By www.PT.com.sg

Many people do weight training to look good. Guys especially, hope to achieve that by putting on some muscles onto their frames. They train for months, even years. Yet, athletic bodies like those on “Men's Health” cover seems so unattainable. What exactly is the formula to a rock hard six-pack abs? Or a chiseled chest? Or a solid pair of arms?

The answer? Train like a bodybuilder.

Bodybuilders are the masters of the manipulation of body composition. They know how to put on muscles. They know how to lose fat. And if you are thinking, “But I don't want to get as big as they are.”, hold it right there! Training like a bodybuilder is not necessarily going to make you look as big as one. And there really isn't anything wrong with wanting to look like one.

"Train like a Bodybuilder."

The first step to training like a bodybuilder is to think like one. Get the bodybuilder mentality into you before stepping into the gym for your next iron game. We have the honour of getting one of Singapore's most experienced bodybuilders, Mr. Pang Nai Seng (Mr. Universe 1967, 4th place) or Uncle Pang as we affectionately call him, to share with us some of his training tips we have gathered throughout more than half a century worth of his bodybuilding experiences.

#1. Train with passion.

You may not have the passion for bodybuilding, but you need to have a passion for weight training. Great things cannot be achieved without passion. And so is a great body. Show your body some loving.

#2. Train regularly

Bodybuilders from our national squad train up to 6 times a week! For the rest of us, training 3-4 times a week would suffice.

#3. Ensure no time is wasted during each training session

Many people spend too much time in the gym for all the wrong reasons. They spend most of their time making trips to the water cooler, chatting, joking and other nonsense. All these greatly decreases the intensity of ones workout. Boost the intensity by eliminating all these. The gym is no desert. Hydrate yourself before and after training. Socialise after your training.

#4. Never carry beyond your limits

Use weights you can safely handle. Heavy weights coupled with a poor posture gives you nothing but injuries. Lift smart. Because at the end of the day, it's not how heavy you can lift, but how heavy you LOOK like you can lift.

#5. Train with a coach or an experienced training partner

For weight training, you would want to be in safe hands. Hire a Personal Trainer if you can. They are equipped with all the fitness know-hows which will greatly benefit you if you are at loss of how to train. Or even better, get a Personal Trainer who is also a bodybuilder. They will have all the theoretical knowledge as well as real world experiences. Have them to guide you along.

#6. Muscles are built in the kitchen and bedroom. Eat well and sleep well.

Weight training provides a stimulus for muscle growth. However, without a proper diet and a good rest, your muscles will refuse to grow. Imagine your body like an automobile. Weight training is like igniting the engine. Without sufficient fuel, the car will not start. And when the engine gets over-heated, the engine will start to malfunction. Similarly, when you do not follow a proper diet, you won't grow. And when you do not have adequate sleep, you start having problems with your central nervous system (CNS).

#7Career and studies should never be sacrificed for bodybuilding. Balance is the key.

Manage your time wisely.

The above may seem obvious to some but it takes great discipline to achieve. To end off, I would like to share with you a few quotes from Uncle Pang himself.

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“Train with absolute ferocity, with commitment and with passion!”

“It is ones belief and sincerity that drives one to achieving his training objectives!”

"Bodybuilding isn't just about how heavy you can lift or how much supplements you consume. It's about the amount of patience and determination you are willing to put in."

"Make full use of your youth to train up, for future family responsibilities and work commitments will surely hinder your proper regime. If one day should you decide to lift again, the foundation you have built when you were young will give you a good head start and ample experience to bulk up fast."

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