{"id":20973,"date":"2014-04-25T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2014-04-25T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=20973"},"modified":"2021-09-16T13:57:37","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T17:57:37","slug":"build-muscle-strength-training-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/build-muscle-strength-training-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Strength Training Tips to Build Muscle Mass"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Strength
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s no question that strong is the new skinny, but\u00a0putting on muscle<\/a>\u00a0can be easier said than done. And while figuring out the formula for size and strength isn\u2019t exactly rocket science, there is some science involved.<\/p>\n

The Science of Strength<\/h3>\n

Thankfully we don\u2019t need a periodic table or fancy equations to figure out how to get fit. However, it is helpful to know what makes muscles grow. It might seem counterintuitive, but in order to grow, a muscle must first be broken down. And that\u2019s what happens when we lift weights. We\u2019re applying stress to our muscle fibers to create the best possible kind of injury, triggering satellite cells to rush to the scene of the \u201ctrauma\u201d in order to repair our muscles. These cells fuse muscle fibers together and create new muscle protein, known as myofibrils.The result: bigger, stronger muscles.<\/p>\n

When it comes to strength training, we can use this process in our favor. Because the body adapts quickly to challenging tasks, if it can\u2019t do something, it will try and change to make it easier the next time. According to Nick Tumminello, the owner of Performance University<\/a>, the key is creating a training plan that provides stimulus to the muscles and elicits growth. Tumminello says that if we want our muscles to grow, we must subject them to \u201cmetabolic stress, muscle damage and tension.\u201d It\u2019s also important to increase and vary the amount and types of stimulus over time. This concept is known as progressive overload<\/a>. Putting the method into practice could be as simple as upping the weight on the bar, mixing in new exercises, or focusing on eccentric<\/a> lowering of the weight.<\/p>\n

Maximum Muscle<\/h3>\n

So what are the best methods for building muscle\u00a0from diet to training techniques? We called in elite powerlifter Casey Williams<\/a>, World Record holder for the squat (700 pounds) and the combined total of bench, squat and deadlift<\/a> (1,770 pounds) in the 220-pound weight class. Williams also coaches other athletes looking to get bigger and stronger. Here is his advice for anyone looking to build muscle safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

1. Get moving.<\/h3>\n

\u201cBig moves are an invaluable way to increase strength and lean muscle.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For gaining size and lean muscle, Williams recommends focusing on four main exercises \u2014 squat, bench press, deadlift and overhead press \u2014 which aren\u2019t just for powerlifters, he says. \u201cBig moves are an invaluable way to increase strength and lean muscle.\u201d And there\u2019s science<\/a><\/span> to back that up. Research shows that compound moves, such as the squat, recruit multiple muscle groups and elicit a larger hormonal response<\/a><\/span>, making them more effective for building strength and muscle than isolated movements, like the leg extension. As for rep range, Williams recommends five or fewer repetitions for strength and six to 12 repetitions for gaining size.<\/p>\n

2. Be free.<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just the moves that matter most; equipment also plays a role. Williams advocates free weights over machines, and suggests getting your hands on a barbell, flat bench, power rack and plenty of weights. When it comes to exercise machines<\/a>, his best advice is to avoid them all. In one study<\/a>, which compared the performance of free weight users with the progress of another group using exercise machines, those using free weights outperformed the machine users, showing marked improvement in strength and balance.<\/p>\n

3. Carry on.<\/h3>\n

If size is the goal, it\u2019s best to prioritize muscle over miles. That doesn\u2019t mean zero cardio, just a different kind. Think about it: A pro football player doesn\u2019t train the same way as a world-class endurance athlete does. Focus on preserving muscles and burning fat. To accomplish those goals Williams recommends using hills sprints and farmer\u2019s walk<\/a> as part of a cardio routine. He also suggests sled pushes and pulls<\/a>, which combine strength training with cardiovascular conditioning.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Fitness Goals (And How to Actually Achieve Them)<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Eat up.<\/h3>\n

Packing on muscle usually calls for the consumption of additional calories, but it\u2019s important to focus on quality over quantity. According to the Department of Medicine at University of Washington School of Medicine, the diet<\/a> for an athlete or exerciser shouldn\u2019t deviate from that of a healthy individual except in the overall amount of food. By avoiding processed foods, refined sugars and alcohol, and opting for lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats, lifters can adequately fuel<\/a> their body to make gains in the gym.<\/p>\n

5. Shut down.<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s the combination of work and rest that will lead to results.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Finding the exercise sweet spot can be a challenge. Too much exercise will result in overtraining, increased risk of injury and halted progress<\/a>. On the other hand, too little exercise can make building muscle an uphill battle. It\u2019s the combination of work and rest that will lead to results. Creating a training plan that allows for a day off between workouts is one method Williams recommends for beginners. More experienced lifters may be able to sustain a training plan that includes more workouts each week. But even then, Williams suggests a deloading phase<\/a> every four to six weeks. This phase includes a reduction in the amount of weight during training sessions. Williams also points out that insufficient sleep can drastically affect performance in the gym and cause a strength training plateau<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stronger Every Day<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no secret to making muscles grow. Although the process isn\u2019t complicated, it does require commitment and consistency. But by challenging your body on a regular basis and fueling with proper nutrition, results are sure to follow.<\/p>\n

Originally posted on November 12, 2013.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Want to build muscle \u2014 fast? These expert-approved strength training strategies will help you increase muscle size, strength and definition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":20992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,6,14],"tags":[105,71,83,281,341,353,154,99],"class_list":["post-20973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exercise","category-fitness","category-strength-training","tag-free-weights","tag-nutrition","tag-resistance-training","tag-strength-training","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2weight-training","tag-weight-training","tag-weightlifting"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20973\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}