How To Build Muscle?

How can I work out and build muscle without losing weight?

• I am a 20 year old woman with a very slim body frame. I have always been active but with school and work, my fitness got put on the "back-burner" in the last 6 months. A friend and I (of the same body type) just recently joined a gym and both have the motivation to get back in shape. My question is: I feel like any working out I do is only going to make me skinnier, and I don't want to end up just being a muscular twig. I want to gain a good amount of weight (right now I am 5'8 and weigh 120lbs), tone and build muscle, and still be able to bulk.. Should I increase my calorie intake and if so, by how much? I've read a lot of conflicting opinions in different magazines and web forums as to the best route for building muscle. Also, I have read that women lack the amount of testosterone needed to build adequate amounts of muscle and can naturally increase their testosterone with ginsing, zinc, magnesium, vitamin c and protein? What are the best types of workouts for building muscle? Some forums say splitting muscle groups into a 3 day workout is best (focusing on one muscle group every 3 days in order to let your muscles rest) and say just to pump as much weight as you can for 8 to 15 reps... Any input on how to healthily gain weight and muscle would be greatly appreciated!

• Answer:

  Weights is def the way to go for muscle gain. If you want endurance its more reps, less wight, if you are after growth, it's more weight less reps.