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One of the most powerful tips that I can share with you for fast bodybuilding results is to keep a food journal. You can either use pen and paper or a program like Microsoft Excel (which is what I use). But being able to know what foods you eat and in what quantities is what differentiates the people that make the quickest bodybuilding results from those that do not. By having a food journal you can keep track of how many protein, fats and carbs you take in on a daily basis and thus, you can start adjusting your nutrition in order to make gains in muscle without gains in body fat, or in order to lose body fat while gaining muscle. You can also make notes as to which foods your body responds better.

At first, it takes work to set the journal up and you may not be used to measuring your food and then writing down the proteins, carbs and fats of every item but I promise you that the work is well worth it (as any competitive athlete can tell you) and it gets easier with time. So even if you don't do bodybuilding competitions but want to get in the best shape possible, implement this tip that us competitors use and you will see the difference that it makes!

Keep a Food Journal For Fast Bodybuilding Results! originally appeared on About.com Bodybuilding on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 10:00:03.

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Overtraining occurs when the body can no longer recover from the bodybuilding workouts.  In order for the body to grow, you need to train hard pushing your body to the limits.  However, if you constantly train hard without following a periodized bodybuilding workout, more than likely you will cross the line and overtrain.

If you are over-training, the solution is to simply take a couple of days off to allow the body to completely rejuvenate itself and then ease back into training. This works amazingly well.  Also, by using a periodized bodybuilding workout as well as following the right bodybuilding diet you minimize your chances of ever getting over-trained again.  Always remember the need to periodize your training because if you choose to do high volume workouts all of the time, eventualy your body will reach the point that it can no longer recover.  That is why periodization varies the training by alternating weeks of high volume workouts with weeks of higher intensity/heavier work.

For more information on overtraining and its symptoms, please take a look at the resources below:

Bodybuilding Training and Overtraining, Part 1

Bodybuilding Training and Overtraining, Part 2

Bodybuilding Tips for Avoiding Overtraining originally appeared on About.com Bodybuilding on Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 19:08:57.

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