How to Strengthen and Grow Weak Muscles

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The best workouts and exercise for building bigger muscles

Co-authored by Pete Cerqua

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 Approved

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Performing Strength-Building Workouts

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Designing an Exercise Program

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Dieting for Muscle Growth

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How Do You Build Muscle?

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Even if you feel like you've always been a little on the scrawny side, bigger muscles are still in reach. All it takes is time, dedication, and some smart exercising to get the results you want. You don't need an expensive personal trainer, either, just the right advice and some gym equipment. We'll show you how to perform some key strength-building workouts, stick to an exercise program, and diet right to get the body you deserve.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Performing Strength-Building Workouts

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1
Perform deadlifts early in your workout. A deadlift is one of the best workouts for building muscle mass. It is a compound workout, meaning that it trains multiple muscle groups with the same motion. Do compound workouts like this early in your workout while your body is still fresh and can handle big motions. Then move on to more targeted exercises.^{[1]
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- Perform a deadlift by standing in front of a barbell with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then bend your legs down and grab the barbell. Stand up straight, and then bend back down to bring the barbell to the floor.
- Keep your back straight and focus the weight on your legs to prevent back injuries.
- Never start doing deadlifts with more weight than you can handle. This can seriously injure your back and legs. Start small with deadlifts to build your body’s mass.
- Exercises like deadlifts, squats, and bench presses are great for any age group.^{[2]
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  Pete Cerqua
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  Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.}
2
Do squats to build your leg and back muscles. Like deadlifts, squats are a compound workout that trains multiple muscle groups. Do them early in your workout as well when you’re still fresh.^{[3]
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- Line yourself up under the squat rack so the barbell rests just below your neck. Grab the bar and stand up, lifting the barbell off the rack. Then bend your hips and knees until your legs are parallel with the floor. Stand back up to complete the motion.
- Keep your back straight and focus the weight on your legs.
- Start off with light weights when doing squats as well. They can hurt your back if you start with too much weight.
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3
Target your biceps with curls. After getting your compound workouts out of the way, move on to more targeted exercises. Curls target your biceps to strengthen and enlarge them. Perform them on any day that you’re training your biceps.^{[4]
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- Take a dumbbell in each hand and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lift your arms at the elbow so the dumbbells nearly reach your shoulders. Then lower your arms to complete the motion.
- Do 3 sets of curls in a workout.
4
Build your triceps and chest with pushups. The triceps and chest work together on most pushing motions, so training them together is important for building your upper body. Pushups train both muscles. Place your hands on the floor about shoulder-width apart. Then bend your elbows until your chin reaches the floor. Push yourself back up to complete the motion.^{[5]
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- If you don’t like pushups, try a bench press as an alternate exercise.
5
Add core exercises to your workout. Don't neglect your abs and obliques while you're trying to build muscle. These core areas support your balance and posture while you lift heavy weights. Do at least one core workout per exercise session. There are many to choose from.^{[6]
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- Sit ups are the most common core workout. Start out with these to get your core into shape.
- Planks are another good core workout. Hold yourself in a push-up position and tighten your core. Hold the pose for as long as you can without stopping.^{[7]
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  Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.}
- Standing ab exercises can tone your core even more by training it from different angles and using weights.
6
Warm up and stretch before exercising. A good warmup routine is especially important if your muscles are weak. Cold muscles are easier to strain, so you’re more susceptible to injuries if you don’t warm up. Do some jogging, walking, jump rope, or jumping jacks to get your body moving. Try to break a sweat during your warmup routine.^{[8]
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- 10 minutes of light jogging or riding on a stationary bike is a good warmup activity.
- Then stretch all your major muscle groups after your warmup routine. Focus specifically on the muscles you’re training that day.
- You can also wait to stretch until after your workout.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Pete Cerqua
  Certified Personal Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.}
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Do full reps slowly. Don’t cheat on your reps. Half reps don’t help build your muscles. Always use full, smooth motions on every workout you do. This works your entire muscle group and ensures a quality workout.^{[10]
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- Do reps slowly as well. Performing weight exercises quickly is more of a cardio workout, and won’t help build mass. A general rule is that if you feel like you’re working out at a good pace, slow down a little more.
- Try setting a stopwatch and see how long you can extend 3 reps of push-ups.^{[11]
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  Pete Cerqua
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  Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Designing an Exercise Program

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1
Develop a workout schedule and stick to it. An exercise program requires more than going to the gym and doing random workouts. Targeted workouts that train specific muscle groups on a regular schedule build muscle more effectively. Design a weekly schedule that mixes in 3-5 exercises for every workout session/ Be consistent with this schedule every week.^{[12]
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- Let your muscle groups rest for 24-48 hours between workouts. If you train your biceps on Monday, wait until Wednesday to train them again.
- A sample workout schedule is biceps and back on Monday, triceps and chest on Tuesday, legs and back on Wednesday, and rest day on Thursday.
2
Schedule 2 rest days per week so your muscles can recover. While it may seem counterproductive, resting is very important for building muscles. Exercising causes tears in your muscles. If you work out every day without a rest, these tears won’t heal. Schedule in 2 rest days every week so your muscles heal properly.^{[13]
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- Don’t take more than 3 rest days per week, though, unless you’re injured or sick.
- If you still want to be active on your rest days, try taking a walk or riding your bike. These activities keep you moving without stressing your sore muscles.
3
Track your progress by logging your workouts. This helps you visualize your progress and keep track of your workouts. Use a notebook and write down the date and the activities you do for every workout. Note down how much weight you used and how many reps you did. Use this information to increase your workout intensity as you improve.^{[14]
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- Also note how you felt during each workout. Writing “hard” next to one workout could tell you that you should ease off that activity or use a lighter weight.
- Taking a “before” picture is helpful too. Before you start your new workout regimen, take a picture of yourself in the mirror without a shirt on. Then take another picture at the end of every month so see the physical changes in your body.
4
Prioritize strength-building exercises over cardio. While cardio workouts are important for well-rounded health, they could also inhibit your ability to build muscle. Running, swimming, and hard cycling burn calories and protein that your body needs for muscle growth. If you do a lot of cardio, replace these workouts with more weight training. This ensures your body’s resources go towards building up muscle mass.^{[15]
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- Don’t cut out cardio entirely. Rather, fit cardio into your routine only after you’ve done at least 3-4 weight workouts per week.
- You can still run or bike to warm up for workouts. This keeps cardio in your routine while serving your muscle-building goals.
5
Start with light weights when you’re just beginning. This is a rule whenever you start a new workout routine, but it’s especially important if your muscles are weak. Lifting too much weight can cause injuries that prevent you from working out for weeks. Start very small in the beginning. Spend at least a week getting used to working out with light weights. Then scale the weight up when you feel comfortable.^{[16]
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- A good guideline for finding the right weight is doing 10 reps with it. If you pick up 15 lb (6.8 kg) dumbbells and struggle to do 7 curls, then they’re too heavy. Switch to a lighter weight.
EXPERT TIP

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer
Laila Ajani is a Fitness Trainer and founder of Push Personal Fitness, a personal training organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 10 years as a trainer and exercise specialist, Laila has expertise in competitive athletics (gymnastics, powerlifting, and tennis), personal training, distance running, and Olympic lifting. Laila is certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and she is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer

It's normal to face challenges during workouts, especially if you're a beginner or have a unique body shape. Everyone has different fitness levels, so don't hesitate to adjust your workout depending on where you're at. If you're starting, it's a good idea to begin with simple exercises to learn the correct form before moving on to more challenging variations. Choosing exercises that suit your body helps you to achieve your fitness goals safely and effectively.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Dieting for Muscle Growth

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1
Consume 250-500 extra calories per day. Your body needs a high calorie intake to support muscle growth. In addition to eating right, you may have to eat more as well. Start by adding 250-500 calories to your normal daily intake. If you're still having trouble building muscle after a few weeks, increase this intake by 10% a week until you start gaining more muscle mass.^{[17]
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- If your baseline caloric intake is 2,000 calories per day, then increase this to 2,250 for a week. If you haven't gained anything, try 2,500 the following week.
- Speak with your doctor about determining your ideal baseline caloric intake. Then add 250-500 on top of this.
- Get your extra calories from healthy sources like unsaturated fats, protein, and vitamin-rich foods.
2
Eat 1 gram of protein for each pound of your bodyweight every day. Protein is the most important nutrient for building muscles. Getting the proper dosage of protein is especially crucial when you’re doing a workout regimen. If you’ve had trouble building muscles in the past, up your intake. Aim for 1 gram of protein for each pound of your bodyweight every day to keep your muscles in good shape.^{[18]
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Pete Cerqua
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Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.}
- If you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg), then eat 200 grams of protein in your daily meals.
- Stick with healthy, lean proteins. Poultry, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy products, nuts, and beans are some of the best sources for lean proteins.^{[20]
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Mix vitamin-rich foods into your diet for balanced meals. Protein isn’t the only important nutrient for building muscles. Vitamins B, C, and D all help keep your body healthy and repair damage from your exercises. Add vitamin-rich foods to every meal to max out your diet.^{[21]
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- Healthy, vitamin-rich foods include green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and olive oil. Mix these ingredients into your meals for a well-balanced diet.
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Eat healthy, polyunsaturated fats. Fats are important for building muscle as well, but focus on eating the right kind of fat. While you're bulking, don't add fat to your diet with processed foods. These contain trans and saturated fats that are bad for your health. Polyunsaturated fats are the best source of sustained energy for exercise and muscle growth. These fats energize your body and help improve cardiovascular health.^{[22]
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- Get more calories from healthy, polyunsaturated fats. Good sources of unsaturated fats are fish, avocados, walnuts, and olive or canola oil.^{[23]
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- Also limit your red meat intake because it is high in saturated fats too. Focus more on lean proteins like chicken or fish.
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Use muscle-building supplements with your doctor's approval. Sometimes you can't get enough protein from your daily diet. In this case, use muscle-building supplements to increase your daily intake. Before starting any supplement regimen, check with your doctor to make sure it is safe for you. Your doctor can tell you if a supplement might interact with any medications you're on and direct you towards the best products.^{[24]
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- The most common supplement types are creatine and whey. These both boost your protein intake and support muscle growth.
- Always buy supplements from a reputable dealer like a licensed vitamin shop.

How Do You Build Muscle?

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What are the symptoms of weak muscles?

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It depends partly on what muscle is affected. For example, weakness in your chest muscles might make it hard to catch your breath. If you have a weak muscle in your leg, your leg might tremble, feel heavy, or be difficult to lift. Depending on what’s causing the muscle weakness, you might also feel sensations such as pain, numbness, or tingling.

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How can I strengthen my weak muscles naturally?

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The best way to strengthen your muscles is with regular exercise. To build muscle mass and strength, focus on resistance-based exercises, such as weight lifting, working with resistance bands, or doing exercises that use your body weight (like pull-ups or planks). Doing regular aerobic exercise and eating a balanced diet will also help improve your overall muscle health.

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How long does it take to strengthen weak muscles?

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Building muscle strength takes time. With consistent training, you may start to see a noticeable difference in about 8 weeks. Remember to alternate between working different muscle groups on different days so you don’t overwork your muscles, which can cause injuries and slow down the process.

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Tips

Be patient and stick with your exercise routine. You won't see improvement overnight. In a few months, your routine should produce some results if you're consistent.

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Warnings

Also see your doctor if you've exercised for months and don't see any results. You may have an underlying health condition.

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Always consult your doctor before trying any muscle-building shakes or supplements.

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