A bodybuilding routine will usually encompass a month or two. Ask simple questions, such as, “Where do you train?” “How did you get started?” “What does an average training session look like?” Each of these questions can help you on your own bodybuilding journey. While they may be your competition down the line, most are willing to share their love of the sport. Your body needs time to heal. Choose motivating music when you work out. Building a Home Gym Bodybuilder cyber community. If you have a specific deadline you’d like to meet (for an upcoming competition, for instance), tell the trainer your deadline and desired training schedule. Do you want to become a bodybuilder? Some who excel turn to professional bodybuilding as a career, often training others and writing books on the topic. Since the goal of bodybuilding is to grow and develop one's musculature to an aesthetically pleasing state of high development, attention must be paid to the variables affecting that development. Is it really possible for an ordinary guy to turn himself into a bodybuilder? Don’t ask for favors; ask for guidance. Here's what it's like to become a bodybuilder for the first time. Find a good gym. Under the supervision of a trainer or partner, you might want to try dead lifting and similarly challenging lifts. For tips from our personal training reviewer on finding the right gym, read on! If this is the case, be aware that these should never be done solo, and should not make up the bulk of your training. Choose 2 exercises for each muscle and perform 5 sets/exercise. If possible, use exactly the same pose in each of your photos, as well, as this will give you a more concrete visual of any possible changes. On the other side of 50, this writer went in pursuit of the ‘impossible’ body – then had it judged under the burning spotlight of competition. Tracking your progress will also give you a window into which exercises and routines are effective, and which do not provide as many muscle gains. When you speak to personal trainers, specify that you are interested in bodybuilding. Bodybuilders in pre-competition training may temporarily adopt a schedule of more frequent workouts, and some bodybuilders favor programs of “brevity training,” in which the thrice-weekly workouts are no more than seven to 10 minutes each, but are so highly rigorous that they leave the bodybuilder exhausted. Because building muscle means creating tiny tears in muscle fiber, which then heals, failing to give your body adequate time to repair and rest will mean few gains and the risk of serious injury. This is why workout routines should generally last no more than 40 to 45 minutes. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Make sure you consume plant-based protein as well, through nuts, nut butters, soy, legumes (such as kidney beans, chickpeas, and lentils) and other plant proteins for a well-rounded diet. Just get some equipment, like weights, a bench and some attachments, find a partner and work out at home. Actually, it is the intensity and work that you do which earns you the title of strongest bodybuilder. Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. Although weightlifting is your primary goal, don’t forget to include at least 5 to 10 minutes of cardio to help keep fat at bay. No special clothing, equipment, or facilities are necessary. This consultation may alert the novice to potential health hazards, and should also be an opportunity to review nutrition and safety guidelines. Some gyms may exaggerate their offerings, but require a large fee for the early contract termination, while other gyms may have exclusivity clauses. Pull-ups, push-ups, and squat thrusts are three such exercise groups. Although you should not do intense training regimens seven times per week, you should be in some way active each day, even if it something as simple as walking up stairs instead of using an elevator, or taking a walk around the block. It takes determination and self-discipline to become a bodybuilder. Bodybuilding is becoming an increasingly common sport for men and women, with competitions popping up in most major cities. This may not seem like an important step, but being able to see physical changes in your body is an excellent way to keep your motivation high. Start with less weight than you might think you can handle, and move up as you need to.