Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Melisa DecanMelisa Decan|published: Fri 28th February, 07:27 2025
Photo: shutterstockPhoto: shutterstock

What if the key to building muscle wasn’t about spending endless hours at the gym, but rather how you train? It turns out that excessive high-intensity workouts aren’t always the most effective. Here are three golden rules to gain muscle without losing motivation.Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Doing more workouts and exercises in hopes of seeing faster results isn’t always the best approach. Ava Bracey, a renowned fitness coach, learned this the hard way after years of exhausting and unproductive training sessions. She admits that she often pushed herself too hard, believing that the more she trained, the more muscle she would gain. But in the end, this approach only drained her energy without delivering real benefits.Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Instead of prioritizing volume, it’s better to focus on proper execution in every session. Choosing targeted exercises that align with your fitness goals allows you to maximize your efforts and build muscle effectively. A well-structured workout with 4 to 6 movements is often enough if you focus on one muscle group at a time.Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Ava Bracey recommends dedicating each workout to a specific muscle or muscle group to give it the attention and energy it needs to grow. For example:

Monday: Quadriceps

Tuesday: Shoulders

Wednesday: Glutes and abs

• And so on…

This method ensures that your muscles get enough recovery time between sessions.

Structured strength training not only stimulates muscle growth but also helps burn calories. Contrary to popular belief, weight training is just as effective as cardio for fat loss—provided the exercises are performed correctly. Ava Bracey also emphasizes the importance of consistency and precise movements. This approach not only guarantees faster and lasting results but also helps prevent injuries.

Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com

Even if your workouts aren’t extremely intense, your muscles still need time to repair and strengthen after each session. Overtraining often leads to injuries and slows progress. Instead of rushing through back-to-back strength sessions, give your body the rest it needs to properly build muscle.

Forget Quantity, Focus on Quality! A Fitness Coach’s 3 Golden Rules for Building Muscle Faster | Deadspin.com