Weight Training Blog

Now is the best time to be putting on extra pounds in order to get big.

You may have heard of the term “bulking season” or “off season” while in the gym, and what is meant by these terms is that basically, during the bulking season, not much attention is paid towards looks, but rather towards size and weight. During bulking season, lifters attempt to put on as much solid poundage as possible while eating food that is still wholesome. By wholesome, I mean things like steak, fish, chicken, and eggs. Not things like cookies, ice cream, and pizza.

This is normally done during the winter months simply because no one is really going to be looking at you without your shirt on during the colder months of the year. So there’s no better time than the cooler months to add on extra weight.

As you train, you’ll find it difficult to put on large size gains while maintaining a cut figure without the help of drugs. The bulking season helps solve that as it will enable you to grow muscle rather quickly, but not maintaining a “cut” figure. This is ok, because when it’s time to get ready for the nice weather (summer time) then you shouldn’t have too much of a problem cutting down again, leaving larger muscles from the bulking season intact.

I’ve heard of some guys adding on an addition 50 pounds during bulking season, but I would say the majority of those who do the on season / off season schedule tend to add on about 20 pounds and then take most of it back off when it’s time to cut back down.

I’ve been in the gym at college again lifting with some of my buddies. One of my friends insists on working out in the gym for three hours everytime, doing every exercise under the sun in order to make sure he’s sore the next day.

There is a thing such as over-training, and he’s more than likely doing just that. Especially since he was telling us how he really isn’t seeing much in terms of size gains in the last few months.

So remember this: Less is more. If you’re going to hit chest, don’t do 8 different lifts. Instead pick out three lifts – maybe two presses and one fly – and doing them as if they were your last sets in the gym. Ever. My one friend added saying that the other day he trained so intensely that he almost felt like he was going to throw up – again.

So remember when you hit the gym make sure it has meaning. Don’t get in that mode thinking that you always have to do 10 reps in order to reach your goal. Always push yourself to the limits on every rep, every workout and every trip to the gym.

It dawned on me, “what are some good sources of protein?” since after all, foods rich in protein should be at the heart of anyone’s diet who is serious about putting on some muscle. This list is especially important for those of you who may be just starting out, or those of you who are just now starting to realize the importance of the right diet.

Now does this mean you should only limit yourself to these foods if you’re trying to put on some muscle? No. In fact, you’ll find yourself suffering from malnutrition if you continue to do so. But whenever possible, you should try to base a meal around some of the following foods in order to ensure you’re obtaining the right amount of protein that your body needs in order to grow:

Eggs
Cheese
Yogurt
Peanut Butter
Beef
Fish
Chicken
Turkey
Beans
Tofu
Nuts and seeds
Milk
Soy milk

If you balance your diet with the above food sources through out the day, as well as possibly take one or two protein shakes during the day, you’re almost certain to achieve a daily protein intake of over 150 grams.

Personally, I always have a problem finding the time to eat certain foods since I’m constantly on the go. I’ve started to hard boil my eggs to save on time since you can almost grab them on the go, cook chicken and beef ahead of time to save time later in the week, and take an extra protein shake to ensure I’m supply my muscles with enough protein in order to develop more fully.