The Bodybuilding Guide

Long ago, the concept of bodybuilding was not very widespread. While men competed with one another athletically, and performed various feats of strength to demonstrate their power, the cultural phenomenon of bodybuilding and body-sculpting did not catch on until about 1890, when Eugene Sandow came on to the scene.

Today, bodybuilding is a huge industry, and there is an insatiable appetite for information on how to build the perfect body. If you’re looking for a good bodybuilding guide, there is a wide variety on the market today, many that focus on weightlifting, and others that focus on alternative methods to build muscle mass and sculpt the perfect body without using weights.

Several articles throughout this site focus on building muscle mass through weight lifting, which is indeed, a very effective method. However, let's take a moment to examine some aspects and advantages to the alternative methods that many bodybuilders use.

Bodybuilding Guide: Advantages to Alternative Methods

There are many advantages to the alternative muscle building methods highlighted in several bodybuilding guides today. One big advantage to working out without weights is the decreased risk of injury since the improper use of weights is one of the chief reasons for injury during exercise. Secondly, the methods highlighted in these alternative bodybuilding guides can be executed anywhere and at anytime, so even if you’re away on vacation, or aren’t able to make it to the gym, you don’t have to miss any workouts. Plus, you don’t have to take up space in your home with bulky exercise equipment.

So how can you build muscle fast without weights? Let's highlight a few of techniques you'll find in these bodybuilding guides.

The majority of the workout routines that you'll find in these bodybuilding guides are based on traditional calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc. The difference is how you approach these workouts. One approach is "flexing" or "iso-tension." Flexing your muscles hard before or after a set of calisthenics can dramatically affect your results. You'll notice the difference that working your muscles harder will have.

Another approach is to significantly increase the number of repetitions that you do in each set. Several bodybuilders have lauded the benefits of this technique. While it may not contribute to fast muscle mass growth, it conditions your muscles in such a way that is very complimentary to heavy weightlifting.

Another technique is referred to as "slow motion," or executing each repetition very slowly and deliberately, taking time to flex your muscles throughout. You’ll note that the techniques listed in these bodybuilding guides emphasize the importance of breathing control, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the routines.

You can also see great results from "working the angles." Instead of performing conventional push-ups, do decline push-ups by positioning your feet on a chair while you do your push-ups at a more challenging angle. You can find many more workouts focusing on the "angles" in these bodybuilding guides.

Finally, you can also make your own weights. Do you want to know how to get big biceps without the use of dumbbells? How about using a gallon of milk or water as a substitute? Do you want to get a great chest workout, but don't have access to a bench? How about having one of your kids or your spouse get on your back to provide some added resistance to your push-ups? You get the idea...get creative, and you'll get results.

Don't let anything or any excuse get in the way of you achieving your fitness goals.