The Typical Teen Mistakes of Building Muscle!

Hybrid · 11-06-2005, 04:00 AM

First off, I would like to say this is my first attempt at an article, but this is something that just pisses me off so greatly, I would like to dispell alot of these horrible mistakes. I will number them too!

1: Bicep curls make your arms bigger!
No, no, 1 million times no! Let's think about it.... Your tricep makes up 2/3rds of your arm. You bicep, a measly 1/3. Without being a math rock scientist, we can easily see that builiding mass on your arms will be much easier by improving your triceps. That doesn't mean train only your triceps, as this would leave a completely disproportional arm, however, remember to train them both!

2: High repetitions that make your muscles burn will make you tone!
No! Let's think about this one too! What causes muscles to grow? When you tear muscle fibers and you repair them. Just use your common sense on this one, no science, what do you think will tear and recruit more muscle fibers, higher weight, or lower weights? Heigher weights, obviously. Stick within the 6-12 rep range for muscle size.

3: 1000 crunches a day will give you sixpack abs.
No, it won't! Everyone, and I mean everyone, has abdominals under their layer of fat/skin. All it takes to see these is a very low bodyfat. However, to have good (and strong... abdominal strength is needed for big compound movements such as squats and deadlifts) abdominals it is infact better to do weighted movements such as weighted decline situps, and weighted knee-ups. Think about it.... would you ever do 1000 reps of bench press and expect muscle improvement?

4: Building muscle comes solely down to lifting
This is something many teens are very informed about. To gain muscle, it is 70% diet. You need to supply your body with more than enough nutrition to help re-build those muscle fibers you just tore in the gym. To do this, eat 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight and 2-3g of carbohydrates per pound of bodyweight, and try to get in a bare minimum of 60g of good fats!

5: Not doing compound exercises!
I don't care if someone doesn't want to be a powerlifter, compound lifts are a MUST in both bodybuilding and powerlifting! Why not instead of adding muscle to one area, add muscle to multiple muscles? Also, this goes back to the lower reps that I talked about. You will be pushing/pulling more weight, and therefore you will be tearing more muscle fibers

6: Only working SOME muscles
Some people in the gym only workout their arms, only work their abs, or only work their upper body. Doing this for a long time only leads to one thing (most likely the thing they were trying to avoid by not getting "big legs").... a freak! You become highly disproportional and you look very odd! Also, a lot of people do not like working out their legs. Tell me, how do you expect to be able to curl that 150lb EZ-Bar to get those massive biceps, when you can't get the thing off the floor!

7: Keeping the intensity low
This is the thing that pisses me off the most. It's moreso a pet peeve than a big problem, but it is a problem to address none-the-less. If you can turn to your buddy, have a casual conversation throughout your whole workout, and ESPECIALLY laugh, your are not pushing yourself hard enough! Think about it again, would you try to improve your running times but while doing them be able to turn to your partner, laugh and have a conversation? NO! The same should go for when your in the gym!

These are just a few things I see people doing wrong. If you have any more, feel free to add them. I did not really use any studies or any real scientific proof. I tried to write this one solely with common sense, so that teens can understand it better.

TheBigMastodon · 11-06-2005, 04:33 PM

That's some good stuff right there. All beginners should have that knowledge before they start lifting. I see way too many kids making these mistakes.

-TBM

silent_circus · 11-06-2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid

1: Bicep curls make your arms bigger!
No, no, 1 million times no! Let's think about it.... Your tricep makes up 2/3rds of your arm. You bicep, a measly 1/3. Without being a math rock scientist, we can easily see that builiding mass on your arms will be much easier by improving your triceps. That doesn't mean train only your triceps, as this would leave a completely disproportional arm, however, remember to train them both!

Yea, we all know how smart those math rock scientists are..

Hybrid · 11-06-2005, 05:07 PM

I know some smart rocks :P

I'll fix that typo LOL

EDIT: I can't edit that post anymore

Whoracle · 11-07-2005, 12:25 AM

Very nice post, I actually learned something new from it. ^^

dbish77 · 11-07-2005, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_circus

Yea, we all know how smart those math rock scientists are..

LOL!!!!!!!

Dosquito · 11-07-2005, 03:33 AM

Good article. But I never really got the whole "triceps are 2/3 of the arm" thing. What if you only train your biceps? It's not 2/3 of the arm then

TheBigMastodon · 11-08-2005, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dosquito

Good article. But I never really got the whole "triceps are 2/3 of the arm" thing. What if you only train your biceps? It's not 2/3 of the arm then

That's true. I think thats only for the average person who has never lifted before.

-TBM

Dosquito · 11-09-2005, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigMastodon

That's true. I think thats only for the average person who has never lifted before.

-TBM

Also, it's hard to tell how out of proportion the biceps will get without growing any more. It probably differs genetically, too

Trick D · 11-10-2005, 12:19 AM

Good stuff!

AYung · 11-11-2005, 11:22 PM

Good post Hybrid!

**bigDman** · 11-12-2005, 04:55 AM

nice post hybrid

Hybrid · 11-12-2005, 01:00 PM

Thanks

**Peaked_18** · 11-12-2005, 02:43 PM

I can agree with some of that.

Top Heavy 101 · 04-04-2006, 11:44 PM

good stuff i say if i kew what i knew when i first stated id be much bigger now

Frank_the_tank · 04-05-2006, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid

First off, I would like to say this is my first attempt at an article, but this is something that just pisses me off so greatly, I would like to dispell alot of these horrible mistakes. I will number them too!

1: Bicep curls make your arms bigger!
No, no, 1 million times no! Let's think about it.... Your tricep makes up 2/3rds of your arm. You bicep, a measly 1/3. Without being a math rock scientist, we can easily see that builiding mass on your arms will be much easier by improving your triceps. That doesn't mean train only your triceps, as this would leave a completely disproportional arm, however, remember to train them both!

I guess your not a math rock scientist because the tricep is 3/5 of the arm. The bicep is 2/5.

TKL · 04-12-2006, 04:56 PM

Definetely agree with the training legs part. As for that, going down all the way for squats is essential, same thing with leg press.

11-06-2005, 04:00 AM	#1
Hybrid IMPC Contestant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gibsonia PA Posts: 824 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 14	The Typical Teen Mistakes of Building Muscle! First off, I would like to say this is my first attempt at an article, but this is something that just pisses me off so greatly, I would like to dispell alot of these horrible mistakes. I will number them too! 1: Bicep curls make your arms bigger! No, no, 1 million times no! Let's think about it.... Your tricep makes up 2/3rds of your arm. You bicep, a measly 1/3. Without being a math rock scientist, we can easily see that builiding mass on your arms will be much easier by improving your triceps. That doesn't mean train only your triceps, as this would leave a completely disproportional arm, however, remember to train them both! 2: High repetitions that make your muscles burn will make you tone! No! Let's think about this one too! What causes muscles to grow? When you tear muscle fibers and you repair them. Just use your common sense on this one, no science, what do you think will tear and recruit more muscle fibers, higher weight, or lower weights? Heigher weights, obviously. Stick within the 6-12 rep range for muscle size. 3: 1000 crunches a day will give you sixpack abs. No, it won't! Everyone, and I mean everyone, has abdominals under their layer of fat/skin. All it takes to see these is a very low bodyfat. However, to have good (and strong... abdominal strength is needed for big compound movements such as squats and deadlifts) abdominals it is infact better to do weighted movements such as weighted decline situps, and weighted knee-ups. Think about it.... would you ever do 1000 reps of bench press and expect muscle improvement? 4: Building muscle comes solely down to lifting This is something many teens are very informed about. To gain muscle, it is 70% diet. You need to supply your body with more than enough nutrition to help re-build those muscle fibers you just tore in the gym. To do this, eat 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight and 2-3g of carbohydrates per pound of bodyweight, and try to get in a bare minimum of 60g of good fats! 5: Not doing compound exercises! I don't care if someone doesn't want to be a powerlifter, compound lifts are a MUST in both bodybuilding and powerlifting! Why not instead of adding muscle to one area, add muscle to multiple muscles? Also, this goes back to the lower reps that I talked about. You will be pushing/pulling more weight, and therefore you will be tearing more muscle fibers 6: Only working SOME muscles Some people in the gym only workout their arms, only work their abs, or only work their upper body. Doing this for a long time only leads to one thing (most likely the thing they were trying to avoid by not getting "big legs").... a freak! You become highly disproportional and you look very odd! Also, a lot of people do not like working out their legs. Tell me, how do you expect to be able to curl that 150lb EZ-Bar to get those massive biceps, when you can't get the thing off the floor! 7: Keeping the intensity low This is the thing that pisses me off the most. It's moreso a pet peeve than a big problem, but it is a problem to address none-the-less. If you can turn to your buddy, have a casual conversation throughout your whole workout, and ESPECIALLY laugh, your are not pushing yourself hard enough! Think about it again, would you try to improve your running times but while doing them be able to turn to your partner, laugh and have a conversation? NO! The same should go for when your in the gym! These are just a few things I see people doing wrong. If you have any more, feel free to add them. I did not really use any studies or any real scientific proof. I tried to write this one solely with common sense, so that teens can understand it better. __________________ If you even dream about beating me you'd better wake up and apologize - Muhammad Ali

11-06-2005, 04:33 PM	#2
TheBigMastodon Pro Stature Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Upstate, New York Posts: 201 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	That's some good stuff right there. All beginners should have that knowledge before they start lifting. I see way too many kids making these mistakes. -TBM __________________ TrueProtein.com Discount Code: TBM333 *Trainee Under TheBigMastodon* Check out my DoggCrapp Journal you pussy! http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4742

11-06-2005, 05:07 PM	#4
Hybrid IMPC Contestant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gibsonia PA Posts: 824 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 14	I know some smart rocks :P I'll fix that typo LOL EDIT: I can't edit that post anymore __________________ If you even dream about beating me you'd better wake up and apologize - Muhammad Ali

11-07-2005, 12:25 AM	#5
Whoracle Amateur Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Escanaba, Michigan Posts: 42 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Very nice post, I actually learned something new from it. ^^ __________________ Talent is God given be humble Fame is man given be thankful Conceit is self given be careful

11-11-2005, 11:22 PM	#11
AYung IMPC Contestant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 2,293 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 41	Good post Hybrid! __________________ Clean Bulking Journal http://www.ironmass.com/showthread.php?t=9546 Max Lifts Bench: 155 x 6 Deadlift: 315 x 6 Squat: 245 x 6 1 Rep Max Lifts Bench: 180 - Tested Deadlift: 365 - Tested Squat: 285 - Estimated TOTAL: 831 @ 156lbs Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005, R.I.P.) You'll always be loved and remembered.

11-07-2005, 03:33 AM	#7
Dosquito Amateur Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 35 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Good article. But I never really got the whole "triceps are 2/3 of the arm" thing. What if you only train your biceps? It's not 2/3 of the arm then

11-12-2005, 01:00 PM	#13
Hybrid IMPC Contestant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gibsonia PA Posts: 824 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 14	Thanks __________________ If you even dream about beating me you'd better wake up and apologize - Muhammad Ali

11-12-2005, 02:43 PM	#14
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,247 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	I can agree with some of that.

04-04-2006, 11:44 PM	#15
Top Heavy 101 New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	good stuff i say if i kew what i knew when i first stated id be much bigger now

04-12-2006, 04:56 PM	#17
TKL IMPC Contestant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: edmonton, AB Posts: 114 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	Definetely agree with the training legs part. As for that, going down all the way for squats is essential, same thing with leg press.

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