When you are lifting weights and bodybuilding, what do you think about while working out? This will make the difference between massive and moderate muscle growth.
There was a study that Hull University in the United Kingdom did on 30 weight lifters. What they found was that muscles responded better and grew more when the lifters focused more on what their muscles were doing, rather than thinking about the weight they were trying to lift.
These 30 weightlifters were to do bicep curls while their muscles were wired to monitors to study the electrical activity. While they were lifting they were asked to concentrate on the muscle and the activity of lifting. Then they were asked to concentrate on the weight and the up and down movement. What they found was that there was more muscle fiber activity taking place when they were concentrating on the muscle. More muscle fiber activity means more muscle growth.
This may seem contrary to conventional thinking that says you must concentrate on the goal, rather than the activity itself. If you ask a baseball pitcher to focus on what his muscles are doing rather than the catchers mitt and the strike zone, he will not do as well as he would if he just focused on throwing the strike. If you asked a sprinter to focus on leg movements he most likely would do poorer than if he focused on the finish line. A golfer focusing more on his muscle movements rather than the hole he is aiming for will have to take more swings.
In all these cases it's important to pay attention to your form, as this will aid you in reaching your goal. Concentrate and focus mainly on your goal though, as prior studies have indicated that those who are goal orientated achieve better results.
After reading all of this, you should ask yourself a very important question. What is your weightlifting goal? Is your goal the weight you are lifting or is it the development of your muscles? More than likely while visiting the gym on a daily basis when trying to achieve the physique you want, you have notice how some other individuals concentrate chiefly on the machine or weights they use while working out. You may have even done so yourself. Do you pay more attention to the reps you do or trying to get the weight moving. Studies show that this is not where you should focus your attention.
Your goal is muscle growth. That is your finish line. The number of reps are important, as is making sure that you are using the machine properly or lifting the weight correctly and it is beneficial to learn proper technique. When learning technique, though, you should get to a point where you no longer have to think about it. You have to get to a point where it is in your nature to do it correctly. After you have done that, which in weightlifting shouldn't take that long, then key in on what your muscles are doing.
In the next few months of your workouts, do not focus on how hard it is to move weights or the difficulty of doing all your reps. Stop paying attention to others walking by and whether or not you impress them. Begin focusing on the muscle group you are working. Focus on actually building muscle. Begin watching what the muscle is doing. Focus your mind on how the muscle feels, its movements and how it reacts to various movements.
Once you can do this, you will begin to see more progress and rapid muscle growth. Keep in mind that your brain is the muscle that controls all your other muscles and helps them work better. This will help you achieve the body you want. - 15683
There was a study that Hull University in the United Kingdom did on 30 weight lifters. What they found was that muscles responded better and grew more when the lifters focused more on what their muscles were doing, rather than thinking about the weight they were trying to lift.
These 30 weightlifters were to do bicep curls while their muscles were wired to monitors to study the electrical activity. While they were lifting they were asked to concentrate on the muscle and the activity of lifting. Then they were asked to concentrate on the weight and the up and down movement. What they found was that there was more muscle fiber activity taking place when they were concentrating on the muscle. More muscle fiber activity means more muscle growth.
This may seem contrary to conventional thinking that says you must concentrate on the goal, rather than the activity itself. If you ask a baseball pitcher to focus on what his muscles are doing rather than the catchers mitt and the strike zone, he will not do as well as he would if he just focused on throwing the strike. If you asked a sprinter to focus on leg movements he most likely would do poorer than if he focused on the finish line. A golfer focusing more on his muscle movements rather than the hole he is aiming for will have to take more swings.
In all these cases it's important to pay attention to your form, as this will aid you in reaching your goal. Concentrate and focus mainly on your goal though, as prior studies have indicated that those who are goal orientated achieve better results.
After reading all of this, you should ask yourself a very important question. What is your weightlifting goal? Is your goal the weight you are lifting or is it the development of your muscles? More than likely while visiting the gym on a daily basis when trying to achieve the physique you want, you have notice how some other individuals concentrate chiefly on the machine or weights they use while working out. You may have even done so yourself. Do you pay more attention to the reps you do or trying to get the weight moving. Studies show that this is not where you should focus your attention.
Your goal is muscle growth. That is your finish line. The number of reps are important, as is making sure that you are using the machine properly or lifting the weight correctly and it is beneficial to learn proper technique. When learning technique, though, you should get to a point where you no longer have to think about it. You have to get to a point where it is in your nature to do it correctly. After you have done that, which in weightlifting shouldn't take that long, then key in on what your muscles are doing.
In the next few months of your workouts, do not focus on how hard it is to move weights or the difficulty of doing all your reps. Stop paying attention to others walking by and whether or not you impress them. Begin focusing on the muscle group you are working. Focus on actually building muscle. Begin watching what the muscle is doing. Focus your mind on how the muscle feels, its movements and how it reacts to various movements.
Once you can do this, you will begin to see more progress and rapid muscle growth. Keep in mind that your brain is the muscle that controls all your other muscles and helps them work better. This will help you achieve the body you want. - 15683
About the Author:
If you are fairly new to muscle building or just want to be healthy, have a look at Rob's lose weight and gain muscle site to find lots of helpful muscle building facts and follow his journey to fitness.
