Posts Tagged ‘Fitness’

Bodybuilding Tips - Supplementation for Optimal Gains in Muscle Mass

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

by Mick Hart

To achieve optimum results from training, it is necessary that you must supply your body with all the correct vitamins and minerals as well as enough of the major components of the diet being proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These are called the ‘macro-nutrients’ of the diet as they are needed in much larger amounts compared to the micro-nutrients’ being the vitamins, minerals and other biological substances which are needed in much smaller amounts in the diet than are the ‘macro-nutrients’, but are found present in different amounts accompanying the macro-nutrients in food.

It is true that most of the micro-nutrients are already present in the foods that make up the macro-nutrients, but hard-training bodybuilders have been shown to require much more than food can provide in terms of the micro-nutrients which are often lost out of foods through cooking. In addition, the stresses of training the body uses up a large amount of the micro-nutrients in growth and repair of body tissues, and extra levels are required at amounts that could not be acquired by food alone, and so are taken via a few pills from a health-food store in the morning, evening, and with meals.

The important question is what to take and when during the day. A good time in the day to take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is during the first meal of the day and this meal SHOULD be breakfast. If you are inclined to miss out breakfast then you really are working against yourself in terms of any lean muscle mass gains that you would otherwise make if you did have a good breakfast on a daily basis. After you have been asleep for a good number of hours, on waking up your blood sugar level is low, and the body is at the point where it has to start accessing materials to raise blood sugar levels and this ALSO means that your muscles can be accessed to raise blood sugar i.e. the muscles are being broken down (catabolised) in such a way that is the exact opposite to what we have in mind which is building muscles (anabolism) i.e. BODYBUILDING!

Therefore, it is quite clear that a good breakfast is a very important meal, and along with milk to drink, an egg-white omelette with a couple of yolks only (using about eight or ten egg-whites is a good basis for a great breakfast; for example, you can add complex carbohydrates by having some boiled rice with your omelette, and dont forget that complex carbs are another very important part of breakfast and boost blood sugar levels steadily as they are digested). Don’t make the excuse that a good breakfast takes too long to prepare, because it doesn’t!

Some people may not have much of an appetite at first, but as long as you eat something good for breakfast (even if it’s only a banana), then don’t worry, because your appetite can be your guide, and will probably increase along with gains from your training. Why the appetite increase? Because your body has more muscle tissue to nourish as your training progresses.Many people may benefit greatly from extra vitamin B-complex supplementation, and also extra vitamin C. The B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble vitamins and so are not stored to any great extent within the body, but are used up quickly in general tissue metabolism and VERY much so when your muscles are growing !!!

So bring on board extra B-complex and C vitamins in the morning and before going to bed, and even before your workout that day. Complement the taking of these vitamins with increased fluid intake especially bottled water along with carbohydrate sports drinks. Optimum hydration is required to flush out waste products from the body tissues.

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Reduce Fat Chest Using Two Simple Exercises

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

by Anthony J. Howell

Chest fat or enlarged male breasts is a condition that affects over 40% of men in society today. Some of the effects of chest fat include embarrassment, depression and anxiety. Some of the many ways to reduce fat chest include going on a diet, having surgery, taking natural supplements and exercising. In this article, I will be discussing two exercises that you can use to reduce your chest fat.

The two exercises are:

1. The Incline Bench Press Exercise: To perform the incline bench press exercise, you will need an adjustable incline bench as well as a barbell. The first thing you need to do is load the weights onto the barbell. For this exercise, choose weight such that you are capable of doing 10 to 12 repetitions for each set.

After loading the weights onto the bar, lie on the bench and slowly lower the bar down to your upper chest. For one repetition, raise the bar vertically and then lower it again. You should exhale while lowering the weight, and inhale while raising it. To reduce fat chest, perform this exercise a couple times per week.

2. The Hammer Grip Incline Dumbbell Press Exercise: To perform this exercise correctly, you will need an adjustable incline bench and a pair of dumbbells. Similar to the incline bench press, you should select dumbbells so that you are capable of performing ten to twelve repetitions for each of your sets. In this exercise, the hammer grip should be used, which means that the longer dimension of the dumbbells is aligned with the length of your body and your palms are supposed to face inward toward each other.

After preparing, lie on the bench with the dumbbells over your upper chest. For one repetition, raise the dumbbells vertically above your upper chest and then lower them again. You should exhale while raising the dumbbells and inhale while you are lowering them. Perform the hammer grip incline dumbbell press a couple times per week to reduce fat chest.

So now I have told you the answer. To reduce fat chest for good, you should try these exercises. It requires some dedication, but you will see excellent results.

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Some interesting creatine info

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

by Caleb Lee

Creatine is one of the most popular supplements taken during the training period for muscle building. While talking about creatine info, first thing someone should mention is the wide ranges of resources of creatine in the nature. Although, creatine is one of the most common forms of supplements available to boost up muscles, few of us know the facts about this interesting supplement. Accordingly, here is some interesting creatine info necessary for the body builders and people in general.

The first important creatine info is that, creatine is a natural ingredient. Many a times although taken in other forms and ways, creatine, is a natural compound. It can produce itself within the human body.

Creatine is not only part of the human body but is found in the animal kingdom as well. The most common source of creatine comes from animal protein. Red meat, fish, etc., has adequate quantities of creatine. Creatine monohydrate is the chemical substance responsible for producing creatine.

Oddly enough creatine does not provide energy if taken before a workout. Many bodybuilders, and others, take creatine whenever they want to. Taking creatine before a workout is a waste of money and good creatine, and can cause the creatine to be turned into fat. The most advantageous time to take creatine is after the workout. After the workout the creatine will work on the muscle tissues. The amount taken should be saturated with a substance.

Loading is a belief of bodybuilders that has been around for quite awhile but it is a false notion. Info about creatine specifies that the creatine loading has to be balanced. Also, the quantity consumed ties into the stage of the training period.

Some creatine info that may please you a lot is that generally creatine is free from side effects. Many a body builders are in the notion that creatine has consequent side effects. On the contrary, creatine monohydrate supplements have no side effects. Still, many believe that creatine consumption can lead towards cramps in muscle, dehydration, stomach discomfort etc but none of these conceptions are true.

A commonplace notion that creatine can be taken in any form is a wrong concept. There are several forms of creatine available and this creatine is meant for different purposes. This creatine info that creatine is meant for different purposes is now almost known to all. The amount of consumption varies depending on the phase of the training periods.

Creatine info should include useful as well as the popular sources of creatine. The most common form of creatine is the creatine monohydrate. There are also protein supplements. These supplements are in protein drink form and are popular with the bodybuilders. Creatine’s main source is found in Creatine Ethyl Ester, which is readily available. When making your choice in creatine supplements be sure and research all creatine info you can find.

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20-Minute Interval Training Program For Busy People

Monday, October 6th, 2008

by Kyle Richey

Even if you are a very busy person (and aren’t we all?) there are some things you can do to keep in good shape and have a healthier life. It can take as little as fifteen to twenty minutes three times a week to keep yourself looking and feeling great.

To make the most of your workouts, the key is to speed up your metabolism and increase the amount of calories your body consumes during a workout session. The time after your workout ids completed is critical; your body’s muscles will begin to repair themselves and you will continue burning calories during this time. This is called the resting state.

So, what works best for this to work? There are many exercises to choose from, using either traditional weight training exercises or bodyweight exercise. The idea is to go through your reps quickly and intensely, with very little rest in between sets, for the full twenty minutes. Integrate interval training into your routine, working tough for thirty seconds, recovering for ninety seconds. Your routine will also vary between workout phases, and also if you are an athlete of different sports. But at its core, this is the key to success with this exercise program.

What results can you expect form this workout? If you want to lose fat and build muscle, you’re in luck - since that is exactly what this workout will deliver if you follow the routine given here. What should you do in these tough twenty minute workouts? We’ll assume you have no significant physical limitations, so let’s examine what a typical workout might entail:

Using a round of general bodyweight exercises, you will be spending the first three minutes warming up, stretching your muscles and loosening things up a bit. After this, depending upon what areas you are using this workout to work on, you will do another set of warm ups designed to prepare those particular muscles for the task ahead. This will go on for another two minutes.

For the next thirteen minutes, you are going to go through two or three supersets of exercises. The first superset will be for five minutes. Remember, it is thirty seconds of intense exercise, rest for ninety seconds, then repeat, going through five minutes. The second superset will work a different set of muscles, for another four to five minutes, then wrap it up with either a third superset on another set of muscles, or if you are working on getting rid of tummy fat, maybe conclude with about three minutes of high intensity ab work.

Then two minutes of cool down exercises to finish and off to the showers.

You should do this routine three days a week. On days you will not be doing weight training, mix up your routine a little. You’ll still follow the same pattern, but using different exercises.

It may seem like there’s no way you can really get results in only an hour a week, but before you dismiss the idea, try it for yourself - you’ll be surprised what is possible in such a short time. Don’t put off your workouts just because you are short on free time anymore.

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Muscle Building Supplements, What You Need to Know

Monday, September 29th, 2008

by Ricardo d Argence

Lots of people want to look intelligent and have a muscular build these days. Everyone dreams of a body that is well built. Now, the question arises as how to built such a body.

The majority prefer to do their regular workouts in a gym. The building stones, the body building supplements, of a well built body are required to be taken besides from using exercise equipments.

These supplements have their own mechanism in the body. They give benefits by toning up the muscles to attain a perfect shape for a symmetrical body and vitalizing the physical stamina. Along with this, some dietary cares are indispensably required. You should eat less and quality food only, and after that enough work out is required to keep the body fit and healthy.

Bodybuilding supplements are available in various forms such as capsules, tablets, liquids and powder. Basically body supplements contain proteins, vitamins, hormones and other such things which can boost body muscles. Most importantly it is necessary to know and understand the way of dose administration. If taken in adequate quantity and in a proper manner, these supplements start showing their effect on the body.

One of the most popular muscle building supplements, currently, is creatine. It can be from natural or manufactured sources. In its natural form it is found in red meat. Creatine that has been manufactured can be found in various forms: tablet, liquid, serum, and injection form. All of this provides the necessary energy for your muscles. Cellular dysfunction also benefeits from Creatine.

Glutamine has become a popular source with body builders these days. It’s properties generate quality muscles. Glutamine comes in a soluble powder and helps to stock up non-required amino acids. Leucine and Glucosamine are amino acids that are well used supplements by body builders. These are taken during extensive workout periods. Those allergic to seafood are advised to avoid Glucosamine as it is an amino sugar.

Multivitamins are also being used as a muscle building supplement. There are plenty multivitamin products available and these help in accelerating the muscle building process. These vitamins are very efficient as they bring out the energy from carbohydrates, fat, and protein. As an antioxididant they help the body get rid of free radicals.

Taking muscle building supplements will help you grow muscles fast and efficiently. As you contuniue with your body building your system will require different supplements along the way. Many times all muscle building supplements will be needed simultaneously. Those who consume supplements need to make sure they take the supplements only as directed by their physical trainers or fitness experts.

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