Exercises Without Weights to Build Muscle

Although the best way to build muscle and great strength is by lifting weights you shouldn't dismiss the notion of doing exercises without weights, through using your own body weight as a source of resistance, as an alternative. Indeed, doing exercises without weights is a very effective way to build muscle and get fitter.

Is it Achievable

Take a look at the shoulders on a gymnast that trains on a pommel horse or better yet, the back of a gymnast that does ring or parallel bar routines. These guys and gals are very muscular and strong mostly from training on that apparatus using just their body weight. After all, how many times have you heard of a pro bodybuilder hold the crucifix position on the rings.

Overload

Muscle responds to an increased workload through overload by making itself thicker and stronger. In a nutshell, as you overload a muscle, the fibres suffer from micro tearing which in turn heals resulting in a thicker muscle fibre ready to cope with the overload it receives. This is a pretty basic rundown but important in that you need to overload the muscle more to progress. What is also important is that you don't have to lift weights to achieve this but that you can use your own body weight.