INTRODUCTION
YOU ARE A BODYBUILDER
Why did you pick up this book? Is your intent to radically change your physique? Is it to add some curves or muscle to your body? Whatever your answer may be, if you plan to use weights to reach your goal, then YOU are a bodybuilder. Bodybuilding gives you the ability to sculpt your body into your dream body, but whatever your goal may bewhether you plan to train for aesthetics with the goal of stepping onto a bodybuilding stage, or you just want to create impressive proportions and improve the way you look and feelthis book is for you.
LIFTING WEIGHTS CAN CHANGE YOU
The benefits of lifting weights go beyond just adding muscle. Focused training not only can change your physique, it can change your entire life. When you train your brain with strength training, its rewired for the better; your balance will improve, youll gain strength, and youll sleep better. As you gain physical strength, youll become stronger in all aspects of your life. If youre stressed, weights will be an impactful outlet. If you need a break from the outside world, weights will provide that respite. If you need to find a purpose, transforming yourself with weights will help illuminate your path.
I can personally attest to this. Growing up, I was a skinny, shy girl with low self-esteem. Running track at the collegiate level helped bolster my self-esteem, but I still didnt quite get it at that point. It took massive failures on personal, professional, and life levels for me to see the value in following a structured training plan and for it to make a significant impact on my life. When the rest of the world grew dim, I had the gym; it gave me an anchor, structure, purpose, and it enhanced my strengthboth physically and mentally. I had no plans on competing when I startedI was simply working out as a way to escape my life temporarilybut lifting saved my life and gave me a new life.
THIS BOOK WILL BE YOUR RESOURCE
The training programs, tips, and meal planning strategies in this book will enable success for people of all skill levels. Youll learn how to set objective goals, how to visualize those goals, and how to connect your mind and muscles to optimize each training day. Youll learn how to train properly and eat to gain muscle, maintain muscle, or lean down for definition. The meal plan strategies outline the important meals for the day and tell you how to eat for each one of the main training goals. Nine training plans ranging from four days per week to six days per week are designed to target specific muscle groups and will fit any schedule. Youll learn how to incorporate big compound lifts, nontraditional cardio, and nutrient timing into your training to make fast physique improvements, while spending less time in the gym doing it. The tips and techniques are sustainable, too, so you can continue to enjoy training and eating even after you complete a training program!
Its in us all to strive for improvement, but we often forget how important our health is. Youve picked up this book, so now its time to pick up some weights, and remember that every rep you perform will bring you closer to happiness, strength, and your ideal YOU!
Lets go train like a bodybuilder!
Erin
WHY TRAIN LIKE A BODYBUILDER?
Training like a bodybuilder isnt about pushing tons of weight, its about strategically sculpting your body to achieve a special look. It requires commitment, hard work, careful planning, and attention to detail.
THE BENEFITS
A sculpted bodybuilder body is unique, symmetrical, and a sight to behold, but strength training isnt all about gaining mass and pushing tons of weight. Its about training the body to be strong and balanced, and achieving a more complete level of fitness.
Fewer injuries Training for symmetry and aesthetics helps prevent injury by training all areas, and both sides of the body equally to eliminate weaknesses. Weight training also strengthens bones, so youre less prone to falling, and less apt to break something if you do fall. The result is a more complete level of strength.
A stronger, more balanced body Training for symmetry also helps improve body awareness and balance. As you train, your body will become more balanced from left to right, and from top to bottom. Youll increase both core strength and overall strength, so youll no longer have a weak or strong side. Your body will be balanced and symmetrical, both in strength and in appearance.
A stronger brain and boosted metabolism Its no secret that strength training improves cognitive function, improves sleep, decreases stress, and improves immune health. The metabolic stress of lifting also increases your metabolism by increasing the mitochondria in your cells, which means your cells will be able to create more energy.
THE LOOK
Whats special about the bodybuilders body? Its about aesthetics and flow. The muscles tie together seamlessly and no muscle group looks out of place. It is art.
THE V-TAPER
The v-taper is that dramatic size differential between the upper back and the waist that you often see in bodybuilders. By training the right muscle groups, you can create the appearance of a smaller waist by strategically adding muscle to specific areas of the upper and lower body.
THE X-FRAME
An X-frame is defined by broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and muscular legs and glutes. Together they tie your upper body musculature together completely to make your waist appear smaller, and balance your physique from top to bottom. Lifters long for the X-frame and the superhero-like appearance it lends.
THE QUAD SWEEP
A strong, well-defined quad sweep not only adds thickness to the upper legs, but also adds curves to the outer portions of the upper legs. When quadriceps are well developed, they ripple with dimension and command attention with strong curves that are a sign of careful work in the gym.
THE CAPPED SHOULDERS
The shoulders are made up of three heads, and when all of the heads are trained properly, the result is capped shoulders that are perfectly rounded and tie in seamlessly to both the arms and the chest. Theyre the finishing touch on the ideal X-frame.
THE SIX-PACK
Attaining the perfect six-pack requires training every muscle in the abdominals while simultaneously cutting body fat to attain maximum definition. But when the abs are well developed, youll be able to feel them and see them, and also notice a decrease in the circumference of your waist.