Building Muscle Mass with Compound Exercises

Are you trying to build up muscle mass?  If so, you might want to add compound exercises into your workout routine.  This type of exercise is quite popular with body builders because it is rather effective at building up mass, partly because these exercises help encourage the body to release testosterone.  In turn, the testosterone stimulates muscle growth throughout the body.

In addition to helping to build muscle mass quickly, compound exercises also help to save time while also training your body for the movements you use regularly each day.  So, what are compound exercises?  Put simply, they are exercises that work out groups of muscles rather than just targeting an isolated group of muscles.  Some examples of compound exercises include:

  • · Bench Presses
  • · Deadlifts
  • · Dips
  • · Dumbbell Rows
  • · Leg Presses
  • · Lunges
  • · Pull-Ups
  • · Push-Ups
  • · Shoulder Presses
  • · Squats

Each of these is a compound exercise because they are able to work out several muscle groups at one time.  With a squat, for example, you workout your glutes, quadriceps, calves, hamstring and lower back.  With a push-up, on the other hand, you work out your triceps, chest, lower back and deltoids.

Of course, in order to get the best workout that will help you build muscle, you should combine these exercises with cardio as well.  Interval training that involves running on a treadmill at a high speed for a few minutes and then getting off and performing some compound exercises before hopping back on the treadmill is a great way to burn calories, to keep your heart healthy and to build the bulk you are trying to achieve.