Build Muscle without Weights Using Bodyweight Workouts, Is It Possible
Body weight exercises are a staple component of martial arts and military training, but this is not generally the case when it comes to bodybuilders.
When wasCan you rememberthe last time you witnessed a bodybuilder, a strongman, or a fitness model workout be limited to body wight exercises.
That would make you think that bodyweight exercises are not the best option for building muscle fast.
Like many questions with respect to muscle building you get that same old answer, “It Depends”.
I’m sure that’s not what you like to hear but that is the case. Don’t worry I will not leave you hanging.
Before I answer the question I think it is important to have an idea of how to build muscle.Don’t worry, I won’t go into a big explanation.
Muscle Building Basics
There is a very important principle that you need to follow in order to build muscle.It doesn’t matter if you’re a bodybuilder, power lifter or going for that fitness model look you need to include this element in your weight training program…
accomplish at least one more rep or lift a little more weight than you had done the week before.
This deliberate approach to adding more weights and reps within your workout routine is progressive overload.What this does is to break your muscle forcing it to adapt and change.
Program design is a topic for another day, but do realize that a progressive overload is essential in your workout routine.You need to push, and give your muscles a reason to grow. The body is very adaptive, but very efficient, you have to force it to build muscle.
If you don’t give your body a reason to change, it won’t.
Is It Possible to Build Muscle Without Weight
With the basic understanding of muscle building and I’m sure you know if it’s possible to build muscle without weights.
Building muscle doesn’t change depending on your source of resistance. It can be body weight exercises, kettlebell exercises, or traditional strength training exercises, the principles remain the same.All you have to remember is the principle of progressive overload.
When working with doing a workout with a bar , or kettlebells, you can easily add more weight to increase the difficulty of the exercise and get your progressive overload.
I know you can do with body weight exercises, but without question it’s not as easy.
There aren’t a few different ways to make the exercise increasingly difficult, it doesn’t always have to be an increase in weight. Play around with these options…
do the work out quicker,get more reps,apply more force into the exercise
When you first start your bodybuilding or muscle building program, applying these methods will allow you to gain muscle with body weight exercises only.
For the beginner, it’s likely any body weight exercise done will be challenging, probably too difficult and modifications will be needed. This will make a progressive overload that much easier. As your strength improves and your muscles get bigger, each exercise will have to become progressively more difficult in order to challenge you.
How to Build Muscle Without Weights
I’m going to say this at least one more time…
In order to get bigger and build muscle you need to force your body to change, give it a reason to grow.How you accomplish this is to gradually increase the difficulty of your workout on a regular basis.
Increasing the Difficulty of Body Weight Exercises
Do more work
Increase the load
Do same work in less time
All of these have been mentioned earlier but I will give you an example to help better understand what I am talking about so you can apply the techniques to your workout routine.
A great example for demonstration purposes is the bench press and push-ups. These two exercises work the same muscles and look similar. For this example I’m going to use the common push-up and some of the different push up variations.
The approach I’m going to layout is for an absolute beginner. It will go from the simplest and most difficult steps.
Making The Exercise More Difficult
To increase the difficulty of the bench press you simply add weight. Although adding weight to the push-up can be done is not as easy and can be awkward.The best way to add more resistance to push up is change the angle. The more vertically or hands are easier exercise gets, the more vertical your legs are the more difficult the exercise gets.
From week to week you’ll do an additional rep until you reach 12, at that point you change the angle to make the push it more difficult.
Same Workout, Last Time
Doing each exercise at maximum speed is an effective way to get more work done.Applying more force and moving quicker makes increases the work load from workout to workout.
Do More Sets and Reps
Either due to extra rep or two, or do an extra set so the volume has increased from last workout. Don’t go crazy though, doing too many reps doesn’t help. Findings conclude that you’re best mix of sets and reps for size and strength is 3 – four sets of six – ten reps. Each set should not take more than 70 seconds.
Best Exercises to Build Muscle without Weights
Push-Ups – Great for building chest, shoulders and triceps. There are many different push up variations that you can do to push you as you get stronger, untilultimately you do a one arm push-up.
Pull-Ups – One of the most effective back exercises you can do. Again their various changes that in the long run result in a one arm pull-up. However these are extremely difficult, I’ve only observed two people do them. One had been a world-class rower, the other a bodyweight enthusiasts.
Squats – You’re right, a majority of these advance in the direction of a single legged variant too.
Hand Walkouts – One of the best ab exercises.
Russian Leans – The best bodyweight exercise for hamstringing and glute strength.
These exercises make the base of any body weight workouts.
Summary
You’re able to develop muscles without weights. Assuming that you provide your body parts a reason to grow by gradually making more challenging demands on them from workout to workout you’ll answer by growing stronger and bigger.
Make sure that your bodyweight exercises exercises are tough enough that you really find six to ten repetitions , and get in 3 or 4 sets. And be sure you have a progressive overload throughout your work out program.
Do not forget I had mentioned all but a few exercises may become much too easy. Be sure to let me know if the single arm pull up or the one arm handstand push up are ever too simple for you. I haven’t reached that point yet.
Have an abundance of sleep, try eating some healthy foods and you’re on the right path to getting stronger and building more lean muscle.
Providing you boost the needs on the muscle group it is possible to …
This has been a quick overview, there is a sample workout and more detail on the original article Can You build Muscle Without Weights. Be sure to check it out to get more information and some free workouts.

