Take Advantage of the Season: Build Even More Lean Muscle Mass

The human body is an amazing thing. It is “hard wired” for survival. A contributing factor to America's obesity problem is that our body’s evolution has not caught up to our present day life styles. Still very similar to our caveman ancestors, the human body has a natural instinct to store fat, especially for coming hard times, in this instance, colder weather.

The "problem" is, unlike our ancestors who actually did have to worry about how to feed themselves during harsh difficult periods, food is available to us, in abundance, all the time. But our bodies don’t know this, therefore it starts storing even more fat than normal as winter approaches. It knows that you have to generate additional body heat and could go extended periods without food, and can't assume that's not the case.

But food we have, and a lot of it, especially at this time of year, what with Thanksgiving around the corner and the approaching holiday season, food is everywhere.

Most peoples first thought is to “watch” what they eat and though cutting calories is a sensible plan, again, remember, the body is hard wired for survival. An immediate severe reduction in calories triggers the body to think “hard times” and your internal furnaces automatically slow down so as to not starve to death. The body doesn’t know you are TRYING to not gain weight. Therefore an immediate reduction in caloric intake, results in the body fighting against itself to gain weight in general and store fat in particular.

Again, the body doesn’t know you are TRYING to not gain weight. My thinking this time of year is why fight mother nature? I use summer for cutting and fall and winter for serious muscle mass building. Embrace the season! Here’s how.

First, never allow yourself to get hungry. Eat OFTEN!

You have probably heard that many small meals are better than 3 large ones. This is absolutely true. The key is not allowing your body to “feel starved”, because when it does fat storing kicks in and your natural tendency will be to over eat at a sitting, which fuels this function. In the long run less calories are consumed eating more often than not.

Secondly, since you are going to be massing, try and make your increased caloric intake protein heavy. Obviously, sweets are available in abundance this time of year. But so is turkey! And I snack, instead of on the cookies and crackers, with the nuts and cheeses. Both are good sources of protein. If you are going to eat a lot, at least eat smart.

Lastly to take advantage of your bodies natural need to add weight this time of year, your gym time should center on compound exercises with heavy weight and low reps. If you already follow my muscle building plans 1 or 2 you will be doing this already. If you are a fairly advanced lifter, one using a lot of isolation exercises for arms and shoulders in particular, consider taking a short break from these and use weighted chins, dips and exclusively heavy presses. If you are doing any cardio work, stop it, or at least reduce it.

Embrace your bodies natural NEED to add weight now. What I do is on the days where I know there is going to be "unavoidable over eating", I plan for squats and deadlifts as that days workout. Serious calorie consuming, mass building exercises.

Most people pack on 5-10 pounds of fat during the holiday season, and then crash diet and start excessive cardio as their New Years resolution to “get healthier and lose weight”.

Not me.

With a little common sense, embrace the season, and gain 5-10 pounds of muscle mass instead.

This site is solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not intended as medical advice.
Consult a physician before beginning any new exercise, nutrition or supplementation program....Disclaimer

Copyright 2007-2008 Steve R. Robbins. All rights reserved.