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Follow This Advice ##### Sports & Activity Learn the diet and exercise guidelines that you should follow if you want to change your body composition and tone up. Last updated: June 30, 2022 7 min read  Is your current diet and workout plan giving you the results you want? Perhaps you set a goal to change your body composition, [lose fat](https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-burn-belly-fat), or gain lean muscle and are struggling to see progress. If that sounds like you, it's probably time to make some tweaks to your diet and [training plan](https://www.nike.com/running/training-plans). There are specific guidelines provided by exercise physiologists for building lean muscle. If you structure your program with their evidence-based guidelines, you’re more likely to meet your goals. ## How to Build Lean Muscle with Training To build muscle mass effectively, you should understand some key resistance training terms such as sets, reps, and one rep max or 1RM. Once you understand these terms you can put together your training plan for building lean muscle. 1. # 1.Identify the Appropriate Number of Sets and Reps  The number of repetitions — or reps — that you do will vary based on your workout training goal. One rep is a single execution of a particular exercise. A set is multiple repetitions of the same exercise. Training organizations including the [American Council on Exercise](https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/professional/expert-articles/4922/how-to-select-the-right-intensity-and-repetitions-for-your-clients/) (ACE) and the [National Academy of Sports Medicine](https://www.nasm.org/certified-personal-trainer/the-opt-model) (NASM) provide very specific guidelines for sets and reps based on different strength-related goals. For instance, people who want to increase their muscular endurance are advised to do two to four sets of each exercise with about eight to 12 reps per set as part of their workout. Muscular endurance is the ability to produce and sustain muscle force over an extended period of time. To build muscle mass, however, the recommendations are slightly different. Building muscle or increasing muscle size is called muscle hypertrophy by trainers and exercise physiologists. To optimize muscular hypertrophy, NASM recommends that you perform three to six sets of six to 12 reps per exercise. You should lift 75-85 percent of your one rep max or 1RM to help build muscle mass. __One Rep Max (1RM)__ Your one rep max (1RM) is the maximum amount of weight that you can lift to complete one repetition, according to [ACE](https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/ace-answers/exam-preparation-blog/2894/understanding-1-rm-and-predicted-1-rm-assessments/). There are different ways to determine the number. An experienced weight lifter may perform a 1RM test in a gym, usually with the help of a qualified trainer. During the test (and after warming up) you challenge yourself to lift as much weight as possible. Since the test involves some risk, it is helpful to have a spotter or trainer available. For less experienced lifters, trainers can also predict a 1RM, although the predictions tend to be less accurate. Your one rep max will vary for different muscle groups throughout the body. For instance, your one rep max for a squat is likely to be much higher than your 1RM for a biceps curl. Also, your 1RM will change as you get stronger. So you may need to retest periodically. Don’t miss [7 Muscle Groups You Activate When Running](https://www.nike.com/a/what-muscles-does-running-work)! 2. # 2.Establish a Training Plan to Build Lean Muscle  Once you know your one rep max for each exercise or major muscle group, you can choose exercises to assemble your muscle-building plan using NASM guidelines as part of your workout. The number of exercises you choose depends on your fitness level, but the organization [recommends](https://blog.nasm.org/phase-3-opt-model) that athletes who want to build muscle size try to do two to four exercises per body part. For example, if you want to build muscle in your upper body, you might start by doing 3 x 6 (three sets of six reps) of these exercises: - Chest press - Chest fly - Push-up - Lat pull-down - Pull-up - Shoulder press - Lateral raise This workout plan would meet the recommendations for building large muscle (hypertrophy) in the chest, back, and shoulders. As you get stronger, add reps first (to a maximum of 12) then add sets (to a max of six). You’ll also want to decide how often you want to do your workout. [Researchers](https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40798-018-0149-9) have established that overall training volume matters more than frequency. Training volume refers to the combined workload of your sets, reps, and level of intensity or resistance. But even though total training volume is important, some published [studies](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02640414.2018.1555906?journalCode=rjsp20) suggest that a higher training frequency (three or more times per week) may have a slight advantage when it comes to muscle hypertrophy. The most important factor in setting up your best weight training schedule is to allow adequate recovery time. Building lean muscle requires that the rate of muscle protein breakdown (MPB) is lower than the rate of muscle protein synthesis (MPS). MPB happens during your workout when muscle fibers are stressed and damaged. During recovery, muscle protein synthesis occurs. During this phase, your muscle fibers rebuild with the help of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Without adequate rest, this phase can’t happen effectively. A proper diet is also necessary to optimize this phase. 3. # 3.Follow a Diet That Will Help Your Muscles Recover Post-Workout  To make the most of muscle protein synthesis during recovery you need to supply your muscles with quality protein. According to the [International Society of Sports Nutrition](https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8) (ISSN), athletes should consume 1.4-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. That is about 0.64-0.91 grams of protein per pound. You should also see that your protein sources include essential amino acids, particularly leucine. Essential amino acids are those that are not made naturally by the body so they must be consumed in the diet. Leucine has been identified as being a particularly important compound for muscle protein synthesis. Foods that are high in leucine include eggs, almonds, chickpeas, lentils, salmon, and peanuts. Both soy and whey protein powder also supply leucine. Other foods that provide essential amino acids include turkey, fish, cottage cheese, quinoa, and legumes. According to ISSN, skeletal muscle is sensitized to the effects of protein and amino acids for up to 24 hours after your strength training workout. So including high-quality protein in your diet in this window will help you to optimize muscle hypertrophy. But [timing your protein intake](https://www.nike.com/a/best-time-drink-protein-shakes) does not have to be an exact science. While some athletes try to get protein (in the form of a shake or a bar) in the 30-minute window after exercise, this practice may not be necessary. More current [research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7400240/) suggests that focusing on overall diet quality and getting adequate nutrition throughout the day is more important. To build a complete meal plan to support your resistance training plan, you should also include quality carbs and fats in your diet. Carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables supply your body with energy and fat (such as the fat found in avocado, nuts, seeds, and plant-based oils), support healthy cells, and promote satiety.  ## Frequently asked questions about building lean muscle Do cardio activities, such as running, help to build lean muscle? Endurance activities such as [running](https://www.nike.com/running/how-to-start-running) or [cycling](https://www.nike.com/a/running-vs-cycling-benefits) can help you build muscle in your legs especially if you include activities like sprint training and hill intervals into your program. However, to optimize muscle building, a full-body strength training program is recommended. Can I lose fat while building muscle? A muscle-building diet requires a calorie surplus. That is, you need to consume more calories than you burn each day. A weight-loss diet requires that you consume fewer calories than you burn each day, resulting in a calorie deficit. For this reason, it is very hard to lose fat while building muscle__.__ Should I take a supplement to gain muscle? Experts generally recommend that you get high-quality calories from a balanced diet. Foods that provide lean protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, and healthy fats can also contribute important vitamins and minerals. However, the [ISSN suggests](https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8) that protein supplements can be a practical way to get adequate protein while minimizing caloric intake, particularly for athletes who typically complete high volumes of training and want to gain muscle.  [](https://niketrainingclub.sng.link/Ara19/3ocq/gnbq?pcn=OGC%20Articles%20HO21&_dl=niketrainingclub%3A%2F%2Fx-callback-url%2Fworkout%2Ffeatured) ### Move Daily with Nike Training Club Get free guidance from trainers and experts to strengthen your body and mind. 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