How to Gain Muscle the RIGHT Way using Bodybuilding Principles

Just about every guy on the beach would love to walk down the boardwalk with bulging arms that filled up his sleeves and ripped thighs that made people get out of the way when they saw him coming. This can only be achieved through the principles of bodybuilding used to build a ripped and muscular physique. Unfortunately, many who are searching for this result never quite reach it because they fail to learn some basic principles in the beginning. Body building is as much of a science as it is physical exercise and these principles must be adhered to if you want real results.

Below are five simple bodybuilding principles that anyone can follow to help them achieve the bodybuilding muscle results that they desire.

1. Use Compound Movements-one of the biggest mistakes that new bodybuilders make is they start performing isolation exercises before they've really built any muscle. What I mean by this is, isolation exercises are designed to work only one muscle at a time but if instead you build your workout routine around compound movements, then you be able to work on many muscle groups at one time. This means that core exercises such as squats, bench presses, and deadlifts should make up the bulk of your routine.

2. Don’t work out EVERY day-although just about everyone has heard this principle, few workout warriors pay attention to it. The fact is, muscles build during rest phases, not active ones. If you simply work your muscles out all the time they will cease to grow and can eventually shrink over time from over training. Instead, take at least a day or two off per week to allow your muscles time to repair and grow.

3. Go heavy for maximum results-while maintaining safety using a spotter, lifting heavy weights is integral to your gaining serious muscle. It is okay to start out light in the beginning, but once your muscles begin to build you'll have to increase the weight over time to ensure consistent progress. This is called the progressive training principle and is the backbone of true bodybuilding programs.

4. Protein is your friend-you have to eat protein if you want to build muscle, bottom line. This means lean meat, fish, and chicken and for those of you who are vegetarian, you may have to supplement your diet with protein powders in order for you to get enough protein to build the muscle that you desire.

5. Easy on the cardio-while cardio exercise is great for burning fat, doing too much can burn off some of the calories you may need to provide your muscles with energy and their ability to grow. It is often recommended to do your cardio work opposite the days you do your weight training workouts.

While the above only represent five bodybuilding principles, if followed consistently and with intensity, they can surely help you to achieve your bodybuilding and fitness goals.