I receive emails every single day from aspiring muscle-builders all over the world, and one of the most common questions I\'m asked is \"does drinking really affect the muscle growth process?\" I\'m sorry to say it, but yes, too much alcohol will almost definitely have a significant negative impact on your muscle-building results. Alcohol is far more harmful than most people think, and it\'s very important that you understand how this drug (yes, alcohol is a drug) is affecting your progress. This is not an anti-drug speech, but if you\'re serious about achieving a truly impressive physique, you should definitely be aware of the 5 main ways that alcohol is slowing down your gains...

Do you want a quick, simple and instant way to increase the amount of weight you can lift on virtually every back exercise you perform? Sound too good to be true? I speak the truth, my friend, and the reality is that if you aren\'t utilizing this basic piece of gym equipment you\'re missing out on some serious muscle size and strength gains. What tool am I talking about? A pair of lifting straps!

Bodybuilding is a constantly evolving way of life. As you progress through different levels you may need to pick up additional training aids and equipment to help you advance to the next level.

There seems to be much confusion amongst trainers and trainees as to whether squats should be performed all the way down or just half way. In most gyms today, a common instruction during squats, deadlifts, and lunges (as taught by many personal training organizations) is not to allow the knees to travel beyond the toes.

In climbing, there is an old adage stating that \"climbing is the best training for climbing,\" an adage used by many to make excuses for not training outside of climbing. I personally disagree with this philosophy as I will explain.

Everyone wants a huge chest, plain and simple. It is all too common to see inexperienced lifters slaving away on endless sets of bench presses and cable crossovers in search of full, thick pecs. The reality is that there is nothing complicated about building an impressive chest. The bottom line for huge chest gains is consistency, effort and steady progression in weight and repetitions.

No matter what you read or who you talk to, everyone has their own opinion of what the \"perfect\" rep range should be to allow for maximum muscle stimulation and growth. In this article I\'m going to clear up the confusion once and for all and teach you the truth about choosing the most effective rep range for optimal muscle-building results.

There is so much conflicting information out there when it comes to the topic of building muscle, and sometimes it can be very difficult to know where to start. If you\'re an average beginner looking for some basic guidelines to follow in the gym, the following 8 points will start you off on the right track.

The more work you put into something, the better results you will achieve. This has always been a widely accepted truth that applies to many areas of life. Therefore, it only makes sense that the more time you spend in the gym, the stronger and more muscular your physique will become, correct? Contrary to what you might think, the answer to this question is a gigantic, definite, absolute no! It is in this area of bodybuilding that conventional wisdom goes straight out the window, down the street and around the corner.

The bodybuilding debates will never end. The endless arguments over how an effective muscle-building program should be structured will most likely continue until the end of time. Just scour the Internet message boards, flip through any muscle magazine or talk to the sales rep at your local supplement store. No matter who you talk to or what you read, it seems that everyone is an expert these days. Amidst all of the confusion, we must never lose sight of the big picture...