allow you to increase that resistance once you become conditioned.

Another tip in building muscle, not bulk, is alternating your strength training days. Keep up with your cardio regularly and incorporate weights when your cardio workouts aren’t so strenuous. After a challenging day of strength training, give the muscles worked at least 24 hours to recover, before working them again.

Strong muscles offer numerous benefits which can help now and in the years ahead. Building muscle, not bulk is possible. More importantly, if you begin strength training now, you are paving the way for a much healthier future. For more information check out the personal trainer Plano website.