Bodybuilders, pretty impressive aren’t they? They’re strong, in control and look great. So, it’s no surprise that more men than ever are interested in giving bodybuilding a go themselves. Starting bodybuilding for the first time can be daunting, especially as there seems to be a lot to consider and a lot to learn. However, with these simple tips, you’ll be ready to go in no time.
1. Master Proper Form First
Before you do anything in bodybuilding, it’s vital that you master proper form. Otherwise, you’ll pick up bad habits that are hard to break. There’s a lot of help available online, so ensure you do your research and perfect it.
2. Take a Day Off Between Workouts
When you start off bodybuilding it can be tempting to work at it every day, but this isn’t always best. Make sure you give your body a day off between workouts to recover, repair and relax.
3. Make Sure You Stretch
As with any kind of workout, it’s important to stretch before bodybuilding. Stretching decreases the chances of damage and soreness. Plus, it increases the amount of motion possible and you’ll be able to put more into your different lifts.
4. Have a Goal
It can be easy to start bodybuilding and expect major results instantly, but that isn’t going to happen. In order to keep on track and to keep yourself motivated, have a realistic goal and a deadline. Start off small and increase your goals as you improve.
5. Eat Before and After a Workout
What you eat before and after a workout with have a significant impact on how well that workout goes. As a beginner you won’t be focusing on the specifics of your food intake, but trying to stock up on protein and carbohydrates before and after is helpful.
6. Don’t Forget Cardio
A lot of beginners focus all of their energy on bodybuilding lifts and forget about cardio. For best results, save cardio until after you have completed your workout and focus the majority of your energy on lifting.
7. Aim for Eight to Twelve Reps
Beginners are advised to aim for between eight and twelve reps of a lift when first starting out. This is because you are likely to begin with lifting slightly lighter weights and therefore more reps are possible. As you begin to lift heavier weights, lower the reps.
8. Stay Focused and In Control
It’s easy to get carried away when you first begin, especially when you get into the swing of a workout and a lift becomes easier. However, rather than rushing through, focus on staying in control and perfecting the task.
9. Focus on Compound Movements
A lot of bodybuilding techniques are complex, so start by focusing on the easier compound movements; squats, shoulder presses, deadlifts and lunges all work well. These require you to use multiple muscle groups at the same time and therefore more muscles are worked overall, without the need to add on individual movements.
10. Learn from Your Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, that’s a part of life. Rather than letting them put you off, learn from them. If you find yourself struggling with a workout routine, change it up! Keep alternating and editing until you find a bodybuilding program that works for you.