Body Building Techniques and Rules

In all my years of weight training, it never occurred to me to become a ‘body builder’.

Too damn much work and dedication for me. I lift weights because I like the feeling of being in shape, not to grow huge muscles. I have read a bunch about the subject though and there seem to be a number of ‘rules’ that bodybuilders have in common.

Let’s take a quick look at some of them.

Free weights: If you are doing heavy sets, free weights are preferable to machines. Often what seems heavy on a machine isn’t doing you as much good because the machine does part of the job for you.

Compound Movements: It’s better to train using compound movements as opposed to isolation movements.

What Needs Work? A body builder needs to work for symmetry and the only way to do this is to evaluate what muscle group needs attention. Work on these areas more than groups where you are already bulked up. Try different exercises until you find out what builds muscle mass the best for you.

Keep Safety in Mind: You’re working with ‘huge’ amounts of weight here. Wear the proper belts and shoes for weight training. Know exactly how to do each exercise correctly. Heavy weight can not only ruin your day, it can ruin your life.

Repetitions: Normally working with heavy weights a low rep count is the best. Some guys work with rep counts as low as 3, but they are using super slow motions for maximum size gain. Learn what works best for you.

Protein is King: Bodybuilding takes lots of energy! There are numerous ways to get protein into your diet but guys I talk to still think that red meat is the best source of protein. A medium rare rib eye steak sure sounds good right now.

My cousin was married to a bodybuilder back in her twenties. He was a nice guy and incredibly strong. I lost track of him after they got divorced but if I saw him now I would like to ask a few questions;
•    Did you take steroids to increase mass?
•    How hard is it to maintain that muscle now that you are over 50?
•    Do you still have my Rolling Stones 8 track that you borrowed?