Muscle Building Information

What Causes Muscle Growth?


In order for muscles to grow, three things are required:

1. Stimulus - exercise is needed to make the muscles work, use energy and cause microscopic damage to the fibers.

2. Nutrition - after intense exercise the muscles need to replenish their stores of fuel.

3. Rest - it is during the rest or recovery phase that the muscles repair the microscopic damage and grow.

Muscle size increases due to hypertrophic adaptation and an increase in the cross section area of individual muscle fibers. Intensive exercise impacts more on the strength influencing fast twitch type II fibers, therefore the increase in muscle size is accompanied by greater strength.

This will deplete the muscle's energy stores and cause microscopic damage to the muscle tissue. During recovery, these stores of glycogen and phosphocreatine will replenish from carbohydrates and creatine ingested as food or supplements. Amino acids supplied in the diet will trigger the protein synthesis that repairs the damaged muscle and lead to the creation of bigger muscle fibers.

To achieve continuous improvement you will need to keep reaching for higher levels of training intensity otherwise the improvement process will grind to a halt. Fortunately, this is relatively easy to plan for provided certain basic principles and rules are clearly followed. Subsequent articles in this series will examine these principles in detail.

In the meantime you can find out more about building muscle by visiting the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

Examiner.com

Can I build muscle and keep my six pack??
Examiner.com - Jun 29, 2008
Yes, you can keep your six pack and build muscle. However, it is extremely difficult and you almost need to hire a nutritionist to do it. ...


What's right in world of 'roids?
StarNewsOnline.com, NC - 8 hours ago
At issue is anabolic steroids, specifically using the drugs to build muscle mass. Bell admits he's done it but feels ambivalent about it. ...


Peak Performance looks to change local athletes
Georgetown News Democrat, OH - 11 hours ago
Whether your goal is to lose weight, build muscle, improve your game or run a marathon, the staff at Peak Performance in Georgetown is sure it has the ...


Energy foods have long history
Augusta Chronicle, GA - 21 hours ago
VERDICT: Protein can help build muscle, and carbohydrates (barley) consumed before competition can improve endurance, but the folks from this era probably ...


Doping controversy and cricket
Hindu, India - Jul 17, 2008
?You have these anabolic steroids that help build muscle mass and strength,? he says. Anabolic steroids are common among those pursuing power sports; ...


Top 10 diet mistakes that prevent women from losing weight
SheKnows.com, AZ - Jul 21, 2008
If you exercise properly, you will build muscle and lose fat at the same time. If you lose five pounds of fat and build five pounds of muscle, ...


Multi-Platinum Recording Group, The All-American Rejects Share ...
Melodika.net, Bulgaria - Jul 21, 2008
Some studies suggest teens who choose milk instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner, and the protein helps build muscle. It's one drink we don't reject. ...


Silva puts perfect UFC mark on line
Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA - Jul 18, 2008
He is able to focus on strength and weight training to build muscle mass. "The training is different for a light heavyweight fight. ...


Hardgainer Fundamental Tips Every Natural Trainee Should Know About
PRLog.Org (press release), Romania - Jul 20, 2008
Testosterone helps to build muscle and burns fat, cortisol destroys muscle and gets you fat. You also shouldn?t train more than 2/3 times a week. Why? ...


Packed 5-Disc Training System from Bodybuilding Legend Joe Weider ...
PR-CANADA.net (press release), Montenegro - Jul 20, 2008
The rock-solid, time-tested Weider System has led millions of men and women to successfully train to build muscle and strength for bodybuilding, ...

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