Training for building muscle

If you want the perfect body, you have to work out with weights. Bottom line. You can eat perfectly and aerobicize yourself until you’re a stick figure, but without muscle, you will have no shape.

Yes, women train with weights! Don’t be afraid. You won’t get huge muscles, or look like a guy…you’d have to take steroids to look like a guy. That’s not what we’re talking about here. We are talking about people like Rachel McLish and Corey Everson. And, more recently, the figure and fitness models like Jamie Eason, Monica Brant, and Jessica Putnam.

All of these women work out with weights. Training with weight gives your muscles shape. It enables you to actually sculpt your body. Muscle is also metabolically active. For more info on how muscle aids your metabolism, visit the Weight Loss Basics page.

Where should you go to train with weights? Great question and one with several answers. Some people get great workouts training right at home. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this task. You can do workout DVDs like P90X, yoga DVDs, etc. You can also try other home/gym workout plans like Metabolic Surge. Some of these programs can be done at home or or in the gym or both. (See the Fitness Program Review page).

Some people even have the space and the money for a home gym. If you’re interested in fitness equipment, there are many places to look, both in your area or online. Some nice websites to check out for home gym equipment are Weight Lifting Equipment – a website which offers a selection of weight lifting equipment including dumbbells, Olympic weight sets and kettlebell sets. All their weight training equipment is priced at discounts and comes with free shipping. Use weight lifting equipment to build strength and stamina for long term health and fitness. Also Home Gym Equipment – this site offers a wide selection of home gyms with free shipping and great warranties on all home gyms and accessories. Buy a home gym and begin your path to lifelong fitness! There is no better place to exercise than in the comfort of your own home gym. You won’t have any excuses!

Those of us who don’t have home gym equipment are usually relegated to a gym or fitness facility. For me and many others, this is also a great option. It gets you out of the house and on a specific mission to get in your workout.

By the time I roust myself at oh-dark-thirty and drag myself to the gym, there is no way I’m not going to get in at least a decent workout! I feel that since I put so much effort into “just getting there” that I can’t let it go to waste and not push myself. It’s easier to focus too because you don’t have your normal distractions and chores calling your name like you do at home. And, if you workout with your ipod on, you probably are less likely to be interrupted as well.

And, don’t forget, you should always have a plan for your workout (See the Fitness Workouts page). There are so many ways to set up your workout; the possibilities are endless. Some people like to do upper body one day and lower body the next. If you’re a bit more serious about putting on some muscle, many fitness competitors and bodybuilders like to split the body into parts and work two to three bodyparts a day. They typically add in cardio sessions too in addition to the weight training. It really depends on what your goals are. Once again, one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read on this subject is “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle”, by Tom Venuto. He explains everything.

So, stick with your weight-training. And now that you have a plan, make sure to keep you body guessing – you should switch up your plan every 6-8 weeks or so. You’ll definitely notice real changes in your physique – for the better!