5 Things You Must Do to Build Muscle

By Adrian| October 1st, 2023

Strength Training – The Foundation:

Building muscle and strength is something everyone wants to do. In fact, strength is the foundation to every form of exercise we do.

However, pursuing it is no easy feat and is actually quite a difficult task.

That’s why it’s worth taking your time to make sure you’re doing it right.

Otherwise, you run the risk of wasting your time and energy, spinning your wheels and not seeing any real progress.

Here are the 5 commandments for building muscle and pursuing strength.

1. Volume, Intensity & Frequency:

• Volume: The total numbers of sets and reps you have lifted. So for example, if you did 5 sets of 5 reps, that would equate to 25 total reps.

Volume might just be the missing ingredient that’s killing your progress.

• Intensity: Intensity refers to the % of your 1 Rep Max (1RM) you’re lifting within and the amount of effort you’re putting in.

• Frequency: The number of times you train per week and how often you train each muscle group.

Volume: the number of sets and reps you do will depend on your overall training goal. The traditional sets and reps scheme is:

• Strength: 4-5 sets x 1-8 reps

• Hypertrophy: 3-4 sets x 8-15 reps

• Muscular Endurance: 2-4 sets x 15+ reps

However, that’s not to say you can’t build muscle lifting in the 1-8 rep range nor does it mean you can’t build strength in the 8-15 rep range.

Intensity: The lower the rep range, the higher the intensity.

The higher the rep range, the lower the intensity

For example, if you’re doing a deadlift for 3 total reps, you’ll likely be lifting a weight that’s around 90% of your 1RM.

This would be at a higher intensity if you were to lift your 10-rep max at 75% of your 1RM.

Effort is a by-product of intensity. How you spend your time in the training is important. There’s a difference between working out and training.

The only way you can add more intensity to your training is with more effort.

Whether that’s not stopping when you feel tired or training to near-failure, these are all things which require a high output but need the right input.

Frequency: In general, training 3-5x per week with 10-20 sets per body part is a good starting point.

2. Progressive Overload:

Progressive overload involves continually trying to better yourself and do a bit more.

It may not be realistic to get better every week, but throughout every training block, there is a need for progression.

Methods of Progressing Your Workouts:

  1. Increase The Weight

Probably the most obvious way to increase the demands you place on your muscles is to increase the weight.

If 20Kg is too easy when doing your goblet squats, try moving up to 22.5Kg.

What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you.

  1. Increase The Reps

You don't necessarily have to add weight; alternatively, as you get stronger, you can simply do more reps with the same weight.

For example, last week you did 8 reps with a 20Kg DB, this week you’re going to aim to do 10 reps.


  1. Increase The Sets

Last week you may have done 3 sets of 8 reps with 15Kg, this week you could do 4 sets of 8 reps with 15 Kg.

  1. Improve Your Technique

Previously, you may have gotten 10 reps on a certain lift but the last 2 reps were grinders and were a 10/10 in difficulty.

This week, if you get 10 reps in again but the last 2 reps were much smoother and the set was an 8/10 in difficulty.

The weight or reps may not have increased but your technique has improved and you’re presumably not as fatigued afterwards which is another form of overload.

3. Exercise Selection:

Exercise selection refers to what exercises you perform in your given gym session.

Not every exercise is created equal.

You will get a better carryover and more of a training stimulus from including bigger, compound and multi-joint exercises in your program such as the traditional big three of the bench press, squat and deadlift compared to single-joint exercises like bicep curls, tricep pushdowns or calf raises.

However, that’s not to say that exercises such as bicep curls or tricep pushdowns shouldn’t be included in your program.

Nor does this mean you should only perform the compound lifts.

What does matter is the order you perform these exercises in.

In general, it is best to perform the bigger, multi-joint and compound movements first and leaving the smaller, accessory and single-joint exercises until last.

It is safer and less taxing on your body to perform single-joint exercises to failure compared to bigger compound lifts.

For instance, there’s a much less risk/reward benefit of going to absolute or near failure on a set of bicep curls than there is on a set of deadlifts.

4. Rest Periods:

Rest periods will primarily be dictated by the intensity.

The heavier the weight you’re lifting (and likely the less number of reps), the longer the rest you’ll need to take.

The lower the weight (and likely the more reps you’ll be doing) the shorter the rest you’ll need.

As mentioned above, you might think that doing 8-12 reps will require more rest than 3-5 reps.

But lifting heavier does mean your body (and nervous system) will likely need more recovery if you wish to perform the same exercises with the same intensity.

On top of this, while you need full or near full recovery with the bigger, compound lifts for strength training, if you’re training for muscle-building, incomplete recovery is more optimal.

Remember, muscles are built through tension so by taking incomplete recovery on say a set of bicep curls, you’ll build up more tension in the muscle and in turn, get more growth.

5. Tempo:

Tempo refers to the speed at which you lift the weight or perform the movement. You cannot lift a heavy weight slowly.

In other words, if you’re doing a 1RM on the deadlift, while the lift itself may take a couple of seconds for you to complete, that is not being done purposefully.

You’re trying to lift the weight with as much force and speed as possible, just the weight is challenging you to a point where it’s not possible to lift it any faster.

For accessory exercises in particular, it is a good idea to use tempo to your advantage.

Studies show that about 45 seconds of time under tension is optimal per set for muscle growth.

For example, if you did a dumbbell row for 10 total reps, you could do it with a 3s Lowering, 1s Pause and 1s Row, this would be 5s per rep x10 = 50 seconds of time under tension.

I like to add a slower tempo to accessory lifts while for bigger, compound lifts I like to perform them as quickly as possible.

The Takeaways:

In order of importance for building muscle and strength are:

• Volume, Intensity and Frequency – the number of sets and reps, the % of your 1RM, your overall effort levels and how often you train.

• Progression – increasing the weight, sets, reps or improving technique.

• Exercise Selection – compound lift vs single-joint.

• Rest Periods – more vs less rest depending on intensity.

• Tempo – the speed at which you lift the weight.

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this beneficial.

References: Helms, Eric - 2019: “The Muscle and Strength Training Pyramid.”

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

4). Not Falling for the Test of Success

While the above three relate specifically to training and nutrition, this final topic related to mindset. In the past, I’ve fallen victim to the test of success. What’s the test of success?


You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you put a few “good days” back to back? For instance, Monday - Friday you’ve been eating really healthily and so you feel like rewarding yourself at the weekend? Or that sense of achievement you feel when you weigh yourself and see the scale move down and you now look forward to treating yourself.


I love those feelings too - everyone loves to win. But a mistake I made in the past was to let these wins give me a false sense of security. I justified these wins to allow myself to go binge-eating at the weekend and reverting back to my old habits. I would eat portions of food way bigger than normal. This all came off the back of getting a false sense of security from encountering a small win.


I let the test of success get to me - that temptation to “take the foot off the gas” when you experience a win instead of striving for better. It’s a fine line. So, while I’m not saying you shouldn’t take time to celebrate the wins, I am saying it’s important not to let complacency kick in when you do win. Not to allow yourself to lose your momentum and revert back to old habits.


I have lost weight before and rebounded so I know what it feels like. However, this year, I managed to lose weight and keep it off forever by focusing on the fundamentals and handling the test of success. So when you experience a win, when you start making progress, are you going to become comfortable and coast? Or are you going to continue to do the fundamentals that led to your success in the first place? This has been one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year – in my mindset.


Remember, losing weight is one skill to master, but creating a lifestyle change where you can learn how to sustain it and keep it is another skill entirely in itself. Being aware of the test of success and following the fundamentals is the final (and perhaps most important) way to stay lean year round.

The Takeaway

  1. Strength train consistently – pick a number of days you are 90% confident of adhering to.
  2. Focus on performing better and in turn you will start to look better.
  3. Walk more!
  4. The best “diet” needs to include foods you enjoy and be sustainable.
  5. Don’t fall for the test of success when you do encounter a win.


Thank you for reading – I hope you learned something new and got some value from this.


If you did get value from it, please pay the fee. What's the fee?


If you find this content valuable (maybe you learned something new or are going to implement a new practice) then please share my blog post with a friend or on your social stories and tag me on Instagram (@McLifestyleFitness).


For such a small act that doesn't cost anything, it really helps me reach more people and spread the word on how to optimise your health and fitness.


I don’t run ads towards my blog posts, everything I’ve done to date has been done organically from people like you reading spreading the good word. I’d appreciate your continued support.

Free 3-Day Total Body Training Program:

Depending on your goal, I have some free resources which might be of benefit to you.

If you’d like a copy of my free, 3-day Total Body Transformation Program click HERE! (Enjoy the core finisher!).

If you’d like a copy of my Free Living Lean Cookbook to prove to you that it’s possible to eat foods you enjoy and get results, click HERE.

(Try out some EPIC protein pancakes!).

And if you’d like access to my Free 7 Day Fat Loss Accelerator (which has helped some members drop up to 7lbs inside 7 days),
click HERE and it will be sent straight to your email.

I hope these free resources help you!

1:1 Online Coaching Application

If you’d like a coach to help get you out of a routine that isn’t currently working for you and into one that will , then book your
free consultation call today to see if you’d be a good fit for my Online Coaching.

This is where having the structure and accountability of a coach comes in. I’ll help you get the results you’ve always desired and
make your journey much easier and quicker than doing it on your own.

You’re just one click away of becoming a success story.

About Adrian McDonnell & McLifestyle Fitness:

Adrian McDonnell is a highly specialised Personal Trainer & Online Fitness Coach from outside of Tuam, Co.Galway, Ireland.

Previously a primary school teacher for almost 5 years, Adrian followed his passion and pursued a career in fitness after seeing first hands the results he could achieve with himself.

Although Adrian is a Personal Trainer & now Full-Time Online Transformation Fitness Coach from outside of Tuam, Co.Galway – he not only coaches clients locally, but also nationally and internationally.

Adrian specialises in helping working professionals:


- Be confident in themselves·
- Feel more comfortable in their clothes·
- Look better in the mirror·
- Increase their energy and go for more promotions at work·
- Get fitter, leaner & stronger without following rigid meal plans·
- Go on more dates (this is a common one)·
- And feel proud of themselves for doing something they never thought was possible!

To date he has helped Transform over 500 Clients into fitter, more toned & confident individuals.

Transforming people’s lives through proper fitness, sustainable & enjoyable nutrition practices & mindset mentoring is something Adrian is truly passionate about and this is his mission in life.

Want to find out more? Contact me today & I’ll answer any questions you have.

Read Last Week'sFree 3 Day Program Post

© 2021 McLifestyle Fitness & Performance Ltd. - All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Release & Waiver of Liability