How Much Muscle Is Too Much Muscle?

ByMike Pow

Muscle, muscle, muscle, it's that magical body tissue that can make you stronger, it's the x-factor in creating a body that make women swoon. Muscle is what some of the best physiques in the world have, and what the "needs improvement" physiques covet. So many people yearn to know how to gain muscle fast. With magazines, websites, and other media touting these "to die for" physiques, it's hard not to get pulled in. But when I look at some of the professional bodybuilding magazines, I think that some of the guys I see are bigger than I'd ever want to even think about being. Looking at the classic pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane and some of the greats, I still admire the way they look! They're big, no doubt, but they still look human to me. Seeing the progression of the pro bodybuilder makes me wonder just ??

Different people have different ideas of how much muscle they want to pack onto their respective frames and that's perfectly okay. At the end of the day, you have to look in the mirror and be okay with what YOU see. To know how much muscle is too much, let's examine things from five different perspectives:
1) The Average Jane/ The Average Joe,
2) The Athlete,
3) The Bodybuilder,
4) The Significant Other, and
5) The Outside-Looking-Inn-ers.

THE AVERAGE JANE/ THE AVERAGE JOE

The Average Jane and Average Joe probably don't peruse the fitness magazine, Shangri-la that exists in most bookstores. They eat the average diet, and maybe are just looking to shape up a bit. They are pretty happy with the lives they have, and may have gotten a little out of shape for one reason or another. The female fitness model or mountain of muscle look may not be what they're striving for. Just slimming down a bit and toning up their existing muscle is the main goal.*

*There are cases where people change categories. Your body will change according to what you do and what you desire to do with it.

THE ATHLETE

The athlete may have genetic gifts that not everyone has...natural speed, height, or even fast-twitch muscle fibers. They know exactly what their gifts are and the build on those. They're not necessarily trying to become as big as a bodybuilder, but muscle matters. Every muscle fiber in their body has to be developed and tweaked to make them as effective as possible in their respective sport.

THE BODYBUILDER

To the bodybuilder or aspiring bodybuilder the bigger the muscle the better. Well, I guess you could break this down even further. The natural bodybuilder may want big muscles, but naturally, symmetrically. The non-natural pro goes for as big and symmetrical as possible by whatever means necessary (steroids, GH, etc.).

THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER

What does your wife/girlfriend think of your body? What does your husband/boyfriend think of your body? How this person views you may play a big role in how much muscle is too much. If your girlfriend finds big muscles sexy, you may train even harder to be more appealing to her. On the flip side, if a thin waistline and sexy, muscular legs turn your husband on, you may train to be more appealing to him.

THE OUTSIDE-LOOKING-INN-ERS

What do you want people to say about you when they see you? "Wow, you look amazing?" or "Jesus Christ, you're a beast!" or "Damn! Your body is so sexy." Sometimes outer voices can create internal pressure to change your body. Deciding on how much is too much can sometimes be influenced by those around you.

Personally, I have no desire to look like an IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding) pro. I totally respect the hard work that bodybuilders put into their craft, day in and day out. However, I just don't see myself being able to maintain that much muscle when I'm 65 or older. How many 75 year-old Jay Cutlers do you know? Personally I try to strive for the healthy, fit, male, underwear model look. They are great examples of buff but not over the top buff.

How much muscle is too much muscle for you?

To learn more more about the best chest workouts, back muscle exercises, how to build lean muscle fast, and how have better overall fitness.

If you're struggling to reach your fitness goals, be sure to get your free copy of the 7 Secrets to Your Ideal Body at http://cnbmusclebuilding.com

Mike Pow

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Health and Fitness: Build-Muscle
Mike Pow

Email Address:SubscribeBuild Muscle Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesHow Much Muscle Can You Actually Build in A Year?Big Natural Bodybuilder - Secrets For the Hard Gainer to Build Muscle Fast (Proven to Work)10 Hardgainer Natural Bodybuilding TipsThe Top Foods For Building Muscle - How to Become Ripped QuicklyTeenage Bodybuilding Workouts - How to Get Big Biceps FastNatural Bodybuilding Tips To Build Muscle FastNatural Bodybuilding Get Big or Die Trying IIIBuilding Muscle Quickly - Does Vince DelMonte's No Nonsense Muscle Building Bear Fruit?Best Way to Build Muscle Fast? 5 Muscle Building TipsDiet to Gain Muscle Mass - 3 Skinny Guy Foods to Gain Muscle Mass FastRecent ArticlesHow To Make Your Buttocks Bigger Naturally With Just 3 Exercises3 Simple and Easy Ab Workouts That You Need to Know!How To Improve Your Pull Ups!Full Body Vs Split Body Building RoutineBest Exercise for the BicepsBSN NO-Xplode Supplement ReviewMuscle Building Tips for a Rock-Hard Six PackQuick Shortcuts For Insane Six Pack AbsThe Artistry of Muscle BuildingKnow Your Muslce Groups For A More Effective Body Building WorkoutSubmitted On February 18, 2012. Viewed 22 times. Word count: 702.

MLA Style Citation:
Pow, Mike".".18 Feb. 2012EzineArticles.com.2 Mar. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Pow, M. (2012, February 18). . Retrieved March 2, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?How-­Much-­Muscle-­Is-­Too-­Much-­Muscle?&id=6890079Chicago Style Citation:
Pow, Mike "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?How-­Much-­Muscle-­Is-­Too-­Much-­Muscle?&id=6890079EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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Building Muscle? - The 7 Foods You Must Never Eat!

ByAndrew Craig Miller

1. High Fat and High Carb Foods

Foods that are high in fat and carbs promote high blood pressure levels, increased fat storage, decreased carbohydrate conversion, and erratic insulin levels. So what types of foods can cause these problems? Well, for starters all fried foods, sugar glazed foods such as donuts, pasta's covered in sauces, most restaurant foods, and nearly all fast foods.

2. Fruit Juices And Sodas

Processed fruit juice is normally only 5% real juice and 95% sugar. Since when is that much sugar a good thing? And really, did you think we were going to endorse drinking sodas? These drinks pack a ton of calories without any health benefit whatsoever. It is better to fresh squeeze your own juices and drinks, or better yet, just stick to good-old-fashioned water.

3. Candy

Yeah, let's just jack our insulin levels up real bad. When your insulin levels spike you get hungry, and when you get hungry, you eat more calories than necessary... generally, processed foods which make you even hungrier. How about we just stay away from candy as much as possible?

4. Flavored Oatmeal

Now, this is one that is abused a lot. Everyone thinks because the word "oatmeal" is included that it is healthy... yeah right! It has so much sugar in, so there goes your insulin level yet again. It has a ton of salt which is great for your hypertension levels. Synthetic oils which are really a melted plastic... seriously, just heat up your vegetable oil and then let it cool on its own somewhere. The oil turns hard; do you really want that in your body?

5. White Breads, Bagels And Rice Cakes

Starches can be your worst enemy, because after processing and conversion the starch becomes sugar. If you haven't noticed, sugar is a really big problem when it comes to bodybuilding.

6. Breakfast Cereals

Alright, so now we are hitting you below the belt. Seriously, now I can't even eat cereal. Well, think about it like this. The cereals are a form of starch and sugar. The milk has a sugar base in it, and most likely you are sticking more sugar in it. The basic premise is that if you like eating it, it isn't healthy for you.

7. Alcohol

Alcohol has a ton of empty calories; therefore it just doesn't benefit you at all. Secondly, if you are body building, you need as much testosterone as possible and this just suppresses your production.

Bodybuilding and diets do not have to be ultra-complicated, but it is important to make sure you are ingesting the right things. Continue along to http://www.experthealthfitness to find out more healthy Bodybuilding tips!

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Health and Fitness: Build-Muscle
Andrew Craig Miller

Email Address:SubscribeBuild Muscle Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesThe Truth About Carbs, What Are They Good For?Inflammation and DiseaseRecent ArticlesThe Quickest Way to Gain Weight - How To Increase Your Weight NaturallyThe Best Bodybuilding Diet Plan3 Crucial Areas To Get Ripped Fast5 Surefire Ways to Meet Your Fitness GoalsHow to Get Six Pack Abs - The Weight Question7 Crucial Secrets To Developing The Ideal Fitness System For Building Muscle MassChoosing the Best Bodybuilding Weights and EquipmentHow Skinny Guys Can Avoid Building Muscle The Wrong WayEffective Workout Routine - 3 Questions for Your Body-Brain-And-SoulAvoid These 5 Beginner Mistakes To Get Abs FastSubmitted On February 18, 2012. Viewed 7 times. Word count: 413.

MLA Style Citation:
Miller, Andrew C.".".18 Feb. 2012EzineArticles.com.22 Feb. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Miller, A. C. (2012, February 18). . Retrieved February 22, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-­Muscle?-­-­-­The-­7-­Foods-­You-­Must-­Never-­Eat!&id=6890130Chicago Style Citation:
Miller, Andrew C. "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-­Muscle?-­-­-­The-­7-­Foods-­You-­Must-­Never-­Eat!&id=6890130EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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Do You Really Want To Build Muscle?

ByEvan Bell

Lots of guys want to get ripped or jacked or whatever you want to call attaining a physically fit physique. That's what the end goal should ultimately be for dreamers. If you want to build muscle then there's some things you've got to get nailed in that head of yours.

You Really Want It?

The truth is that just about any guy can gain a decent amount of lean muscle mass. It doesn't matter if you're as skinny as the dead. It doesn't matter what body type you have at all. What does matter is what you're willing to do about the situation.

It's one thing to sit on the fence and always dream of attaining something and it's something completely different to go out and get it by whatever means. And this is the exact kind of mindset you need to have when it comes to building muscle.

You either lift weights or you don't lift weights. It's really that simple. You don't lose weight by not exercising via cardio, right? So, what is the difference between wanting to gain muscle? The simple formula to gaining muscle is to get stronger step by step. And you gets stronger by lifting weights.

Get The Mindset And Get The Muscles

You're not going to gain a decent amount of muscle mass overnight so this is the kind of mentality you need to throw out the window. Instead, you should realize that gaining muscle takes time and a good amount of it. Just as a college student progresses through a course and learns more as the course moves onward, you are literally teaching your body how to be stronger with each and every move you take.

In this case it is weight lifting exercises. And more specifically, it is a combination of weight lifting exercises and a good amount of protein in your diet. You see, once you stop thinking and start doing you will automatically be on your way towards a bigger and better you.

Instead of thinking about how you'd like a bigger set of biceps actually do something that will get you bigger biceps. Go out to your local sports store and buy yourself some dumbbells. Use those dumbbells and start doing curls on a regular basis. Raise the amount of weight you are lifting on a regular basis as well and sure enough you are going to be stronger and bigger.

It's a man's will and motivation that ultimately drives a better physique. Not everyone starts out husky. Every ripped guy you see walking down the street or at your local gym had to make that initial step at some point just like you need to. So, take the leap and don't look back. You won't regret it.

Gain more motivation and learn why you can gain muscle mass now. Not interested? Get connected with fresh fitness content.

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Health and Fitness: Build-Muscle
Evan Bell

Email Address:SubscribeBuild Muscle Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesHow to Gain Muscle Mass - 10 Tips to Gain Muscle Mass QuicklyBuild Muscle Mass Fast - How to Gain Muscles Fast and SafeBuild Your Muscle Fast - 4 Powerful Tips to Gain Muscle FasterHow to Build Muscle - 5 Amazingly Simple Tips to Gain Muscle Mass Fast!Gain Muscle, Not Fat! 5 Tips For Staying Lean And Mean While BulkingGain Muscle Mass Fast - 3 Tips For Extreme Muscle GrowthHow to Gain Muscle Naturally - No Steroids Necessary!The Fastest Way to Gain Muscle Mass - Uncover 10 Tips That Build Muscle QuicklyHow to Gain Muscle Mass Fast - Tips to Go From Skinny to Massive QuicklyHow Long Does it Take to Develop Muscle Mass? - Fastest Methods to Gain MusclesRecent ArticlesDoes Protein Burn Fat? Read the Definitive Fat Burning and Muscle Building Guide HereFitness System for Weight Loss and Muscle GainBuild Muscle Fast - 7 Simple Tips for MenBuild Muscle and Improve Your Shape With These Great Ideas!5 Tips to Gaining Good Weight and Muscle for Men5 Must Know Tips to Build Muscle and Get in Shape!What You Need to Know Regarding Belly Fat Exercises!Achieving Maximum Muscle Mass Through Dieting And Intense WorkoutEffective Bodybuilding Workout Tips For Massive Arms3 Top Exercises for Bodyweight WorkoutSubmitted On February 13, 2012. Viewed 1 time. Word count: 460.

MLA Style Citation:
Bell, Evan".".13 Feb. 2012EzineArticles.com.14 Feb. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Bell, E. (2012, February 13). . Retrieved February 14, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-­You-­Really-­Want-­To-­Build-­Muscle?&id=6877683Chicago Style Citation:
Bell, Evan "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-­You-­Really-­Want-­To-­Build-­Muscle?&id=6877683EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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