People think that building muscle only requires going to the gym regularly and doing any type of strength exercise. Well, all that effort totally counts, but that’s not the whole story. Building muscle is science, and many factors can speed up or slow down your gains.
In this blog, we’ll focus on some of the most common mistakes that gym newbies make, which cost them a lot of time and yield barely noticeable results.
10 Mistakes to Avoid A Muscular Physique
To build a strong physique, you need the right strategy, recovery, and consistency. In addition, you must avoid tiny mistakes that could slow down progress without you realising it. Learn about them below:
- Doing Too Much of Cardio
Doing cardio is good for the heart, but excessive cardio can burn your calorie surplus, which you really need to build those muscles. So, try cardio limited to 2-3 moderate sessions per week if your primary goal is muscle gain.
- Avoiding Compound Exercises
Isolation exercises focus on specific body parts, for example, bicep curls for the biceps. These are fun, doing big lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and bench press are also necessary to activate your multiple muscle groups to help you build more strength and size in less time. So, do compound workouts first, isolation later.
- Having an Inconsistent Training Schedule
Training 2 days in week one and 4 days in week 4 straight the next week can confuse your body. This is why consistency is essential for building muscle. Stick to a structured workout routine that targets each major muscle group 1 to 2 times weekly.
- Not Taking Enough Protein
Muscles don’t just grow from whatever you eat. You need the proper nutrients, such as protein, so that your body can recover and repair muscle fibres. Ideally, aim to get 1.6 to 2.2 g of protein per kg of your body weight. Obtain high-quality lean protein from whole foods and gym supplements rich in essential amino acids to build more muscle without much fat.
- Ego Lifting or Poor Form
If you’re lifting really heavy weights, it can increase your injury risk and reduce muscle activation. If you go for a weight you can control, focus on slow, controlled reps and proper range of motion for maximum muscle engagement.
- Skipping Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs
Hitting dumbbells and other equipment straight up without warming up exercises can shock your muscles. Make sure to do a quick 5 to 10-minute warm-up to activate blood flow and reduce injury risk. Similarly, stretching after a workout is also essential to ease soreness and support better recovery.
- Lack of Progression in Workouts
Lifting the same weight in the same manner makes your body used to it. It’s not a challenge anymore. This is why you need progressive overload to beat the growth plateaus. Increase weight, reps, or training intensity gradually to continuously challenge your muscles.
- Not Taking Rest or Overtraining
If you think that training relentlessly is what’ll get you more muscle, we’ve got bad news for you. More training doesn’t always mean more muscle. Growth happens when you take proper rest and give your muscles time to heal.
- Not Drinking Enough Water
Muscles are nearly 75% water, which means that if you’re dehydrated, your muscles will shrink. Worse, it can lead to electrolyte imbalances and cause muscle cramps during a workout, reducing your strength. Keep a shaker handy and sip water throughout your training session to maintain maximum performance.
- No Monitoring Your Progress
Random workouts will lead to random results. Therefore, tracking your weights, sets, reps, and body measurements is essential so that you know what’s working for you and to stay motivated with your routine. So, make a realistic plan, track your progress, and stay disciplined.
To Sum Up
Muscle growth takes time and requires the right workout, proper meals, and rest. Avoid rookie mistakes like overtraining, not warming up or cooling down properly, egolifting, lack of consistency, etc. By avoiding these common gym mistakes, you can give your body the best chance to grow stronger, gain lean mass, and push past plateaus. Lastly, stay consistent, track your progress, and listen to what your body needs and your hard work will finally show in the mirror.