Quick Tips for Beginner Bodybuilders
Check your social media feeds on any given day, and you’re sure to see someone make a post about going to the gym, taking a hike, or trying out a new diet. If it seems like everyone you know is trying to get fit, it’s because they are. Over the last decade, the number of people with a gym membership has increased by more than 33%. The market for commercial weight-loss products and programs grew by nearly a half-billion dollars from 2016 to 2017. Americans everywhere are focused on changing their health and wellness habits and getting in shape.
But they’re not always successful. Even as the market for and number of gyms increases, Americans’ fitness levels are still low. There are obvious factors that contribute to this, like the easy availability of fast food, increased levels of stress and falling hours of sleep, and medications that have the side effect of weight gain. But there are also less obvious reasons. The same social media feeds that are flooded with images of people lifting weights can also intimidate others from going in the first place.
Axis Labs is committed to helping our customers build the best version of themselves. More than just providing high-quality sports and nutrition supplements, we also provide resources that you can use to get fit. So close that Facebook tab and dive into these quick tips for beginner bodybuilders.
Check-In with Your Doctor First
If you haven’t been to a doctor’s office for a while, probably the best first step you can make in starting your bodybuilding journey is to set up an appointment with your care provider. Even if you’re not sick or feeling unwell, your doctor will have some recommendations about diet and exercise that is tailored to your unique health history.
Not only that, but having a sense of where you are healthwise provides you with concrete datasets that you can measure as you get fit. As for tests to measure your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose, and bone density. As you make progress, you can have these metrics measured again to see your changes over time.
Establish a Regular Training Schedule and Plan
Going to the gym just to be there isn’t doing you and your bodybuilding work any favors. You need to follow a routine that you carry out during every trip to the gym. You can find a variety of plans online, or you can work with a personal trainer or employee at the gym to establish a routine.
Set a few days each week that you’ll go and work out and stay disciplined about it. This will help you make exercising a habit and will prevent you from slacking off or creating excuses to go. Not only that, but following an exercise schedule keeps you from over-exercising, and ensures that you get adequate rest which helps your body recover.
Set Goals for Yourself
If you’re just getting started in bodybuilding, it’s likely that you’ve already got some goals in mind. But those goals are only useful if they’re SMART. Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. When goals have all of these elements, you’re more likely to achieve them. You should plan on having several goals that you create and complete throughout your bodybuilding journey. Your goals will change in response to your progress and your interest.
Make Smart Dieting Decisions
Professional bodybuilders and sports nutrition experts alike all agree that diet is just as critical a part of the bodybuilding experience as exercise is. An easy thing you can do is to cut back on processed sugars and pre-packaged foods. While they might be convenient and tasty, they aren’t great for you.
Instead, focus on getting lots of vegetables and fruits and prioritize protein. Protein is a vital part of building muscle, and when you work out more, you’ll need more of it. If you’re looking to change up your eating habits, check out our blog series on the ketogenic diet. Axis Labs is a fan of this diet plan, as it encourages your body to burn the fats it’s stored up. This low-carb, high-fat diet can help you lose weight, which makes your muscle gains all the more apparent.
Remember that Rest is Required
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of bodybuilding, especially when you notice improvements soon after starting. As a result, some beginner bodybuilders fail to offer their bodies the rest they desperately need. Instead, they over-exercise, which can lead to injuries that can throw off your bodybuilding schedule.
The end goal is for sustainable, deliberate growth of your muscles and strength, and part of that process is resting regularly. If you’re feeling motivated, you can take “active recovery days” that still allow you to rest fully but give you the satisfaction of staying active.
Use the Right Supplements
Using sports supplements is a great way to optimize your efforts in the gym, and enhance the effects of your dieting. For instance, some supplements are designed to help your body recover more quickly from exercises, like Branched Chain Amino Acids. Others are crafted to help kickstart your body into exercise mode, like pre-workouts. Some, like our testosterone boosters, are meant to help you sustain your gains and help you exercise more effectively at the same time. You can even use supplements like CBD to help with a wide variety of aches, pains, and other issues.
