If you want to put together an effective body building workout, you've got to prepare yourself with the right mix of cardiovascular exercise and proper resistance training. Each person is different, but generally speaking, overall body development encompasses not only building muscle mass, but enhancing conditioning and complete fitness as well as improving strength. Most importantly, you've got to know your body and know your limits if you're searching for that perfect exercise regimen.
Begin your body building workout plan with your end result in mind. One great technique for enhancing your exercise is to first visualize your desired results before you even start a routine. A successful body building workout is as dependent on the mind as it is the muscle, and putting yourself in the right mindset can be critical to your long-term success. Like a painter visualizes his painting before he applies the brush to the canvas, you should visualize your results before your get started.
Consistency is probably the number one single most important factor in determining the success or failure of a complete muscle building program. Plan your exercise schedule in such a way that you limit the chance that your routine will get sidetracked or interrupted, or that you'll end up missing workout days due to factors outside the gym. Stay focused and stay consistent about your days, times, and amount of work that you do.
Many body builders settle on a workout plan that provides for training 4 or 5 times per week. This allows you the opportunity to train on a schedule that provides for maximum gains, but still allows for sufficient rest and recovery. While you may be enthusiastic about your body building workout and want to develop a real "gym rat" approach, you first must understand that over-working your body won't lead to bigger gains. In fact, too much work and too little recovery time often leads to setbacks rather than progress.
Once you get to the gym and launch your body building workout, you may want to consider some simple guidelines for success. Plan on starting each session with some stretching and cardio exercises to increase your heart rate, but make sure you target your heart healthy zone. Don't overtax yourself or overdo your cardiovascular work before you begin your muscle building exercises.
After you've worked in some cardio and done a little stretching, expect to spend about 30-45 minutes per session on your core routine. Injury can result from overwork, so take care not to exceed your limits. Build a workout around three individual sets, with no more than a dozen or so reps per set. A solid exercise plan pushes your muscles to the limit of fatigue without crossing the line into injury. And make certain that you allow yourself about two minutes of rest between sets in order for your muscles to recover.
As always, before you embark on a body building workout schedule, consult your doctor or trainer.