| f the biggest problems a newbie bodybuilder faces is | | | | the initial stages of their weight lifting program. Thus |
| determining how much to train. When they start a | | | | begins the downward spiral of more and more over |
| bodybuilding program, after having never exercised | | | | training, and the resultant lack of muscle growth and |
| with weights before, the body generally responds | | | | fatigue. |
| relatively fast. The new bodybuilder can see gains in | | | | With correct guidance the bodybuilder will be able to |
| muscle size and a firming of the body within the first | | | | see when they are getting into a state of over training |
| few weeks and this encourages them to train harder. | | | | and allow themself a little more time to recover. This |
| This is where the problems start to begin. After the | | | | might involve having a few days rest from exercise, or |
| initial burst of muscle development, the body will begin | | | | more rest days between training sessions. |
| to plateau for a while, and increasing the training will | | | | Alternatively, the over trained bodybuilder might need |
| only lead to a case of over training. Over training | | | | to reduce the amount of weights lifted during a training |
| occurs when the muscles haven't had sufficient time | | | | session. |
| for recovery. | | | | Reducing the intensity of the training will help to |
| When the muscles are subject to weight training, the | | | | eliminate the possibility of injury and other health related |
| main process of development occurs during the | | | | problems as the body's immune system is put under |
| recovery period when the muscle cells are rebuilt, to | | | | stress. |
| cope with the increased demands of the weight lifting. | | | | People who are just beginning bodybuilding for the first |
| It is during this 'rebuilding' process that the muscles | | | | time need to be made aware of this process before |
| become bigger, and without sufficient recovery the | | | | they start training so they can plan their weight lifting |
| muscles won't have time to rebuild the cells. | | | | program in such a manner that they will continue to |
| This leads to the muscle getting over worked and | | | | see gains in muscle size and fitness and reduce the |
| growth is stunted. Without the correct knowledge, the | | | | possibility of the plateau periods where they appear to |
| newbie bodybuilder thinks that they need to train even | | | | be making little or no progress. |
| harder to maintain the gains that they were seeing in | | | | |