The 5 Essentials To Know To Become A Bodybuilder

There is a point in many fitness fanatics’ lives when they hit a plateau with their workouts and fitness. They hit all of their goals and now wonder what’s next. It’s at this point that many decide to get shredded AF and become a bodybuilder.

Bodybuilding is an attractive fitness discipline for many people because of the challenge of it. There is a very strict regimen that must be followed and results happen regularly. It’s very targeted and you have to be very organized for it to work.

If you’re at that point where you want to take your fitness goals to the next level then becoming a bodybuilder is a logical way to go. In this article, we will go over exactly how you can get started on this journey.

1 – Find the right gym

Some gyms have a very big focus on bodybuilding. They differ from other gyms that do a bit of everything so these are the ones to look for. They have trainers there that understand the steps necessary to be successful. And the gym is always full of bodybuilders so the equipment is geared to this type of workout.

When starting any kind of hobby or lifestyle change, it pays off to be around people that are passionate about the topic. There is usually a community of people that love to help newbies that are getting started. Bodybuilding is no different. Often, there is a person that acts as a sort of mentor to somebody that needs to learn the ropes.

Ask around in the gym where you currently go and somebody there will likely point you in the right direction. There are also numerous forums online where there will be somebody that can answer where the best gyms are in your area.

2 – Set goals

Bodybuilding requires an almost obsessive amount of planning. It is essential to have a goal to strive for so the planning can be done effectively. Organizing yourself has to line up with the goals that you have.

It is also important to break down goals into milestones. Set the ultimate endpoint for your goal and what results you wish to achieve. Then, work backward to determine how to plan the route to get there. Along the way, you will have to set these milestones that act as road markers. When you hit these short-term goals, it indicates that you’re on the right path.

3 – Develop a routine

The goals you set are going to determine the routine. Each step of the journey is going to look different and the workout routine is going to change accordingly.

In the beginning, the focus is going to be on getting lean and developing muscle mass. Once you hit a plateau, it will be time to move on to another phase with a different routine to match. Usually, it involves incorporating isolation exercises and the weights and machines that work for those.

In every phase, it pays off to have a routine planned out and then stuck to. Understand what needs to be done and how much time it takes to perform each day. Then schedule your week to make sure that you are able to stay with the routine.

4 – Start out slow

The very beginning of the journey toward becoming a bodybuilder is to use the right weights. You likely already have some strength from the previous workout routine you were doing but you have to understand where you are starting out from. It’s important to use moderate weights, yet also know what your max out weight is.

This is the weight that you can lift at least once. Then, use weights that are 70% of the max weight number. This is how much weight you will be using to start out. Use these weights to do six to ten reps for three to four sets. You’ll gradually increase the weights until you’ve gone past your max weight.

5 – Target muscle groups

Each day is going to involve a different muscle group to work on to get good results. Best results come when you are doing six to ten sets per muscle group per week. This is assuming that you already have some mass to start with. A complete beginner will need to start out doing the whole body to get to a good starting point.

Conclusion 

It takes time, patience, and a lot of grit to become a bodybuilder. The payoff is an incredible body that is a testament to the hard work that you’ve put in.