Build MuscleProgressive muscle overload is one of the most simple rules of build muscle. To continue to bodybuilding and strength you should provide additional stimulus to your muscle tissue by way of increased workout intensity and heavier weights utilized. If you are not carrying out this, you will not progress, and you will not develop muscle speedily.
Did you ever really think about that? Do you even know why they grow? How can one possibly put together a solid weight-training program if they do not even know the answer to this basic question?
Well, to tell you the truth, no one really knows for sure the exact science behind muscle growth. The precise biological steps involve all kinds of complex reactions that no one has quite uncovered yet.
Don't worry about that, because in the grand scheme of things understanding the nitty-gritty biological processes involved in muscle growth really isn’t worth your time. It is the concept of how to build muscle that is another matter, and is something that you should definitely be aware of and understand.
Think of it this way: every single action and process that goes on within your body is centered around the ultimate goal of keeping you alive and healthy. You see, we humans tend to think of ourselves as such incredibly important beings who are here to serve some great purpose on earth.
Now I'm not saying that's not true, but as far as mother nature is concerned, we are here for one thing: to stay alive and healthy so that we can pass on our DNA and pro-create. It's that simple. Through thousands of years of evolution the human body has evolved and created natural alarm systems in response to stress in order to ensure our survival.
Think about it:
a) when you haven't eaten you feel hungry.
b) when you haven't drank you feel thirsty.
c) when something harms your body you feel pain.
d) when you're out in the sun you acquire a tan.
The action of muscle growth, scientifically known as "hypertrophy", can be viewed in exactly the same way.
When you go to the gym, you place your muscles under stress by lifting weights. Each repetition closer to muscular failure (the point at which your muscles “give out” and no further work can be performed despite your best efforts) creates deeper inroads into the muscle fiber and causes what are called "micro-tears".
In other words, you are voluntarily inflicting damage on your muscles by "breaking down" the fibers. Your body will perceive this as a potential threat to its survival and will react accordingly.
The moment you leave the gym your body will begin repairing these tears. Since the ultimate goal is to keep you alive and healthy, the body will rebuild the muscles bigger and stronger in order to protect itself against a possible future threat.
Micro-tears through resistance training -> Repairing of damaged muscle -> Increased size and strength as a natural evolutionary response
It's a simple concept, but crucial to understand. It's very similar to the way that the body builds calluses on the skin from overuse. Think of excess muscle tissue as one giant “body callus”.
What conclusion can we draw from this?
In order for muscle growth to occur, your body must perceive the work performed in the gym as a threat to its survival.
This concept is absolutely crucial to understand and implement. So naturally if your workouts must be perceived by your body as a threat to its survival, then the more intensity you train with, the greater results you will achieve.
Now pay attention. Although you have just begun learning about the basics of muscle growth, it is already time to share with you the absolute most important principle in the entire muscle growth process. It's actually two separate ideas, but they both go hand in hand. This principle is what muscle growth is ultimately based upon, and is absolutely, positively critical to understand and implement if you want to see real results. Build muscle is all about following this law, and you will only get the results you are looking for if it is put into practice…
