41 Muscle Building Tips Today 28-34

This article will give you at least 41 tips and ideas for gaining more muscle and getting more ripped than you can imagine.

Muscle building expert Vince DelMonte has helped over 20,000 skinny guys and consults with fitness experts all around the world on the most critical and supporting elements to build muscle mass and to experience consistent muscle growth.

In this article, Vince unmasks his own secrets that he used for building 41 pounds of steel-solid muscle in only six months – without any drugs or steroids, without bogus supplements, and while training less total hours than before.

In just weeks, you can make the same life-changing transformation. Find out his advanced muscle building strategies on how to build muscle, fast!

Whether you approach your physique as a hobby or a job, you should not leave any element to chance and hope it works. In order to defeat plateaus and forge a ripped and muscular body you need all the tips and tricks you can get. None of these techniques will work alone but by combining as many together as possible you’ll see a huge difference in your muscle growth – faster than before.

28. Avoid processed food, packaged food and fast food.

29. Avoid protein bars and any muscle building supplement that has sucrulose, aspartame, or other artificial or natural sweeteners.

30. Get at least 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

31. Don’t be afraid to overload your muscles with maximal resistance and miss your goal reps.

32. Consume a combination of olive oil, fish oil, coconut oil, mixed nuts and natural peanut butter each day to make sure you get ample healthy fats for testosterone and other muscle building hormone production.

33. Take a complete week off after 12-16 weeks of training.

34. Get a spotter to help you with your heaviest set.

To read more about Vince's No Nonsense Muscle Building Program <--Click

41 Muscle Building Tips Today 18 - 26

Muscle building expert Vince DelMonte has helped over 20,000 skinny guys and consults with fitness experts all around the world on the most critical and supporting elements to build muscle mass and to experience consistent muscle growth.

In this article, Vince unmasks his own secrets that he used for building 41 pounds of steel-solid muscle in only six months – without any drugs or steroids, without bogus supplements, and while training less total hours than before.

In just weeks, you can make the same life-changing transformation. Find out his
advanced muscle building strategies on how to build muscle, fast!

Whether you approach your physique as a hobby or a job, you should not leave any
element to chance and hope it works. In order to defeat plateaus and forge a ripped and muscular body you need all the tips and tricks you can get. None of these techniques will work alone but by combining as many together as possible you’ll see a huge difference in your muscle growth – faster than before.


18. Consume a variety of whole eggs, chicken, lean beef, fish and whole-milk throughout the day for high quality (bioavailable) muscle building protein.

19. Use a training partner for motivation and an extra push to experience faster muscular growth.

20. Never train hungry if you want to build muscle fast.

21. Concentrate your carbohydrates when your body needs them most – breakfast, pre
workout and post workout.

22. Ensure you do the squat and the deadlift each week to increase the release of
growth hormone and testosterone.

23. Hire a personal trainer if you have never received professional coaching on
technique and form.

24. Stretch at least half the amount of time that you lift. If you lift 3 hours a week, schedule at least 1.5 hours of yoga or static stretching.

25. Train a muscle group through it’s entire range of motion to stimulate muscle size.

26. Use a 3-day a week 20-minute interval training cardio plan, post-workout, to maximize the muscle to fat ratio while bulking.

Cardio And Muscle Building: How Cardio Helps Build Muscle

Cardio and Muscle Building most guys trying to add muscle stay away from doing cardio because they think it hurts your eeforts to build muscle. But the truth is doing the right kind of cardio workouts is beneficial to your muscle building efforts.

After I train, this happens every time I’m in the locker room getting ready for a shower.

I hear two scrawny, confused dudes (SCD’s) discussing the pro’s and con’s of doing cardio apart of their muscle program.

The conversation usually goes like this:

SCD #1: I hate cardio. I don’t do any since I’m trying to bulk up.

SCD #2: Me too but you should do at least 20 minutes of HIIT (high intensity interval training) cardio after your weights to keep the fat low.

SCD #1: But won’t that burn up my muscle? I heard long, slow cardio is better for preserving muscle…

SCD #2: Maybe you should do your cardio on your off days but I’m not sure if that’s good because it might effect your muscle gains too…

Ugh.

Another cardio debate that is making me lose IQ points by being in the same room as these guys.

I will admit, it’s a confusing subject so I’m proving a simple solution today.


Keep Your Cardio Protocol’s Simple

The reason this issue deserves attention is because I’m frustrated with seeing SCD’s who have great bodybuilding potential lose their waist line, get a double chin and get fatter instead of getting more muscular.

It’s a shame to see guys waste away great physiques because of not knowing how to incorporate cardio in conjunction to their weight training routine.

Look, it’s easy to bulk up when you’re not doing cardio. But if you want to gain weight while maintaining muscle definition then you need to sweat a little and stop seeing cardio as an enemy.

You have a few variables to manipulate when designing your cardio plan:

Cardio Protocol #1: Volume Progression

Just like you increase your sets and reps, you can increase the total time like this. If you’re a skinny guy you won’t need to exceed the volume beyond weeks 4 and if you’re in need of losing 30 pounds or more then keep scaling the volume up to 120 and 150 minutes.

Weeks 1 and 2 — 60 total minutes
(4 x 15 minutes or 3 x 20 minutes or 2 x 30 minutes)

Weeks 3 and 4 — 90 total minutes
(2 x 45 minutes or 3 x 30 minutes or 4 x 22.5 minutes)

Cardio Protocol #2: Intensity Progression

This is a good one if you can’t afford the time above. Instead of increasing the number of minutes you can increase the average intensity of the same minutes.

You may be really comfortable running on the treadmill at 7.0 mph for 20 minutes three times a week but don’t want to run longer or more often than that so you need to start speeding things up. Here is an example below.

•Week 1 — 3 x 20 minutes at level 7
•Week 2 — 3 x 20 minutes at level 8
•Week 3 — 3 x 20 minutes at level 9
•Week 4 — 3 x 20 minutes at level 10


The Big Benefits Of Doing Cardio While Bulking Up…



1. You’ll increase your appetite to consume more nutrients which in turns leads to muscle growth.

2. Better aerobic activity capacity leads to improving adaptations like increased cell “fat burning” capability (mitochondrial density) and vascularity (capillarization).

3. You’ll know longer look like a skinny dude with a pot belly.

4. Improved insulin sensitivity, allowing for more efficient utilization of dietary carbohydrates in restoring glycogen and stimulation of protein synthesis.

5. You’ll be able to handle great volumes with your weights as your work capacity increases.

6. Reduced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Probably because you’re improving your nutrition delivery system and clearing out metabolic waste.

The most important question of today is what cardio protocol are YOU following?
As you can see, there is no doubt you need to do SOME KIND of cardio and that’s why I dedicated a complete chapter in my book, No Nonsense Muscle Building, to providing a variety of cardio combination’s and progressions to ensure you use cardio to build muscle, not lose it.


I want you to avoid the mistake of bulking up and only looking bigger instead of looking ripped and muscular. I don’t want you to ruin your health, elevate your fat cells and become a ’skinny-fat guy.’

Life is too short to look average, take the sensible approach to muscle building. How the skinny guy can build muscle fast Sensible Muscle Building

Muscle Building Rules For Skinny Runts

Muscle Building Rules For Skinny Runts

By Vince DelMonte


You wake up in the morning and look in the mirror. Pleased with your appearance? If you more resemble the appearance of a long distance marathon runner than a world class sprinter, don’t worry, you aren't alone. You just need to start following these muscle building rules.

There are quite a few guys who simply have trouble packing building muscle. Whether their hormonal environment isn't quite as favourable or genetics was just out to get them at birth, one thing is for sure and that's that they need to follow a slightly different set of muscle building methods than those who seem to build muscle overnight.

Luckily for you, you're taking the time to do your research about muscle building so you won't be destined to a life where it seems like a strong wind might knock you over.

First, one of the key factors that skinny guys need to remember when trying to build muscle is that they must avoid volume work at all costs.

* Muscle Building Rule #1 *

Get in the gym and get out! That should be your motto from this day forward. Repeat it. Breathe it. Live it. Muscle Building is a calorie expensive activity and you need all the calories you can get at this point. If you are burning it up in the gym every single day, how do you expect to build muscle? You won't.

You grow when you are resting and generally, the skinnier you are, the more rest you are going to need.

Now, that doesn't mean you should park it on the couch for a few days in between your workouts. It simply means that each muscle building workout should not consist of set after set after set. Followed by a rest break to talk to that hot receptionist and then back to another twenty sets.

No, you're muscle building workouts need to consist of ten-twelve or fewer sets where you are pushing yourself to the MAX. There is no room for sissy, light-weight work in your weight lifting program.



* Which brings us to Muscle Building Rule #2 *

Ditch the isolated exercises. Who needs them? You certainly don't.

If your workouts normally include bicep curls, followed by tricep kickbacks, followed by leg extensions, followed by chest flys, followed by… you get the picture, you've got to change this pronto. Remember, you've only got so much time you are allowed to be in the gym for. Don't you want to get the biggest bang for your buck? Likely you do, so that means focusing on compound lifts only. This includes muscle building exercises such as squats, bench presses, deadlifts, rows and military presses.

Become friends with those exercises and you will have new muscles in the picture soon enough. Toss the five day split program, get yourself on a good upper/lower or full body workout program and you have found the key to unleashing new muscle mass.

Now onto the next significant point. Cardio.

* Muscle Building Rule # 3 *

I know, I know, you want to be big, but you don’t want to be fat. Let's not worry about that at this point, because you and I both know you are a long ways from fat.

Gaining fat weight is going to be more a concept of diet than anything else so as long as you are being smart in the kitchen, you don't need to perform hours of cardio to remain lean. Cardio is just going to further burn off precious calories that could have gone towards building you new muscle mass. For you, calories are a hot commodity and should not be spent on the treadmill.

If you want to keep up some cardio for general health sake, fine, but limit this to two or three twenty minute sessions per week - TOPS. And make it low to moderate intensity as well. The only place you are to be intense is in the weight room.

* Muscle Building rule #4 *

REST! You've put in your effort at the gym, fed your body with some good food and now what? Plans to go out partying all night with your buddies? You might want to rethink that. While you definitely want to maintain your social life while trying to build muscle - and you should - it should not come at the sacrifice of sleep.

Sleep is primetime when it comes to your body repairing itself and growing stronger so short-circuit sleep and you are short-circuiting your results. Just don't do it. Period. It's that simple.

* Muscle Building rule #5 *

Technique. Ever seen that guy in the gym who is hoisting so much weight on his barbell for barbell curls that it looks like he's got more momentum going on than the Gravitron at the fair? He's pretty much working every muscle in his body except his biceps. Not so beneficial. Not only that, but give him two weeks and a hundred bucks says he's out with back pain.

You must maintain proper form throughout your weight lifting, not only to prevent injuries but also to see the muscular gains you are looking for. If you cheat form, you are only cheating yourself. If you don't know what proper form is yet, book a session with a trainer or find yourself a spotter who can help you.

* Muscle Building bonus rule #6 *

Find a mentor. You want someone who's been there, done that. They used to be a skinny bastard just like you and they've managed to overcome the curse and now tip the scales and dominate the weight room. This guy will do wonders for your motivational levels. Don't feel like lifting? Have a good look at his body. You'll want to pick that weight up after that. Furthermore, he can let you in on some of his tried-and-true secrets that just might be key for you as well.

So to sum up your new approach to your muscle building sessions - get in, train hard and with proper technique, get out, eat and rest. Repeat this process over a few months without getting distracted or becoming too much of a party animal and you will make this the year you change your dreaded skinny image.


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About the Author:


Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain

He teaches skinny guys a new set of muscle building rules, without supplements, drugs and training less than before.

No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone: Sensible Muscle Building

How to Avoid Over-training to Maximize Muscle Building Part 2

Now let's take a look at the different types of over-training, and what we can do to prevent it.

* Is it Worse to Over-Train With Cardio or Weight Training? *


Any form of over-training is a bad thing, however, I've personally experienced both types of over-training and can honestly say that over-training in the weight room is much worse, and much more prevalent than over-training through cardiovascular training.

Here are some of the reasons why:

In order to grow, muscles must fully recover from their last workout, every workout. If you are over-training and work the muscles before they have fully recovered, you will break down the muscle tissue before it has rebuilt-making it impossible to build muscle!
Over-training with weights makes you more susceptible to nervous systems hormone and immune system issues, which all pose serious health risks.
It can lead beginners down the wrong path, perhaps wasting money on unnecessary supplements, or even worse, steroids.
I personally believe that only competitive athletes such as swimmers, runners and bikers run a serious risk of reaching a state of cardiovascular over-training, since there are often training for two or more hours daily.

The bottom line is that it is much easier for the average person to over-train while weight training than while cardiovascular training, and I think the effects can be more serious.

* How do I Determine if I'm Over-training? *

Determining if you're currently over-training is fairly simple. If you're in tune with your body, you can often see the signs of over-training before they get serious. If you are losing interest in workouts, are having trouble sleeping, and feel weak and irritable, you may be in a state of over-training and should take a week or more off.

If you are experiencing two or more of the symptoms outlined earlier in the article, this should raise a red flag.

Another variable you can use to determine if you are over-training is by tracking the performance of your workouts.

Has your physical performance improved compared to your last workout?

For example, let's say last workout you were able to perform 8 pull-ups using your body-weight, but were only able to perform 6 pull-ups the following week. This means that you have not "out done" your previous workout, have not fully recovered, and therefore are likely over-training. You nave to re-asses your program and make modifications so that you see progress every workout.

* How Can I Prevent Over-training? *

n order to avoid over-training, you need to take a multi-facited approach. Determining the correct training volume and intensity, eating the right foods, and getting the right amount of rest and recovery must all be taken in to consideration. Now let's take a look at each of those factors in more detail.

* Correct Training Volume *

Determining the correct training volume can be difficult, especially when you are first starting out. You have to determine how much weight to lift, how many repetitions and set to perform for every single workout.

You need to use your own judgment in this case, based on your recovery ability and your recovery methods. Remember that the goal is that you improve every single workout, and if this isn't happening, you have to decrease the intensity of your workouts.

This is where many people go wrong though. You begin your workout and realize that you have not fully recovered. You can either continue to train at a lower intensity than the previous workout, or skip the workout entirely.

As hard as it may be, skipping the workout is the right way to go. Just turn around and go home! Your body is telling you that it needs more rest, and you must listen to it!

There is no point in training at a lower intensity, further breaking down the muscle tissue. By doing this you will increase your risk of injury, and make it harder for your body to fully recovery for your next training session.

* Proper Nutrition *

Your diet plays a huge role in your muscle building program. It helps regulate hormone levels, provides energy, and provides the raw building blocks that are used to create new tissue.

Here are some dietary recommendations that will limit the chance of over-training:

Do not skip breakfast. This is one of the most important meals of the day. Skipping breakfast is very catabolic, and can promote muscle loss.

Never let yourself get hungry. If you're trying to build muscle mass, you have to constantly feed your body quality foods so that it never has the chance catabolize muscle tissue.

Unless you are trying to build muscle and lose fat, make sure you have eaten prior to your training session and are not hungry.

Have the largest meal of the day within an hour after your workout. Do this every single workout!

Consider taking proven supplements like creatine, and antioxidants to increase performance and fight free radicals.

Eat every 2-3 hours to ensure that your body remains in an anabolic state.

Keep glycogen levels at full capacity to inhibit muscle tissue breakdown.

* Rest & Recovery *

Rest and recovery is essential when it comes to avoiding over-training. Make sure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and that you are on a consistent schedule. As for recovery time, it's important that you have days off between weight training workouts. Try to have one rest day between weight training workouts, and never train the same muscle groups on consecutive days.

Sensible muscle building made easy. Building muscle really isn't rocket science there are basic principles that make your muscle building efforts a success.

No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone- Sensible Muscle Building

How to Avoid Over-training to Maximize Muscle Building Part 1

By Vince DelMonte


Almost anyone that's picked up a set of weights has or will experience symptoms of over-training at one point in there muscle building program. Over-training can lead to serious injury, chronic fatigue, and even muscle loss.

Over-training is very common amongst athletes and particularly bodybuilders, since they figure that training as much as possible is the fastest way to massive muscle building.

This couldn't be any further from the truth however...

Training too much, or at too high of an intensity will lead to over-training.

Now this doesn't mean you don't have to put plenty of effort in to see some decent results... Whether you are a bodybuilder, athlete, or just someone that wants to add some additional mass to your frame, you need to train hard and be consistent-that's a given for building muscle. In order to get the most out of your genetics, you have to progressively overload the muscles by increasing the weight and / or intensity of each weight training workout.

The problem is however, that many of us increase the intensity of our workouts or get insufficient amounts of rest, or even worse, a combination of both. The trick is finding the right balance between workout volume and intensity, and rest and recovery. And that is exactly what I'll cover in this article.


The Effects of Over-Training on Muscle Building

First, let's take a look at some of the effects of over-training and how one can prevent over-training from happening and stalling your muscle building.

The Effects of Over-training on the Nervous System

Over-training effects both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in the following negative ways:

Higher resting heart rate
Weak appetite
High blood pressure
Weight loss
Trouble sleeping
Increased metabolic rate
Irritability
Early onset of fatigue

If you are experiencing more than one of the symptoms outlined above, you may be in a state of over-training, and should evaluate your muscle building workouts as soon as possible.

The Effects of Over-training on Hormone Levels

Many studies have indicated that over-training negatively effects the levels of hormones, as well as the hormone response in the body. Since hormones play such an important role in the muscle building process, this can have a detrimental effect on your muscle building progress.

Over-training has been show to:

Decrease testosterone levels
Decrease thyroxine levels
Increase cortisol levels


The increase in cortisol levels along with the decrease in testosterone levels is a deadly combination, since this leads to protein tissue break down. This will ultimately lead to a loss of muscle tissue and bring your muscle building to a halt.

The Effects of Over-training on the Immune System

Perhaps one of the most alarming repercussions of over-training is it's negative impact on the immune system-you're bodies first defense against harmful viruses and bacteria.

Over-training can drastically decrease the levels of antibodies and lymphocytes in your body, making you much more susceptible to illness. Simply put, this means that if you are in a state of over-training, you are much more likely to get sick. Since you will have to skip workouts while you are sick, your muscle building progress will slow considerably.

The Effects of Over-training on the Metabolic System

Here is a list of how over-training can effect the metabolic system. These symptoms are the ones that are most commonly discussed, and are ones we can't ignore:

Micro tears in the muscle
Chronically depleted glycogen levels
Slow, weak muscle contractions
Depleted creatine phosphate stores
Excessive accumulation of lactic acid
Extreme DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
Tendon and connective tissue damage

So you must get the point by now... Over-training effects the entire body, and can seriously impact the results of your muscle building program.

Check back for part 2

No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone: Building Muscles 3 Steps

Get Big Muscles In 3 Simple Steps



By Vince DelMonte No Nonsense Muscle Building How the skinny guy or girl builds muscle.


Do you know what it really takes to build big muscles? Do you think it's as simple as buying a gym membership, training each body once per week, slamming back some protein shakes and trying to eat as much chicken and tuna possible? Viola, you are big enough to enter a bodybuilding contest. Can you imagine it was that easy to build big muscles? Unfortunately, your monthly gym membership, regular weight training workouts and casual eating habits, isn't going to cut it. Here are five simple steps to getting big muscles fast :

Squat and Deadlift

Squatting and Deadlifting are known as two of the Big Three exercises that are responsible for power and mass muscle building. Consider these two animal exercises the kings of the jungle! Without them, you do not have a chance of survival. These two exercises alone, work out about 75% of your entire musculature, including your traps, shoulders, arms, back. Gluts, hams, calves and core muscles.

Not to mention the degree of intensity, squats and dead lifts force your body to release greater volumes of growth hormone, which results in bigger muscles all over your body. This spillover effect results in strength gains in all you other lifts which translates into a more muscular you! Squatting and dead lifting are especially critical for hard gainers because of the hormonal spikes affecting the entire body.

Stick to Compound Exercises

What is going to isolate more muscle fibers? A bench press or cable cross over? A military press or lateral raise? A chin up or bicep curl? A dip or tricep kickback? If you ever hope to get big muscles than compound lifts are not optional, they are mandatory. Stick to squats, leg presses, deadlifts, bench preses, barbell rows, pull ups, chin ups, over head presses, and dips.

If all you do is concentrate on building your puny muscles like arms and calves, then you will end up with exactly what you focus on – puny muscles!





Keep Your Rest Periods Honest

When was the last time you were in the gym and you watched the average guy time his recovery with a stop watch? Stop watches are not just for endurance athletes but should be used by every person who is serious about building big muscles.

Generally, the closer you lift to your one rep max, the longer the rest period and the higher the number of reps, the shorter the rest period. This is a crucial variable, which is often overlooked, yet will determine whether you create the correct training response.

For example, if you are training for maximal strength which requires at least 3-5 minutes rest between sets and you are only taking 2 minutes, you are not giving your nervous system an honest workout. If you are training for muscle size which requires shorter 30-90 second style recoveries but are gazing at the cute girl on the elliptical letting your rest periods carry over these ranges, you are not giving your metabolic system an honest workout.

Lastly, how do you know if you are truly stronger if you do not monitor your rest period? For example, let's say last week you bench pressed 135 pounds for four sets of ten. This week you bench pressed 145 pounds for four sets of ten. Assuming the rest period was identical for both workouts, this is a tremendous improvement and a measurable sign of improvement! However, what if you took an extra minute or two between each set on the recent workout? This means that you did not actually become stronger. You just had a longer rest period!

Conclusion

You now know that building big muscles is not easy as showing up at the gym and throwing back a few protein shakes. Apply these three simple steps in your next program and I promise that you will start building brand new muscle all over your body!




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About the Author:


Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain.

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

The Muscle Building Zone: Build Muscle With Jello And Blueberry Cookies?

Can Jello and Blueberry Cookies help you Build Muscle?

2 Easy-To-Make Muscle Building Growth Recipes



By Vince DelMonte


Think putting yourself on a muscle building diet has to be a painful process? Whether your goal is fat loss or muscle building, getting proper nutrition is at least 80% of the game. If you don't have that figured out, you are going to be a long time away from seeing results.

The good news is that your tastebuds don't have to suffer if you don't want them to. There are plenty of ways to get in your proper nutrition while keeping things interesting. If you think gaining muscle means suffering through can of tuna after can of tuna or pounding back a protein shake as fast as humanly possible, you need to think again.

Give one of these recipes a try and you'll be surprised just how easy it is to eat right, achieve your goals and actually ENJOY your food at the same time.

Protein Jell-O


When you're craving something sweet but are on a very low carb diet, there often is not a lot of options. This recipe is the perfect dessert that will give you plenty of protein and not much else. Great for those on a very strict diet.

1 package sugar-free Jell-O (any flavour)

1 scoop Syntrax Nectar protein powder (any flavour - to match Jell-O)

Mix 1 cup boiling water with the Jell-O powder then stir in one scoop of the protein powder until dissolved. Once that's finished, mix in one cup of cold water and allow to set. Serve with low fat Cool Whip if desired.


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Blueberry Cookies


Everyone needs a good cookie now and then but not everyone needs the damage to their diet. Luckily with these not only will you be getting a great dose of protein, you will be getting plenty of antioxidants from the blueberries.

2 scoops vanilla protein powder

4 egg whites

½ cup oats

1 cup blueberries

First combine all three ingredients so they are blended well. Then mix in blueberries and drop by the spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degree Celsius for approximately thirteen minutes. Makes 10 cookies.

Nutritional Info (per cookie)

54 calories

6.5 grams protein

0.7 grams fat

5.5 grams carbs


For more muscle building recipes Check Out No Nonsense Muscle Building

The Best Part Of Fat Loss Meal Plans Part 2

Here’s Why The Meal Plans WORK

Let’s say you follow the meal plan 80% of the time. So if there are 5 meals per day, 7 days a week, you have 35 meals to adhere to. You follow it 80% of the time meaning you eat 28 of the 35 meals. Not bad at all.

But what do you do if step on the scale after one week and nothing changed?

Maybe you need a new diet plan? Maybe you need to drop the calories? Maybe there is something wrong with our plans? Surely, this must be the case.

Wrong.

The solution is simple.

***Follow the meal plans better than you did last week.***

Aim for 85% compliancy.

Just like you try to lift an extra 5 pounds with your weights or do an extra rep, you should be applying the same principle of progression to your nutrition. When you start getting closer to 90% compliancy, I promise you’ll be standing out in EVERY crowd.

Without following the plan and knowing what you are eating you have no way of making improvements and are a victim of winging your nutrition and hoping the fat might magically come off.

Following A Healthy Meal Plan Is NOT For Everyone

There is no shame in admitting if this sounds too intense for you. Not everyone is meant to have a perfect body and not everyone is as committed to their health and fitness as others.

I’m the last one to point the finger

The only shame is believing that you’re doing “everything right” when you’re clearly not even coming close.

The reality is that if you are not following any sort of meal plan right now and were to FOLLOW to the Empowered Nutrition meal plans just 20% of the time and gradually complied more and more, you would easily and quickly start losing that next 10, 20 and 30 pounds of stubborn fat.

Your body will be in better hormonal balance which will boost the fat burning hormones within your body so you can get into the best shape of your life - inside and out.

I think you know what you need to do now.

Done For Diets Fat Loss Meal Plans

Meal Plans The Best Part of Following A Meal Plan

This past we discussed that you need a nutritional template if you’re truly committed to having the healthiest and most attractive body possible.

A nutritional template just means, a meal plan.

A lot of people make the mistake of thinking they need a SPECIAL PLAN designed to meet their individual needs and that is a MISTAKE, at first.

Eventually you can incorporate some more advanced nutrition techniques but if you’re not flaunting a ripped six-pack, right now, or exasperating all-day energy, you are probably swimming in water too deep.

You’ve Been Lied To
We’ve both been conditioned to believe that you need a nutrition plan different than everyone else. You’re right, partly.

You’ve been told to worry about calories, macronutrient rations and other advanced details in the beginning, which in my opinion is wasted energy.

Focusing on these details is like working on your finishing sprint in the marathon when you’re not even in shape to run 1 mile yet.

The best meal plan is based on balance and variety which is exactly catered to your physiological make up. You can’t get more personalized than that!

The TRUTH:

At the start, EVERYONE’S nutritional quest should begin at the same starting line.

Plainly put:
You Need A SIMPLE Nutritional Plan You Can Implement IMMEDIATELY, COMPLETE With The CORRECT, Foundational Nutritional Principles.

That’s why I we sold 1,894 copies of the “Designed-For-You” Meal Plans last week. You can still join the 1,894 others who have already joined and on board to following a nutritional template as a starting line.

Click here:

Done For You Diets

Members love these meal plans because they are so easy to implement your very next meal and continue until you have developed the habits necessary to see results so that you stay motivated and finally perfect your body and health.

The Best Part Of Your Own Meal Plan

There are no rules to follow, complex formulas, expensive supplements, ridiculous macronutrient ratios that you need to concern yourself with.

Everything is already DONE-FOR-YOU and designed-for-you.

Don’t get me wrong, once you get to being a few percent away from “camera-ready” and “contest-ready” shape, you’re going to have to incorporate some more advanced tricks but for now, it’s best you accept the 3-phase meal plans as the best place to start.

Here’s Another Simple Truth…

Simple truth: you probably have no idea what you’re eating.

You’re not alone, 98% (or more) of the population is in the same boat.

That is only way 1-2% of the population actually have desirable, attractive and healthy physiques. I’m assuming you want to be one of them since you’re still with me?

You may be applying “nutrition health tips” found in magazines like eat more protein, eat more frequently, get more fiber, eat veggies with every meal and all those other great tips.

And if you’re getting the results you’re after and look and feel the way you want then you don’t have a problem.

Keep doing what you’re doing and rock on!

If you ARE NOT, however, this is a major problem we can solve TODAY.

Done For You Diets Meal Plans For Nutrition Success

How To Build Muscle And Gain weight Quickly Part 2

How To Build Muscle And Gain Weight Quickly Part 2

By Vince DelMonte The No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone


Do you mind if I be frank and ask you a honest question? If you had to transform your body which required you to know how to build muscle and gain weight quickly, and you only had a few weeks, could you step up to the challenge?

Let's say your wanted to enter a fitness model or beginner bodybuilding competition? Perhaps you want to be considered he 'buffest' guy in your gym? If you get starred at because your physique stands out in the crowd than click away because your probably already know how to build muscle and gain weight quickly.

However if you are the guy on the other extreme and receive surprised looks when you tell people you work out with weights, don't look any different than any body else in your gym and have never been approached for advice than please read this article carefully because this is your next step to building muscle and gaining weight quickly!

'Hardgainer' - Dump the title!

As soon as you start labeling yourself as a 'hard gainer' don't be surprised when your results come to a screeching halt.

This single word has more power to sabotage your potential for a muscular physique before you even begin training. Keep calling yourself a 'hard gainer' and don't be surprised if you continue to waste your time, effort, and money.

If you're lucky maybe you will build 3 - 5 pounds of muscle a year...

I have no problem with the term 'hard gainer' except for what happens when people label themselves to be so-called 'hard gainers.' Sure you might be a 'hard gainer' but I think most skinny guys believe they are actually 'no gainers.'

'Hard gainers' do exist but THERE IS NO SUCH THING as a 'NO GAINER!'

You might think you are a 'hard gainer' because you have trained your butt off for a few years, you eat the right foods, take all the latest supplements and yet still get a surprised look when you tell people you work out!

I don't know anybody that does not have the ability to put on slabs of muscle in record time. I have proven every client dead wrong who perceived themselves as a 'hard gainer.' This term is just a poor excuse.

Plain and simple: excuses are for the weak. It's easy to point the blame when your workouts are inconsistent, your training is sub-maximal and you indulge in a undisciplined social lifestyle. How convenient to shift the blame from yourself to a convenient label.

But it's easier telling everyone that you are a 'hard gainer.' Right?

This term is a great disguise for skinny guys who will never reach their true genetic potential. Instead of taking responsibility for your actions, it's a lot easier to pull out the 'hard gainer' card and flash it to everyone. It sits by your driver's license and has become a part of your identity.

The deadliest mindset in the world.

Consider this. It’s like saying, “I can’t afford it.” This should be considered a deadly statement because it forces your brain to stop working and reinforces a false perception of your true abilities. Instead you should say, “How can I afford it?” By constantly saying, “How can I afford it” or “I can afford it,” you will reinforce a new perception of yourself - you will no longer think of yourself as poor, but as a rich person.

If you examine these two statements, you will see that “How can I afford it?” opens your mind to examining the possibilities of accumulating wealth. “I can’t afford it,” on the other hand, closes your mind to any possibility of attaining what you desire.

Let’s make this example practical now. By simply being aware of the words you use, you can self-detect your self-perceptions. By changing your words, you can begin to change your self-perceptions - if you choose. So by simply reminding yourself to say, “There is no such thing as a 'hard gainer'” you will be able to bring out the muscular person inside of you. By saying, “I am a hard gainer” you are reinforcing the small and weak person who was already there.

Do you truly think that you can casually or unintentionally build muscle and gain weight quickly?

No way! Do you really think deep down that if you believe you are a hard gainer and a muscular physique is out of your limits, that you will ever achieve any significant results? I’m not talking 3 or 5 pounds of muscle a year. I’m talking about 20-50 pounds of massive muscle. Of course not. Every trip to the gym, every set, every meal, every shake you gulp down will be snuffed out because the beliefs in your mind have sentenced you to a life of smallness.

The very first step you must take before you read any of the training or nutrition content of this book is DITCH THE TITLE. Stop labeling yourself and start thinking of yourself as a ‘untapped reservoir with explosive muscular strength.’

Many personal development coaches stress the principle, ‘you get what you focus on.’ Therefore if you focus on being small, you will be small. Focus on being big and muscular and this will direct your mind and actions to the things you must do to become just that. All actions come from your beliefs and if you truly don’t believe that you can succeed then what chance do you have?

Focus on believing in yourself and your abilities and re-classify yourself as a ‘consistent gainer’ or an ‘unstoppable gainer’ or whatever title suits your motivation best. If you focus on being successful you will be and you are already one step closer to becoming the person you really want to be!




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About the Author:


Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

How To Build Muscle And Gain Weight Quickly Pt1

How To Build Muscle And Gain Weight Quickly Part I



By Vince DelMonte


Do you truly know how to build muscle and gain weight quickly?

If you knew how to build muscle then the skinny jokes would have ended long ago. If you knew how to gain weight quickly then the blank stares would stop when you tell someone you work out with weights. And if you knew how to build muscle and gain weight quickly you would no longer frustrated that the scale has not budged upwards since you first started lifting.

I know from first hand experience what it feels like to train for hours in the gym, slug back protein shake after protein shake, spend your hard earned money on over-priced and over-hyped supplements, with little or nothing to show for it! If this is you than you're not alone and are probably missing a few key ingredients that you're executing effectively.

If you're a naturally skinny person than you must play by a different set of rules. If you were not gifted with muscle friendly genes than does it make sense to follow a program by someone who builds muscle even when they sneeze? If you're training drug free than does it make sense to take advice from a guy who’s spending a few thousand dollars a month on steroids?

Or maybe you're taking advice from someone with great genetics? That’s like taking money advice from someone who inherited a fortune! You must accept the fact if you have muscle 'unfriendly' genes you must be prepared to play by a different set of rules if you want to build muscle and turn heads!

Here are a few simple tips to show you - the skinny guy - how to build muscle and gain weight quickly :


Train like a Barbarian! The No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone Style

Do people stop and watch you work out? Do you reach the point in a workout where you question your ability to finish? If you treat working out more like a hobby than a job than it’s no surprise that you do not stand out in a crowd and are still spinning your wheels.

The majority of people that work out in a gym barely sweat and spend more time starring in the mirror and trying to impress the new front desk girl than getting into the ‘zone’ and crashing through previous training limits.

Here are some tips on how to 'train like a barbarian':

1. Treat every single set like it is your last set.

2. Treat every single rep like your life depends on it.

3. Wear a stop watch and ensure that you keep the rest period honest.

4. Wear a sweater so you can’t stare at yourself in the mirror.

5. Wear a head set on that tells others ‘do not disturb.’

6. No girl friends allowed or wimpy guy friends who are going to compromise the intensity of your workout.

7. Train with an intensity that scares the gym shorts off of every person in your path.

Are you starting to get the picture? There is a philosophy that simply states, “You get what you focus on.” Focus on training like a barbarian and you will soon start looking like a barbarian!

Give your muscles a reason to grow!

Guess what happens when you train at the same intensity as you did in a previous workout? Your muscles laugh back at you and say, “Nice try, we did this workout before and can handle this stress! Is that your attempt on getting us to grow?”

Don’t get caught up in the latest hype of bodybuilding and fitness magazines. Most of it is rehashed and just packaged sleeker to sell magazines. There are two forms of training that must be cycled in a successful weight training program:

1. HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY! Put everything into lifting heavier weights and getting as strong as possible. Use only one compound exercise per major muscle group and focus on a 5% increase in strength from week to week. This will ensure neuromuscular development and targeting the fast twitch muscle fibers which have the greatest opportunity for growth.

2. VOLUME VOLUME VOLUME! Expose your body to as much work possible in the shortest period of time. Placing your muscles under more tension will result in more tapped and untrained muscle fiber being recruited therefore more muscle growth! The key here is to find the correct balance in time and work. Volume training does not mean 2 hour gym workouts lifting light weights. Instead lift heavy weights close to your max threshold but with shorter rest periods, slower tempos and more exercise selection per muscle group.

No more program hopping!

Sure, it’s easier to test drive a program for a few weeks and than say it does not work and move on to the next latest ‘breakthrough’ program. This is called the blame game and neglecting responsibility! Do you think you will become rich if you test out a new job for a few weeks and than call it quits when your first paycheck does not meet your expectations? No way! But if you stay with the company and exploit the companies benefits and opportunities to the fullest than you will succeed.

The reality is that virtually every program will work for a certain period of time if it is done at the right intensity and as the author has written.

Find a program and study the details of it’s full entirety. Ensure that the program goals of the author are in alignment with yours and study all the fine details. Do not ask a million questions and try and find holes or flaws or attempt to make it ‘perfect.’ The perfect program does not exist. Trust the program, follow it honestly and monitor the progress. The experience and results you gain from following one program for a consistent period of time will be priceless.




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About the Author:


Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at Vince DelMonte Fitness

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

Muscle Building Facts And Myths

Muscle Building Facts And Myths

1. Your Reps Per Set Should be 10-12

Wrong. Most weight training programs use 12 repetitions as a hard and fast rule for gaining muscle. The truth is, this approach actually denies important muscle groups of enough tension for effective muscle gain over the life of your training program. High tension, caused by use of heavy weights, provides tension so the muscle group being worked actually grows in size. This leads to noticeable gains in strength. Using the 12 rep rule boosts muscle size by generating tension on tissues around muscle fibers. The payoff is greater strength and endurance.

The standard prescription of eight to 12 repetitions provides a balance but only will get you to a level where you can easily handle the weight. At that point, tension is no longer provided. In other words you peak and do not generate greater tension levels necessary for muscle growth and even greater strength and endurance. So, what to do?

The answer for you may be heavier weights and lesser reps. This steps up the level of tension and you get stronger muscles in the process. Also by increasing and strenthening your muscle promotes fat loss and tone your muscles.

2. 3 Set rule with the 12 rep rule

A set, in case you don't know, is doing 12 reps 3 times in a row. Each set of 12 reps is one set. And, the number of sets you perform should be based on your goals and not on a hard and fast rule that's been around for 50 years. Your body is unique. Listen to it. A good rule of thumb is, 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps. This keeps the tension provided by the total number of repetitions at a manageable level. But, you decide the right amount of tension, not the rules.

3. Three to four exercises per muscle group

Wrong and a waste of you gym time. You will spread yourself too thin and not accomplish the tension you need for each muscle group. Instead, focus on total body workouts using compound exercises.

4. Squats And Deadlifts Are Bad And Cause Injuries

Enough already you want to build muscle? Do Squats and Deadlifts yes you must learn to do any exercise with good form or you can hurt yourself. Moral of the story To Build Muscle Do Squats And deadlifts or take up yoga. Enough Said!

5. Crunches make great abs

Not really. There is a better way. Muscles work in groups to stabilize the spine because the spine is your center of gravity. Abs, or the transverse abdominis, literally takes of itself. During most exercises, various muscle groups that are needed most for support of the spine are activated. You will notice this during your workout. Your abs and back muscles will be tense. They are being worked during almost every step of your weight training. If you are crunching your way to rippled abs, you may be overworking that muscle group at the expense of other groups. You can activate wrong muscles and limit the right muscles. This increases the chance of injury.

6 Muscle Building Tips

Six “Little-Known” Muscle Building Tips Part 1



By Vince DelMonte


So you think you know everything about building muscle? If you have read everything, tried everything and heard everything about muscle building but still resemble the silouette of a Calvin Klien model instead of a buff fitness model than I promise these three 'little-known' muscle building tips will accelerate your muscle gains immediately!

1. Body Weight Training

This was once a popular muscle building technique but is very commonly ignored. Why? Perhaps because most body weight training is simply hard and can put a dent in your precious ego! As far as I am concerned, if you can not work with your own body weight than you have no freaken business using external loading such as barbells and dumbbells.

It’s incredible how many attempt to use heavy weights with a microscopic range of motion but can’t do a set of push ups, a squat to the floor or even one chin up. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a place for external loading with heavy weights but not until you have the ability to master the following bench marks:

Males should aim for 1 set of 80 push ups, 1 set of 20 chin ups, 1 set of 20 1-leg squats, 1 set of 40 dips and 1 set of 20 pull ups.

Females should aim for 1 set of 40 push ups, 1 set of 5-10 chin ups, 1 set of 10 1-leg squats, 1 set of 10-15 dips and 1 set of 3-5 pull ups.

These standards will ensure a solid foundation of general fitness and muscular endurance and lead to building muscle mass more easily in the following stages of your weight training program.

2. Flip Your Program Upside Down Every 3 Weeks

This is an extremely powerful tip to building muscle mass, not to mention one of the easiest tricks to ensure your body side-steps plateaus forever. Consider that you have been training your chest shoulders and triceps every Monday. In you next phase, three weeks later, you should do the complete opposite. You will train your triceps, shoulders than chest on Friday. This will prevent plateaus because each muscle group will have an opportunity to train completely fresh.

Let's say you are training your back, biceps, forearms and abs on Friday. Than you will train your abs, forearms, biceps, and back on Monday (in the opposite sequence). You will literally switch everything upside down. Again, this will ensure that these muscles receive an opportunity to train first in the week when your body is the most fresh.

You will curse my name when you blow the heck out of the smaller muscles first and than train the larger muscle groups last. Yes, I know this months issue of Bodybuilders Digest said to never train the smaller muscle groups before your larger muscle groups. I have heard it before so stop analyzing, trust me and give it a try. You be the judge and don't be surprised if you see new levels of muscle mass and strength after this one technique.

3. Spend More Time At The Grocery Store

If you are serious about building muscle, accept the fact that you will need to spend more time than you do right now in the grocery store. Have you ever opened the fridge for something to eat and all you found was Aunt Wilma's Thanksgiving turkey leftovers with mold on it? Ever gone into the cub boards and discover only a few leftover bags of potato chips from last weeks Super Bowl party?

To ensure a optimal environment for building muscle and fat loss you must ensure your cub boards and fridge are constantly stocked. This will mean more frequent trips to the grocery store. Chuck the crap that is in your kitchen right now and replace it with good stuff and keep on replacing it. Don't ever let that supply of good food run low.



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About the Author:


Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

No Nonsense Muscle Building

A Muscle Building Breakfast by Vince DelMonte of No Nonsense Muscle Building


Question: What is the best meal I can eat in the morning to fuel my muscles?


Vince: This is the first thing that should be on your mind when you wake and this muscle muesli breakfast will do just the job. Mentally, having a meal with natural energy sources is the perfect way to set the tone for your day.

Mix 1 cup of cooked oats to get a slow-release carb and to keep your cholesterol in check. Add 2 cups of fat-free live yogurt to get a combination of carbs and proteins and probiotics. Probiotics help absorb magnesium, calcium and iron which are needed to maintain muscle growth.

Add a handful of mixed nuts which are rich in omega-6 fats and helps regulate digestion ensuring that slow release of energy. Add another handful of pumpkin seeds which can improve blood flow to your muscles during exercise.

Add a small handful of raisins, blueberries ans strawberries for an excellent source of antioxidants and to combat free radicals.

Add some organic honey which is high in zinc plus some cinnamon to taste. Cinnamon helps the cells absorb glucose better keeping energy high and controlling cholesterol.

Another trick is to soak the oatmeal in a cup of juice from an orange overnight in a Tupperware container so that when you wake up, add the extra ingredients and you’re good for the road. Make a second batch for a pre-workout meal and you’re lift like a champ.


If your looking to build muscle the right way keep reading to see what Vince has to say about how you can build muscle and lose fat Sensible Muscle Building

Sensible Muscle Building

Muscle building can be a hard task to undertake. Pick up any bodybuilding mag on the newsracks check out the workouts. They give you hour long workouts to work your biceps talk about bad advice. You need a sensible approach to muscle building.

Sensible Muscle Building Step 1 Stop Doing Marathon Workouts

If your purpose is to build muscle your workouts should at the most be 45 minutes. Spending an hour or more on one body part is not going to help you build muscle to your best capability.

Sensible Muscle Building Step 2 Stop Spending Your Workout Time On Isolation Exercises

Your looking to build muscle right? Concentration curls, Tricep kickbacks etc. are not going to help you add any significant amount of muscle.

To build muscle you need to be concentrating on compound exercises and working th larger muscle groups (Back, Legs, Chest) Hit the large muscles hard! compound exercises minimum amount of sets and reps.

Sensible Muscle Building Step 3 Squats And Deadlifts If you are dead serious about muscle building you need NO HAVE to use Squats and Deadlifts.

If you aren't willing to hit your squats and deadlifts heavy and hard there is no reason to be reading muscle building articles. Your a Dreamer not a doer.


So there are 3 steps to Sensible Muscle Building if you really want to build some muscle make sure you are using them.


SEE ALSO

Sensible Muscle Building

5 Common Problems With Biceps Training Part 2

Problem #4 - Using The Same Bicep Exercises Every Time:


Every pro bodybuilder will put their money on two of the simplest exercises for building huge biceps - barbell curls and dumbbell curls. According to the pros, these two exercises have built more huge guns than any other exercise in the world.

I definitely agree that these 'simple' exercises are a safe foundation to build a program around, but let's also remember that pro bodybuilders using steroids are going to have a strong response to practically any exercise they do.

I have no problem using these two exercises under one condition - you are getting stronger from week to week. As long as you are increasing the weights and reps relative to perfect form, then your arms should continue growing. Aim to build your barbell curls up to 110 pounds for a few "slow speed" sets and your dumbbell curls up to 50 pounds for a few "slow-speed" sets that involve zero rocking and swaying.

Once you build your barbell curls up to 110 pounds, you will be ready to try these two different angles on the bar. You will have to drop your weights a bit, but stick with these two variations until you build back up to 110 pounds:

Bicep Exercise 1: "Stress" the outer portion of the bi's by placing your elbows outwards and using a super-close grip.

Bicep Exercise 2: "Stress" the inner portion of the bi's by taking a super-wide grip on the bar and digging your elbows into your side (and don't let them move.)

Bicep Exercise 3: To "stress" the brachialis and brachioradialis stick to good old fashioned hammer curls and reverse curls. Don't underestimate these two exercises in the slightest.

Problem #5 - Not Enough Tension On The Muscle:


I think many weight trainees do not fully grasp the concept of isolating and actually training a muscle. They do not know how to make the muscle work and fatigue. Instead, you see a lot of swinging, momentum and sloppy lifting used to move the weight from every part of the body except the one they are actually trying to train.

The biceps have a very strong response to "constant tension," which means you should never give them a chance to breathe. Keep the bar constantly moving without pausing at the top or bottom. Focus on squeezing the heck out of the bar and never let your biceps relax until the set is over.

Your entire goal is to not allow any oxygen into the muscle which creates a spike with your anabolic hormones to promote muscle growth. Resort to a slower 3-0-3 or 4-0-4 tempo to get the job done.


4 Week Bicep Prioritization Program


Below is a sample 4 Week Bicep Prioritization Program:


Workout A: Pull Day (Large To Small Muscles)



Exercises Sets Reps Tempo Rest
Bent Over Rows 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
Pull Ups 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
Elbows in Wide Grip Curls 3 6-8 322 2 min
Wide Grip Shrugs 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
Stiff Leg Deadlifts 3-4 6-8 322 2 min

Workout B: Push Day (Large To Small Muscles)



Exercises Sets Reps Tempo Rest
Incline Barbell Press 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
Standing DB Shoulder Press 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
Close Grip Bench Press 3 6-8 322 2 min
Seated Calve Raises 3-4 6-8 322 2 min
1- Leg Box Squats 3-4 6-8 322 2 min

Weight Training Program Notes:



Notice the simplicity of the workout structure. This program will work extremely well for hardgainers. The overall volume might be a little low for someone used to a traditional bodybuilder split program and has more than four years of consistent training.



Click To Enlarge.
This Program Will Work Extremely Well For Hardgainers.


The power of the program is found in the principle of prioritization by sequence on the first pull workout. Notice that your prioritization muscle is being sequenced at the start of the workout and the start of the week. This is happening on purpose. We are intentionally giving your biceps an opportunity to train at their two most "fresh" times - at the start of the week and at the start of the workout.


Focusing on increasing overall strength can still be achieved on the second pull workout where the biceps will not be pre-fatigued.


Notice the slow speed movements. Many anabolic hormones are released when your muscles are under constant tension. The tempo's are set up so that will be forced to move the weight slower and with a greater amount of tension concentrically and eccentrically.


On a pull day, 402 would mean: 4 seconds to release the weight, 0 second pause at the bottom and 2 seconds to pull the weight. On a push day, 402 would mean 4 seconds to lower the weight, 0 second pause at the bottom and 2 seconds to push the weight up.


Focus on adding 5-10 pounds to each of your exercises over the course of the next four weeks while keeping the rep ranges and sets the same. It is not necessary to do more sets or more reps. Focus on increasing more weight under the same set, rep, tempo and rest prescription.

See Also

The Muscle Building Zone For more Weight Training And Muscle Building Tips.

5 Common Problems With Bicep Training Part 1

The "Guns." The "Pythons." "Thunder" and "Lighting." The "Rockweillers." There is no other muscle group that has earned more nicknames than when describing a bulging and huge set of bicep! Bulging biceps - every guy wants them. Count me in this group.

The days are far from gone when you walk into the gym and see 9 out of 10 guys doing bicep curls all at the same time with the same determination to add even 1/4 inch to their biceps. Training biceps has become almost an 'obsessive addiction' in the gym. I have seen guys do bicep curls in between sets just so they can 'see' a little bit of a pump in their arms.

I have seen guys spend an entire hour bent over doing concentration curls while starring in the mirror. I have seen guys take weights on vacation so that they can do some bicep curls at their hotel before they go into the club! I have seen guys spend longer amounts of times shopping for t-shirts than girls shopping for a blouse with the hope that one of these shirts will make his arms look 'good.'

Someone disagree with me that bicep training has become an unhealthy 'obsessive addiction.' for many. In the "Skinny Arms" defense, the allure of peaked, mountainous biceps will never go away. Why should it? The 'guns' are of a man's most prized possessions and one of many women's most desired body parts on a man (of course)!

My question is if 9 out of 10 guys are obsessed with seeing their biceps grow and dedicate so much of their workout volume to isolating their biceps and using every technique from forced reps, drop sets, and 21's which are 'promised' to be the most effective methods confirmed by pro bodybuilders, why do they still have little to show for their efforts?

Let's examine five of the most common problems with bicep training before I offer a step-by-step program to take your bicep peak to new heights.


5 Common Problems With Bicep Training



Problem #1 - More Is Not Always Better:


If doing 4 sets is better than 3 sets, why don't you just do 10 sets? Even better, why don't you just train them all day? It has been said before, but it obviously needs to be said again: "Less is often more." Especially if you are not gifted with "muscle-friendly" genes.

Your goal of each weight training workout should be to simply 'out do' your last workout. Once you achieve this with an extra pound or a few extra reps, then it is time to move to the next exercise. Not to Nazi-torture the muscle for another hour.

I have found this a hard concept for many skinny guys to grasp because they are fixated on the instant gratification of making their biceps 'look' big during the workout and not what they look like when they leave the gym, which leads us to our next problem.


Problem #2 - Being More Obsessed With How They Look While You Train Rather Than When You Are Not Training!


Problem #2 ties in with problem #1. The truth is that the longer you train your biceps, even if the weights are not extremely heavy, you can achieve a fairly decent pump that can turn a few heads while in the gym. This attention and perception that you are doing something beneficial is deceiving.

Yes, there is something to say about keeping blood in the muscle as long as possible, but if the workout is done with weights that do not overload your muscles and emphasize an increase in strength, your biceps will quickly deflate back to normal with no true muscle growth.

Problem #3 - Not Focusing On Increasing Your Overall Strength:


Some of the biggest guys I know rarely even train their arms. What they do though is put a strong emphasis around increasing their chest, back and shoulder strength. If you simply focus on increasing the weights on your rows, pull ups and chin-ups, rest assured that your biceps will come along for the ride and grow proportionally.

However, if you are always blasting and 'smoking' your biceps, they will always be fatigued when you train your back muscles and, as you should know, you are only as strong as your weakest link. This is another reason to take a lower volume approach to arm training.

About The Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building : Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain
He specializes in building muscle by teaching an explosive step-by-step muscle building system without drugs, supplements and training less than your friends!

Stay Tuned For Part 2- 5 Common Problems With Bicep Training

Building Muscle 5 Mistakes You Are Making

Here Are The 5 WORST Things you Can Do If You Want To Build Muscle & Get A World Class Body

Think you know a bit about bodybuilding? Think again. If you really knew how to build rock-solid muscle you wouldn’t be paying for more supplements, more personal trainers, more magazines and more books with false methods.

On this page I’ll blow the whistle on the supplement and bodybuilding mafia and then share the secrets to eating and training for packing on thick, dense muscle – in a matter of weeks, not months.

Sound unthinkable? Keep reading…

1. Almost all bodybuilding supplements DON'T WORK and are a complete joke and only make a 5% difference ASSUMING your diet and training plan are in order. In just a second, I’ll give you a nutritional advantage and tell you exactly what does work.

2. Traditional bodybuilding programs would lead you to believe that “shocking” your muscles with ‘different angles,” “feeling the burn,” and “splitting up your body parts” is effective but they are dead wrong. Below, I’ll tell you how not to waste your time and energy and gain maximum muscle.

3. Imitating the instruction of champion bodybuilders is a costly mistake because their advice has no practical relevance for average people like you and me. They will not tell you that drugs and genetics are responsible for curing their problem of being a hardgainer. They claim it's supplements and "better training." Give me a break.

4. Every bodybuilding magazine is owned and operated by a supplement company, which is why these mags look like massive supplement catalogs. If you’ve reading up on what supplements works, don’t bother because you’re getting biased opinions.

5. Lastly, legendary physiques were not built on silky smooth machines and bogus exercise equipment like the Bowflex, Total Gym 100 or the Weider Max 5000. Below I’ll demonstrate the classic exercises which may make you wonder why they’ve been discarded – wait till you try them.

Stop being a casualty of misinformation and learn the bottom line TRUTH toward gaining weight and building lean muscle mass – right away!

Sensible Muscle Building at The Muscle Building Zone A Common Sense Approach To Building Muscle!

The Best Skinny Guy/Gal Weight Training Exercises

The Best Skinny Guy Weight Training Exercises

By Vince DelMonte

Can you imagine you are wasting all your time on the wrong weight training exercises? Can you imagine that every weight training exercise you are doing is dead wrong? Skinny guy's must meet a different set of requirements when choosing the most effective weight training exercises for maximal muscle growth. You do what to transform your skinny body into a rock-hard muscular body, right?

Without further ado, here are the top two exercises for each muscle group I used to gain 41 pounds of muscle mass in under six months:

Chest: Bench Press and Flat DB Chest Press

Back: Bent Over Barbell Rows and Close Grip Chin Ups

Shoulders: Seated DB Shoulder Press and Standing Military Press

Triceps: Dips and Tricep Pressdowns

Biceps: Standing Barbell Curls and Incline Bicep Curls

Quads: Squats and Lunges

Hips: Deadlifts and Stiff Leg Deadlifts

Lower Back: Good Morning

Calves: Standing Calve Raises

Abdominals: Weighted Ball Situps and Weighted Cable Crunches

Yes, there are many more exercises I did not list but these are simply the best. Stick to these weight training exercises for the best possible muscular and strength gains and you will have a rock-hard muscular body in less time than before!

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About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at
No Nonsense Muscle Building

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

Gain Muscle Fast Do You Know How?

Do You Know How To Gain Muscle Fast?


By Vince DelMonte

Could you teach me how to gain muscle fast? Could you teach me how to pack on an extra ten to fifteen pounds of muscle mass before my next vacation? Could you help me get ready for my first bodybuilding or fitness model competition? Could you help you look like someone who actually lifts weights? Could you help me build a body that turns heads and demands respect?

As a skinny guy muscle building expert, I get approached these questions daily in my office. Every single hard gainer I consult with wants to know how to gain muscle fast and how to do safely and effectively.

Hard gainers, please listen up! There is hope for you. I am happy to say that learning how to gain muscle fast is not as hard as some would make you believe but it also not as easy as you might think. But you must be prepared to train smarter and not harder. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about wimping out during your workouts. I am referring to the big picture of training more intelligently.

Here is some of the most popular advice I give to the hard gainer when he wishes to gain muscle fast.

1. Never Perform More Than 10 Reps.
If you are lifting weights beyond 10 reps than you are emphasizing your slow-twitch muscle fibers which have the smallest opportunity for muscle growth. You are a hard gainer and you need recruit the maximal amount of muscle fibers in every set. Always choose your weights knowing that a 11th rep is forbidden and trespassing into 'skinny land.'

If you really want to gain muscle fast than get your mind into heavy lifting mode. Every single set and every single exercise. Keep the weights heavy and never more than 10 reps. Approach every workout knowing that you are going to be venturing into new territory and waging war on your skinny genetics. I recommend these workouts with a workout partner so you can eliminate any safetey issues, not slack off and push your limits every inch of the way.

2. Reduce Your Workout Time
Perform more work in less time and you have increased your work capacity. Work refers to the number of sets, reps and poundage within your workout. Who is fitter? The guy who can do 4 sets of 185 pounds bench press with 30 second rest or the guy who can do 4 sets of 185 pound bench press with 90 second rest? The one who can do the same amout of work in less time. Guess who is more muscular? The one who has a higher work capacity.

Next time you enter the gym, try to complete your current workout in less time. Take shorter rests. Move from one exercise to the next much quicker. Don't be surprised if you feel out of shape! This is one of the easiest tips you can take away to increase your muscle density and take your fitness to a new level. Be prepared to humble yourself and get out of your comfort zone.

3. Do Only One Exercise Per Muscle Group

Only one? Yes, only one, unless you want to buy into the notion that you must mutilate a muscle for over an hour to get any growth out of it. Consider this typical day in the gym. Today is your chest day. Your first exercise is bench press. You perform your first set with 185 lbs, second set with 205 lbs, third set with 225 lbs and fourth set with 245 lbs.

Assuming this is your max weight for the desired number of reps, is it not safe to say that you have used the maximal number of muscle fibers? Your goal is to simple spark your muscles into growth. Not exhaust them to death. Once they experience a unknown assalut (stimulus), your body will be forced to adapt and create new muscle to prevent future assaults! Therefore, your take home lesson is this: Once you have out performed your last workout, it is time to move onto the next exercise.

4. Do No More Than 3-5 Sets Per Muscle Group

I question a hard gainers workout intensity if they must do more than 3-5 sets per muscle group. Now if you are using anabolic steroids or have muscle friendly genes than you can safely dismiss this advice. Remember, learning how to gain muscle fast for the hard gainer requires following a new set of rules.

Consider the first 1-2 sets at 85% maximal effort. The third set at 95% maximal effort and the fourth (and sometimes fifth) set at 100% maximal effort. It is only this last all out set that contributes to the greatest muscle growth. Anything over and above this last go till you blow set simply exhausts the muscle beyond reason and delays your recovery ability to hit the muscle again. It is this last set that you should perform at least 1-2 extra reps or 5-10 extra pounds than last workout. Mission accomplished. You have sparked your muscles into growth. Time to move on.

5. Increase Your Strength 5% Every Two Weeks

One of the biggest mistakes I see hard gainers make in the gym is not track there progress. They return week-after-week to simply reherse the same workouts with the absense of progress. How do you expect to gain muscle fast if you continue to lift the same weights each workout? Your body is designed to tolerate stress. Assault it and let it get bigger. Assault it and let it get bigger. It's a simple concept.

So your take home message is to aim for a minimum of 5% strength increase every two weeks. You might progress a little quicker with larger muscle groups like back and legs versus smaller muscles like biceps and triceps. Just think, in six months from now, you will be over twice as strong as you are now! I would actually recommend writing down your strength goals for six months from now and than work backwords. If you are currently dead lifting 135 lbs, aim to be deadlifting 270 lbs over the next few months!


Conclusion

I know these five tips were not your typical Muscle and Fitness 101 advice and not your typical generic bodybuilding advice. I learned a long time ago to question everything you read and hear. Learn for yourself by doing and not by talking about it. As a skinny guy once myself, 149 lbs to be exact, I defeated my skinny genetics and learned how to gain muscle fast by not following the herd and training smarter and not harder Will you?

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About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at The No Nonsense Muscle Building Zone

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

How The Skinny Guy Gains Muscle

The Skinny Guy's Guide To Gaining Weight

By Vince DelMonte

How would you like to learn how to gain weight fast? If the title of this article caught your attention, there is a good chance you are sick and tired of not seeing the weight on the scale budge. Most likely you just got home from the Mandarin buffet and still can't budge the scale. You could live on McDonald's and Pizza Delight and your Ferrari style metabolism would simply burn it off. In a world that is obsessed with losing weight – you are interested in gaining weight!

Are You Sick and Tired Of People Telling You How To Gain Weight?

It probably sounds like this:

“All you have to do is eat, eat, and eat some more to gain weight...”

“Weight gain is just a matter of eating...”

“You just gotta overload your metabolism to gain weight fast...”

“You can't build a house without the bricks and mortar for gaining weight...”

Don't throw me to the wolves quite yet. There is certainly truth to these statements and some of these analogies can prove quite powerful. I think I'm even guilty of preaching a few! But the problem with this advice is that it's usually followed up with the same old regurgitated blah, blah, blah advice that only tells you what to do and does not reveal real-world, practical how-to action-steps.

If you are someone who has struggled their entire life, trying to pack on extra muscle mass and still consider yourself underweight, then you are not alone. I was once skinny and underweight myself...

People, predispositioned to skinniness, are commonly referred to as “hard gainers.” This is the cool way to label your scrawny frame despite the fact that your body turns into a Number 2 pencil when you wear yellow!

It's Not Totally Your Fault You’re Skinny

In the skinny guy’s defense, the reality is that you have been cursed with traits like Lamborghini-type metabolism, giraffe like limbs, and the strength of a senior citizen. You have to fight with every bone in your body to do something about your small frame and to keep up to your male buddies who seem to grow muscle just by sneezing – those muscle freaks piss me off just as much you!

Even though you might think your genetic deficiencies have sentenced you to a life of frailty and surprised looks when you tell others you lift weights, I am living proof that hard gainers with very ‘muscle-unfriendly genes’ can fight back against their genetics and gain muscle weight. I defeated my skinny genetics just after college and I am about to show you four tips that helped me climb from a 149 pound weakling to a rock hard 190 pounds in six months.

Trust me, no body has worse genetics for building muscle and gaining weight than an ex-long distance runner who abused his body with 60-80 miles of running a week (for over 10 years).

Skinny Guys Must Play By A Different Set Of Rules

If you are underweight, than your first step to gaining weight is to understand that you must play by a different set up rules. I have said this before and will say it again,

“Taking advice from someone who can gain muscle weight easilyis like taking money advice from someone who inherited a fortune or is making money illegally.”

You must think outside the box and give up the excuse of being a “hard gainer.” It is time to stop listening to all the naysayers who have told you that is impossible to gain weight because of your genetics. Regardless of what you have been led to believe, you do have the potential to build an impressive physique that turns heads and even intimidates!

If you have read this far, I am guessing you are ready to longer resemble a microphone stand! You are prepared to overload your metabolism for muscle growth, to ensure you are never referred to as 'underweight' or 'skinny' ever again. Start following these simple steps and don't be surprised if you gain an extra ten pounds of muscle weight in the next four weeks.

Simple How To Gain Weight Action Steps To Start Growing Like A Skyscraper!

1. Double It Up

One of the most practical steps you can take is to double whatever you are currently eating in the kitchen right now. If you are eating one chicken breast per meal, then cook up two. If you are only eating two slices of bread, then make it four. If you are eating one handful of nuts, then make it two. If you are using only two scoops of protein powder, then make it four.

Most likely you are only a few dozen meals short of filling out your underdeveloped body parts and attracting the attention of that sexy girl at your gym. I assume you are already in the kitchen and have the food out. So would you agree, you really have no good excuse not to shovel down a greater percentage of calories by doubling it up?

2. Live Your Life Around Food

Sure, you know that you must eat every 2-3 hours, but how well do you execute? Set your clock on a countdown timer to go off every 2 and ½ hours so that you reinforce the habit of eating literally not a second late for each meal! Don't turn off the damn beeper until you start chowing down.

Ensure you are eating your first meal within 15-30 minutes of waking up - absolutely no later. This first meal of the day should always consist of REAL food to flood your body with quality nutrients. I question anybody’s commitment to gaining weight if they are too lazy to wake up 15 minutes earlier to eat a real meal.

Lastly, don’t be surprised if you are not gaining weight if you do not find yourself spending more time preparing food, more time eating food and more time cleaning your kitchen. You should notice you are spending more time in the grocery store and you should also notice a larger grocery bill each week!

3. Use BIG Eating Equipment

If you want to bulk, then you have to eat like Hulk. Do you think Hulk eats out of a small plate, or a small bowel, or a small cup? If you are aiming to get big and huge, you are going to require large amounts of food, most likely close to double of what you are currently eating.

So get BIG eating equipment! Get a BIG cup, get a BIG bowel, and get a BIG plate. Surround yourself with BIG. Most of the time hard gainers are nothing more than “under eaters.” If you struggle to complete a meal, then a bigger serving on a bigger plate will look small!

4. Never Train Hungry

How many times have you woken up, whipped up a protein shake and than headed off to the gym? Or maybe you had a long afternoon and missed a few meals and then attempted a weight training workout after work?

I thought this was common sense to avoid, until a few of my skinny clients confessed that they were showing up for their workouts having only eaten a piece of fruit and some crackers within the entire day!

After dropping the 45-pound plate on my foot out of shock, they reassured me: they were not hungry. I sometimes screamed back, “Yeah, that’s because your metabolism is in starvation mode and shut right down, you skinny pencil neck!”

I understand that training in the morning is the only time for some, however, I recommend to aim for a minimum of at least three solid meals in your system prior to training. Or eat the biggest meal of your day immediately after your AM workout. Would you take your car out on a long trip with a half empty fuel tank? Not unless you wanted the car to die and you push it the rest of the way. So why would you take your body through a grueling training session on an empty stomach?

5. Eat Nutrient Dense Foods

Focus on caloric-rich foods that are loaded with nutrients. Avoid foods with empty calories, which means there is little or no nutrient value in the calories you are eating. Why would you consume a 500-calorie plus meal that is loaded with fat and sugar which does nothing but make you feel sluggish and soft? Instead, eat a high caloric meal loaded with slow releasing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Here are some of the best choices:

Carbohydrates – Oatmeal, rice, breads, yams beans, potatoes, fruits and veggies.

Proteins – Steak, chicken, lean beef, cottage cheese, whole milk, eggs and salmon.

Fats – Olive oil, flax oil, avocados, nuts and peanut butter.

Extras (high calorie cheat food) – Ice cream, raisins, dried fruit and trail mix.

6. Drink A Carb And Protein Drink While You Workout

How hard is to sip on a calorie-rich drink during your weight training sessions? Simply mix up a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein with one liter of water and you instantly have a few extra hundred calories per day. Now have an extra workout drink before your workout and extra workout drink after your workout and that's easily an extra one pound per week. Only use this technique if you are weight training at a very high intensity.

7. Live the motto, “Never Stop Eating”

Did I hear you say, “But I'll throw up if I eat all day?” Maybe... Is it necessary? Of course not. But this is a part of pushing your body’s threshold. Don't worry, you will get used to it and your body will require more food as you gain more muscle on your body and your metabolism increases. Just think that if you are not eating, then you are not growing, and if you are not growing then you are staying the same. Is that what you want?


Conclusion

There you have it and as I promised, learning how to gain weight fast is quite simple. Executing is a whole different story. It will really come down to how truly committed you are to defeating your skinny genetics and gaining the muscular body you deserve!

Here is my promise to you. You have the ability to gain at least another ten pounds of solid weight in the next four weeks by simply applying the advice above. If you are truly committed to your goals of gaining muscle weight and no longer being known as underweight, then I believe you will rise to the challenge and take action! Are you with me?



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About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at No Nonsense Muscle Building

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.