Muscle Gains: How To Gain Muscle Faster ~ Jimmy Hall

Muscle gains and strength gains are the goals of many individuals that workout with weights. (Fat loss is also big.) The question is, what is the best method to gain muscle fastest? How do we gain muscle and strength most efficiently?

Let's be real here. When someone first starts working out regularly, they gain muscle almost despite themselves. It happens. However, after a few months things get tougher. Why? The body is more fit and nearer equilibrium and not so easily tweaked for muscle mass gains.

The truth is that "dedicated" weightlifters often waste much time and effort due to "conscience." Yes, CONSCIENCE. Modern science is discovering that proper muscle gains depend upon the amount of working-out done, nutrition and timing, and rest.

Conscience tells us to always be doing something, such as exercising, doing cardio, lifting, or any other of a myriad of fitness activities. We feel slack or lazy if we are not constantly doing something tangible towards our fitness goals. The more we do the more we gain, right? WRONG!

STOP IT!!!!!  Yes, quality and timing are much more important than constant activity. In fact, this persistent high-level of exercise actually tends to work against your body over time.

Workout less, but more intensely. Do 2 or 3 hard sets in good form per exercise, as opposed to 4 or 5 sets. (A recent study demonstrates that a warmup set and 1 single set of 5 reps per exercise increased muscle mass faster for weightlifters in their first 6 months of lifting.) 

I suspect all dedicated lifters are slightly "overtrained," and can learn much from this study, despite it being conducted on beginners. WORK MUCLES HARDER, and WORK  MUSCLES LESS. (Former massive Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates famously did only 1-3 sets per exercise, often 1 or 2.)

Secondly, what you eat and take (food & supplements) and when you digest them makes a huge difference. We all know to eat and take more protein if we lift weights, but new info tells us that we should usually mix carb intake with protein intake for 30% more efficiency and greater muscle gains.

Make sure that you take-in protein and carbs together 20-30 minutes prior to a workout, and then take MORE of each within 30 minutes of completing your workout. JUST DO IT. 

Three hours later take protein with less carbs, and every 2 1/2 hours (until bedtime) do the same with progressively less carbs. Then, eat 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter before bed to stop muscles from being cannibalized during sleep.

Lastly, muscle growth occurs OUTSIDE THE GYM. Feed your muscles protein, carbs, water, (and yes, a good bit of fat) and supplements when away from the gym - BUT, also REST. 

Individual bodyparts/muscle groups do NOT need to be worked more than every 4th or 5th day for maximum gains. They must be optimally broken-down and repaired for muscle maximization. Get it? Again, rest.

DO NOT let your CONSCIENCE tell you otherwise! Doing NOTHING, you are actually doing a LOT for growth! Rest and get sleep, and feed your body. In so doing, you will grow muscle mass and get stronger faster. Yes, this is how to gain muscle....

Jimmy Hall is a writer from outside Atlanta, Georgia. His company, Jimmy Hall Writing Services (404-580-1501) specializes in Business Plans, Resumes, and Web Content - among other writing tasks. He is also an avid weightlifter, striving to make it to the next level.....