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Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Build Chest Muscles In 4 Simple Steps
Build chest muscles as part of your bodybuilding program, and you will be taking an important step towards both looking and becoming stronger. Chest muscles are such a vital factor for a bodybuilder, in creating the right posture, so here we show you how to build chest muscles for yourself.Step 1
You don't necessarily have to do a lot of incredibly complicated exercises to build chest muscles, they can even be built using press ups. Although their effect will be barely noticeable if you are already involved in more advanced resistance training, press ups can help give your muscles definition. Press ups are good for people who are just starting to think about building their bodies. An inclined press up is even better.
Step 2
One general piece of advice that you would do well to heed is to build chest muscles using free weights rather than a weight machine. It is sad to note that free weights are losing popularity in many gyms to the weight machines, but using free weights is still the best bet for the serious bodybuilder. Your muscles benefit from a more comprehensive workout the weight is lifted through several different angles, and more muscles are exercised in this way, leading to a more even development.
Step 3
Treat your muscle groups separately. The muscles in your chest belong to diverse groups, and if you can work each in turn, you will gain better results than average bodybuilders who ignore this factor. The chest has an upper and lower part. Inclined dumbbell flys and inclined barbell presses are effective ways of developing the upper chest, while the lower part responds well to declined barbell bench presses and dips on the parallel bars. The chest is also divided into an inner and outer section. The inner section can be worked with standing cable crossovers, and the outer section with flat bench press and flat dumbbell flys.
Step 4
Lift right up to your limit. By far the most effective way of maximizing the effect of your training time when you build chest muscles is to lift until you simply cannot lift any more. This can be a problem if you don't take care, and you should ONLY attempt this if you can find someone prepared to spot for you. The other person is then able to grab the bar and stop it doing you any harm, or pinning you down.
Your chest muscles are very noticeable, and one of the first parts of the body that people look at when they know you're bodybuilding. You now know how to build chest muscles for yourself.
Build Big Strong Shoulder Muscles For V Shape Upper Body - Build Big Deltoids
Most people think that in order to get that V shaped upper body like comic book super heroes, they only have to develop big broad back muscles and lats. Well, by having broad back muscles and well developed lats is only part of the equation to get a V shape upper body. For complete V shape upper body development, you will also need to build a powerful chest, big strong shoulder muscles or commonly called deltoids or delts for short and a slim waist.We shall discuss how to build big shoulder muscles in this article. You see, you may have a wonderful six pack abs or well defined chest muscles, but when you are in your street clothes, no one can see them. But if you have that massive V shape with bulging shoulder muscles, your body frame will tell the world that under those clothes is a well defined body of a gym warrior.
As with building any muscles in your body, intensity is the key to building big deltoids. Your shoulder muscles are made up primarily of the anterior deltoid (front delt), medial deltoid (middle delt) and posterior deltoid (back delt). All 3 parts of your shoulder muscles must be targeted to build well defined and big strong deltoids that threaten to burst through your shirt. The problem here is that most people do not know that they must work on all 3 shoulder muscles and do most shoulder workouts by just concentrating on the anterior delts with exercises such as military press. Furthermore, working only on anterior delts could lead to over training your shoulder muscles because many other exercises like the bench press, dips and push ups also recruit shoulder muscles for its movements.
Your should be careful when working on your shoulder muscle exercises as your shoulders joints are very susceptible to injuries and therefore proper form in executing the exercises is crucial. Don't let bad exercise form cause you injuries that may be permanent and put you out of the gym forever. One common injury prone exercise is the narrow grip upright row. Although this is a great trapezius and shoulder muscle exercise, it should be avoided because this exercise invokes unnatural and awkward shoulder joint movement.
So what exercises are good for building big strong deltoids? Well, besides the military presses, try Arnold Press, Lateral Raise, Bent Over Lateral Raises, Shoulder Width Upright Row and Shoulder Cable exercises. Ask your personal trainer or read up on how to perform these exercises in excellent form for great shoulder muscle development.
Remember that you must also develop other aspects such as a big broad chest, wide back muscles and flared lats as well as a slim waistline to get that much coveted V shaped upper body.
Ecommerce - Flex Those Marketing Muscles
John (or Joan) Q. Citizen probably don't think of how certain decisions in the business world affected them. The primary thing most are concerned with is making sure they have enough money to pay the bills.Gas prices rise, but they don't automatically think of the higher grocery prices they would soon be paying. They just knew things were tighter now than they have ever been.
Unions demanded more money, but they didn't automatically think of how that might affect the price of their next car or airline ticket they just hoped the car would last a little longer or a great deal would come along.
However, when you work on a new business startup in a world called ecommerce you begin to take notice of the pebbles tossed in the pond you swim in. Suddenly it is much easier to see the ripples those pebbles create and you brace for the aftermath of the wake because there will be a wake.
If you're going to be in business ecommerce is a wonderful place to launch because o verhead is often much less than a traditional brick and mortar store and you likely have fewer employees than a traditional store counterpart.
You may discover, however, that your marketing plan needs a 'flex' mode. This means the things you sell online may require certain shifts in marketing depending on regional or national economic indicators.
For instance, let's say
1. You sell decorative outdoor lighting fixtures.
2. Your marketing plan has you developing content based on developing pleasing lighting for the home.
3. New housing starts are down and new home purchases are light.
In this scenario there will likely be customers who would be looking for lighting for a home they own and want to improve it for reasons you may have stated in your online content. However, what if you 'flexed' your marketing ideals and re-pitched the product as a way of improving the value of a home an individual may want to sell? This could have a profound impact on yo ur ability to boost sales.
You are selling the exact same product, but you recast the product to conform to a real need - selling houses. This need is expressed behind closed doors and at the local coffee shop. It ultimately is translated to the general business climate. There may come a time when you revise your approach once more, but that's one of the best things about ecommerce, you can recast your sales approach when you need to.
Some of the very dismal things that may be happening in the business world around you may present marketing tools you just haven't used yet.
When it appears the economy may have dealt a blow to your marketing objectives take some time to investigate if there may be new opportunities in a shifted marketing strategy. Sometimes adversity can allow ecommerce to flourish in new soil.
Look for any and every advantage to marketing your product in light of changing circumstances. Change doesn't always have to be a bad thing.
Can Bodybuilding Supplements Perform The Muscle Miracle?
If you Google "bodybuilding supplements" you will see the search returns almost 10.5 million results. It shows how much importance people are giving to get muscle using bodybuilding supplements. The sheer volume of these products is overwhelming. Their popularity is very strong.Do bodybuilding supplements work?
While many know that these products exist, they may not be aware of how these body building muscle supplement products work. Unfortunately, because these products are in such fierce competition with one another they have a tendency to employ a ton of over the top advertisement campaigns so as to stand out in the marketplace. Also a number of these ad campaigns leave the false impression. It is if there is a miracle out there that will maximize one's ability to grow muscle.
The Truth About bodybuilding supplements
First, what must clearly be understood about these supplements is that no body building muscle supplement is a miracle product. There is no product t hat will magically burn fat and enhance muscle growth while eliminating the need for working out. Of course, there are a number of products that make these promises, but these products are less than honest and even less successful in terms of actually delivering what they promise.
Be Realistic
We need to be realistic about what to expect from body building supplements. They are not miracle products that will pack on 50 or 60lbs of muscle nor will they magically burn off 10 or 20lbs of fat. Body building supplements have their values.
These values and benefits are based on realistic nutrition and science and not over the top advertisements. Often, the advertisements and their claims act as substitutes for actual science and this is unfortunate.
Mass gainers and whey protein supplements
Most of the products that advertise as body building supplements fall into two categories. Either mass gainer or whey protein supplements.
What is a mass gainer?
A mass gain er is a drink that provides a massive amount of calories in liquid shake form so as to help someone who is having difficulty gaining weight the ability to gain weight without packing on fat.
Whey protein as a body supplement
Whey protein provides the body with quality protein so as to aid in the repair and growth of muscle after a solid exercise program.
Best bodybuilding tip.
The most important bodybuilding tip to follow is to avoid over training. Over training is working out too many times per work or working out for durations that are excessive. Excessive is anything longer than one hour straight in duration. Also, it is also unwise to work out if you feel sick or are seemingly suffering from an injury so as not to aggravate the injury.
Now, many would say, If you don't work hard, you won't make any gains. Well, this is partially true. One of the most critical of all body building tips, however, is that not only must one work hard one must also work smart!
Conclusion
There is no body building muscle supplement that can provide any miracles. So avoid looking for them. Instead, look for those products that provide an honest and sensible result. Ultimately if you stick with legitimate products you will achieve the results that you desire.
Build Big Muscles Fast. Gain Muscle Mass Guide
So you want to build big muscles? Simple isn't it? Just join a gym and hit those weights regularly and viola, in a couple of months, you will gain so much muscle mass that you are ready to take on any bodybuilding contest. Is it really that simple to build big muscles? Well, to gain muscle mass, there is much more than just hitting the gym regularly. Here are some muscle mass gaining tips :-a) Eat and Eat - To build muscles, you must eat. Your calorie consumption must be more than your calorie expenditure. If you expand all the calories you have eaten, then where are the calories to build muscles?
2) Protein - Make sure that you eat enough protein. You should eat at least one gram of protein per pound of your body weight everyday if you want to gain muscle mass fast. If you don't get enough protein, your muscles won't grow big.
3) Supplement - If you cannot have adequate protein from your normal meals, supplement with protein shakes. If you want more strength so that you can lift heavier weights to grow bigger muscles, take Creatine supplement.
4) Weight Training - You must lift with heavy weights and to add on more weight consistently to progressively build your muscles. But it is very important not to sacrifice correct lifting techniques and form for the sake of lifting heavier.
5) Lift Free Weights - Use free weights like dumbells and barbells to recruit more muscle fibers so that more muscle fibers can be worked on.
6) Compound Exercises - Work with compound exercises like bench presses, squats, barbell rows, chin ups and dead lifts to build big muscle mass. If you concentrate on working your puny muscles like your biceps, then you will only have puny muscle growth.
7) Get Enough Rest - Have rest days in between your workout days and do not work the same muscle group more than twice a week. Your muscles need to recover from your workouts in order to grow big.
8) Get Enough Sleep - Sleep at least 8 hours a day. More even better. Your muscles grow when you sleep.
If you practise the above 8 steps consistently, your muscles will grow fast and big. Of course there are many more things you can do to achieve a competitive bodybuilder's physique of which I cannot cover in just an article here. So do research for more knowledge.
CHAMOMILE: A Reliable Herbal Muscle Relaxant
Herbal medicine is a traditional practice of treating ailments with the use of plants and its extracts. We all know that long before the advent of medical science and technology, people in ancient times would rely on the efficacy of certain plants and its extracts in curing various ailments such as stomach pain, head ache, skin infections as well as in the treatment of wounds. The use of herbs as remedy to treat many types of diseases remains to be popular even in this new millenium where significant advances in medicine have been made alongside increased sophistication in medical technology and pharmacology.Nowadays, herbal medicines are no longer limited to the traditional fresh or dried plants. They come in the form of tablets, capsules, powders or teas. The scent and flavors of these herbs have therapeutic benefits such as the chamomile plant which can be an effective natural muscle relaxant.
Medicinal Chamomile
Chamomile is very popular in Europe and has been widely used as for thousands of years as treatment for a number of ailments, such as sleep disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, digestion problems, intestinal conditions, skin infections or inflammation (including eczema), wound healing, infantile colic, teething pains, and diaper rash.
There are several varieties of the chamomile herbs. Chamomile varieties with medicinal properties include the German Chamomile (Matricaria Recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile)). Both varieties are known to have the same medicinal properties but the German Chamomile has a less bitter taste quality while the Roman Chamomile is known for its sweet and unique scent especially when warmed up by the sun. A special blue oil component, called azulenes, is responsible for its sweet, distinctive aroma. Other active compositions include bisabol, flavonoids, apiginine, luteoline, chamazulene, matricine and flavonoids. But regardless of variety or type, the chamomile's main characteristic is its sedative properties or effects.
Sedative Properties
Though there are a number of over-the-counter muscle relaxants and sleeping pills that are readily available, some people still prefer the soothing and relaxing effects that a chamomile treatment brings.
In the United States, chamomile is popularly known as an ingredient in herbal tea preparations usually advertised for its mild sedating effects. The sedative properties of chamomile are used in sleep disorders and as a muscle relaxant in the treatment of such illnesses as menstrual pain, neuralgia, tooth ache and tension headaches. Taking Chamomile Tea before going to bed has long been used to induce sleep in children as well as in adults and promotes a very deep, relaxed, and restful sleep. Aside from aiding in the treatment of insomia, the flower essence of Chamomile is known to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, and depression among others.
Aside from its sedative properties, chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that is useful in reducing the inflammation caused by gout and arthritis when taken internally. Moreover, it can also have external application such as adding chamomile essence in your bath to relieve hemorrhoid problems; as a chamomile wash for inflamed eyes; or as an anti-inflammatory agent for inflamed gums, inflamed skin conditions, and sore throat.
The third effect of chamomile is its carminative properties which brings about a calming action on the stomach and eases digestive problems, minimizing heartburn cases, reducing hyper acidity conditions and inhibits the formation of ulcers.
Aside from being used as a healing remedy for hysteria and other nervous afflictions, Chamomile has been known for other benefits such as reviving a withered plant in a vase or when planted in a garden, it can heal the ailing plants and prevent disease in other plants that is why it is aptly called a "plant's physician."
However, although chamomile has a reputation as a gentle medicinal plant and has been widely use especially in Europe, there is not enough reliable research in humans and there are many reports of allergic reactions in people after eating or coming into contact with chamomile preparations. It is best to still seek medical to avoid possible drug interaction which may lead to life-threatening situations.
Don't flex that muscles too much!
Muscle injuries occur when we overuse or strain our bodies. Anyone who had experienced muscle problems will tell you that they are extremely painful and can be disruptive to everything you do. There are numerous types of muscle injuries since our bodies are mostly composed of hundreds of them. Usually, athletes are the most prone to muscle injuries because of their rigid training, heavy work outs and other activities that needs maximum physical strength. Muscle injuries must be looked up to immediately so as not to re-injure the area of the severed muscle over and over. The more you use the injured muscles, the more that you will harm yourself and it will prolong the healing time and ultimately you risk permanent damage.The most difficult part of dealing with muscle injuries is to assess the severity of the injury. And with such circumstances, physicians may prescribed muscle relaxants.
Muscle relaxants are drugs to relieve the discomfort of muscle injury or involuntary muscle contractions. They reduce stiffness and help relieve pain and soreness associated with strains, sprains or other types of muscle injury. These drugs do not act directly on the muscles, but they act centrally in the brain and are more of a total body relaxant.
Muscle relaxants are not really a class of drugs, but rather a group of different drugs that each has an overall sedative effect on the body. They come in tablet form and it needs prescription from the doctor.
The most common muscle relaxers currently available in the market are Carisoprodol (Soma), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and Metaxalone (Skelaxin),
Soma is a muscle relaxant used to relieve the pain and stiffness of muscle spasms and discomfort due to strain. Carisoprodol works by blocking pain sensations that are sent to the brain.
Flexeril is another muscle relaxer used to treat muscle spasms and musculoskelatal pain. Cyclobenzaprine is also a drug treatment option for fibromyalgia symptoms.
Another popular muscle relaxant is Skelaxin (metaxalone) but it should be combined with rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomforts associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.
These muscle relaxants that were mentioned above are effective in relieving pain but just like any other drugs, side effects might also occur. Some muscle relaxants might cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, constipation or blurred vision. Medical experts advised that it should not be taken by patients with urinary retention or glaucoma. It is also important to avoid alcohol when taking these drugs. As it may also cause blurred vision, patients that are under these medications are refrain from driving a vehicle or from operating a machine. More precautions are needed if you are pregnant or breast feeding, your baby might experience drowsiness and upset stomach. If you feel that you are having reactions with these medications, it is always imperative to see your physician.
Almost all of us use muscles in our everyday existence, but let us not overdo things that will cause us pain or injury. If you are into a health program, ask the experts what is right for you. If you are an athlete or go to the gym regularly. it is necessary to do warms ups or stretching first before flexing those muscles. Muscle relaxants might be an easy access if you suffer from a muscle injury, but too much dependency on these pain relievers can be addictive. You might want to go back to your active self once you have taken these kinds of pain relievers, but try to stop, relax a bit as you might severe the injury and you might not able to flex those muscles again.
Dianabol - A Potent Muscle Growth Hormone
Dianabol or methandrostenolone is basically a muscle growth hormone. It is an anabolic steroid that was originally developed by John Ziegler and launched in the United States by Ciba in 1958. In fact Dianabol was the second anabolic steroid after testosterone which was ever produced. It is one of the most popular anabolic steroids.The chemical formula of Dianabol is C20H28O2. It has a 17a-methyl group added with it, which helps it to pass through the liver and slow down the rate of conversion to estrogen. Thus Dianabol is one of the favorites of bodybuilders. The drug is often used by bodybuilders to make their bodies grow like anything.
Methandrostenolone is actually more active as compared to testosterone in rapid growth of muscle tissue. It also has the effect of decreasing the steroid's affinity for sex hormone binding globulin. The aromatization of methandrostenolone helps in significant water retention which further helps in gaining great muscle mass and stren gth. This is the reason why Dianabol is used by bodybuilders only at the start of their steroid cycle. It is the best drug for people who compete in non-aerobic oriented sports. Dianabol helps to promote protein synthesis, enhance glycogenolysis and stimulate strength in a very fast-acting way.
Dianabol is usually prescribed for men, but women can also take it. However, the drug is not recommended to be used with doctors' prescription, as it has a number of severe side effects. In women, Dianabol shows several severe masculinising effects. It can also cause considerable strain on the liver, increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and gyneocomastia, which mostly happens with athletes. It can also cause serious acne on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, and back. Hair loss is also a common side effect. One more side effect of this drug is that, loss of strength occurs when it is discontinued. Headache can be noticed in some cases. The dose of Dianabol is 15-50mg/daily o rally or 50-150mg/ weekly by injection.
It is rather important to note that the use of Dianabol has been currently prohibited and banned in the United Sates. However, it is still available in countries like Mexico and Thailand. Dianabol is manufactured under the name Reforvit-b.
Dianabol - Musclebuilders' First Choice
Dianabol, also known as 'Methandrostenolonea,' is a testosterone derivative compound with lots of anabolic as well as androgenic properties. Dianabol is one of the oldest and the celebrated anabolic steroids. Dianabol is a strong anabolic steroid that was developed by Dr. John Ziegler with the help of Ciba pharmaceutical company. The Soviet team, taking testosterone shots, gave overwhelmingly sweeping performance in the 1954 World Weightlifting Championship, and that made Dr. Ziegler research and create a substance to boost up the performance of the US team. Dianabol was the result of Dr. Ziegler research and effort.
The main ingredients of Dianabol include Hydroxy Propylmethylcellulose, Dextrose, Triacetin, Starch, FD&C Yellow #10, Stearic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, and Titanium Dioxide.
Dianabol has the potency to provide notable increase in muscle size with lowest fluid retention. Dianabol is free from c-17th carbon configuration, which means it is safe, and the hepatoxicity occurrence is rare. The ingredients of Dianabol act as constructive-metabolic factors, thus intensifying protein synthesis and nitrogen preservation in the body. These elements have adaptogenic property that let body to become accustomed to augmented workloads and combat fatigue. Dianabol is the most advantageous drug as it provides more effective results than other steroid classes.
Dianabol is one of the most popular anabolic steroids. It is widely used by bodybuilders, weightlifters, football players, and Olympic athletes. Arnold Schwarzenegger is believed to have won his first of seven Mr. Olympia titles with the help of Dr. Zeigler's little blue Dianabol pills. Dianabol is still one of the most coveted steroids for bodybuilders and weightlifters.
Studies conducted on Dianabol reveal that Dianabol users have great benefits after taking two capsules daily. At the same time, those who take higher quantities of Dianabol say, four to eight capsules each day, have reported significant muscle mass and strength benefits.
The majority of jocks make use of Dianabol to reap muscle mass benefits, raise protein synthesis process and increase glycogenolysis. A normal dosage of 4-5 tablets each day is sufficient to see impressive results, but the higher quantities of Dianabol may cause serious side effects.
Some of the side effects of Dianabol include acne, gynecomastia, liver infections, increased body weight, excess fluid retention, high blood pressure, faster heart beat and early hair loss. It is often used by men, but in case of women it results into strong masculinization features and affects the body.
Can You Build Muscle And Lose Body Fat At The Same Time?
One question I am continually asked is, "Is it possible to lose body fat and gain muscle at the same time?" My answer is an emphatic YES!First of all, to build muscle, you must constantly overload the muscles in the gym. Heavy training is of utmost importance. Even when you are on a calorie-deprived diet to lose body fat, you must be mentally tough and continue to train heavily to preserve-and even build-muscle mass. And, as I've discussed several times already, back up heavy training by eating high-quality protein on a consistent basis.
To lose body fat and still gain muscle, you must really watch your diet closely. Keep your daily caloric intake below your maintenance level. When you reduce your calories, be sure to keep your diet high in quality protein. Most of your calories should come from your carbohydrate consumption. Of course, watch your fat intake.
Here is how I suggest you manipulate your carbohydrate consumption: For a couple of days, eat only vegeta bles for carbohydrates then go back to grains like rice, potatoes, and pasta for a couple of days. Rotate in this manner and see how quickly you start melting the fat. Because carbohydrates give you energy, this may become difficult at times. Nevertheless, it is a very effective strategy.
Creating An Anabolic State That Supports Muscle Growth
You can only build muscle if your body is in the correct anabolic balance to allow growth to take place. Intensive exercise is clearly an important part of the muscle building process but achieving the maximum muscle mass depends on putting the building blocks in place. This is achieved through sound nutritional practices so you need to be aware of the following anabolic enhancing principles:1. Protein is the basic raw material needed to build muscle. Protein supplies the amino acids that the body uses to repair and build muscle following intensive exercise. Aim to consume 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day from food like beef, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and whey. Spread the load over at least six meals to derive the optimum benefit and avoid overloading the liver.
2. Carbohydrates are needed to energize the muscle building process. Carbohydrates stimulate the release of insulin which pushes the amino acids into muscle cells to begin the process of re pair. The body uses carbohydrates as a source of energy - consume too little and the body will steal protein that would otherwise be used for repairing and building muscle. Aim to consume 1.5 to 2 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight each day from foods like potatoes, pasta, rice, vegetables and whole wheat bread.
3. Boost your calories. Unless your main aim is to reduce fat you need a positive caloric balance if you want to build muscle. Make sure that your daily calorie intake is 10% higher than your energy expenditure for daily maintenance and that the calories are acquired from a diet characterized by a ratio of 50% carbohydrates, 40% proteins and 10% fat.
4. Get plenty of rest both in terms of adequate rest days between training sessions and sufficient sleep. Your muscles won't grow if you don't build adequate recovery time into your training program. Similarly, you can only optimize your body's levels of testosterone and growth hormone if you spend enough tim e sleeping.
5. Consume quality supplements to support a sound nutritious diet. For most people it should be enough to add whey protein, creatine and l-glutamine to your daily diet.
6. Don't overdo the aerobic exercise. Your aim is to increase muscle mass therefore you don't want to burn excessive calories that could be utilized for bulking up.
7. Drink plenty of water. Failure to drink sufficient quantities of water will lead to dehydration and adversely affect your muscle mass. Don't forget that muscle is 70% water so a generous intake will maintain muscle volume and help growth.
Choosing The Right Bodybuilding Supplement
Before wasting your money on a pile of bodybuilding supplements you really need to work out what you are hoping to achieve. Don't lose sight of the fact that sound nutrition forms the basis of any muscle building program and no amount of supplementation with the latest and greatest products will make up for bad eating habits. The bottom line is, bodybuilding supplements should be used IN ADDITION to regular food, not INSTEAD OF it.Now that we've got that out of the way, let's go on to think about what supplements could be of use and this is something that can only be determined by your physical and performance goals. Don't make the mistake of copying your training partners or believing all the garbage spouted in magazine ads. Decide first what you want to achieve and then choose the supplements that will help you reach your goals.
To help you make an informed choice, the most popular and useful bodybuilding supplements available today are listed below, broadly divided into t wo goal-related categories.
Determined to build muscle? This cannot be achieved without dedication, sheer hard work and sound nutrition. With a solid foundation in place you can help the process along with supplements like creatine, whey protein, prohormones, testosterone boosters and amino acids.
Need to lose fat? There is no point in building awesome muscles if they're covered by layers of fat. Once again, the key to success is hard work but you can boost fat loss by using products from supplement categories that include fat burners, stimulant-free products, appetite suppressants and carb blockers.
Many more supplements are available to support your bodybuilding endeavors. These include energy boosters and products aimed at enhancing the condition of your mind and body. As we progress through this series of articles we'll look at each of these in turn.
Doctors advise therapeutic "stops" for muscles in motion
Due to the increasing demand from athletes, "weekend warriors," and the like, there is a rather sizable market for muscle relaxant medication. These medications are designed to help people deal with problems like muscle spasms, chronic pains, and excessive muscle strain. In other situations, the drug is used to keep limbs as still as possible for medical or therapeutic sessions that that require pinpoint precision.Diazepam, in particular, has found use in the military as a powerful muscle relaxant medication. The drug is primarily used by snipers. Since there are situations when the sniper would be unable to use the base tripod to keep the rifle as steady as possible, diazepam is often recommended to allow the shooter to keep still. The result is that the rifle is stable and the shot's chances of hitting the target are fairly equivalent to when a tripod is used. With the use of the drug, movement of the limbs have been kept to a minimum, allowing the sniper to improve target ac quisition and accuracy. However, there have been reports of substance abuse in the field. This is the likely reason why most armed forces, specifically those units with sniper teams, have begun to seek alternative muscle relaxant medication.
Another common muscle relaxant medication is carisoprodol. Unlike diazepam, which is typically taken in capsule form, carisoprodol is administered in the form of a powder. This particular muscle relaxant is more of a skeletal muscle relaxant, which means it targets specific muscle areas attached to the skeletal system. This is a significant difference as compared to diazepam, which is a drug designed to target and work on the entire body through chemical interactions within the central nervous system. Carisoprodol is typically dissolved in liquids, particularly water or alcohol, before being administered. One similarity that carisoprodol has with diazepam is that both can occasionally be prescribed for patients that are undergoing withdrawa l from alcohol. It is, however, not prescribed for use by persons being treated for drug abuse since the medication can also be addictive or habit-forming.
Methocarmabol is also another common muscle relaxant medication, with chemical similarities to certain antihistamines. This particular drug, while lacking the addictive potential of the above medications, is also far less potent and, in some cases, the effects last for shorter periods. However, this is understandable, as methocarmabol was specifically designed to treat spasms and aches. This particular muscle relaxant medication was not made with the same potency as diazepam simply because it was not meant to treat symptoms of the same severity as the aforementioned drug.
Recently, research has been conducted on the possible use of gabapentin as a muscle relaxant medication. Currently, how exactly the compound works in treating epileptic seizures is unknown. It is theorized that the drug affects the central nervous system by blocking neuro-transmitters in the body. Gabapentin is primarily used as a drug for psychological treatment, and less common as a muscle relaxing agent.
There are other more potent medications in the market. These drugs are reserved and prescribed for more serious conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. The said conditions require the use of powerful, non-anesthetic muscle relaxants such as orphenadrine.
Can Growth Hormone Boosters Enhance Muscle Growth?
Many experts feel that supplementation with growth hormones offers exciting possibilities to adult bodybuilders, especially those aged over thirty. They should not be taken by anyone aged under twenty. In the past growth hormone was available only in injectable form but recent years have seen the development of HGH precursors and more advanced delivery systems. The most popular means of taking growth hormone boosters today include sub-lingual spray, homeopathic pills and capsules containing HGH secretagogues.That's all very well, but do these supplements have any place in bodybuilding? To answer this, we'll need to look first at what growth hormones actually do.
Human Growth Hormone is responsible for the regulation of insulin, protein synthesis, transportation of amino acids across cell membranes and fat metabolism. Clearly, these are processes that are of relevance to serious bodybuilders. Users have reported higher energy levels, enhanced libido and greater cardiac output. In addition, superior immune function, lowering of blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels have been documented. Add in other potential benefits like improved sleep, shorter recovery times, quicker regeneration of damaged muscles and you can begin to understand why some experts are excited by the possibilities offered to bodybuilders.
No adverse side effects have been reported when used as directed but persons aged under twenty should not use growth hormone boosters without consulting a health care professional familiar with HGH therapy.
The Myth Of Gaining Muscle Without Fat!
Many of you have expressed concerns about gaining too much body fat while on such a high calorie diet, and wonder if you should do some aerobic exercise to offset the weight gain.Absolutely not.
That will be detrimental to gaining muscle. For best results, you either have to train and diet to gain muscle or lose fat. One or the other. If you are a true hardgainer, you cannot do both. If you try, you will not make any substantial progress either way. So, now is the time to gain weight. You will worry about losing fat later.
The fact is that there are no magic pills, powders, foods or exercises that will allow you to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time.
It all is determined by your genetics and metabolism. Some people can do it, some can't. If you are naturally thin and have a difficult time gaining weight of any kind, it would be silly of you to think that you will be able to gain muscle while trying to keep your body fat low.
Most skinny guys want t o gain more muscle, but are afraid of gaining body fat. They see all the bodybuilder photos and read the stories about people gaining pounds of muscle while losing pounds of fat -- They want to do the same. When looking at these photos, you have to remember that most of these people do not have your body type. The majority of them are overweight and want to lose fat, not gain muscle.
'Well', you say, 'What about those people who transformed their bodies? They lost fat and gained muscle'. Yes, but almost all of these people were overweight, or had high levels of body fat. In other words, their metabolisms were, for the most part, slow. They simply dieted and trained for fat loss.
Weight training helped them to tone up and slightly increase their muscle mass by replacing some of the fat with muscle. However, you will never increase your body mass far above your original starting weight on that type of diet.
In other words, even though you gain some muscle, you will actually weight less!
For example, Big Joe weighs 189lbs with 18% body fat. This works out to be 34lbs of fat and 155lbs of muscle. He then goes on a fat loss diet and slowly diets down to a ripped 5% body fat at 168lbs, which is 8.4lbs of fat and 160lbs of muscle. He lost 26lbs of fat, and his weight only went down by 21lbs. So, looking that this we realize that he managed to also gain 5lbs of muscle. You can see that he has more muscle mass than when he started, and he looks totally ripped, but his weight decreased because his main goal was fat loss. He looks much better, and his measurements changed, but he only increased his total weight by five pounds.
If you are very thin, you cannot do this. Yes, your body fat will decrease, and this will also give you more muscle mass, but it will not increase your weight. You will just get much thinner. Big Joe was 'big' to begin with; we are not. To get the same results as Big Joe, you must first gain the weight, and then concentrate on losing the body fat later. Joe had the size; he just needed to trim down. We do not have the size to work with, so we have to force our bodies to grow beyond our body's comfort range. This is the hard part.
This is why if you want to grow beyond your current size, you have to diet for it specifically.
Remember, most of you have extremely fast metabolisms. Gaining weight will be extremely difficult.
The only way you will get bigger is to shock your body.
You must shock your body by:
1. Training with heavy weights, and
2. Eating a lot of calories.
The first shock is with weight training. You must focus on compound free- weight exercises, and lift heavy weights, which will stimulate the largest amount of muscle fibers. Your body responds to this stimulus by increasing your muscle mass.
The second way we must shock our body is by eating more calories than your body is used to. This is the most important factor in gaining mass. When you overload your system with plenty of protein and fats, your body has no other choice but to gain weight.
Why My Muscles Won't Grow? Cortisol Stress Hormone Destroy Muscle Tissues
There are many reasons why your muscles won't grow or why your muscle growth is retarded. One main culprit for your muscle tissue to in a catabolic and not in an anabolic state is the stress hormone called cortisol. This stress hormone, cortisol, is produced by your body when you are under stressful situations. Yes, any type of stress, whether they are mental stress, physical stress or just emotional stress will trigger off an increased in the production of cortisol hormones. A high level of cortisol is always a bane for bodybuilders and that in itself, is creating more stress.
When you exercise or especially weightlifting body building exercises, you are placing a tremendous stress on your body. This in turn will cause the cortisol hormone in your body to rise to unacceptable level which may destroy your muscle tissues, bone density and causes weight gain especially abdominal fat. Ohhh...that abdominal fat that would not go away.
This hormone hates your muscles and want s you to grow fat. It takes away protein from the muscles. However to be fair to this hormone, the cortisol hormone has its positive functions.
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex and is commonly known as a stress hormone because the level of cortisol in your body rises sharply when you are under stress. This hormone plays an important role in your body's metabolic function, it facilitates cardiovascular function, carbohydrate metabolism and controls inflammation. After all, it is a steroid hormone.
As more cortisol is being produced, your muscle tissue breaks down further since the amino acids from your muscle protein is being converted into glucose for energy. This hormone also blocks new muscle tissues from growing because it interferes in protein synthesis in your muscles.
How to lower cortisol level?
- Get enough sleep - Let your body recuperate from the day's stress and let the body rebuild its wears and tears. A lack of sleep will put your body under f urther stress and thus increasing cortisol levels.
- Avoid stress - Take up yoga, read a book, take a break from whatever you are doing. Learn meditation and breathing techniques to reduce everyday stress. Take a week or so break from your exercise routine after 6-8 weeks of regular training. As your body learns how to relax, the level of cortisol hormone will fall correspondingly.
- Do not over train - Over training is a common issue amongst athletes of all types. This is especially so in bodybuilding and weight lifting. You are already damaging your muscles when you lift weights, don't let cortisol hormones rob your muscles of the much needed proteins and preventing muscle repair and growth.
Once your body and mind is free from stress, your cortisol production will be at a healthy level and you will once again see your muscles growing, provided that you are doing other things that are conducive to getting your muscles to grow.
The Importance Of Sets In Your Muscle Building Program
In an earlier article we looked at how repetitions contribute to the muscle building process, but is the position regarding sets just as clear cut? Unfortunately, the answer to this is no as some experts feel one set to failure is sufficient, whereas others argue that multiple sets are needed to ensure maximum muscle gains.Research to date suggests that, when using six to eight repetitions to failure at 75-80% 1RM, there is little significant difference between training with single and multiple sets in terms of increasing either strength or muscle size. Any small differences that have been recorded indicate that a single set completed to failure encourages strength gains but subsequent sets have a slightly greater impact on muscle size. What is clear is that the law of diminishing returns applies, so you have to question if the marginal improvements in size justify the extra time and effort expended.
Like everything else in life, bodybuilding does not remain static and sever al cutting edge experts have redefined the boundaries of achievement. Increasingly, serious athletes are using methods that extend the set beyond the point of failure. This involves forcing the muscle to perform more work despite having experienced failure in the previous rep. In practice, you perform one last forced repetition with the help of a training partner.
This obviously calls for great commitment and high motivation but the rewards include better mass gains thanks to the greater muscular overload. Such intensive training places additional importance on the need to lift with sound technique and to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your muscle building program.
Why You Should NOT Try to Isolate Muscle Groups When Weight Training
Working as a fitness professional, there is one type of question I get all the time that shows that many people are missing the big picture regarding the benefits of strength training. This popular question usually goes something like this:"What exercise can I do to isolate my _______ (insert your muscle of choice - abs, quads, biceps, triceps, etc)?"
It doesn't matter which muscle someone is asking about, they always seem to be asking how to 'isolate' it. My first response to this question is always - Why in the world would you want to isolate it?
The first thing I try to teach my clients is that the body does not work well in muscle isolation. Rather, it works better in movements along a kinetic chain; that is, large portions of the body assist other portions of the body in completing a complex movement. In fact, there really is no such thing as true muscle isolation. There is almost always a nearby muscle group that will assist in some way with whatever movem! ent you are doing. However, this article compares attempting to 'isolate' body parts via single-joint exercises to the much more effective strategy of performing multi-joint complex movements.
When you attempt to 'isolate' muscles by performing single-joint exercises, you are actually creating a body that is non-functional and will be more prone to injury. Essentially, you are creating a body that is a compilation of body parts, instead of a powerful, functional unit that works together.
Now if you really want to end up hobbling around in a body bandaged up with joint problems, tendonitis, and excess body fat, then by all means, continue trying to 'isolate' body parts. On the other hand, if you would rather have a lean, muscular, injury-free, functional body that works as a complete powerful unit to perform complex movements (in athletics or even everyday tasks), then you need to shift your focus away from muscle isolation. Believe me, focusing on how well your body! functions will give you the side effect of a body that looks ! even better than it would have if you focused on muscle isolation. For example, take a look at the physiques of any NFL running backs, wide receivers, or even world class sprinters. Trust me when I say that these guys pretty much NEVER train for muscle isolation (their strength coaches wouldn't be crazy enough to let them), yet they are absolutely ripped to shreds! Just look at guys like Maurice Green or Terrell Owens and tell me who wouldn't want a physique like those guys.
Another benefit to moving away from the 'muscle isolation' mindset to a more 'complex movement' mindset is that you will find it much easier to lose body fat. The reason is that by focusing more on multi-joint complex movements as opposed to single-joint muscle isolation, you not only burn a lot more calories during each workout, but you also increase your metabolic rate, and stimulate production of more fat burning and muscle building hormones like growth hormone and testosterone.
Let's look at! an example. The machine leg extension is a single joint exercise that works mainly the quadriceps, can potentially cause knee joint instability in the long run, and doesn't even burn that many calories. On the other hand, exercises like squats, lunges, step-ups, and deadlifts are all multi-joint complex movements that work hundreds of muscles in the body (including the quadriceps) as a functional unit, create more stable and strong joints in the long run (when done properly), and also burn massive quantities of calories compared to the single-joint exercises.
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