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Bodybuilding in its simplest form is actually easier than one may think. Sure, there are probably thousands of biological processes that go on inside of your body to build muscle but the rule of thumb should be this: keep it simple!

By: Phano Paul Som

Bodybuilding in its simplest form is actually easier than one may think. Sure, there are probably thousands of biological processes that go on inside of your body to build muscle, but the rule of thumb should be this: Keep It Simple!

You can choose from basic exercises or compound exercises, heavy weights or light weights, or rotating between heavy and light weight. You may choose forced reps or partial reps, very strict form, cheating, or somewhere in between strict form and cheating, or accentuating the concentric part of the movement or accentuating the eccentric part of the movement.

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What Are Cheating Reps?

At the end of a set, when you can't do any more reps with good form, use a bit of body swing or momentum to help get the weight past the sticking point.

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Then there is the question of reps. Do you choose 12 to 15 reps, 10 to 12 reps, or 4 to 6 reps? Supersets, trisets, or giant sets? How about dumbbells or barbells, or free weights, nautilus machines, or those machines seen on late-night TV?

Do you feel the burn, feel the pump, or feel the pain? Do you take a short rest between sets or a long rest between sets? Do you opt for routines for hardgainers, routines for the genetically-gifted, or routines for the Average Joe? Are you more concerned with developing predominately fast-twitch muscle fibers or predominately slow-twitch muscle fibers?

Related Muscle Fiber Articles:

Muscle Physiology - Oh Those Crazy Muscles! - By Eric Broser

Fiber Type Training. - By Dr. David Ryan

Muscle Fibers: How Do They Differ? - By Shannon Clark

Other Muscle Fiber Articles...

Do you factor in different training variables for those who are steroid-enhanced or variables for those who are drug-free? Do you choose 3-on-1-off, 2-on-1-off, or one body part per week? The list of training variables, philosophies, and theories seem endless, don't they?

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Building Muscle:
So, Which Is The "Right" Way?
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The question plaguing everyone's mind is which is the right way to build muscle? My philosophy is to keep it simple! In order to build muscle, you must do three things:

Overload The Muscle: If you don't overload the muscle, then it won't adapt and grow stronger (hypertrophy).

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Overload The Muscle To Grow Stronger.

Recuperate Completely: After overloading the muscle, you will not benefit from any more intense training until it has fully recuperated. 'Nuff said.

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Active Recovery!
Active recovery will assist you in taking maximum advantage and prepare you mentally for your next strenuous workout.

Author:
Richard Chan

Help Your Body Recuperate With Good Nutritional Habits: While you are waiting to be able to train a particular muscle group again, help your body's recovering ability by eating properly. You must do this throughout the day, the week, and the month. Consistency is key!

Can building muscle really be this easy? Yes! The hard part is doing everything you can to follow through with those strategies without constantly looking for an easier answer or making excuses for your lack of persistence, discipline, patience, or faith.

psom@yahoo.com