How To Build Muscle

With summer just around the corner, the focus for many people becomes one of losing body fat and putting on a little more muscle. It goes without saying that learning how to build muscle is one way to look better in your swimsuit and to feel better about yourself overall.

But, most people are not really aware as to the best ways to build muscle without sacrificing their health in the process.

Building muscle is much more than just going to the gym and doing some squats. It takes concerted effort, a lot of work, and precise nutrition to ensure that your body stays healthy and you can safely put on muscle where you need it.

Why Do You Need More Muscle?

The most obvious reason for people to put on muscle is because it just looks better. We all know that defined muscle tone on a man looks great, but it is also very attractive on a woman.

When you compare a person with no muscle tone to one who has plenty, you will see that increased muscle helps them to look healthier, stronger, and a lot more confident.

Another very viable reason for having more muscle is that it helps your body to burn more calories. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be forced to work, and that means that you will burn through calories at a greater rate – whether you are working out or not.

As you grow older, the need for more muscle becomes even greater. Your muscle will help you to stay stronger and also help to protect your bones in your later years. This is particularly important to women who are known to have weaker and more brittle bones as they age.

How Can You Build More Muscle Naturally?

The key to building muscle has to do with putting weight on your frame. What this really means is that you need to do what are known as weight-bearing exercises.

These include lifting weights, running, walking, or playing a variety of sports. Not all muscle-building is the result of lifting big barbells in the gym, however.

Even though protein drinks and bars are popular these days, they are nothing more than fuel for your workouts. They will not result in muscle gain – though they can help fuel your muscles so that you get more out of each and every workout.

How Important Is Diet?

Diet is considered to be a much more important factor in putting on muscle than exercise is. This may seem like a remarkable statement, but the truth is that without the proper daily nutrients, your workouts may only result in muscle loss or injury.

Your body requires certain nutrients, most noticeably protein, in order to maintain and build muscle. Therefore, great attention to your diet is important if you are trying to lose weight or put on muscle.

You may be tempted to overload your body with protein powder or shakes, but there are actually real dangers to doing so. Your liver and kidneys can only handle so much protein without creating further problems within your body.

Therefore, a more balanced diet is necessary for you to provide your body with fuel. This kind of diet is usually a little heavier on protein than the average person’s, yet also includes a sufficient amount of carbohydrate and fat too.

What Are the Real Benefits of Having More Muscle?

If you are an athlete or you enjoy occasionally participating in a particular sport, then the benefits of having more muscle are obvious – you will be better at what you like to do.

Whether this is swimming, running, hiking, golfing, or biking – more muscle can help you to stay injury-free and be more successful at your sport.

On the other hand, as you grow older, the benefit of having more muscle is that you will be setting yourself up for a healthier life in the long run.

There are numerous studies that show just how much longer a fit and strong person can live, and this can be the result of just a few hours’ worth of working out per week.

What Types of Workouts Are Best?

There are many types of workouts that can help you to put on muscle and the types you choose will depend on what you enjoy doing, the amount of time you have, and your own personal limitations.

Hitting the gym can be rewarding but by no means is it the only way to put on muscle. You can do a variety of body weight workouts at home, including push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, jumping rope, and so on.

All of these are great ways to maintain muscle mass, increase aerobic capacity and feel better about your body in just minutes per day.