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You can withdraw from Paypal Kenya with a Payoneer account
You can withdraw from Paypal Kenya with a Payoneer account
Most freelance websites and affiliate sites offer Kenyans the ability to own their own Payoneer card if and when their online earnings reaches the required payment limit.
A payoneer card is a US issued mastercard that is internationally accepted and can be used on ATMs globally. However you should know that ATM withdrawal fees with a payoneer card can be high so you should use it mostly for just making withdrawals for your monthly earnings.
I said you can withdraw from your Paypal account if you have a Payoneer card and virtual US bank account. Payoneer are now offering members the ability to have a sort of virtual US bank account and it works in such a way that you won't need to travel to the USA just to open a bank account and yet be able to withdraw funds to it from your Paypal account.
Paypal doesn't allow direct withdrawals to Kenyan banks
According to Paypal Kenya, you can send and receive money online using Paypal but for now you can't withdraw to a local bank in Kenya except to a US bank account and that has been a burden for many. However if you have a Payoneer US bank account, you can then withdraw frm Paypal and then be able to use your Payoneer mastercard to withdraw locally from Mastercard branded ATMs in the local currency in Kenya.
How to get a Virtual bank account from Payoneer
- You need to apply first after having a long standing relationship with the company
- If approved, you will be able to do online banking with your account and receive funds as if it were a real bank account
- Approval is not automatic so not everybody may be approved.
However, if you have been earning a good amount of money online with a Payoneer card, your chances of getting a US bank account through them are good.
Once the funds hav been withdrawn from Paypal to your Payoneer virtual bank account, you can then withdraw it with your Payoneer card at acceptable ATMs.
Homemade Whey Protein Shakes: Using Bodybuilding Supplements Creatively
People find that the flavor of the protein shake powder they paid a good money for quickly gets boring. If you are taking your protein shakes two or even three times a day it can become a real chore. This is when people start to experiment a little by adding other ingredients to make their protein shakes taste a little better.
You can soon turn your boring, often tasteless, protein shakes into mouth-watering bodybuilding or dieting delights. All you need to have to get started is a ble nder and a little imagination.
Choosing What to Put in Your Protein Shakes
Before rushing off to your refrigerator to blend everything in site, let's go through some basic principles you will want to consider first. Not only do you want to create the best tasting shakes but you should also aim to make the most effective protein shakes for your dieting requirements. This is important because there is no point throwing full fat ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter and full fat milk all together to create a wonderful tasting fat gaining shake. You need to be a little wise when choosing your ingredients.
So what kinds of ingredients make good choices for your shakes? I recommend using the following tips when getting your ingredients from the supermarket or refrigerator:
Try to keep as many of your ingredients as natural as possible. A good example of this is using natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter. The natural version has better protein content and also natural fats that are important in your diet.
Fresh fruit should be used whenever possible. Fruit contains the carbohydrates that will fuel your workouts and your day. The complex sugars in fruit are important to any diet (unlike the simple sugars in sweets, sodas, etc).
Think about ingredients that will boost your shake's protein content. For example, you could throw a handful of nuts into the blender for a little extra protein without making the shake much thicker. You could add a few raw egg whites (if you are worried about eating raw eggs you may be able to find treated egg whites in cartons at your supermarket). You could always simply dump an extra scoop of whey powder in there as well.
Make sure you have enough liquids. If you get a little too carried away you may discover your shake is easier to eat with a spoon then drink from a glass. When you first start creating your shakes it is a good idea to add your liquids (water, fat-free milk, fruit juices, et c.) in stages so that you get your desired consistency.
Examine the nutritional information for each ingredient and consider the impact it will have on your dieting goals. For example, you may be opting for fat free (skimmed) milk if you aren't trying to gain weight.
Always know what your goal is and make your shakes accordingly. If you are trying to shed the fat you will be skipping the types of ingredients that add too many carbohydrates and fats while trying to increase the protein content.
Think of how you might create a unique flavor. You can try things like cinnamon, vanilla, honey, coconut milk, etc. Once you get the hang of this you will see the possibilities are endless.
Making Your Protein Shake
Once you have decided on the ingredients for your shake you are ready to start. It couldn't be simpler and if you can make toast you won't have a problem. It's a good idea to think about the order in which you will add your ingredients into the blender. Alw ays add your main liquid source first so that everything else you add afterwards is easily blended. Following this, add your protein powder and give your blender a quick 'burst'. Now you are ready to add the rest of your ingredients and blend until you get the right consistency. At this point you may want to add a little more liquids to tweak your shake's thickness. Throw in five or six ice cubes to make your shake more refreshing.
Now you can let your imagination invent all sorts of bodybuilding and dieting concoctions that make your supplement shakes a great deal tastier. Don't forget to share your creations with friends at the gym and people across the world through the internet. You will also discover many ideas other people come up with to inspire you further. Visit websites and online forums for recipes and you can get some ideas from my site's homemade protein shakes using whey supplement powders section.
Happy blending!
Home Remedies For Muscle Spasms And Cramps
Muscle spasm mainly happens due to calcium deficiency, so include calcium in your diet. You can find good source of calcium in low-fat dairy products such as yoghurt, skim milk and ricotta cheese. Before eating and drinking calcium rich diet, consult your doctor.
If you are prone to muscle spasms it may be because of the acids that interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium. Lessen the intake of acidic foods like tomatoes and vinegar. Inadequate supply of potassium to your body is another reason for muscle spasms. Increase your intake of potassium, eat good amount of bananas, potatoes, soya flour, bran wheat, ready-to-eat apricots, tomato puree and such.
Do not exert yourself by overusing your muscles. Take it easy for while and relax. Too much of physical exertion takes its toll on the body. Frequent muscle spasms could be the manifestation of this over exertion. If while doing some activity you get a muscle spasm, take a 15 minute break. This prevents muscle spasm in the long run.
Celery seeds have anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce arthritic pain and relieve muscle spasms. Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) can be used to treat muscle spasms. Hot and moist herbal packs are very useful in increasing blood circulation. It can treat painful areas by consuming tea or juices to soothe muscles and nerves.
If you get a muscle spasm while you are lying in bed, stretch your leg straight out, bend the toes back towards the head. Hold this position for 30 seconds, relax and continue till the cramp is gone. This stretches your calf muscle. This can also be done while you are standing.
Spasms usually occur when your body is exerted, mainly in the gym. Keep yourself hydrated as you tend to lose valuable electrolytes, which is required to prevent cramps. Before exercising you can take calcium, magnesium and potassium supplements daily.
Chamomile tea helps in relieving muscle spasms. Glycine, an amino acid present in the tea, help relax the muscles. Magnesium deficiency is usually caused due to alcohol, renal disease and diabetes mellitus.
To stop muscle spasms use this ayurvedic solution. Soak your feet in a large tub of hot water, steeped with homemade tea bag of black or brown mustard seeds, for 15- 20 minutes.
You can use an herbal oil massage by using 1 cup extra-virgin oil or almond oil, add herbs in tincture form like 1 ounce Cramp bark, 1/2 ounce Lobelia, 11/4 ounce of Willow bark or Wintergreen ( wintergreen tincture is not available you can use 30 drops of wintergreen oil). You can store all these in a jar or bottle and use it as massage oil.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
How And Why Should I Gain Muscle?
Protection is the first area to mention when discussing why you should gain muscle and is true in so many different ways. Muscles are major protectors of the joints and bones in our body. Strong muscles that span joints serve as braces for the forces that would otherwise separate and render these joints useless. The same goes for muscles that support long bones. If we didn't have muscles that were able to absorb the impact of forces that we experience every day than we would always be dealing with fractures and immobility. In fact the activities that promote muscle building are the very same activities that increase bone mineral density, which is especially important for women later in life after menopause. Muscles also help us to maintain our balance protecting us from falls. Muscle tissue is also huge regulator when it comes to blood pressure, and thus has indirect protection of many different major organs including the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.
Metabolically muscle is very important in maintaining a healthy weight and absorbing the harmful effect of the typical American diet. This is not to say that if you work out and gain muscle that you are automatically at a healthy weight and can eat whatever you want. But it does mean that those people who spend good amounts of time every week doing weight bearing exercises are less prone to things like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, and atherosclerosis-all things that come with obesity-because muscle is a very good metabolizer of the extra fuel (glucose and fat) that we have every day in the typical "unhealthy diet."
Lastly for this article I want to talk to you about the importance of doing things that only having strong muscle will allow you to do. I am talking especially about your mental health here. Basically if you aren't strong than you likely aren't active (they go hand in hand) and if you aren't active than you are so much more prone to things like inactivity and depression its not funny. So take my advice and start lifting weights to gain muscle which is one of the most precious commodities that you have on your body.
The Role Of Whey Protein In Achieving Significant Muscle Gain
Whey protein is produced during the process that sees milk turned into cheese. It is also found naturally in dairy products, eggs, soy and vegetable proteins but none of these compares in quality to whey protein powder. It also scores highly in providing the branched chain amino acids (BCAA's) that are important in the building and retention of muscle.
Whey protein is highly favored by bodybuilders because it provides the necessary building blocks to produce the amino acids that the body uses to build lean muscle tissue. Many studies have shown that whey protein contains the perfect combination of amino acids, in just the right concentration for optimal performance in the body. It is also thought that whey protein has a role as an anti-oxidant and immune system builder.
It is best taken in powder form mixed in juice or milk, spread throughout the day to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. Serious bodybuilders often consume up to 150 grams each day but as a rule of thumb, daily protein intake for active trainers can be calculated by taking your weight in pounds and multiplying by 1 or 1.5. But remember, you need to work out how much protein is taken from food and other sources, and then spread the remaining whey protein balance over the day.
Whey protein is a relatively safe supplement but no more than 30 grams of protein should be taken at one sitting as excessive single doses could overload the liver. The safety of whey protein has been well documented in many scientific studies and there is clear proof that taken consistently, coupled with regular exercise, it will result in meaningful muscle gain.
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
Muscle cars were produced from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s, but the production of such beasts fell drastically due to a number of factors. First was the controversy over whether it was wise and responsible to make such powerful vehicles available to the general public, primarily due to road racing. Because muscle cars were often used irresponsibly, liability relating to them was pretty high which forced insurance companies to increase rates for insuring muscle cars. Emission control requirements intended to curb pol lution also played into the picture making it near impossible for automakers to produce muscle cars that met the standards they had to adhere to.
Needless to say, the muscle car industry changed quickly due to these influences. Demand decreased because many "would-be" buyers of muscle cars couldn't fathom paying the enormous insurance rates for a high-power vehicle and automakers had to meet the challenges presented by pollution control standards.
Since muscle cars were produced for a limited number of years, they are valuable items for collectors and are still highly desirable to those who enjoy racing or desire a quick, powerful, mid-sized car. Since the decline in the production of muscle cars, some automakers have attempted to bring the muscle car era back to life by producing powerful vehicles that resemble the legendary muscle cars, but in my opinion, they don't hold a candle to classic muscle cars like the GTO, the Road Runner or the Chevelle SS.
It will be int eresting to see how the history of muscle cars plays out. Will present day automakers renew production of true muscle cars that are fast and powerful? Will there be enough demand to make muscle car production worth it to them? Or, will muscle cars continue to be limited to those classic models that were produced in the 60s and 70s?
Classic muscle cars are pretty amazing pieces of machinery. One that is restored and in cherry condition is really worth a lot of money. As time goes on, there are fewer muscle cars available which makes them even more valuable to classic car collectors and muscle car enthusiasts.
Hip flexors - the most underdeveloped muscle group in strength training
There are some obvious reasons for this comparative neglect. The principal muscles involved in hip flexion are the psoas and the iliacus, collectively known as the iliopsoas. Because they are relatively deep-seated rather than surface muscles they may have been overlooked by bodybuilders who have traditionally been the major innovators in strength training. Secondly, there are no obvious ways to adequately exercise them with free weights. Finally, these muscles do not have the obvious functional importance of their extensor counterparts. Yet, as antagonists, both hip and knee flexors perform a vital role in controlling the rate of descent and ascent in leg exte nsion exercises such as the squat.
There is no corresponding problem of underdevelopment with the muscles responsible for knee joint flexion, the hamstring group. Because they cross two joints they are active in both leg extension and leg flexion. They act to flex the knee joint and also to extend the hip joint. Therefore they tend to be strengthened by complex leg extension exercises. Also hamstrings can be developed and strengthened through the use of the leg curl apparatus.
Strong hip flexors provide an advantage in a wide range of sports and athletic activities. In sprinting high knee lift is associated with increased stride length and therefore considerable attention is given to exercising the hip flexors. However, they are usually not exercised against resistance and consequently there is unlikely to be any appreciable strength increase.
Hip flexor strength is directly relevant to a range of activities in football. Kicking a ball is a complex coordinated action i nvolving simultaneous knee extension and hip flexion, so developing a more powerful kick requires exercises applicable to these muscle groups. Strong hip flexors can also be very advantageous in the tackle situation in American football and both rugby union and rugby league where a player is attempting to take further steps forward with an opposing player clinging to his legs.
In addition those players in American football and rugby who have massively developed quadriceps and gluteus muscles are often unable to generate rapid knee lift and hence tend to shuffle around the field. Having stronger flexors would significantly improve their mobility.
It is commonly asserted that marked strength disparity between hip extensors and hip flexors may be a contributing factor in hamstring injuries in footballers. It is interesting to speculate on whether hip extensor/flexor imbalance might also be associated with the relatively high incidence of groin injuries.
Other sports where i ncreased iliopsoas strength would appear to offer benefits include cycling, rowing and mountain climbing, in particular when scaling rock faces.
The problem in developing hip flexor strength has been the lack of appropriate exercises. Two that have traditionally been used for this muscle group are incline sit-ups and hanging leg raises, but in both cases the resistance is basically provided by the exerciser's own body weight. As a consequence these exercises can make only a very limited contribution to actually strengthening the flexors.
Until now the only weighted resistance equipment employed for this purpose has been the multi-hip type machine. When using this multi-function apparatus for hip flexion the exerciser pushes with the lower thigh against a padded roller which swings in an arc. One difficulty with this apparatus is that the position of the hip joint is not fixed and thus it is difficult to maintain correct form when using heavy weights or lifting the thigh abov e the horizontal.
With the release of the MyoQuip HipneeFlex there is now a machine specifically designed to develop and strengthen the leg flexors. It exercises both hip and knee flexors simultaneously from full extension to full flexion. Because the biomechanical efficiency of these joints decreases in moving from extension to flexion, the mechanism is configured to provide decreasing resistance throughout the exercise movement and thus appropriate loading to both sets of flexors.
The absence until now of effective techniques for developing the hip flexors means that we do not really know what benefits would flow from their full development. However, given that in elite sport comparatively minor performance improvements can translate into contest supremacy, it is an area that offers great potential.
Halotestin - Often Used For Strength Rather Than Muscle Building
The chemical formula of Halotestin is C20H29FO3, and its molecular weight is 336.4457. The corresponding word used for Halotestin include 9a-fluoro-11b-hydroxy-17a-methyltestosterone; 9fluoro-11, 17-dihydroxy-17-methyl-androst-4-en-3-one; 9-Fluoro-11beta, 17beta-dihydroxy-17-methylandrost-4-en-3-one, Androfluorene and Fluoxymestrone.
Each Halotestin pill has 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg fluoxymesterone. Its other inactive ingredients include sucrose, sorbic acid, corn starch, lactose, FD&C Yellow No. 5, calcium stearate and tragacanth. Additionally, the 2 mg tablet of Halotestin contains FD&C Yell ow No. 6 and the 5 mg and 10 mg contain FD&C Blue No. 2.
Halotestin is primarily used when the jocks are more interested in forting up strength rather than building muscles. Weight lifters or power lifters who must stay within a definite weight class frequently make use of Halotestin as they are primarily interested in gaining strength without adding up body weight.
The common side effects linked with Halotestin are increased production of the sebaceous gland, acne, nasal bleeding, headaches, gastrointestinal pain and reduced production of the body hormones, irritation, aggressiveness, gynecomastia, high blood pressure level, and masculinization symptoms.
In muscle-building, Halotestin is taken while preparing for a competition. With a lower body fat content, Halotestin gives the muscleman a distinguishing muscle rigidity and distinctness. The normal dosage of Halotestin is 20-40 mg/ a day. Normally, muscle-builders are satisfied with 20-30 mg/ per day whereas w eight or power lifters often take 40 mg/day or more. The daily quantity is generally broken up into two equal quantities taken mornings and evenings with lots of fluids. As the pills are 1 7-alpha alky-lated, they can be taken during meals without any loss in effect.
Fight Back Against Joint And Muscle Pain
• One of the latest therapies being used by health professionals is a natural compound composed of special fatty acids, available in supplement form. In clinical studies conducted at the University of Connecticut and published in the Journal of Rheumatology, the compound, called Celadrin, was shown to alleviate pain and increase range of motion, with no reported side effects.
Actor Dick Van Patten, an avid tennis player, was temporarily sidelined with severe shoulder pain. Facing painful cortizone shots or surgery, he tried a cream containing the compound.
"In a couple of days, the pain started to subside, and soon I was back to playing the game I love."
Research has shown that the special fatty acids in Celadrin inhibit inflammation in endothelial cells that line the inside of various body cavities, and decrease the pro-inflammatory effects of arachidonic and other fatty acids. In addition, they may help to lubricate an affected joint, resulting in pain relief and increased mobility.
Here are some additional things you can do to help fight joint and muscle pain naturally:
• Touch can be comforting, particularly from a partner or a pet.
• Maintain your ideal body weight and exercise regularly.
However, not just any type of exercise will do. Exercise programs should be individualized, because people have different needs.
• Applying heat to the affected area can help relax muscles and joints and thus prevent painful spasms. Use a heating pad for 20 to 30 minutes at a time-going longer can lead to burns.
• Counterintuitively, cold can have the same effect as heat. In addition, the numbing properties of an ice pack-wrapped in something; never apply ice directly to the skin-can dull t he pain, making it easier to go about your day.
3 Choices To Help You Lose Weight
Perhaps the most appealing benefit of using a patch is that it is so easy to use. No pills to remember to take, no special diets, no required exercise routine. Naturally, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise program is best for your overall health, but if that is difficult for you to adhere to all of the time, the patch may be a solution that works for you.
A weight loss patch that you place on your body will deliver the active ingredients by transdermal delivery, meaning through the skin. The patch ingredients will go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and liver. Simply apply the patch to a smooth area of your skin and change it every 3 days. That is all of the maintenance that is required.
A patch can even be used occasionally when you are traveling and know you will be eating out a lot, or for those times you are too busy to cook the proper foods. A patch that suppresses your appetite w! ill help you develop good eating habits that will help you maintain your ideal weight in the future ~ no more yo-yo figures.
2. Appetite Suppressant Pills
Curbing your appetite to stop the influx of calories in the first place seems to be the logical way to lose and maintain your weight. However, we are so bombarded by confusing claims everywhere for appetite suppressant pills ~ in print, on the radio, on television, even on billboards when driving, that it is difficult to know which diet pill will really help take off those pounds ~ and keep them off..
Some diet pills will cause your heart to race, your hands to shake, or an overall "wired" feeling. To avoid these problem, stay away from products that contain Ephedra, Ma Huang, and Ephedrine.
One herbal diet pill that has gotten a lot of publicity lately is Hoodia Gordonii The authentic plant comes from the Kalahari desert in South Aftrica. Respectable television shows like 60 Minutes, the Today Show, BBC, and even Oprah's "O" magazine have given it rave ! reviews for its fast acting appetite suppressing qualities. While it can take one to two weeks to work fully, many users report a decline in their appetite with the first pill.
In fact, Hoodia has had so many positive reports that there are now a lot of knock-off products being marketed to the uninformed ~ especially on the Internet. The real Hoodia is very rare because it takes up to 7 years for the Hoodia plant to mature to a point where it provides appetite suppressant qualities. In addition, the African government is now limiting the amount of Hoodia it exports, meaning only a few suppliers have the real thing. Because Hoodia is so rare, you can expect it to be a little more expensive than other diet pills.
Another diet pill that helps shed pounds is Herbal Phentermine. This is a non-prescription appetite suppressant that is scientifically designed to produce similar effects of a popular Rx version of phentermine.
The good news is that the Herb! al version contains only natural ingredients so you don't have! to be worried about side effects. Plus, you can avoid the time, expense, and embarrassment of a doctor's visit.
Herbal Phentermine will not only suppress your appetite, but it will also increase your metabolism so you burn more calories and have more energy.
3). Carbohydrate Blockers
Perhaps you prefer not to have your appetite suppressed, but instead would like to eat all of the pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes you want. If this sounds more like your style, then you might want to try a carbohydrate blocker.
Scientists have discovered, and thoroughly tested a method to allow us to eat the foods we love and not gain weight. We can now stop the normal conversion of starchy foods to sugar before it can pass through our digestive system and store as fat on our hips, thighs, buttocks and stomach. Derived from white kidney beans, the resulting carb blockers, (starch neutralizers), are a completely natural product. They work by neutralizing the Alph! a amylase enzyme that digests starch.
By neutralizing this digestive enzyme, the starch from our food does not get digested. Instead, it remains intact and does not convert to sugar. It simply passes through the body undigested and acts as a fiber ~ which is a very good thing. We get more fiber going through our intestines while avoiding the conversion to sugar and the resulting fat storage ~ a definite win-win situation.
Over the past several years, there have been many positive studies to determine the effectiveness of carb blockers and their ability to help lose weight. One study was performed at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, over an eight week time period.
It reported that participants saw an average weight loss of 200% more than those taking a placebo, and lost an average of 1.5 inches around their waists. This was 43 % more than those taking the placebo. Plus they reported having 13% more energy, even though i! t is not a stimulant.
Whether you choose patches or pills, prefer! to eat starchy foods, or use carb blockers, some things to look for when buying diet products are that they:
1) Contain all natural ingredients
2) Do not have harmful side effects
3) Offer a 100% money back guarantee
First Aid Treatment For Bodybuilding Injuries
Many of you who have followed my articles will know that I am a serious advocate of avoiding bodybuilding injuries by constantly emphasizing on proper warm ups and using proper form and techniques during weight lifting in the gym. Okay, if you think that that I am a long winded nagger, then this article, although it is still about weightlifting injuries, is no longer about avoidance of such injuries, but to treat the injuries already sustained.
This article will cover the immediate first aid treatment you will need to recover from a bodybuilding induced injuries. That is assuming that the injuries sustained are not too serious that need immediate medical attention.
Okay, so sometimes bodybuilding exercises hurt. But how do you know when it's a good hurt or a bad hurt?
The good hurt tends to occur after a bodybuilding workout and feels like a dull ache in the muscle or commonly called the "delayed onset muscle soreness" (DOMS). This type of ache usually indicates that you have been working on that particular muscle hard enough and is a response to the effectiveness of your weight lifting workout although not always necessarily so.
The bad hurt, which generally signifies an injury, is usually sharp pain and the pain comes from a specific spot like in a specific joint or muscle spot. It usually starts as an uncomfortable feeling, which you think will go away. Next thing you know, you are in full-blown pain! Oh dear, what next?
Treat bodybuilding injuries with "RICE"
The acroynym RICE is for the general treatment of minor weightlifting injuries such as sprains, joint pains, tendonitis, pulled ligaments etc
R = Rest
I = Ice
C = Compression
E = Elevation
Rest -- Avoid all activities that aggravate your injury. You may even need to skip your gym workout for a couple of weeks. Rest can mean the difference between a long recuperation (and possibly medical invasive procedures) or just a few days or a few weeks off.
Ice -- Ice helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow. 15-20 minutes, three to four times a day is recommended as long as the pain remains.
Compression -- Put pressure on the injured site to help keep swelling down. You want to wrap a bandage or a towel tightly enough to feel some pressure but not enough to cause numbness or affecting blood circulation.
Elevation -- Elevate the injured area to reduce swelling.
Your condition should improve with "RICE" treatment. Most of the time, you should see some results within 20 minutes of treatment. However if the pain persists or gets worse, then it time to see your doctor or a sports physician as your condition may be worse than what was initially thought to be.
Gain More Muscle By Training Less Often
I know what you might be asking yourself
"What? Spending less time in the gym will actually make me bigger and stronger?"
Yes! It really will, and when we examine the muscle-growth process from its most basic roots, it becomes quite clear why this is the case.
Every single process that occurs within the human body is centered around keeping you alive and healthy. Through thousands of years of evolution the human body has become quite a fine-tuned organism that can adapt well to the specific conditions that are placed upon it. We become uncomfortable when we are hungry or thirsty, we acquire a suntan when high amounts of UV rays are present, we build calluses to protect our skin, etc. So what happens when we break down muscle tissue in the gym? If you answered something to the effect of "the muscles get bigger and stronger", then congratulations! You are absolutely correct. By battling against resistance beyond the muscle's present capacity we have posed a threat to the musculature. The body recognizes this as potentially harmful and as a natural adaptive response the muscles will hypertrophy (increase in size) to protect the body against this threat. As we consistently increase the resista nce from week to week the body will continue to adapt and grow.
Sound simple? Ultimately it is, but the most important thing to realize in relation to all of this is that the muscles can only grow bigger and stronger if they are provided with sufficient recovery time. Without the proper recovery time, the muscle growth process simply cannot take place.
Your goal in the gym should be to train with the minimum amount of volume needed to yield an adaptive response. Once you have pushed your muscles beyond their present capacity and have triggered your thousand-year-old evolutionary alarm system, you have done your job. Any further stress to the body will simply increase your recovery time, weaken the immune system and send your body into catabolic overdrive.
Most people train way too often and with far more sets than they really need to. High intensity weight training is much more stressful to the body than most people think. The majority of people structure their workou t programs in a manner that actually hinders their gains and prevents them from making the progress that they deserve. Here are 3 basic guidelines that you should follow if you want to achieve maximum gains:
1) Train no more than 3 days per week.
2) Do not let your workouts last for longer then 1 hour.
3) Perform 5-8 sets for large muscle groups (chest, back, thighs) and 2-4 sets for smaller muscle groups (shoulders, biceps, triceps, calves, abs).
Take all sets to the point of muscular failure and focus on progressing in either weight or reps each week. If you truly train hard and are consistent, training more often or any longer than this will be counterproductive to your gains!
Your Weight in Muscle
Don't be alarmed at the extra pounds of weight from weight training because it is well worth the effort. For every 3 pounds of muscle you build, research shows you increase your resting metabolic rate by about 7 percent. For example, if your body burns 1,200 calories per day (not counting exercise or any other movement), you would burn an extra 84 calories per day with those 3 extra pounds of muscle.
Many women have a difficult time outgrowing 2-3 pound dumbbell weights, because they are afraid that if they increase the weight they will bulk up. If you are happy with the strength and appearance of your muscles, you can do a maintenance program with 5 pound weights. However, if you want more strength, you could progress to 8 or 10 pound weights and still not bulk up. Using heavier weights can increase muscle size, but it's highly unlikely that you'll get bulky. Women don't naturally have enough of the hormone, testosterone, required to build huge muscles, and even if you could bulk up, you'd have to use significantly heavier weights.
Another option to tone muscle is to increase your repetitions instead of increasing weight. A high-repetition/light-weight program will develop muscle tone and increase strength and endurance without significantly increasing muscle size.
I like to tell my clients to not just go through the motion when lifting weights. I use the word "squeeze" a lot to describe the contraction of the muscle you should be focusing on. Think about the muscle you are working and squeeze or contract it as you are lifting. You will get a lot more benefit for your efforts if you squeeze the muscle on the lift rather than just raising and lowering the weight without focusing on the muscle.
For more information and tips on exercise, go to http://www.easyexercisetips.com
The Right Foods To Build Muscle
Lesson 1
The right food to build muscle mass needs to be rich in protein. Among the bodybuilder's perennial favorites are tuna and chicken, good choices because they contain ample protein. Red meat and other similar proteins have lost ground in popularity due to their higher quantities of fat. Protein is the most essential nutrient of all for a bodybuilder, as without it the muscles cannot even grow.
Lesson 2
Although fat has a very bad reputation as a contributory factor in degenerative disease, which is for the most part well deserved, small quantities of fat are actually necessary and beneficial. Fat is part of the right food to build muscle, and not enough fat in the diet will hamper your bodybuilding efforts. Current estimates are that around 20% of you calorific intake needs to be made up of fats. This is a subject which requires further reading, as there are different types of fat, some of which are considerably better than others for the human body. A full analysis of different fats is outside the scope of this short article, so do use the search engines to uncover the information you need.
Lesson 3
Include a lot of carbohydrate in your diet! These form a large part of the right food to build muscles because if your diet is lacking in carbohydrates, your body will not have enough energy to maintain your bodybuilding schedule. This is rarely a problem for bodybuilders who listen to the needs of their own bodies, as hunger will naturally entice you to eat more filling food, more often.
Lesson-4
Another vital part of the right food to build muscle is water. So many athletes in al l sports put a great emphasis on hydration, and this is not without good reason. Water helps keep your energy levels up for your training program, and it is also an important nutrient for muscle growth. Bodybuilders should cut down their consumption of alcohol, tea and coffee, as these always have a dehydrating effect.
Taking the time to learn about the right food to build muscle will pay off handsomely as your training program progresses. This guide will give you a solid start.
Getting to know your muscles and how to get rid of pain
The Musculatory System
Muscles give form to our skeletal system and allows our body to perform voluntary and involuntary movements. It also helps in regulating body temperature and controls blood flow. Muscles are made up of thousands of fibers that enable them to contract, either to shorten or lengthen, and produce movements. In order for a muscle fiber to attach itself to a bone, it blends itself w ith connective tissues known as tendons.
There are three main types of muscles. The muscles that are attached to the skeleton which allows us to perform movements are called Skeletal Muscles, or Striated Muscles. Skeletal muscles are considered voluntary muscles which means you have to first think of contracting them and the nervous system tells them to do so. They can also perform two types of contractions. The Twitch, which is characterized by short and single contractions, and the Tetanus, which involves long and sustained contractions.
The second type of muscles are called the Smooth Muscles. These are found in the walls of blood vessels and internal organs such as the digestive system, bladder, airways and the uterus. It provides a series of wavelike contractions known as peristalsis and has the ability to stretch and maintain tension for a long period of time. Smooth muscles move involuntarily, which means that it can contract without conscious effort. These muscles cannot be controlled by your thoughts.
The third type of muscle is called the Cardiac Muscle, which as the term implies, is found in the heart. Being an involuntary muscle, it contracts by itself without the aid of the brain. Like smooth muscles, cardiac muscles can stretch in a limited way with short and single contractions, but still have the force of a skeletal muscle.
Sore Muscles and Muscle Injuries
Muscles become sore when they haven't been used for a time being and a heavy task to contract them would cause some strain to the fibers, ligaments, and tendons. Or when the muscle is given a task that is quite new such as a first-timer in the gym who had just finished his dumbbell workouts. The used muscle would feel pain, sore and strained due to some microscopic tears in the muscle fibers and tissues. This trauma is a natural reaction of muscles that is why rest is advised to those who workout their muscles in for them to grow bigger, stro nger and firmer.
However, if you are experiencing excruciating pain, stop whatever it is you're doing and have it checked right away. Muscle strain injuries occur more often with eccentric muscle contractions due to the great force produced by such contraction. Tears occur near the muscle-tendon junction and/or the muscle fibers themselves are torn. Violent force and prolonged use can cause tears in the muscles leading to injuries.
Treatment and Medication
Skeletal muscles have the impressive ability to regenerate itself on a daily basis as well as in response to injury. However, some damaged muscles may not become as strong as the way it was before the injury. Healing depends on the severity of the injury.
First aid treatment such as ice therapy can serve as a natural pain relief. Other forms of natural pain relief may entail the use of medicinal herbs, liniments, or therapeutic massage. Continued application of ice to swelling muscle area for three days after the injury helps a lot to decrease inflammation. Make sure ice is not directly applied to the skin. Gradual rehabilitation is needed with the help of stretching exercises until the strength is revived. While there are still no conclusive evidence that specific natural pain relief products are effective, many of these remedies had already been in use for thousands of years.
While undergoing therapy, muscle relaxant medications and anti-inflammatory drugs may help to ease the pain of the injury but it is a given that we must seek medical advice before taking any of these drugs. More often that not, anti-inflammatory drugs are doctor-prescribed and cannot be obtained over-the-counter without the authority of a physician.
Gain Weight Fast & Muscle With High Frequency, Pt.1
Yes, these are big factors to consider when following a workout routine.
However, there's still one factor left out of the equation most of the time....and it's a big one, if not the biggest!
I'm talking about training frequency......the amount of times you train the same muscle group within a specific amount of time (usually per week).
99% of all weight training routines now-a-days recommend that you train a muscle once a week.
That means that if you trained your chest on Monday you don't train it again until next Monday.
The basis for this is that if you train a specific muscle intensely you must give it 5-6 days of complete rest in order for enough time to have gone by to allow that muscle group to repair, recover, and grow from the workout.
Funny, because I used believe this as well.
When you look at bodybuilding history, this whole "train a muscle only once a week" philosophy hasn't been around since day one.
No.
Decades ago, back in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's the majority of bodybuilders trained each muscle way more than just once a week.
They would train each muscle several times per week, with a higher amount of volume and frequency (but we're just going to focus on frequency in this article).
And what's interesting about this is that many feel today that the physiques of those decades are of much higher quality than those of today.
Sure, individuals like Mike Mentzer popularized cutting back drastically on training frequency, but it really wasn't until the mid-80's and 90's that training a muscle only once per week became the norm in bodybuilding circles.
However, since the masses began to cut down training a muscle to just once per week, have we seen major progress in people's muscular development and muscle weight gain???
Absolutely not!
Because we've heard and read it thousands of times over the past 2 decades we all tend to think that training a muscle more than once a week will surely lead to overtraining, especially if you don't use anabolic steroids.
But is this really the case?
Before we get into specifics as to the optimum training frequency to build the most amount of muscle mass at the quickest rate without overtraining or burning out, we need to see if in fact it's true that any more than once every week or once every 5-6 days would lead to the over-taxing of muscle group.
Take a real close look at the medical references cited in articles that recommend to only train a muscle once a week ("infrequently", as the proponents say).
Every time a study is mentioned that supposedly had several groups of individuals training, one training less than the other, whenever they give the results of those groups, it is always tracking who gained more strength.........NOT who gained more weight and muscle size.
There's a huge difference between the two.....gaining strength or building size.
And no, the two don't go hand in hand (more on this in a future article).
Sure, these studies may prove that training "infrequently" may be more efficient for building muscular strength (...and that in itself isn't really true either, as I'll also write about later on), but it doesn't prove that it is more efficient for building size....growth.
The problem with evaluating what most articles / weight training routines recommend is that they are all going off of the pursuit of strength instead of size.
It seems to them that as long as you are gaining strength, then you must be gaining size. Right???
Hah! What a joke. Anyone that has ever worked out for a significant amount of time knows that you can get stronger and stronger every week, yet still look the same in the mirror.
So, first off in our "optimal frequency evalulation" is that we cannot go off of any of these scientific studies, nor can we conclude that just because training a muscle once a week may help you get stronger it will also make you bigger.
Real life experience has proven time and time again that this isn't how it works in the "real world".
Be looking out for part 2 of this article, as we'll go deeper into this very imporant topic for all of us looking to gain muscle weight and build mass.
Getting Enough Sleep is the Perfect Solution for Muscle Fatigue
There are moments in Bettina's life when she doesn't enjoy waking up to welcome the new day. "On a deeper level, my mind and body don't agree. I have to fight with every once of my energy just to get out of bed."
Like most most women, Bettina is a victim of burn-out or fatigue. The most common reason that women struggle to get up in the morning is that they a re not getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep leads to being sluggish or feeling weak along with muscle pain.
If you don't want to experience the same problems encountered by Bettina, it may be good to consider the following tips:
1. Get a good pillow- A pillow plays a big part in making sure you get a good night's sleep. An unsupported pillow can put your spine out line and cause neck and cervical pain. Start investing in a hypoallergenic Insuloft Down Fill Pillow. Splurge on a quality pillow and see the difference.
2. Lower the thermostat -A cooler environment can give you more a restful sleep than a toasty temperature that promote drowsiness. Turn your thermostat to the mid-60's before you turn in.
3. Reset your internal clock -You may want to try getting up very early then the time that you were already accustomed too. If you're struggling to achieved consciousness when the alarm goes on you might be in the toughest time to get going. By moving up your b edtime and by setting your alarm clock back, you might be awakened from a lighter stage of sleep.
4. Do yoga- Before getting to bed. Try some simple yoga. It's the most relaxing way to bring your energy level up.
5. A good warm shower - Hit the showers or take a dip on the bath tub and sprinkle it with a few drops of citrus or eucalyptus oil. Aromatherapy have been proven to be soothing and calming way. Getting a good shower before bedtime will give you more a heavenly restful sleep.
6. Ease up on your caffeine intake- Too much coffee, nicotine, and alcohol can disrupt your sleep. These are stimulants that interfere with your ability to fall asleep.
Getting the sleep you need goes beyond having comfortable blankets and fluffy huggable pillows. An adult should get at least 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep. A blissful sleep helps you repair your body cells, tone up your muscles, and strengthen bones and muscle mass. It improves mood, memory and an overall sense of wellness, A restful sleep can restore and replenish your body. So no matter how demanding your workload is, if you get enough rest, you can surely beat the stress and get a good night's sleep.
Essential Bodybuilding Supplements
Tip 1
There is no doubt that the essential bodybuilding supplement is protein. Your muscles are built from protein, and a regular intake is necessary to ensure that the muscles are properly repaired following your gym work. Protein is a nutrient which the body cannot create for itself, and there are no alternatives that can be used instead. Your muscles will not grow to the size you would like if you are not taking in enough protein.
Tip 2
Another essential bodybuilding supplement is one which you will need only if your life is extremely busy, or if you are traveling. These are Meal Replacements. Meal Replacements are powders which are dissolved into milk or water, and they provide some of the nutrients that you will be missing if you can't eat your regular diet. Essential nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are provided, and quickly absorbed into your body. Nobody would ever go to a posh restaurant to "eat" one of these, but they are extremely useful in maintaining a steady food intake when you are busy.
Tip 3
One essential bodybuilding supplement, at least for many starting out on their bodybuilding journeys, is weight gain powder. As with the Meal Replacements, this is dissolved in liquid. It gives the body a huge boost of carbs and calories which will help the novice bodybuilder put on weight. Often those just beginning bodybuilding find the first few pounds difficult to gain.
Tip 4
Pro biotics. There are those who question that these really are an essential bodybuilding supplement, but the most successful and effective weight lifters use them without hesitation. Pro biotics contain bacteria which help your stomach digest food. More of the nutrients you take in are absorbed by the body, and fewer are wasted.
Essential bodybuilding supplements is an area which can confuse the beginner to bodybuilding, so this guide is designed to start you off properly.