| Any person, who has even remotely been interested | | | | The second factor which is nearly as important as |
| in bodybuilding, has definitely wondered how some of | | | | your diet is the intensity of your workouts. This doesn't |
| these men can get so huge. Although large majorities | | | | entail lifting heavier weights then you can properly |
| of the pro's we watch on our televisions are using | | | | handle with strict form, this means that you keep your |
| performance enhancing drugs, there still are some | | | | intensity level up through the workout while lifting the |
| basic principles that if followed, will result in tremendous | | | | weight with strict and proper form. Body awareness is |
| muscle mass gains. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not | | | | probably the single most important factor in being able |
| claiming that you will be able to jump up on stage and | | | | to intensely train your muscles. If you're aware of and |
| compete with the pros but you will need to follow | | | | can isolate the exact muscles you are using in each lift |
| these guidelines if you intend on making any substantial | | | | you will benefit greatly from each workout. |
| gains. | | | | One of the most overused and an abused aspect's of |
| The first and most important rule to follow is to | | | | weight training is supplementation. Do you need to |
| consume lots of healthy food. The fact of the matter | | | | keep up with the latest and greatest products? |
| is the more food you eat or the more calories you | | | | Probably not! But you do need to invest in a protein |
| consume the more mass you gain. The quality of food | | | | supplement to aid with your dietary requirements. |
| you consume will dictate the type of mass you gain. If | | | | They're called supplements for a reason. They are not |
| you eat McDonalds and other fast foods you will gain | | | | intended to replace proper nutrition they are only there |
| mass which will be predominately fat but if your diet | | | | to supplement a proper diet. If you feel you're eating |
| consists of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fibrous | | | | enough and training intensely but still aren't meeting |
| carbohydrates your diet will primarily act as muscle | | | | your 1-2 pound weight increase per week you should |
| building fuel. Your meals should be split into 6 meals | | | | definitely up the amount of protein and calories you're |
| and these meals should be spaced 2-3 hours apart. | | | | digesting through a good meal replacement |
| This allows your body to optimally metabolize your | | | | supplement. Many trainees forget how important it is to |
| food which prevents against fat storage. As for | | | | rest and that the amount of sleep you get per night |
| calories you should eat enough that you gain 1-2 lbs of | | | | and the quality of that sleep will have a direct effect |
| muscle per week. Keeping a close note of your body | | | | on muscle gains. So make sure you are getting at |
| fat percentage will allow you to know if the mass your | | | | least 8 hours of continuous sleep each night. You truly |
| gaining is muscle mass or fat mass. | | | | do grow in your sleep. |