Get Buff: How to Build Muscle Without Fat

By Guest Blogger, Diana S.

Get Buff: How to Build Muscle Without Fat

 

If you’re aiming to get big, you need to know the right formula so you don’t end up gaining too much fat. This is the trickiest part of getting bulk: you need to find a workout that will allow you to build muscle, burn fat, encourage muscle growth and recovery and decrease fat gain. Finding that sweet spot is not easy and is different for everyone, but here are some of the main points you have to follow.

Say no to alcohol

This is an advice as old as time, and yet, not many people seem to follow it. Taking alcohol while bulking (even if you take the right supplements) will tamper with your protein synthesis and it will take you much longer to get back on schedule. The hangover and the general effect of alcohol will slow down the muscle recovery and it will prevent you from giving your all in the gym. Additionally, alcohol is full of calories and can cause increased fat storage, especially around the gut. So, if you’re trying to see real progress and build muscles and not fat, you should stay away from booze.

Hold your horses!

If you’re used to doing cardio every day (which is great for your heart and lungs), you might actually be harming your bulking progress. Over-exercising can destroy your metabolism, so try to take it easy with cardio; otherwise, you can find it really hard to add muscle mass and keep fat at bay. Exercising always produces adrenaline, but too much of it will cause over-saturation that can make some of your organs feel sluggish. This will slow down your metabolism and boost fat accumulation. Additionally, it can also cause your supply of testosterone to get smaller, and testosterone is highly necessary for muscle growth and recovery.

Have a proper form

One of the classic mistakes people make when bulking is lifting too much weight. However, muscle gains are really made when your muscles are already stretched out. That means you should focus on form, especially “on the way down”. Here’s an example: when bench pressing, keep the weight up for 2-3 seconds and try to slow down on your way down. Make this portion of the movement last for about 5-7 seconds. Try to do same when doing squats, curls and pull-ups.

Pick the right supplements

Supplements are great—they improve your performance and allow you to shed fat and gain muscles more easily. However, don’t think that more pills automatically mean more muscles. Getting the right type of quality pre-workout supplements and hitting the gym hard will give you the best results. Don’t concentrate on supplements so much that you neglect your workouts!

Be careful with carbs

A little excess of protein will not make a huge damage to your body, but too many carbs will eventually become fat. But you need carbs to grow! They create fuel for your body, they enhance post-workout recovery and keep your cortisol levels low so the stress doesn’t destroy your body. So, how can you find that golden ratio and get enough carbs, but not too much? Most professional bodybuilders and personal trainers advise loading up on carbs after the workout. This is the ideal way to gain muscles and keep fat from accumulating.

Keep track of your progress

If you’re serious about your muscle gain, you have to keep track of your progress ON PAPER! If you can memorize all your measurements and training statistics, then congrats—you’re a genius, but most of us can’t do that. Writing things down is your safest bet. Putting the numbers of your reps and your weight on paper will increase your chances of reaching your goal. Pro tip: sharing your goal on social media and talking about it with your friends will additionally increase your motivation.

Get enough sleep

Catching enough ZZZs is super important during bulking. If you don’t get 7 or 8 hours a night, you can seriously set yourself back and put your progress in jeopardy. Sleep will recharge your metabolism and optimize your body for fat loss!

If you follow these tips and tricks, you’ll manage to gain muscles and avoid getting fat. You’ll also feel full of energy, both in the gym and out of it, and ready to give 100% towards reaching your dream body.

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.