Guides
Bodybuilding
Training for muscle size, symmetry, and physique.
Bodybuilding trains for hypertrophy: building muscle size and shaping a balanced physique. The judged outcome is how the body looks, not how much it lifts, which shapes how the training is structured.
What matters most
- Volume: total hard sets per muscle per week is the primary driver of growth. Most muscles respond well to a moderate-to-high weekly set count.
- Proximity to failure: sets are taken close to failure (low RIR) to fully recruit the muscle, while leaving enough in reserve to keep volume high.
- Full range of motion: training a muscle through its full length under load is a strong stimulus for growth.
- Balance and symmetry: weak or lagging muscles get extra attention so the physique develops proportionally.
This is a starting stub. See Physiology for how muscle adapts and Nutrition for fueling growth.