Sunday, July 12, 2009

Muscle Building Tips for Teenagers to Achieve Success

By Ricardo d Argence

Teenagers are increasingly taking up bodybuilding. Building muscle and generally getting into better shape are admirable goals; done properly, the teen years can be one of the best times to begin bodybuilding. Teenagers may be nearly full grown, but beneath the surface there is still a lot of growth and development happening, meaning teens have different requirements for body building regimens than adults. The most important factors are the weights used, nutrition and rest.

One thing about teenaged body builders is that they have far more energy than an adult. This can be an asset and a liability, since a teen is more likely to work the same muscle group for a lot longer than they should.

While more may be better with a lot of things, weight training is not one of them. It's much better to use a varied workout routine which works every muscle group equally. After a muscle reaches a specific point, you won't be doing any more good and could be doing harm by continuing.

Start off with lighter weights and advance as your body becomes accustomed to lifting. Don't try to show off by going immediately for the heaviest weight you can find. Start small and work your way up as you go.

Teenaged bodybuilders tend to neglect eating properly and trying to get by on supplements. While supplements can be genuinely useful, they're only helpful when taken in addition to a proper diet. Teens especially need to eat right to fuel their muscle growth and repair as well as their still developing bodies.

Proper hydration is also neglected by many young body builders. The human body is about 70% water and relies on adequate hydration to function properly " and this definitely includes muscle tissue!

The recommended daily intake of 64 oz of water should be taken as a starting point, not a goal. When you're actively weight training you'll need far more water than this to maintain the health of your joints and organs; and your training will yield better results as well.

While we're on the subject of things neglected by teenage bodybuilders, let's talk about sleep. It's while you sleep that testosterone and the important growth hormone IGF-1 is released. It's also when your body repairs itself and rejuvenates for another day " make sure to get an adequate amount of sleep every night.

Hitting the gym is only one part of what it takes to build muscle. If you want sustained, steady muscle growth over the long term, you need to take a broader approach and make sure you get plenty of sleep, plenty of water and the right diet as well. It may not be appealing to the average teen, but it's the only way to ensure bodybuilding success.

The teen years are a great time to begin weight training. If you also play competitive sports like football, weight training is almost a requirement to maximize your potential as a player. By following the simple plan outlined above you can work out safely and make the most of your weight training. - 16887

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