Top Bodybuilding Information

Training frequency is one of the most important factors determining your success. And because it's not as 'glorious' as how much you lift many people don't understand it properly. Despite it's at least as important. Maybe even more so because if you don't get it right it doesn't matter how well you do the other things.

In this article we'll look at two tips about training frequency.

Always a break after 2 days of training

Many newbie bodybuilding program recommend splitting your weekly training into 5 days per week. The problem with these is that they treat the body as muscular system only.

So let's say your workout your chest and shoulders on Monday. Those muscles might have recovered by the time you train them again. But there's so much more to muscle building than just muscles.

The body has several systems, including the immune system, skeletal system and hormonal systems. All these different systems play a part in muscle development.

The problem with training too much is that while your muscles might have recovered these other systems haven't. Remember that you stress them every time you train, regardless of whether you train your chest or abs.

If you don't allow these other systems to recover fully you are just going to deplete your energy reserves. And the more you do this the further down of the hole of over-training you fall into.

Taking a full day of rest at least every two days helps to prevent these other systems from getting over stressed. Which brings us to the other tip.

Go home if you are weaker than the last time you went to the gym

There is one principle that's more important than anything else in bodybuilding. Progressive overload. Your body is lazy. It will not grow bigger muscles until you put more stress on the muscles than before. Only when you stress the muscle to the point where they can't cope with the load will they grow.

So if you notice that you can't lift the same amount of weight, reps and sets you did the last time you worked out, it means you aren't fully recovered. This means you shouldn't be in the gym. You should be at home resting and recovering.

In fact we have to take this a step further. You not only have to be able to lift the same amount, but you have to be able to lift just a little bit more. Every time you go to the gym you should be little bit stronger than you were the last time. And this means you need to extend your rest periods between the workouts.

So if you notice you aren't stronger than the last time put the weights away. They aren't going to do any good for you. Of course the session doesn't have to be completely wasted. Use the time for stretching - or pick up the cute receptionist's phone number on your way out!