If you want to build muscle, you need to know how. There is a sea of information online which is difficult to navigate for even an expert, so how are you supposed to find the best information available? You can start with this article as it is full of advice which is time-tested and accurate, so keep reading and learn as much as you can!

It is important to get a sufficient amount of sleep and rest after your workout sessions. A significant amount of muscle recovery and repair occurs while you are sleeping. Not getting an adequate amount of sleep can delay your results, and also be dangerous. Working out again without proper recuperation can cause injury or illness.

If you really want to start gaining muscle, consider getting a trainer. A trainer is an expert and has likely been where you are now. Ask a trainer about what kind of exercises are best, what kind of diet you should have and how often you should be at the gym. Trainers can be a great source of information and motivation so you can meet your own muscle building goals.

A great way to build muscle is to pay close attention to nutrition, and eat a good amount of protein and carbohydrates. By eating every two hours, and ensuring you get no less than 1.5 grams of protein for each pound of your own weight and no less than 2 grams of carbohydrates per pound. You will have the nutritional tools necessary to build muscle.

Genetics are going to play a role in the amount of muscle building success that you see. If your family has not provided you with the right genetics to have the body that you dream of, you may have to work doubly as hard to see any results. That does not mean it is impossible, it just means more hard work.

Your muscles need certain things in order to grow and carbohydrates are one of these things. Carbohydrates not only fuel your body, but they are necessary to increase muscle tone. Make sure that you understand that you should be consuming around two or three grams of carbohydrates for just about every pound of your body weight.

To be sure you get the proper amount of muscle growth you can, do compound exercises. These are exercises which are designed to work multiple muscle groups in a single movement. For example, bench presses exercise your triceps, chest and shoulders all at once.

Although isolation moves that only require that you move one joint are important, you shouldn’t do these types of exercises very often. You definitely do not want to do them more than compound exercises. The best time to make use of these moves is at the end of a workout.

Eat plenty of carbs. If your body runs short on glucose after hard workouts, your body will use muscle tissue for protein and carbohydrates, undoing your hard work. Stay away from low-carb diets, and eat an appropriate amount of carbs given the intensity of your workouts–possibly a couple of grams of carbs per pound of body weight each day.

Remember that it is never a good idea to use the scale to determine your progress when you are trying to build muscle. If you find that your scale is increasing in numbers, remember that you just might be losing fat while gaining muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, this is a familiar site for many who are trying to do both at the same time. Gauge your results by what you see in the mirror rather than what you see on the scale.

Avoid comparing yourself to others at the gym. It can be useful to watch other people to see their form, new exercises, or new types of equipment, but direct comparison is not helpful. This is because everyone has a different body type; what works for you may not work for others.

If you are completely new to muscle building, then you will want to start slowly. It is generally better for new people to start out with machines instead of free weights. This type of machine is great for practicing your form and ensuring that you don’t injure yourself during your workout.

Allow yourself to eat some ice cream. Studies have shown that eating one bowl of any type of ice cream that you like about two hours after a workout does some good. It will trigger the surge of insulin in your body better than many other foods will, and it will taste good too!

You can cheat a tad when lifting. Using the leverage of your body weight to squeeze out a few more reps is an easy way to increase your workout results. But, it is important to keep cheating to a minimum. Work hard so that your rep speed is controlled. Don’t compromise your posture and balance.

Do not overlook the importance of rest in muscle growth. Believe it or not, growth actually occurs during rest, so if you are not getting enough of it, your muscled will not grow or be adequately conditioned. Working out stimulates muscles, and during rest your body gets to work at building the muscles. You need to understand this process and factor rest into your muscle conditioning or building routine.

Tailor your intake of food to your efforts. You should eat more on the days you are planning on working out, especially just before, and after you exercise. On the days, you are not working out, choose lighter meals and cut back on the proteins. Make sure you choose healthy foods on the days you have to eat more.

Now that you’ve read this article, you have had a primer on what it takes to build muscle safely and effectively. Take this knowledge and seek even more education online, as you’ll now be able to tell what is true and what is fantasy. Don’t forget to start putting it to use in your work-outs as well!