I F YOU BELONG to a certain type of gym, you might notice you're surrounded by massive dudes pushing even more massive weights. Their approach seems to be working in the muscle-building department, and their physiques are impressive to say the least. You want to get jacked like them, but you wonder: does building muscle really require that much time and dedication?

The answer is somewhere between yes and no. Committing to fitness can be tough with all the distractions and conveniences in day-to-day life, especially if your goal is to develop a consistent training plan and dial-in your diet to build real muscle. Developing an Arnold-esque physique takes decades of logged gym hours and a rock-solid nutrition plan. If you’re not looking to become the next Mr. Olympia, though, building muscle doesn’t have to be that complex.

Here are a few tips to mastering the art of muscle-building.…