Well, they obviously didn’t get the memo that this counts as bad form, not badassery. And bad form can reduce the time a muscle is under tension, meaning it will not get the proper stimulation it needs to become bigger.
Plus, this mistake can also lead to injuries and imbalances. Don’t let this happen to you. Move your weights purposely and deliberately in a slow and steady motion. This will get you the best results, whilst sparing your body from undue trauma.
2 Not knowing limitations
You might find this crazy, but you don’t need a ton of weight to pack on size. Just like the saying goes; “It’s not the length of the rope that matters, it’s how you raise and lower the bucket.”
Well, new bodybuilders tend to think they need to lift a minibus in order to get jacked. And, they’re partly correct. They will get jacked… jacked up!
You’re best starting out light, focusing on crisp, clean form and progressing to heavier weights over time. This is the basic principle of progressive overload.
When you follow this approach, your body can acclimate and you’ll be less prone to muscle soreness. Then, in a few short months, you can own the entire weight room and everyone’s ass who steps in your way.
But until you reach that point, be modest, know what you can and can’t do and aim for weights that are manageable.
3 Overtraining
Time to go back to checking out muscle soreness for a second. It might be fun to brag to all your friends that you can’t sit on the toilet comfortably because of what leg day did to you, but what are you going to do with this knowledge?
5 Using steroids
Let’s call a spade a spade. There are a lot of guys out there who are on the lazy side. And they would sooner sacrifice their manhood to gain a competitive advantage in the weight room. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m talking about steroid soakers.
Unwitting bodybuilders are the first ones who fall into this trap too. They think they need to resort to sketchy and illegal means to bulk up and build ridiculous strength. But this road can quickly get bumpy, rocky and hard to travel on very quickly.
Steroids cause unwanted side effects that can include hair loss, mood swings, acne, man boobs and loss of sex drive, to name a few things. You’re way better off following a strict diet with lots of chicken, beef, eggs, vegetables and other types of clean fare than slipping foreign substances into your bloodstream.
With today’s advancements in technology, there are plenty of all-natural and legal supplements that can get the job done just fine as well. Always put in the work and take the natural approach to achieve the best (and healthiest) outcome.
Look at our bulking stack to get you started on the right path.
The final lowdown
OK, boys and girls, it’s time to wrap this up. Do you feel more confident to go to the gym now and crush it? That’s good to hear! All bodybuilders might not be created equal, but they sure as hell can follow the same strategies. Do the right thing and avoid the mistakes of newbies so you can lift happily ever after.