| The bodybuilding debates will never end. | | | | accordingly by increasing the size and |
| The endless arguments over how an | | | | strength of the muscle fibers in order |
| effective muscle-building program should | | | | to protect against a possible future |
| be structured will most likely continue | | | | "attack". Therefore, in order to |
| until the end of time. Just scour the | | | | continually increase the size and |
| Internet message boards, flip through | | | | strength of the muscles, you must focus |
| any muscle magazine or talk to the sales | | | | on progressing each week by either |
| rep at your local supplement store. No | | | | lifting slightly more weight or |
| matter who you talk to or what you read, | | | | performing an extra rep or two. In doing |
| it seems that everyone is an expert | | | | this, your body will continue to adapt |
| these days. | | | | and grow to the ever-increasing stress. |
| If everyone is an expert, confident in | | | | Building muscle is all about building |
| their own ideas and beliefs, how can the | | | | strength! |
| average beginner possibly know who to | | | | So what is the most powerful |
| listen to? He or she is instantly | | | | muscle-building tool available? Quite |
| confronted with endless questions that | | | | simply, it is a pen and a piece of |
| seem to have no clear-cut answer. | | | | paper! |
| How many days should I train per week? | | | | Every time you go to the gym you must |
| How many sets should I perform for each | | | | write down exactly what you accomplished |
| muscle group? What type of rep range | | | | and then strive to improve upon it the |
| should I be using? What are the most | | | | following week. If you aren't always |
| effective exercises for stimulating | | | | getting better, then you're either |
| muscle growth? How long should my | | | | staying the same or getting worse. Every |
| workouts last? | | | | week you should have an exact plan of |
| These questions go on and on until he or | | | | attack ready to be executed. You |
| she is eventually led to believe that | | | | absolutely cannot afford to start |
| building muscle is an infinitely complex | | | | throwing weights around aimlessly |
| process involving rocket-science | | | | without a clear-cut goal in mind. |
| precision and an intimate understanding | | | | The specifics of building muscle are |
| of human physiology. I mean, that's what | | | | important to understand and implement, |
| takes to build muscle, right? Wrong! | | | | but regardless of what style of training |
| Believe me, there are answers to these | | | | you're currently using the ultimate |
| important questions, and if you are | | | | deciding factor between success and |
| willing to put in the time and effort | | | | failure is progression. You can sit |
| you will most definitely find them. But | | | | around all day obsessing over specific |
| that's not what this article is about. | | | | principles, but the bottom line is that |
| You see, amidst all of the confusion and | | | | if you aren't getting stronger every |
| endless debating, the majority of | | | | week, you absolutely will not be getting |
| lifters end up losing sight of the big | | | | any bigger. Examine your training |
| picture. Beyond all of the specific | | | | approach closely. If you haven't been |
| workout principles, such as rep range | | | | paying laser-like attention to the |
| and exercise selection, remains one | | | | amount of weight you've been using, the |
| crucial principle, a principle that lies | | | | number of reps you've been performing, |
| at the very heart of the muscle growth | | | | and then striving with every ounce of |
| process. If this principle is not given | | | | your energy to improve upon those |
| full attention, or even worse, | | | | numbers each week, you are completely |
| completely ignored, building muscle | | | | ignoring the very foundation of the |
| becomes next to impossible. | | | | muscle growth process. If you want to |
| The bottom line is that muscles grow as | | | | see the best gains in muscle mass and |
| they adapt to stress. When you go to the | | | | strength that you possibly can, a pen |
| gym and lift weights, you create | | | | and a piece of paper is the most |
| "micro-tears" within the muscle tissue. | | | | important tool you could possibly have |
| Your body perceives this as a potential | | | | in your arsenal. |
| threat to its survival and reacts | | | | |