I will be using the term “bodybuilder” or “bodybuilding” to refer to anyone who wants to build lean muscle and burn bodyfat in this article.

That means you.

Yep… you are a “bodybuilder.” That does not mean you want to look like a monster on stage and pose in front of thousands of people wearing nothing but your undies.

That means you want more lean muscle and less bodyfat — that’s it.

With that in mind, here’s something you have to know:

Bodybuilders do not “lift weights” — we “train” with weights.

We use weights as a tool like a sculptor uses a hammer and chisel.

The object of the game is not to lift some heavy weight from Point A to Point B and back. That’s weight lifting. “Bodybuilding” is about making the muscle you want to change do all the work.

Here’s two ways to do it:

1. Lower the weight and focus: Most people are just concerned with the lift itself. “Get this weight off of me!” seems to be the unconscious mantra. This will not get the job done. In fact you may end up looking bulky rather than sleek… or just not change at all. Instead, lower the weight slightly, slow the pace down (especially on the descent of the movement) and picture the muscle in your mind doing ALL of the work. Literally put your mind in the muscle. You will be amazed at how different the same exercise feels with this degree of concentration,.

2. Contract, hold, release: At the top of any movement, contract the muscle hard. Hold that contraction for a second or two, then release it and lower the weight slowly. This will not only cause faster muscle growth (that is a good thing) but also demand that you use less weight to get the job done. This means your joints — shoulders, knees, elbows — will last a lifetime. At 45 my joints are in perfect health. Protect yours at all costs.

Just remember: You are not just lifting weights when you train for muscle shape and “tone” — you are a sculptor. Treat your tools and your body with that degree of care.

I cover many more tips on how to build lean muscle and burn bodyfat faster in my book “7 Minute Muscle”.

Read more here:  more muscle in far less time

[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]

This concept is mostly used by professional bodybuilders and athletes, and is based on the principle of never allowing the muscles to know what’s going to do next by alternating your workout constant. Everyone knows how important it is the exercise of any weight loss plan and it’s a great way to burn excess calories into fat.
The major problem with exercise is that people tend to do exactly the same exercises in the same moment every day.

The body quickly begin to adapt to your exercise routine, which means your body can really begin to burn fewer calories while you exercise in particular that for the same amount of time. This is where the concept of muscle confusion comes into play.

When you decide to start a new exercise program, a good tool to keep nearby is a blackboard or notepad. What to do then is write about 20 or more different exercises that you like to do. Each day after that, then go to the list and choose a random and different exercise to perform.

In this way, your muscles will use daily, but in different ways or different muscle groups, so that no two days are the same and neither are the days of the week. Doing so will burn more calories and increase the speed with which to build new muscle.

If you can keep your muscles confused, which can never adapt to the exercises you do and always burn more calories which means a smaller waistline before. You can use any muscle confusion workout. Whether it is weight training, cardio, aerobics or less intense, such as walking and cleaning.

When you run out of the exercises in the list you created, you can then go and write a new new list. If you choose to use some of the older, remember to make them at a different time and day that you did the last time.

Also, do not necessarily have to make only 1 type of exercise every day, you can choose to do 3, 4 or more during their daily training. The idea is to mix everything so that your body has no idea what the exercise is going to do next.

This method of preparation is one of the most effective ways to keep burning calories at the maximum rate. We must remember, even though the exercise is great for burning fat, always will be the burning and using more calories than you consume.

The solution to permanent weight loss is to consume the right kinds of foods that will preserve your lean muscle mass and to increase the fat burning rate by building new muscle to speed up your metabolism. We recommend using the new fail-proof diet from The Weight Loss Grail.

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