Finding a body building routine that works is not as easy as many beginner bodybuilders think.
First, there is such a huge number of possible routines. This is not surprising when you consider how many muscle groups there are to work and how many possible exercises there are for each one.
When you think about all the combinations you could make, you can see that the number of possible workout routines for body building is almost infinite.
Copying somebody else’s routine is not usually the best way to go. You are not going to develop the same body as the current Mr. Universe by reading up on his routine and doing the same thing yourself.
It is very unlikely that your body is ready for exactly the same workout that he does right now.
A Starting Workout Routine
So what do you do? If you are just starting out, then probably any standard beginner workout routine will do fine.
It is true that what works for one person will not necessarily work for anybody else but in the beginning it is okay to figure out your best plan by trial and error.
However, you do need to be sure that your workout routine covers all of the bases. Check it out against the following scheme.
And if you want to plan your own body building routine, this is a good way to go.
First, note down all the muscle groups that you need to work. That is pretty much all the muscles in the body. Do not forget the core and especially the muscles of the back. It is dangerous to overdevelop the chest, shoulders and abs while neglecting the back because you can so easily cause an injury there.
Then choose an exercise that works each group. This could involve dumbbells, a barbell, or gym machines such as the bench press. Some exercises will work out more than one muscle group.
Now you are ready to plan your body building routine so that each muscle group is worked around twice a week with at least one full day of rest between. It is good to give yourself a couple of days of complete rest from working out, too.
Watch Your Results – Is your Workout Routine Working?
What if nothing seems to be working? First, consider whether you are giving your muscles enough rest. Bodybuilders who do not get the results they expect are often guilty of overtraining.
Remember that the muscles are broken down during your workout. The time that they build mass is during the recovery time. So do not be tempted to overtrain.
Second, look at other factors such as your diet. Are you getting the right amount of protein and carbs at the right times? Have you looked into possible supplements that you might take?
Lastly, keep in mind that it is good practice to change your routine around from time to time.
This counters boredom and more importantly, works the muscles a little differently than what they may be used to. You will often find that changing out one ab exercise for another or using a different press at the gym will be the catalyst that you need to start gaining muscle mass again.
All of these tips will help you figure out a body building routine that works.
