It can be difficult for people to start their path down the world of fitness.
For those guys and girls interested in building muscle, what you can find on the internet
is vast and very daunting, to say the least.
But there are..
some things that are more straightforward and fundamentally important for beginners
to know.
Here’s five of them that I think all beginners can benefit from once they start their way
down the fitness path.
Number 1: Start with moderate resistance and volume.
No pain, no gain, as the motto says, couldn’t be any more devastating for a beginner to
follow.
Don’t be the guy that can’t walk after their very first training session.
Fact is, studies do show that untrained individuals can get bigger and stronger without pushing
their bodies to the limit.
Certainly, maximal intensity and volume become important matters once you’re more experienced,
but for beginners, it incurs much more exercise induced muscle damage.
And since your body is not used to exercise, you’ll be sorer and weaker for longer, hurting
your future exercise performance.
Go moderately heavy, perhaps something you can do comfortably for 10 reps, and then slowly
progress from there.
Number 2: Get Your Protein.
Nutrition is important.
I think we can all agree to that.
But often beginners fall short on their protein.
Within the fitness industry, not many aspects are messier and more confusing than protein
intake.
Whether that’s protein timing, eating protein with your carbs, or using specific types of
protein shakes.
The information is overwhelming, and often unsubstantiated, but none of it matters more
than simply getting enough protein each day.
A good starting point is consuming 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight.
Or you can check out my protein intake video for other, more detailed options based on
your goal.
Number 3: Focus on Compound Movements First The best way to achieve overall growth and
strength is through compound movements.
These are like your squats, pull-ups, bench presses, push-ups and deadlifts, all aheavily
targeting multiple muscle groups unlike isolation exercises.
It will take more effort to master such movements, but the payoff in terms of growth and strength
is much more lucrative.
If I were to train every beginner in the world, compound movements will be first target on
the list before anything else.
Once you get your compounds down, then you can focus on isolation exercises targeting
muscles that you want to improve.
Number 4: Work on your mobility.
Many beginners and even a lot of experienced trainers for some reason think they can neglect
stretching and warming up their muscles and joints.
But without proper mobility, improper lifting technique, lack of range of motion, and injuries
often follow behind.
If you feel like you’re not doing a certain exercise correctly no matter how much you
practice, chances are that your mobility is holding you back.
Implementing dynamic stretches, PNF stretches, joint flows, and even foam rolling can go
a long way in improving mobility.
And finally, number 5: Ask for Help.
I get it, when you’re at the gym, all you want to do is blend in like everyone else,
even if you don’t know what you’re doing.
You might be timid in asking for help from that one athletic guy doing that one exercise
you’ve been trying to learn.
But think about it this way: whatever emotions or concerns you might feel or have about asking
someone else for help, chances are that someone else was in the exact situation as you are
now.
And unlike others that never sought help and quit, that someone else set aside their fears
and approached their someone else and got the support they needed.
And contrary to popular belief, people at the gym are more than willing to lend a helping
hand.
After all, they understand the struggle just as much as you do.
So, muster the courage, put your own pride aside, and ask for help when you need it.
One day, once you’re all muscular and knowledgeable, you might be able to return that favor.
And there you go, that’s my five tips for beginners wanting to build muscle.
I hope this helps some of you watching this.
For some of you that are little bit more advanced, please share some of your tips below and help
your fellow peers.
Other than that, let me know what you thought about the tips or if you want tips on other
topics.
As always, thank you for watching!