Muscle building for women is slightly different in its approach than for men. Most women who train are looking to fulfill two general purposes: burn excess fat and build lean muscle mass that doesn't appear too bulky.
But many women go about accomplishing this goal in the wrong way. They spend hours in the gym doing sustained cardio routines to burn fat, followed by light weight training routines to build lean muscle. This is not necessarily a 'bad' way to go about things, but it may be unnecessary.
There is a way for women to build muscle and burn fat with a single routine that doesn't require the same time commitment. Here we have compiled the top five muscle building tips for women who are looking to both burn fat and tone their body by adding lean muscle mass.
Watch your Diet
Your diet is every bit as important as your workout routine when looking to build lean muscle. Be sure to get a healthy mix of lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fat to keep your body running at optimal performance. Also avoid packaged and processed foods high in trans-fat and sugar.
Drink Plenty of Water
Proper hydration is vital to the body, especially while you're working out. Be sure to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day and your body will remain ready to respond to the rigors of your workout plan. Also, avoid excessive alcohol consumption as it can make you dehydrated and can lead to fat storage.
Weight Training
Strength training with weights is not just for men. Doing exercises such as the bench press (for developing the chest muscles), squats (for the quadriceps and calves), dead lift (for the back and shoulders) and curls (for the arms) will begin to build lean muscle throughout your body and help your body burn excess fat.
High Intensity Circuit Training
Once you've established a strength training routine that suits you, you'll want to perform your routine in a high intensity circuit. This means doing a variety of strength training exercises successively at a maximum exertion level. Not only will this help to build lean muscle mass, it will also boost your metabolism and burn fat quickly. With a high intensity training program there is no need for hours of cardio.
Stay Motivated
The most difficult part of any muscle building program for women (or men) is not the diet or exercise, but remaining motivated to consistently stick with it. Consistency is the key to any workout program, and while the urge to quit may be very strong at first, you must resist this temptation and push on. Once your body becomes adjusted to your new routine, things will usually become much easier.
If you need to, enlist a friend or family member to start the program with you - someone who can push you when you just don't feel like working out and who will support you during the difficult stages if your workout.
With the right diet and workout plan, combined with plenty of water and motivation, building the body of your dreams can be a lot easier than you think.
Source: EzineArticles
