Want a few secrets straight from some of the best? Here’s a selection of great ideas that have worked for some of the best bodies in the business. Trust me – they work!

1. Beef, not pork. While you should eat sensibly, you should not overeat. Eating 6-8 small meals throughout the day is much healthier than one big blowout at dinner time. Plus, you’ll have a constant supply of energy to see you through your workouts. Don’t forget the importance of taking protein supplements after working out, along with some fast-acting carbs for maximum muscle gain. See SupplementsToGo.com's list of low price protein shakes, bars and powders.

2. Wisdom: Get a trainer or coach to help you. Not all the time, but every once in a while to give you the advice regarding diet, nutrition, exercises and other training tips.

3. Posture. If you have massive muscles but bad posture, you will look like a gorilla for the wrong reasons. Sit up straight and don’t slouch. Walk tall, and not just in the gym, either.

4. Chop and change: Boredom with your workout routine is a real motivation sapper. It’s also not best for your muscles if you train with weights every day. Alternate cardio training days with weight training days for best results.

5. Shock. Every 4-6 weeks, you should change something about your workout routine. Change your sets or reps, change the type of exercise done, even change the time of day you work out in. This will force your muscles to respond by becoming bigger.

6. Streeeeeeech. You need to warm your muscles up properly before lifting. What would happen if you started your car in third gear? Damage, right? The same happens to your body, so never skip the stretching warm up and cool down before and after your workouts.

7. Hold on. Grip weights tightly. Even clenching fists tightens your arm muscles, so think what happens when you grip tight to your weights.

8. Loose. Don’t lock your joints. This puts stress on them. What’s more, when you lock your joints, the bones take the strain, not the muscles. Keep them soft for maximum benefit.

9. It’s not a race. Do the movements slowly. A slow movement takes more effort than a fast one. This is particularly true for machine workouts – don’t let them crash back to the starting position – slow them every step of the way.

10. Centre. Don’t concentrate on the mirror, the poster on the ceiling or the guy next to you. Concentrate inside yourself and what your muscles are doing. Feel them working.

11. Record. Keep a track of your progress in a diary. Record your sets, reps, weights, gains, diet, exercises… It all helps, especially if you need to change.

12. Tall. You look like a warrior, so stand tall like one.

13. Breathe. Remember not to hold your breath while performing a movement. Keeping the oxygen going is one sure-fire way to keep the bloodstream and power going to the muscles.

14. Rest. Take a light week every 4-6 weeks where you do a half-routine. Don’t work the same muscle group two days running. Sleep well. Take one day off in seven. This is when muscle gets built.

15. Burn. Don’t let fat hide your hard-won muscle. Shed those extra pounds of fat – you may look good on the scales, but you’re not fooling anyone.