4 Harmful Muscle-Building Myths Uncovered

In this article I'm going to expose 4 very common myths related to muscle building to put you on the right path to gaining amazing muscle and strength that you deserve.

On the off chance that you're significant about committing to a muscle-building program, you must be extremely cautious who you take guidance from. Bodybuilding and fitness is literally a billion dollar industry, with new websites emerging every day. Many of the so called "experts" out there really have no idea what they are talking about and are only motivated by pushing expensive pills, powders and "miracle programs" on you that you don't really need. If you don't watch your steps you can get into some fatal muscle building pitfalls that will literally destroy your gains and prevent you from ever getting the impressive, muscular physique you want. In this article I'm going to expose 4 very common myths associated with muscle building so that you can get on the proper path to the fantastic muscle and strength gains you deserve.

 

#1: To build muscle, you have to get a "pump" during your workout. The more pump you get, the more muscle you will build.

 

For those of you who are simply beginning, the "siphon" is the sensation you get when blood is caught inside the muscle tissue when you train with loads. The muscles will swell and your body will feel bigger, tighter, stronger and more powerful. Although a pump sounds great, it has nothing to do with properly stimulating your muscles to grow. A siphon is basically the consequence of expanded blood stream to the muscle tissue and is positively not an indication of an effective exercise. A successful workout should be judged only by the concept of progress. If you were able to lift more weight or perform more repetitions than last week, you did your job.

 

#2: Building muscle will make you slower and less flexible.

 

This goes back to the old days when people used to call bodybuilders “muscle-bound” and “bulky.” Contrary to what you might think, building significant amounts of lean muscle will actually speed you up rather than slow you down. Muscles are responsible for every movement in your body, from running to jumping and throwing. The bottom line is that the stronger the muscle, the more force it can exert. Having stronger, more muscular legs means increased leg speed, just as having stronger, more muscular shoulders means the ability to throw farther. Strong muscles are capable muscles, not the other way around.

 

#3: You should always use correct, textbook form in all exercises.

 

Although it is always important to use good form in the gym, being obsessed with perfect form is an entirely different matter. If you're always attempting to perform every exercise in flawless, textbook form, you'll actually increase your chances of injury as well as reduce the total amount of muscle stimulation you can receive. Remember, we are not robots! It is very important that you always move naturally when exercising. This might mean using a very slight arch in your back when you do bicep curls, or using a slight body movement when performing barbell rows. Loosen yourself up a bit and move the way your body is supposed to move. Being obsessed with perfect form will actually work against you, not for you.

 

#4: If you want your muscles to grow you have to "feel the burn!"

 

This is another big misconception in the gym. The "burning" sensation that results from intense weight training is simply the result of lactic acid (a metabolic waste product) that is secreted inside the muscle tissue while exercising. Increased levels of lactic acid have nothing to do with muscle growth and may actually slow down your gains rather than speed them up. You can limit lactic acid production by training in the lower rep range of 5-7 instead of the traditional range of 10 and above.