Ask anyone how to change your body from a skinny frame to a muscular build and they’ll each have their own piece of advice. Some will recommend diets and supplements while others will talk about exercise programs that include lifting great amounts of weight and focusing on isolating the different muscle groups.

It really can be quite confusing and oftentimes contradictory, especially if you have the type of build that has a difficult time building muscle. One of the most vital aspects of gaining muscle weight is not diet and exercise but is actually the period of time that you take after and in between workout to rest your body and allow it to recover.

It is during the recovery process that the muscle that has been torn during a workout has time to rebuild and heal itself. That is why sleep is so important to muscle growth.

Weight lifting is not solely about putting strain on the muscle groups and tearing the muscle. It is also about allowing the muscle to repair itself and become stronger.

When a person lifts weights the muscles used begin to break down. This can cause pain and strain to a person. The tearing of the muscles signals the body that it will soon need time to rest, recover and rebuild.

When you allow your body to rest the torn muscles form scar tissue which reconnects and toughens the muscle. After continuously tearing and repairing your muscles they will grow bigger and get stronger.

Your muscles are no different from the rest of your body. When you have a cold your body needs time to recover. The same goes for your muscles. While your body is at rest it releases chemicals and hormones that allow the muscle to repair and grow larger.

That is why it is essential for a body to rest after an intense workout. When the body is not allowed to properly rest, the muscles are not allowed to repair and the whole workout was wasted.

Listen to your doctor when he or she says that you need eight hours of sleep each night. They know what they are talking about. A good night’s sleep will give you the energy needed to start the next workout. The heavier the weights you use and the more intense your workout is, the longer resting period you will need.