Mention doing fitness training whilst trying to build muscle to any diehard bodybuilder and you’re likely to get a response which runs along the lines of:
“Forget everything else – train and rest!”
But, there is no single right or wrong way to build muscle. It is up to you, and you alone, how you go about it. Everyone has their own ways and their own methods which they swear by. Also, everyone has their own reasons for doing or training how they do.
For some, bodybuilding is maybe a secondary passion, whilst to others it’s all they have in life. To others, it’s quite possibly a mental illness, in all honesty. C’est la vie!
My advice to anyone deciding on a routine to follow is simply this: Make sure it is a regime which you are going to enjoy – because you’ll need to stick at it, so do not sacrifice enjoyment for anything, because you results will suffer no matter how much you believe you can swallow dirt and endure sacrifice. Don’t try to be a martyr.
What I’m saying is, if for instance, you play soccer – you play it because it makes you happy. Now, what do you think would happen if I told you that you had to put muscle building first and give soccer up, for a while, at least?
You may consider it. You may outright reject the idea.
It may well be that you could make better progress by just hitting the gym then resting. Sure, chances are that your muscles will grow quicker and bigger from doing it this way, but, how long before you become bored and disillusioned… once the initial shock and novelty of how big you’ve gotten has gone away and becomes normal, and your results start to slide because you are missing doing what you really enjoy – your soccer. And, that’ll soon happen, believe me.
If you enjoy running, cycling, or any kind of sports, the best thing you can do is continue doing those things, but, always make sure that you eat far more to cover the energy expenditures – and rest and make sacrifices which are acceptable to you. This is the most important thing. Simply live your life how you want to live it, and enjoy your lifting. That way, you miss nothing out in life and develop a better body. And, isn’t that what it’s all about?