The best sculpting workout will include elements that increase muscle mass and decrease body fat. Choosing strength-training exercises that are challenging and capable of fatiguing all of your body’s major muscle groups will create an effective sculpting workout; your muscles will only increase in mass and become stronger if they are pushed to their limit. Exercises that elevate the heart rate and decrease body fat are also important in choosing the best sculpting workout, because no matter how strong your muscles are, they will not show through a layer of fat.
One of the most difficult aspects of choosing the best sculpting workout is also one of the greatest advantages. The variety of exercise equipment available is extensive, and can include everything from barbells to stability balls. Deciding which equipment will produce the best results is a personal choice, but remember, the best sculpting workout will be one that you enjoy enough to complete consistently. As long as you know how to use the different pieces of equipment properly, you will be able to produce a challenging workout with pretty much any device.
Generally, there are two schools of thought concerning how much weight to lift, or how much resistance to use, for the most successful workout. On one side is the claim that the best way to sculpt is to build as much muscle as possible, and the only way to build muscle mass is low repetitions of heavy weights. The opposing argument suggests that as long as muscles are worked to the point of fatigue, it does not matter how much weight is lifted or how many reps it takes to get there. In order to make sure your sculpting workout is going to produce the desired results, make sure that you are consistently challenging your muscles; regardless of the weight or resistance you choose, be sure to keep repeating the motion until you cannot proceed with good form.
People who already have very low body fat percentages are more likely to see immediate results from a sculpting routine because their muscles are not hidden under fat and will protrude more readily. Exercisers who have some excess fat on their frames can speed up the visible effects of a sculpting routine by including cardio exercise. Common cardio exercises include running, biking, rowing, or using an elliptical trainer, but with a few adjustments the existing sculpting workout can also be used to pump up heart rates. Turing the sculpting routine into a circuit by not resting in between sets and moving quickly between exercises will not allow time for catching your breath and will keep your heart rate elevated throughout the workout, which encourages fat loss.