≡ Menu

Forget Dangerous and Illegal Methods- Boost Your Testosterone and Growth Hormone Naturally!

Growth hormone supplements and synthetic formulas are all the craze in diets and weight loss these days. The problem is, there is very little known about the legal formulas, and most of the ones we know to be effective are illegal and come with crazy side effects- think Bob from Fight Club and his story of ‘man boobs’ from anabolic steroid use. There is no reason to fret over your decision to not use dangerous substances because you can actually boost your growth hormone and testosterone levels naturally.
—-
Naturally Boost Your Growth Hormone And Testosterone Levels

15 tips to help maximize production of growth hormone and testosterone. Includes information on testosterone and growth hormone supplementation.

Growth hormone and testosterone are the two most important hormones in relation to muscle building. One of the most important distinguishing characters between the two is that growth hormone actually causes the body to build new muscle cells, while testosterone does not.

There is no question that testosterone is the king of muscle building, however it lacks that one important characteristic. That is why boosting both growth hormone and testosterone levels together have such a powerful effect on muscle building.

The most effective way to do this is with anabolic steroids and synthetic growth hormone. There are a few problems with this approach though:

1. Both are illegal without a doctors prescription.
2. Synthetic growth hormone can increase the size of bones and organs and increase hair growth.
3. Testosterone has many possible side effects from gynaecomastia to many more serious ones.

Many people will tell you that anabolic steroids and HGH are safe if you use them correctly and this may be true for some people, but everybody reacts differently to drugs and you may not have the same experience as someone else who uses these drugs. The other thing to keep in mind is that the long term data on steroid and HGH usage is limited and nobody knows the possible long term damage they could cause to a healthy person.

I’m not going too deep into all of the pros and cons of steroids here because I’m not promoting their use, simply because there are safer routes, that can get you really impressive results if your somebody who is dedicated to your diet, training and supplement routine. Besides, unless your competing in Mr. Olympia, there’s no point for most people.

By taking synthetic drugs the body will actually shut down its own production of these chemicals to regain homeostasis. For this reason anabolic steroid users have to finish their cycles with post cycle therapy (PCT) to stimulate the body to produce its own hormones again.

Many of the supplements used in PCT are, themselves, very effective natural testosterone boosters. They work with the body, rather than causing the body to shut down hormone production. In many ways they could be considered the exact opposite of steroids. They are safe and effective and, for the most part, side effect free.
There are supplements that naturally boost growth hormone and ones that naturally boost testosterone. First let’s look at the growth hormone boosters:

Growth Hormone Boosting Supplements

GABA

GABA – An amino acid that stands for Gamma-Aminobutryic Acid. GABA is a very unique amino acid in that it actually acts as a neurotransmitter, rather than aiding in protein synthesis, like many other amino acids. When people say “amino acid” they are normally referring to alpha amino acids however GABA is not an alpha amino.
Some pre-workout supplements, such as While Flood by Controlled Labs, are beginning to include GABA in the mix. Of course you can also buy GABA in the powdered or pill form which is a good option because you can take larger doses that way. Of all of the natural growth hormone boosters, GABA is probably the most highly regarded.

Amino Acids

Other amino acids that have a “growth hormone boosting” effect include Ornithine, Lysine, Glutamine BCAA’s, Taurine and Arginine. Taking these amino acids together in sufficient amounts can produce noticeable results.
There are supplements like Fountain of Youth’s HGH Complete that include all of these amino acids along with other HGH and testosterone boosting ingredients. Amino acids are the basis for all supplements that aim to naturally increase HGH levels.

Testosterone Boosting Supplements

Supplements that naturally boost testosterone usually include natural herbal extracts. However, one of the most popular natural testosterone boosters available today is not an herb at all, it is a combination of vitamins and minerals. Many of the most potent natural testosterone boosters on the market today include a combination of all of these ingredients. Lets take a look at them:

ZMA

ZMA – zinc magnesium aspartate is a combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 in some cases. This relatively new development in bodybuilding supplements is really nothing new. We have known the benefits of zinc and magnesium for hundreds of years, but it was only recently discovered that the two together, in a high enough, dose could a substantially raise testosterone levels.

Not only is zinc necessary for testosterone production, but it is a powerful antioxidant that speeds up healing time. Magnesium is necessary for muscle function and over 300 reactions in the body. What’s more is that many Americans are deficient in their dietary magnesium intake.

Many users of ZMA report deeper and more restful sleep (which in itself is important in testosterone and HGH production). ZMA was first sold as a supplement on its own, but now most supplement companies that make testosterone boosters include it as one of several ingredients, which verifies its effectiveness.

Other Notables

Other popular testosterone boosting ingredients include, but are not limited to, yohimbe bark, fenugreek, tribulus, saw palmetto and D-aspartic acid (D-isomer amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter). All of these ingredients, besides D-aspartic acid, are natural plant extracts. Some may have more of an effect of increasing sex drive for some people.

Overall, most people will see results with at least one, or a combination of, these ingredients. Supplements like TestFreak, from PharmaFreak, boast an impressive list of ingredients that include both testosterone and HGH boosters.
It is actually very common for HGH boosting supplements to include testosterone boosters and vice versa. That is because supplement companies understand the benefit of increasing both of these hormones simultaneously and undoubtedly want to make their supplements as effective as possible, so that people will continue to use them.
Top 3 Ways to Boost Testosterone and Growth Hormone

While supplements can be very useful in increasing HGH and testosterone levels, the most important factors have to do with your diet, exercise and rest. It is rare for HGH and testosterone to increase or decease independently of one another, because many of the same the eating habits, exercises and sleep patterns effect the production of both of these hormones in the same ways.

First, I’m going to list, what I believe are, the top 3 ways to increase these hormones, then I will move on to other helpful pointers:

1. Powerlifting – Doing squats and deadlifts with heavy weight at low repetition is probably the single most important tool for increasing HGH and testosterone. You only need to perform these exercises once or twice a week, as the body needs sufficient time to recover from powerlifting.
2. Rest – If you’re not sleeping enough (7-8 hours) you’re robbing your body of the chance to produce these hormones. About 70% of the body’s growth hormone is produced during deep sleep.
3. Diet – Without the proper fuel your body can’t produce enough of these hormones so weightlifting and rest won’t be of much help to you without a sufficient calorie and protein intake. A high quality whey protein powder is a must!
As you can see, all three of these factors are interdependent, meaning they must all be “on point” or you really won’t see much benefit from any of them. Here are some other great tips:
12 More Tips to Boost Testosterone and Growth Hormone
1. A high carbohydrate diet will cause the body to produce more insulin which can counteract GH, so focus on a low sugar, low Glycemic Index carbohydrate, high protein diet, especially before bed.
2. Eat a small meal about 1-2 hours before workouts and again immediately after your workouts.
3. Supplement amino acids (glutamine, BCAAs, arginine) before, during and after workouts ( I love using Jack3d before and X-tend before, during and after).
4. Do high repetition training with shorts breaks.
5. Do maximum intensity training, such as sprints (the very best fat burning exercise there is).
6. Avoid alcohol.
7. Get your body-fat % down because it causes the body to produce more estrogen (sprints plus OxyElite Pro plus CLA plus low carb diet equals my cutting routine).
8. Take short 30 minute naps during the day.
9. Have sex.
10. Don’t over-train (seriously, it’s more important than you might think).
11. Eat a healthy diet high in vegetables and unsaturated fats and take your multivitamin.
12. Don’t forget your supplements!

Take it from me (someone who has consistently followed every one of those tips), a combination of the right diet, training and supplements can stimulate your body to produce far more growth hormone and testosterone than it normally would.

For males ages 18-25, you’re hormone levels are already through the roof, so this is a great time to take advantage of training and nutrition. For men over 30 the supplements I mentioned will produce even more noticeable results than in younger men because both GH and testosterone levels begin to drop with age.

For women trying to build muscle natural growth hormone boosters are a usually a better choice than testosterone boosters (as high testosterone (the male hormone) levels in women can promote more masculine features in some cases). For men and women who are 50+ years of age natural growth hormone booster are a great, safe way to reverse the aging process. They can promote energy, vitality, improved vision, improved muscle tone and many other benefits.

Use the tips and information in this article and most importantly, be consistent with whatever you do! Consistency is the most important action when trying to achieve great results. That’s a little tip straight from 4 time Mr Olympia – Jay Cutler.

Source

Growth hormones and testosterone levels are a very important part of building muscle and strength. However, you should never try to boost your levels using synthetic formulas- or drugs. Doing so will result in horrible, adverse side effects- and oh yeah, steroids and HGH are booth extremely illegal. Using dangerous and illegal shortcuts certainly has its appeal, but you will be much healthier and happier if you raise your level of testosterone and growth hormones naturally.

Supplements are very popular amongst body builders, so next time you are out on your run to GNC look for GABA, or Gamma-Aminobutryic Acid, and amino acids to promote boosting of growth hormones. Try ZMA, or zinc magnesism aspartate and supplements with the following ingredients to boost testosterone levels: yohimbe bark, fenugreek, tribulus, saw palmetto, and D-aspartic acid. Most of these are made from natural plants and even increase your sex drive- what a bonus!

If supplements aren’t your thing, there’s other ways to get your body to bump up your growth hormone and testosterone levels. Doing squats and deadlifts with heavy weights at low repetitions increases HGH and testosterone- so try adding powerlifting to your training. Rest is another important factor- your body produces 70% of your hormones will you’re sleeping. Finally, getting the right nutrition will naturally increase your growth hormones and testosterone levels- make sure you’re getting the proper caloric intake and protein levels in your diet.

Are you looking for a way to spike your growth hormones and testosterone naturally? Tell you what methods you are using.

{ 0 comments }

Eat right for the most strength!

Building strength is not just all about lifting weights. Just like when you want to lose weight, building muscle is a combination of exercise and diet. To optimize your results, you must eat the right foods, and the right amounts of foods to build up strength.
—-
Eat for Strength

Give your body the fuel it needs when it comes time to max out

By C.J. Murphy, C.S.N.

Dear M&F,

I’ve been training hard, and I want to go for new personal records on the bench press, squat, and deadlift over the course of a week. How should I eat to give myself the best chance of beating my old numbers? —Mike S., Long Branch, NJ
I’ve been writing lifters’ diets for years, but to make sure you get the best information possible, I consulted some of the strongest men in the world to answer this question. Jo Jordan, Vincent Dizenzo, and Brian Carroll are elite powerlifters who all bench around 800 pounds and squat 1,200, so they know how to eat when it comes time to max out.

Their basic strategy: increase their carb intake the night before testing a big lift, and use supplementation. Increasing your carbs is essential for hitting huge personal records. Your body uses carbs for energy. If you don’t have enough stored, you can’t hoist the heaviest possible weights. However, you don’t need to carb load for days like some athletes do. Your body will use what it consumed a few hours earlier for fuel.

Eat a carb-heavy meal the night before training, along with some protein and healthy fat. The day of, eat most of your carbs shortly before the workout, during, and right afterward. Aim for 2.5 grams of carbs per pound of body weight that day, and one gram of protein per pound. Eating any more carbs than this may cause you to feel “carb drunk” and sluggish during the workout. If you feel that isn’t enough carbs, you can increase the load by 0.5 grams per pound. (On off days between max-out sessions, reduce your carb intake by 15% to 20%.) During training, start drinking a shake containing carbs, protein, BCAAs, and glutamine, and finish it afterward.

THE MAX-OUT DIET

Eat like this on days you test a lift

BREAKFAST

1 whole egg
5 egg whites
1⁄4 cup steel-cut oats
1⁄2 cup chopped peppers
1⁄2 cup blackberries
A.M. SNACK
1 medium apple
1 oz almonds
11⁄4 scoops (30g) whey protein powder

LUNCH

4 oz lean beef
1 medium apple
Small salad
1⁄2 tbsp olive oil
11⁄2 cup quinoa (cooked measure)
1 oz black beans
P.M. SNACK
1 medium apple
5 egg whites
3⁄4 cup steel-cut oats
1 small box raisins
INTRA/POST WORKOUT SHAKE
21⁄2 scoops (60g) carb powder
11⁄2 scoops (35g ) whey protein
5g–10g BCAAs
5g–10g glutamine

DINNER

11⁄4 cup mashed sweet potato (raw measure)
1 cup broccoli rabe (raw measure)
5 oz chicken breast
1⁄2 tbsp olive oil
TOTALS
CALORIES: 3,184
PROTEIN: 213G
FAT: 65G
CARBS: 432G

Source

So, you’ve been training hard and hitting the bench press- doing squats and dead lifts hoping for results, but still not getting the results you want? If you are doing the exercises, lifting the weights, and training hard but still not seeing those muscles, then you may want to stop looking at the gym for all your answers and look at your kitchen. Are you wondering what to eat to get the results you want? Wonder no more, we have the answers about what to put on your plate to build strength.

Some of the best weight lifters in the world share the same basic diet plans. Their basic strategy is to increase the carb intake the evening before the big lifting test, and to use supplements to fill in the dietary gaps you need to close in order to build muscle. Bumping up your carb intake as a weight lifter is the only way to reach higher goals, and to see new personal records. Carbs equate to energy for your body- if you lack the proper amount of carbohydrates, you simply will not be able to harvest the strength to lift the weight you want. The average person doesn’t need to carbo load like the athletes do though, doing so will cause your metabolism to slow down. You do however, need to consume enough carbs for your body to burn over the course of your weight lifting sessions.

Before a strenuous weight lifting workout, eat carbohydrate dense foods the night before training in combination with healthy fats, and of course- protein. Aim for 2-1/2 grams of carbohydrates for every of body weight and one gram of protein per pound. Eating too many carbs can cause you to lag and feel sluggish- it’s a pretty fine line between enough and too much, but it’s not rocket science either.

Do you load up on carbs before a training session? Tell us your meal plans.

{ 0 comments }

Do you take OTC pain killers after a workout? Rethink your choice!

No matter how in shape you are, when you start a new workout, or increase the intensity of your current routine, you can expect to experience aches and pains. Sometimes, these pains can be pretty intense, so we reach for a quick solution- over the counter pain relievers- more commonly, NSAIDs. New research suggests that this may be an act in vain.

—-

Sore Muscles May Not Benefit from Regular NSAIDs

Action Points

• This study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

• Muscle pain after heavy exercise is natural and even healthy and taking anti-inflammatory drugs for normal soreness may be a bad idea.

• Point out that the findings imply that the inflammatory reaction following muscle injury may be essential for recovery.

BERLIN — Muscle pain after heavy exercise is natural and even healthy, and taking anti-inflammatory drugs for normal soreness may be a bad idea, researchers suggested here.

Studies in healthy volunteers who exercised hard enough to cause muscle soreness indicated that the potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen inhibited the recovery process, according to Matthias Rother, MD, PhD, of International Medical Research in Graefelfing, Germany, and colleagues.

The total amount of pain, as quantified by the area under the curve (AUC) for pain severity over a one-week period after the exercise, was increased in participants who took ketoprofen at first onset of muscle soreness.
Celecoxib (Celebrex) treatment diminished total pain slightly, Rother and colleagues reported at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism.

But precisely because the reduction was small, and in light of the clear lack of benefit from ketoprofen, the researchers concluded that there is no value in NSAID treatment for muscle soreness.

Although NSAIDs are effective against a wide range of painful and inflammatory states, their benefit in exercise-induced muscle soreness has been controversial.

For example, a previous study found elevated cytokine levels in ultra-marathon runners who took ibuprofen relative to those who went untreated (Brain Behav Immun 2005; 9: 398-403). Another study by a different group indicated that ketoprofen extended the time with pain after tonsillectomy compared with celecoxib (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005; 132: 287-294).

In the current studies, Rother and colleagues had a total of 64 healthy volunteers walk down stairs for a total of 300 to 400 vertical meters, similar to walking all the way down from the top of a 100-story building.
Forty of the participants were randomized to take 200 mg of oral celecoxib or placebo twice daily for a week afterward, starting 12 to 26 hours after completing the stair test.

The other 24 completed an identical protocol except the NSAID was oral ketoprofen at 100 mg twice daily.
Participants in the latter study simply reported overall leg muscle pain, whereas those in the celecoxib study were asked to rate pain separately for the calf and thigh during contraction. All pain assessments were performed at pre-exercise baseline and at numerous intervals over the week after exercise.

At no point during the ketoprofen study did participants taking the active drug report less pain than those in the placebo group, Rother and colleagues found.

The AUC for pain scores was 462 (standard deviation 160) for ketoprofen versus 376 (SD 159) for placebo (P=0.02).
Most importantly, pain ended at hour 122 in the ketoprofen group versus hour 105 in the placebo group (P=0.005). Rother and colleagues said this was “the most negative effect” of ketoprofen.

In the celecoxib study, the drug was most effective in reducing calf pain on contraction. For thigh contraction, scores at each time point were virtually identical between participants taking the active drug versus placebo.
The sum of calf plus thigh pain was reduced 12% to 13% over the full study period, according to Rother and colleagues.
The peak reduction was measured 3 days after exercise (mean 2.7 for celecoxib compared with 2.0 for placebo, P-value not reported).

Overall, the findings imply “that the inflammatory reaction following muscle injury is essential for recovery,” Rother and colleagues indicated in their poster presentation.

“Since the effect of celecoxib … was only modest, usage of NSAIDs for the treatment of exercise induced muscle soreness cannot be supported,” they concluded.

Source
—–

When you feel pain after working out, it’s completely natural, but the way you treat it should be handled with caution. Researchers are now suggesting that taking anti-inflammatories may be a very bad idea. New studies have shown that when people take these over the counter anti-inflammatories after working out hard enough to cause muscle pain, the medication actually hindered the healing of muscles.

Over time, the amount of pain one is going to experience is going to be much higher if they are a chronic user of NSAIDs. The study suggests that the inflammatory process after muscle injury is actually a very important part of the healing process. When you lift weights, you are stretching and stressing the muscles, healing is part of what makes the muscles stronger and bigger- if you hinder that process, you may not see results, and you will most likely have lingering pains long after the workout.

Not to fret, there are plenty of natural ways to find relief from muscle soreness after a workout. Blueberries have shown great promise for muscle soreness- they also have excellent health benefits and anti-oxidant properties. Vitamins and minerals have very promising benefits for pain management as well. Homeopathic specialists recommend that athletes try fish oils, vitamin D, and capsaicin.

All in all, the best route to take is to try to prevent soreness before it occurs. Although it’s not entirely possible to eliminate all soreness after a workout, taking a few easy steps will put an end to unnecessary pain. Stretching before any workout will loosen the muscles and prevent cramping- a sensation many may be mistaking for regular growing pains. It is also extremely important to use the machines and equipment safely and correctly. Posture is another important factor when weight lifting- for example, a bicep curl should never impact your back, but certainly can if you’re not sitting the right way!

Are you NSAID dependent after a workout? Would you consider giving them up now considering they may be hurting your muscle growth?

{ 0 comments }

Want to really know how to get six pack abs? Learn what you may be doing wrong!

3812397608 0f736c725f m Want to really know how to get six pack abs? Learn what you may be doing wrong!Learning how to get six pack abs look for men is a very common fitness goal. Many men consider having a six pack as being the proof that they have reached their peak of physical perfection. We also can’t turn on the TV without seeing some a reality show star showing off his six pack, or a dancing competition where all the men have their shirts unbuttoned to show off their abs- so, there’s defiantly a certain amount of pressure for a man to have a chiseled stomach in order to be considered ‘in shape’.
——
The Truths and Myths about Six Pack Abs

Some of them believe that lifting weights alone and going to body building programs will give the six pack abs.
They go to gym and lift weights. As months proceed, you go with heavier weights and become stronger.

They feel better after each workout and feel that they made a good session each time. But months pass by, and yet you still don’t get six pack abs.

Some of them believe that doing crunches alone will flatten your stomach. It may indeed give strong abdominal muscles but you will not get the required six pack abs.

Some of them go for aerobic workout to flatten the stomach. Aerobic workouts burn calories more during exercise but aerobics still have certain limitations. It may give flat stomach but not six pack abs.

Lastly, some believe that strict diet program will get the desired result. Some go for low carb diet, some with no fat diet and some starvation diet. Don’t follow any diet without the knowledge of the consequences.
How to get Six Pack Abs – Six Pack Abs Workout Plan

Avoid The Top 20 Ways To Screw Up In The Gym

If you want to know how to get a six pack, prepare and follow the plan to get six pack abs but don’t expect well defined and ripped abdominal muscles within few weeks of starting diet and exercise.
Depending on your abdominal fat, the results may be fast or slow.

After starting the exercise program, you will get a strong abdominal core as a result and slowly when the fat from the stomach comes out, you can attain six pack abs.

There are seven ways to get defined and sculpted abdominal muscles. Each way has a role to play in getting six pack abs. Each way is simple but it is hard to follow regularly with discipline.

The concept is simple to get 6 pack abs but it needs dedication, patience, will power and time.

You should understand that applying mere aspect towards leaner abs will not work as effectively as when one subscribes to the whole comprehensive approach. Getting all things covered would increase your chances of getting the abs you want.

Source

Here are 10 myths about six pack abs you need to know. Everyone wants a six-pack but there’s so much information and misinformation it’s hard to know whether or not what you’re doing is helping, hurting or useless to your cause.

1.Doing crunches EVERY DAY will tone my abs fast.

Think you’re doing yourself a favour by doing crunches every day? Think again. This is probably the most common of the 10 myths about six-pack abs. The rectus abdominus are like any other muscle; over-train them and they’ll stop growing. Keep doing crunches every day and that’s exactly what will happen. Try the plank once in a while; it targets muscles that the crunch will never in a million years get to.

2. Ab exercises will give me a six pack.

Doing ab exercises will get that area stronger but if you`re looking for the holy grail of fitness, the six pack, you`ll have to burn fat to reveal that hidden treasure. There`s a saying, “great abs are made in the kitchen.” What you eat and your cardiovascular training will play a big part. Your training should also include some interval training to help rev up your metabolism to burn fat. Shed the fat and you’ll see the pack.

3. I just need to pick up the Ab Rocker 2000xxxxxx and that’ll solve my problems.

Listen, all you need is a little space, some knowledge, and your own body weight. You don’t need to make three easy payments. Four to five great core exercises thrown into a high intensity circuit will work wonders.

4. I’ll just buy some fat burning supplements from that guy in the black hoodie.

Some supplements will help burn fat provided that you’re eating right and training correctly, but they’re called supplements for a reason; they’re not meant to take the place of common sense. There’s no supplement for common sense, eating right, and the right kind of training.

5. They’re born like that, it’s all genetics.

Born with what? A stomach? You have one too Einstein. The difference between them and you is how much fat they’ve burned. Most of us can achieve a great looking mid-section and nearly everyone could stand to lose some fat, but do it in a healthy way: by eating sensibly, being disciplined and working hard.

6. It takes forever to get great abs.

Again, I hate to sound like a broken record but we all have the same muscles. It might take longer for some people to lose fat, but all things being equal, if you train properly and eat right you’ll get them.

7. Ab exercises can hurt my back.

Actually, proper ab exercises can help your back, and the key is proper exercises. If you have a weak core and you start out by trying to break the Guinness book of world records for crunches, well ya, that’s bad for your back, but exercises like the plank will strengthen your back and your abdominals.

8. If you do ab exercises without losing fat it will make you look even fatter.

This is one of the most misunderstood of the 10 myths about six pack abs. We know that muscle burns fat so if you train correctly you should be building muscle and burning fat.

9. Ab muscles are different from other muscles.

Of the 10 myths about six pack abs I’ll never understand why some people think this. Hear me now: abdominal muscles are no different than your other muscles.

10. Everyone and anyone can have a perfectly flat stomach.

This is the trickiest one of the 10 myths about six pack abs. Again, all things being equal, all of us can achieve a toned stomach but there are certain things that might come into the equation when trying to get a perfectly flat stomach. Age, genetics, body mass and body type will influence how flat your tummy is. It`s important to be fit, strong, and healthy, and to avoid carrying excessive fat, but it`s never good to obsess over one body part either.

Source

>>>Click Here To See Mike’s Six Pack Shortcuts<<<

Okay, so having a six pack would be awesome, so what now? First, you need to know what you are doing so you won’t waste your time doing the wrong thing. It’s important to determine what your fitness level is now, and learn what you need to do to go from there.

To start off, exercisers need to take a real assessment of their current physic. If you are overweight and carry around a lot of fat, especially in the mid-section, no amount of sit ups is going to build out those perfectly carved muscles. Actually, if you are overweight and start a muscle building routine of any kind, you could just end up making yourself look bigger, meaning fatter. So if you’re overweight now, you need to work just as hard on losing the weight as conditioning the abdominal muscles.

Starting a cardio plan is great to lose weight and show the muscles you have, but cardio will never give you a six pack. Losing the abdominal weight will show the muscles, but won’t build them.

Another misconception and de-motivator is that it takes a very long time to see results- that’s not true. With the proper amount of exercise and eating right, muscle tone will start to show in no time.

People also seem to think that there’s something special about the abdominal muscles- like there’s something different about this muscle group. Abdominal muscles are just like any other muscle, they need to used, fed properly, and conditioned to meet their full potential.

Have you managed to achieve the golden six pack abs? Tell us how you did it.

{ 0 comments }

Building a Better Body: Nutrition on a Budget

The argument that eating healthy is expensive has stopped many people from venturing into the lifestyle change, but how expensive is it really? The truth is in the end that is just another excuse people use to delay what people perceive as a “difficult action”. Most people view healthy food as being void of taste, but that simply is not always the case. Eating healthy can not only make you feel better and have more energy, but it can also taste great too.

The biggest disadvantage Americans have is our easy access to fast food; I can get a cheeseburger for 99 cents, while a salad is 4.99. Which is why many families practically eat big to get big muscles Building a Better Body: Nutrition on a Budgetraise their kids on fast food, and as the kids turn into young adults it is even harder for them to change. But fast food isn’t hopeless, my personal favorite choice is KFC’s grilled chicken which tastes great and a lot better for you then a 99 cents cheeseburger.

Nonetheless the best way to ensure quality food intake is to be well prepared at the grocery store by constantly checking for major sales ( usually around big sports games, holidays like memorial day and the upcoming fathers day) to stock up on healthy condiments and dressings. However, for a steady supply of lean protein you are going to have to look for the weekly butcher sales. At my local grocery store, they always have at least one meat (seafood, beef, or chicken) on sale every week and the randomness of it also adds variety to my diet.

Nevertheless, if you are clueless on what exactly to buy, I also threw together a quick list of good food choices below.

  • Turkey( Leaner than Beef)
  • Red Meat
  • Whole Eggs( Or egg Whites)
  • Chicken Breasts( Without the skin preferably)
  • Natural Peanut Butter
  • Milk
  • Whey Protein Powder( For Shakes and used in recipes like banana pudding)
  • Oatmeal
  • Brown Rice
  • Low Fat Cottage Cheese
  • Whole Wheat Tortillas or Pita Bread
  • Quinoa ” The King of Grains”
  • Whole Grain Cereals
  • Almonds
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Low Fat Yogurt
  • Broccoli
  • Avocados
  • Spinach( Didn’t you see Popeyes forearms?)
  • Cucumber
  • Celery
  • Apples
  • Carrots
  • Tomatoes
  • Salsa
  • Pineapple
  • Oranges
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Bananas
  • Condiments-(BBQ sauce, hot sauce, honey mustard, fat free salad dressings, ect)
  • Green Tea
  • Olive Oil
  • Flaxseed Oil

A rather daunting list don’t you think? With all those choices, I am sure you can find many great flavor combinations you really enjoy, and move you a step closer to your fitness goals and not a step backwards. Variety is the spice of life and the key to eating healthier, for that reason I encourage you to try things you have never tried, Green Tea? Not only is Green Tea a strong antioxidant, but it is also a natural diuretic (Expels Excess Water Weight), prevents cancer and increases blood circulation. Which all-together makes Green Tea a great substitute for your morning coffee.

3793925386 06e6a00184 m Building a Better Body: Nutrition on a BudgetRed Beef although under a lot of criticism lately is chalked full of Creatine, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Carnosine and more. But don’t count out turkey when cutting saturated fat, at close to zero grams of saturated fat( which is why its dry)t it can be a much leaner alternative to mix things up with. Then you have certain seafood’s like Salmon, which is packed with high quality proteins and omega- 3 fatty acids. Moreover, do not forget the cheapest fish of them all, tuna.

Then you have the “cure all” powerhouse that is olive oil, which has been linked with everything from lowering risks of heart disease, diabetes, reducing inflammation, increasing recovery. On the other hand you have low fat cottage cheese, which can be mixed in and incorporated with other meals while packing 25+ protein a cup.

And finally you have the underrated foods most of us keep in our households, but don’t take advantage of, such as milk, eggs and peanut butter. Old school bodybuilders used to drink up to a galloon of milk a day , Chuck Sipes a legendary natural bodybuilder told everyone he trained to drink at least a liter a day. Eggs considered by many to be the perfect protein are often overlooked as well, or traded for egg whites which is something greats like Arnold speak out against. In addition, you have peanut butter which is a perfect snack paired with carrots, broccoli or can be made into a meal.

From a purely price point of view, the cheapest sources of protein are canned tuna, whole eggs and frozen chicken breasts. This could be your base with my previous recommendations used occasionally to add variety. Luckily quality carbs can be obtained from many cheap food sources so no big deal there, and healthy fats what you do not get from meats you can get with olive oils, milk, ect.

Good cookbooks are also invaluable for eating healthy as it keeps your food interesting and tasteful, a good one I use everyday is Dave Ruel’s Anabolic Cooking, which can be found here.

Remember muscle is built in the kitchen, and you need to not only train hard, but stay on top of your nutrition as well for best results. Which method of dieting you use is up to you, there are many options out there from IIFYM( If It Fits Your Macros ) to the Paleo Diet or plain old carb cycling with eating healthy whole foods like Arnold, and other old school legends did it.

======

Brad Kelly writes a weekly article every Monday.  He  is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, Performance Enhancement Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist out of Panama City, Florida. Driven by a passion to help others he not only trains locals, but also performs online personal training and writes fitness articles to reach as many fellow fitness enthusiasts as possible.

{ 0 comments }