Thursday, 31 December 2009

Top Benefits of High Protein Shakes for Bodybuilders

Top Benefits of High Protein Shakes for Bodybuilders

by Micheal M. Vaughn

Whether you are a body builder, an athlete, or into fitness, improving stamina, performance and get into great shape through training require a quality nutrition program. High protein shakes are quickly absorbed by the body system to bring almost instant relief to strained and tired muscles, aiding your recovery after a strenuous workout.

There are dozens of different types of protein shakes, powders and supplements available, and most athletes consume supplements made with whey or soy proteins. Other options for high protein shakes and supplements include rice protein powder, and protein supplements that contain creatine and other muscle-enhancing ingredients. Mauro G. Di Pasquale, author of the book "Amino Acids and Proteins for the Athlete" points out that studies have shown how whey and whey protein possess special properties not found in milk proteins.

Homemade high protein shakes are created by blending a mixture composed of protein powers, yogurt, fruits, oats and an optional sweetener and can be consumed as a meal replacement or as a snack. To answer the need of convenience, some supplement companies have made ready to drink formulas to save you time and effort so you will not have trouble yourself with making homemade shakes.

There are some high protein shakes that that can be used as a complete meal substitute because they contain all the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals your body needs. A few of ready to drink shakes are nutritionally balance and makes an excellent choice so you can keep within the limits of a strict low-carb diet. In line with their diet guidelines, there are thousands of bodybuilders and athletes who meet their nutritional requirements by the regular intake of healthy high protein shakes daily.

Aside from being a steady source of energy, whey protein and the various protein supplements greatly improves metabolism.High protein shakes made with fresh fruit, juices and oatmeal are chock full of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help support a healthy metabolism and provide a boost of energy. Immediately after rigorous training, this can be consumed to stop the blood sugar level from dropping and to help muscle repair.

Still, one of the biggest benefits of high protein shakes is the rapid digestion and absorption rate. There are only a few foods that athletes and bodybuilders are advised to consume after an intensive workout, since the foods eaten immediately after exercise are likely to be absorbed and utilized more quickly than other times of the day. Consuming a high protein shake immediately after a workout ensures maximum absorption so that the nutrients can help with the muscle recovery process within hours. This reduces the risk of injury and can also keep the appetite under control.

Timing the consumption of high protein shakes, protein powders and supplements is essential for individuals that want to maximize muscle gains and improve metabolic efficiency overall. Consuming supplements immediately after a workout or between meals as a snack can ward off hunger pangs and ensure maximum absorption. Protein powders and shakes can complement an athlete's or bodybuilders' nutrition program so that they are consuming high quality nutrients and making the most of every calorie.

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Sunday, 27 December 2009

Muslce Building Tips For The Beginner

Muslce Building Tips For The Beginner

by Phil Jonathon

It is fact that everyone has to start somewhere and this is true for body building as well. While some people are striving to get fit, others are gearing up for serious competition. When someone is new to bodybuilding, they should look over these bodybuilding tips carefully.

The first course of action is to see a physician. It is important to make sure that the body is running properly and can handle the intense training of bodybuilding. Some people skip right over this step and assume that they can handle anything and eventually become ill or injured. This is one of the most important bodybuilding tips.

It can be tempting to head to the nearest gym and just get started working out. This is not the best idea. Anyone suggesting bodybuilding tips will strongly urge a beginner to meet with a personal trainer or find someone who is already training and see if they will partner up.

Once training has begun, it is important to take it slowly. Cardio is necessary to burn fat and can be done daily. Weight training is a different matter. While building muscle, the muscle tissue tears and repairs itself, but it needs time in between workouts to heal. This is how muscles get bigger and people become stronger. A personal trainer will likely cover bodybuilding tips like this as well.

Nutrition Bodybuilding Tips

Working out is only half of the bodybuilding experience. It is necessary to follow these bodybuilding tips on nutrition as well. Without the nutrition aspect, a person is only reaching a limited potential.

When it comes to bodybuilding tips and nutrition, it is important that everyone understands that protein is key. Protein helps build and repair muscle. This is essential to those who are taking bodybuilding seriously.

Meal replacement products are an excellent choice for those people who are looking to increase their intake of protein as well as other vital nutrients. Some of these meal replacements are intended solely for bodybuilders and cater to their exact needs. Most come in the form of shakes or snack bars. This helps take the guesswork out of the nutrition.

One of the most useful bodybuilding tips is to become vegetarian or even vegan. Many bodybuilders practice these lifestyles while training. It helps keep their nutrition in check. It is certainly not for everyone, but can aid in the bodybuilding process.
Each of these bodybuilding tips is helpful for the beginner. Once the beginner stage is passed, the individual will already likely be working with a professional trainer and well on his or her way to reaching peak performance!

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Saturday, 19 December 2009

Mind and Muscle, Can You Use Your Mind to Build Muscle?

Mind and Muscle, Can You Use Your Mind to Build Muscle?

by Klint Newton

Can you improve your muscularity with a muscle and mind connection? The answer is definitely yes.

Can improve your mind with your muscles? Indirectly, yes you can.

Your brain is in control of your entire body and all that goes on in it, and your mind can control your brain. Your mind is what does all of your thinking. Every thought or impulse that comes to you comes from your mind. When you think, you control.

Where is your mind? That's a million dollar question. Let's keep it simple and say that your mind is in your brain and is your brain. When you think about things, e.g. how much fun next Friday will be, what garlic smells like, or lifting a coffee cup, your mind is doing the thinking, and this thinking is affecting your brain. Your brain then sends an electrical impulse to make things happen.

So if you think about drinking coffee, you can think about drinking it from the cup in your hand. Thinking this will naturally cause your brain to tell your arm to lift, your mouth to open, your throat to swallow... The most amazing part of this everyday thing is that you thought about what you wanted to happen; you wanted a drink of coffee. Your muscle and mind came together and did exactly what you wanted.

Drinking coffee is something you do naturally, on a daily basis. It's not a stretch for your brain to make this happen. Building muscle, on the other hand, is a stretch. One reason it is so difficult to build muscle is because your brain is constantly telling your body that it doesn't want to grow muscle. Everything that happens in your body can be overruled by your brain. So if it thinks not gaining muscle is best, you won't be gaining muscle. There is no amount of overpriced supplement, crazy looking exercises, or wishing that you would gain muscle that will make your brain want to build more muscle on your body.

The reason for this is because your brain is naturally hardwired to do certain things. Everyone is different, but for the most part, every person's brain tries its best to maintain homeostasis in the body. Basically, it tries to keep everything the same, it doesn't want change. Your body is simply geared toward survival. It is supposed to stay alive, and if your brain and body had there way, you wouldn't move or burn any calories. This brings up another point. Your body welcomes fat storage, but not muscle growth. Fat storage ensures that there will be energy for later use. Your body is happy to have an abundance of fat, and easily stores it. Your body does not want to have an abundance of muscle. Muscle actually burns calories, and your body doesn't want to burn calories, it wants to store them.

Fat (wanted by brain and body) = Less used calories + More energy for emergency Muscle (brain and body doesn't want too much) = More burned calories + less calories for later use

Fat (wanted by brain and body) = Less used calories + More energy for emergency Muscle (brain and body doesn't want too much) = More burned calories + less calories for later use

What Can You Do?

Right now, you're probably thinking that you can't control what your body does. Your thinking that you can't make it burn fat or build muscle, but its not that cut and dry, you might have more control than you think.

There's no doubt that nutrition and exercise play a huge role in if your body will store fat or build muscle, but there's more to it. Your thoughts can actually change your body's functioning, including how much fat it stores or how much muscle it builds. It really isn't that far fetched if you look at it scientifically. Remember, every bodily function originates, or can be influenced by the brain. It tells your body what to do, and sometimes you have direct input. You can move your arms and legs to play different sports and you can also train yourself and your body to play those sports better and better. Moving your body is easy, but you want to know how to gain muscle with your mind.

There's no doubt that nutrition and training play a major role in the amount of fat and muscle being built, but your mind and muscle are connected. Your thoughts can actually change the way your brain/body stores fat and builds muscle. It really isn't that crazy of an idea. Remember, everything that happens in your body starts in the brain. The brain is the boss, it gives your body orders, and they are carried out. You have a lot of control over your mind and muscle connection. You can move your limbs around and play sports and you can train your body and mind to play those sports even better. Moving your body is easy, but you want to know if and how you can build muscle with your mind.

I know what you are thinking, how can I build muscle with my mind? That's an automatic process that I can't control.

That's a correct statement. Building muscle is an automatic process just like pumping blood and breathing.

Think about it for a second. Try to stop breathing for 5 seconds. Start now. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. You can do it. You just did it. Breathing is something your brain does for you automatically, but you can actually control it. So, some things are automatic, but you can control them. You controlled your breathing by simply thinking about it.

It's starting to come to you, but let me explain a little more. By the way, the best and only complete resource available about this subject is Klint Newton's Mental Edge Muscle Building Program which covers all of the physical aspects of gaining muscle and all of the mental aspects as well. This program will really kick your body and mind into muscle building gear.

Is it starting to come together? Let me explain a little deeper. By the way, the best and only thing available about this topic is Klint Newton's Mental Edge Muscle Building program. It covers all of the physical and mental aspects of gaining muscle.

1. You learn how, and 2. You practiced and trained yourself

1. You figured out, or learned how and 2. You've trained and perfected it

Obviously, your breathing can be changed by your thoughts, you've trained and perfected this, you can almost do it without thinking about it. Here's the cool part, you can also learn and train and perfect your mind and muscle connection to grow more muscle than was ever previously possible. The first step is learning how to do it.

The only thing that is required is that you have to make your brain want to build muscle. You change your brain by the way you think. Your muscle and mind are connected; building muscle doesn't happen by accident, It all starts with a thought.

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Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Burn Body Fat : The Simpliest Thing To Do For Your Health

Burn Body Fat : The Simpliest Thing To Do For Your Health

by Johnny Simmona

Most people at some time in their life want to get physically fit by dieting and working out regularly. For some, it greatly improves their appearance and the way they feel about themselves. When it comes to learning how to build muscle and lose fat, some special instruction may be in order. There are professionals that specialize in the subject, and of course, you should talk to your doctor.

Even with diet and exercise, some fail to reach the goals that they started with. There are many reasons for this failure. It is very important for one to research their options, increasing their knowledge of weight loss and exercise. Sometimes the failure is caused from just not knowing that the many myths centered on losing weight usually do not work.

Many myths revolve around weight loss. Some even increase pounds and fat. The following is just a couple of things that you should consider when trying to build muscle and lose fat. These are just a few of the many that can be found on the World Wide Web, in libraries and in health magazines.

1. Skipping Meals - Most people, when dieting, often skip meals to curb calories, carbs, or fats. This causes weight loss failure by making the next meal even bigger because of hunger. Bingeing is often a problem when it comes to dieting. Another reason skipping meals usually causes diet fails is because the body will quit burning fat. The body will think it is going to starve so it often slows the fat burning systems to help reserve energy.

2. Skipping Breakfast - Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day because it is. It helps supply the body with energy to keep from slowing down early in the day. The body has been in sleep mode for at least 8 hours, but continued to function without the energy of food. It needs to be replenished in order to keep from crashing.

3. Cardio exercise late in the day - This is a common mistake because cardio exercises not only help speed metabolism, they also help strengthen the heart and lungs. To do these exercises effectively, it is suggested that they get done early in the day, before breakfast being the optimal time.

Everybody should be checked by their doctor if they plan on losing weight. Not all exercise is good for those with underlying health conditions and may require a personal trainer to insure safety. Some people have to have certain vitamins and minerals in their diet and may require a dietician for assistance.

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Sunday, 29 November 2009

Gets The Basics Right Before Using Muscle Building Supplements

Gets The Basics Right Before Using Muscle Building Supplements

by Mark Walters

Those of us who love to build up our muscles tend to have an unfortunate attitude of wanting to achieve too much, too soon, and our progress, and even our overall health, can suffer as a consequence. To see solid, long lasting results from your efforts, you first need to get the basics in place, and then proceed on in a steady, consistent manner.

Simply taking muscle building supplements, with the expectation that your muscles will magically grow as a result, is a wholly misguided point of view. The key is in the word 'supplement', i.e. they are meant to supplement your main efforts, not be the main effort itself.

Still, sometimes your body can do with a little assistance, and there are some worthwhile muscle building supplements. It is, however, essential to get your exercise regime and diet in order before you even consider using any shape or form of muscle building supplement. If a diet or regime is not working for you at present, adding a supplement into the mix won't suddenly make it work for you.

With that said, let's look at what you should be doing to in order to maximize your muscle building sessions:

Water - Everyone has heard before about the importance of taking in lots of water, yet so many people continue to overlook this point. Make no mistake, water is more important than anything else, as if your body isn't well hydrated, then it can't function properly. As a further point, muscle tissue is 75% water, so, without taking in water, you'll always struggle to build more muscle.

Protein Powder - Both cost effective and convenient, protein powders are an important part of a body building program. They boost the levels of the much needed muscle building protein in your body, and it would be difficult to achieve similar results by standard food and drinks alone.

Vitamins and Minerals - Whilst there are still people who claim that the benefits if multi-mineral or multi-vitamin tablets and supplements are negligible, no-one can claim that they will do you any harm. There are enough supporters of them to give them credibility, and you have nothing to lose by using them, particularly so if you're following a limited dietary program.

Creatine Monohydrate - Creatine is the most popular muscle building supplement on the market today. The reason being that it actually works! Creatine is a molecule which carries phosphate, and creatine monohydrate will convert to creatine phosphate in the muscles, and in turn help build the muscles you've always wanted. Stay away from all kinds of fancy combinations, plain creatine monohydrate will do just fine.

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Monday, 23 November 2009

Learn How To Gain Muscle In A Healthy Way

Learn How To Gain Muscle In A Healthy Way

by Phil Edgar

Hello! I bet you've been searching the internet for a while now, trying to find information on how to gain muscle. I can tell you right not from my own personal experience that almost all the information online is completely false or aimed at people who find it EASY to gain muscle.

If you really want to know the truth on gaining muscle, then the best iron clad route to take is to download a professionally written how to gain muscle program. A proper program will show you how YOU should train and eat to gain muscle. Everyone is different - different weight, different strength levels and different body fat levels.

Everyone is different so everyone has a different starting point.

You may need to lose some body fat before you gain muscle, or you may just want to start gaining muscle straight away. Either or, you'll need to train and eat completely differently, as you can't do both at once, contrary to popular belief.

A downloadable muscle gain program will show you lots - including how to eat properly and healthily. It'll teach you all about the things to eat, how to cook them, how many calories and nutrients to intake everyday and at what times of the day to eat what.

It'll also teach you how to train. If your aim is to bulk up, then you should be training with heavy weights, no more than three times per week. It'll show you exactly what exercises to perform and on what days. How many reps to perform and how many sets to perform.

It'll also teach you other very important factors such as the importance of rest, how much sleep you should get and why, the importance of hormones and how to manipulate them and lots of other cool stuff that you've probably never even heard about before.

You can download a quality muscle gain program from the internet today for about the price of a tub of protein. This means that you won't have to waste time on going to the gym and waste money on supplements and no or hardly any muscle. Download a program today and take it from there!

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Sunday, 15 November 2009

Body Builders........ Is Whey Protein for You ?

Body Builders........ Is Whey Protein for You ?

by Ariel Mondough

Fitness enthusiasts have long known that whey protein isolate is a high quality protein rich in arginine and lysine which stimulate the release of growth hormone thus enhancing muscle growth and development. Recent findings suggest that whey may help the body ward off toxins, bacteria and viruses, may protect against some cancers and can positively affect cardiovascular health.

These are important for active individuals, individuals who exercise and professional athletes. Whey protein isolate is the highest yield of protein currently available that comes from milk. Because of its chemical properties it is the easiest to absorb into your system.

Products made from isolate will be higher in protein, 85-90% but will cost more due to the additional manufacturing process. Those who are lactose intolerant or are watching their fat/carb intake may benefit from whey protein isolate over concentrate. Products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.

Athletes require more protein than the average person, because of the need to rebuild muscle fiber after strenuous muscle use. Without the use of protein, you can't build muscle. Athletic improvement occurs during the rest and recovery phase, when your body responds to the stress of training. Smart athletes follow the formula for success: recover as purposely as you train. Athletes impel additional protein than the workaday person, because of the need to rebuild muscle fiber after strenuous clout account. Without the use of protein, you can't conformation muscle.

Whey protein isolate is an excellent protein choice post surgery because it is very easy to digest and efficiently absorbed into the body. It doesn't sit in the stomach for long periods of time like beef and other protein foods that may cause problems. Whey protein isolate is also the richest known source of naturally occurring branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine).

You should avoid products that contain concentrate. These will typically contain anywhere from 5-15% lactose. But otherwise, it seems to me that an Ultrafiltered Whey Protein Concentrate (or a blend of the two) will be suitable for most people, and kinder on the pocket. It's also a less processed product, which is often better. The objective of this study was to determine whether enzymatically hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (WPI) could increase intracellular GSH concentrations and protect against oxidant-induced cell death in a human prostate epithelial cell line (designated RWPE-1).

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Saturday, 7 November 2009

How to Increase Muscle Mass Fast

How to Increase Muscle Mass Fast

by Mark Petterson

Almost everybody wants to have some muscles with the exception of sumo wrestlers. If you want to achieve muscles the fastest way, then you need to strictly follow a very effective muscle building routine and remain faithful to it. Set your goals and really push yourself in realizing them.

In addition to the usual fitness equipment, there are some products that have surfaced that claim to help you increase your muscle mass in less time. But you need to be wary with these products if you so decide to include them in your routine. Bear in mind that not all you hear and see are true, especially if they promise quick results.

You have heard of protein bars and shakes that are supposedly designed to help you gain muscle mass, right? Well, some of them do deliver expected results. Some of them do not. The same can be said on other fitness products. When you want to try out any product to get you the muscles you desire, it is prudent that you seek expert opinion first.

But still, nothing compares to building muscles the old fashioned way.You have to carry some weights, stick to your exercise routines, and really watch what you eat. You might be in some pain but as what the old saying says, no pain, no gain.

Speaking of diet, you can help gain more muscle mass by greatly reducing or eliminating your saturated fats intake. You need to feast on essential fats since they really take good care of your body. Take out some fatty items from your menu like French fries, burgers, and hotdogs.

You can also increase your muscle mass by taking in essential vitamins and minerals. Your body will need them provide you with an energy boost when you do your workout routines. Also, give your body adequate rest. Overworking your muscles hamper the development of your muscles and making them more prone to fatigue. It would be better if you can sleep at least six hours everyday.

There is always no substitute for hard work. You have to understand that muscle building is a long process and that there are no fast and easy solutions to get what you want. You have to work for it. It might take you a lot of time, but if you persevere and stay true to your course, then all your effort will be worthwhile.

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Sunday, 1 November 2009

Good Muscle Building Secrets

Good Muscle Building Secrets

by Mark Benson

Many men often feel that developing and getting huge chest is a gigantic task, and it is normally very difficult to achieve. If you really want to achieve the target of sexy ripped abs and a large chest then you have to move forward step by step. Getting this feast in a week is a little difficult but it is not impossible. For getting the perfect muscles, abdominal as well as stomach exercises are very essential.

So, now let me tell you about some essential things that you must surely try out for muscle building.

1. Nutritious snacks are must Muscle building is a very time taking process because you need to pay attention to a lot of things. While you are engaged in muscle building process you must take strict care of your diet. Try to keep nutrition snacks like almonds, peanut sandwiches and fresh fruits with you. You must be careful of what you eat, because proper diet can really increase your chances of having a great body.

2. Lose fat before building muscles Before building muscles it is very important for you to loose extra fat. You should do cardio exercises at least for 30 minutes every day. Cardio exercise will burn your fat and would also keep your body well toned. For loosing weight, you should also cut the calories that you intake. Have low fat diet which has fewer calories and more fibers.

3. Proper sleeping habits Try to have proper sleeping and resting habits. Try to sleep for at least seven to nine hours per day. Proper sleeping would relax you mentally as well as physically. Sleeping also relaxes your body muscles and keeps you fit and fine all the day long.

4. Strict to your diet even if you eat out Even if you are going out to eat with family or friends, you should always strict to your diet. You will see that almost every restaurant offers grilled meat and steamed vegetables which are very healthy for you. Avoid eating friend, creamy or oily preparations.

5. Work out with determination Building muscles is not a very easy task and it is not something that you can achieve overnight. You have to work very hard for it and you should never loose hope even if it takes you longer to build muscles.

If you really want to build your muscles then you must follow the above stated tips.

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Workouts To Burn Fat: Fundamental Advice for Building Muscle

Workouts To Burn Fat: Fundamental Advice for Building Muscle

by Brad Morgan

When you are busy taking care of children, working, going to school, or anything else our busy world demands, trying to burn fat doesn't always fit neatly into your schedule.

Most people can find a few ten minute blocks throughout the day, so are shorter workouts just as effective as one longer one?

But wait. If your body needs about twenty minutes of activity before it kicks into fat burning mode, will short workouts even do anything? If you need to burn fat and don't have a lot of time, what do you do?

The American Heart Association has found that several short exercise sessions benefit your body just as well as one long session, provided that they equal the same amount of time.

Four ten minute workouts will provide your body with the same benefit as one forty minute one. And, the AHA says, intense exercise works much better than slower paced workouts.

Moderate exercise won't cut it for your short workouts. You need to make them challenging. Try the following tips to get the most from your mini workouts.

1. Run for ten minutes.

For ten minutes, run faster than you normally do. Walkers, walk more briskly. Make sure to get your heart going.

2. Hop on the treadmill or elliptical.

If you are at the gym or have equipment at home, jump on and exercise extremely rigorously for ten minutes.

3. Use the stairs. Or a hill.

Then walk back down and repeat until you hit ten minutes.

4. Have flashbacks to phys ed with jumping jacks.

5. Jump rope.

Basically, anything that is intense and hard work for your body can make a good ten minute workout. And don't forget your strength training!

Your body needs a variety of activities in order to burn fat. Warm up for a few minutes with light cardio, and try the following moves:

* Squats. These are one of the best moves to get your body in shape.

* Lunges

* Pushups

* Tricep dips

* Squats. Squats are one of the most effective moves to tone your lower body.

For great results and a great workout, do several repetitions of each. You can also combine the moves, called compound moves. These work more than one muscle group and include chest presses combined with lunges or overhead presses done with squats.

It is also important to warm up and cool down. They don't have to be extensive, simply walking briskly for a few minutes is sufficient for warming up, and moving a more slowly is fine for cooling down. Stretching before and after you exercise also helps loosen your muscles and prevent injury.

If you can only fit in short workouts into your schedule, you are doing great things for your body. Above all, you will burn fat and lose weight.

It is also easier to stick with a program that allows such flexibility. Knowing you can do ten minutes and have it ?count? is very motivating.

Doing a forty minute workout can be a hardship when you have a busy schedule. But ten minutes is manageable for everyone.

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Friday, 30 October 2009

Any 6 Pack Abs Workout Originates In The Kitchen

Any 6 Pack Abs Workout Originates In The Kitchen

by Jace P. Andersen

The great divide as far as the male body is concerned comes in the form of a set of muscles on the male stomach. You see men with those sexy abdominal six packs and then those without -there are no intermediate guys as far as this is concerned. Men that keep to a 6 pack abs workout routine will also quickly tell you that they work very hard to be able to go shirtless wherever they want.

Ever since the first images of men with six packs appeared, this type of body has become the iconic male build. Ask any guy who sports these sexy muscles and they will tell you that the secret to a 6 pack starts in the kitchen and not in the gym. How could this be you may ask?

You may have the muscles of a Greek god, but that thick layer of fat on top of them will hide them from view for ever. The secret is to get that fat off so that only skin sits on top of your worked out muscles. That unfortunately is the only to see a six pack.

For a 6 pack to show, the body fat percentage in your stomach area must be as close to zero as possible. In order to achieve this, you simply have to stick to a very strict diet as a way of eating. As soon as you deviate from this routine, your stomach will loose its cutting edge look almost overnight.

There are millions of eating plans that state success for 6 pack builders and you may choose any of them, but make sure that the basic components meet these criteria. Eat six meals a day at constant intervals. Smaller meals that is, not six full meals! Each meal should contain certain food groups and in certain percentages.

Look at your own body for clues on the portion sizes right for you. The palm of your hand shows the amount of protein you should eat with every meal. Clench that hand and dish up vegetables the size of your fist. Round your plate off with a fist of the protein serving size as your carbs and you have a fully balanced meal.

Mealtimes come around six times a day, so spread them evenly with the same time lapses between each meal. By eating less volume but more meals a day, your metabolism will increase significantly. Now that your diet is sorted, move onto exercises.

Hate them or love them, but the only exercises to build a six pack are crunches. A crunch reverts to a contraction of the muscle by putting strain on it. Keeping the muscle tight and then slowly let the muscle relax. Repeat until you simply can not lift any body part any more and stop.

By repeating this exercise as often as you can daily, you break down the fibers inside the muscle which then grows back harder and thicker. The result - a six pack to show off on your next beach holiday! Use the machines you see on television to help you in the beginning as they do make these exercises a bit easier, but soon you will be crunching on your own to gain maximum results.

Eat right and throw away your TV remote and you are on your way to that alluring look that makes women swoon.

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Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Can Vegetarians Build Muscle?

Can Vegetarians Build Muscle?

by Ryan M Hall

This question, can vegetarians build muscle, crosses every vegetarians mind when they decide to build muscle. If you don't want to look like a stick, what can you do? There are many things you can do without eating meat, but most people don't get accurate information. Today, I'll show you how you can build muscle on a vegetarian diet.

Plenty of people have built massive amounts of muscle on vegetarian diets, the most famous vegetarian that succeeded in building muscle was a guy by the name of Bill Pearl. Pearl is a famous vegetarian body builder who one the title of Mr. Universe in 1953 and 1971. Pearl is the kind of vegetarian that eats both eggs and dairy to help in his muscle building. He is a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

What Kinds of food do you eat?

If you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian and you are willing to eat eggs, that is absolutely great. Eggs are one of the best body building foods available because they are extremely high in protein and are also high in the good fats and nutrients needed to rebuild muscle. Cows Milk also contains many of these healthy fats.

For the strict vegetarians

If you are a strict vegetarian, not to worry, you can still build muscle. There a few diet changes you can make to build muscle mass.

Protein

Adding a protein supplement to your diet will help your muscles rebuild after workouts. You can also eat more tofu and soy milk in your recipes to ensure you have enough protein in your diet.

Fat

Most vegetarians don't get enough fat in their diet. To fix this, eat a few handfuls of nuts throughout the day. Almonds, pistachios and cashews are great for protein and fat. You should also consider adding a tablespoon of flax seed oil to your diet as it contains linolenic acid, an essential amino acid for muscle building.

Vitamins

Even though you may look healthy, many vegetarians are vitamin deficient in a vitamin called B12. To remedy this, you can add a B12 supplement to your diet or drink a soy or whey based meal replacement drink. These drinks usually give you at least 1/3 of your daily recommended vitamins and minerals.

Vegetarians can build muscle, they just have to eat more specifically than people who regularly eat meat. If you follow the above advice, you will be well on your way to building more muscle. Now all you need is a good muscle building plan.

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Sunday, 18 October 2009

How To Maximize Your Weight Gain Goal

How To Maximize Your Weight Gain Goal

by Taylor Olson

It can sometimes be difficult to bulk up your body. However, if you can watch what you eat and stick to a sound a proven bulking up plan, then it is definitely an achievable goal. Getting instant results with magic pill solutions will not happen. Yes there are pills or supplements to aid in your quest to bulk up, but these are secondary compared to the basic actions of eating correctly and working out properly.

The most important element you need to focus on if you are to be able to bulk up successfully is to eat excessive calories (more than what your body needs to for weight maintenance). But of course, we are not talking about just any kind of food here.

We are talking about healthy, whole meal foods like chicken, beef, eggs and vegetables. And they should be prepared by steaming or grilling them. Deep-frying these foods will not do you any good in the long-run. It can even ruin your bulk up plan.

Why does this excessive calories method work? Well it is simply due to the reason that your muscles require a lot of energy to maintain. A pound of muscle takes up more energy than a pound of fats. But the muscles take up much less space than fats. And muscles are what give you that sculpted look. To be more specific, the kind of foods what are consuming should have a high ratio of protein. This is because muscles feed on protein and requires it to grow.

Of course, on the other side of the equation, working out at the gym (or pumping your body to grow muscles is an equally important factor. If you were to merely consume loads of calories but don't utilize it by working out, then these extra calories will just convert into fats. We want a bulkier muscular body, not a tub of fat goo body.

These are just a few quick tips and tricks you can employ immediately to zero in on the most important factors when it comes to successful weight gain (muscle weight). If you do nothing but follow the above 2 points, then you will be well ahead of the curve among the many people who try to gain weight.

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Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Bodybuilding Exercise for your Body Type

Bodybuilding Exercise for your Body Type

by Mike Rafters

Not all people are alike. If you're very slender, you may need a different exercise program than someone who is more muscular. You'll need a bodybuilding exercise program right for your body type. If you try to use the wrong bodybuilding exercise program, you may find it doesn't work for you. That's because many bodybuilding programs are not designed for very slender people. If you want to gain good, proper weight fast (meaning muscle, not fat), you'll need to focus on things like proper posture, stabilizing your shoulders, working on core stability, working on flexibility, working on overall conditioning, and more.

When you work on correcting postural imbalance, you are working on aligning your posture and your body so that your posture is correct before you begin. You must be aligned properly before you can start your bodybuilding program. Take a look at professional bodybuilders some time. They have great posture, and that's no mistake. However, many bodybuilding programs don't have this as part of their information even though this is necessary for you. If you don't naturally have proper posture, you'll need to have this, because if you do, you can look more fit and toned just by the way you hold yourself.

When you are engaging in a bodybuilding exercise program, you also need to make sure that your shoulders are stable. If they're not, you could injure yourself. If you injure your shoulders, you could find yourself in pain because you did things wrong. This is something you don't want, of course, and assuming the proper techniques will assure that you don't have this problem.

Core stability is important, too. Bodybuilding exercise workouts need to include this information because core stability helps protect your lower back from injury. If you don't develop core stability, you could injure your back. Many existing bodybuilding exercise programs don't really focus on core stability because experienced bodybuilders already have core stability. If you don't, though, you're going to need to learn how to make your core stable before you can embark on a serious bodybuilding program.

The right bodybuilding exercise program will also help make you flexible and focus on the training that's right for your particular body type. You are going to need both your lower and upper body flexible. You cannot be stiff before you begin to work out or you can injure yourself. Therefore, you'll need to stretch and warm up, again with exercises perfect for your body type, to give you maximum flexibility and therefore lower your risk of injury.

In addition, you might have certain parts of your body that are stronger than others. Therefore, you'll need to focus on building up those parts of your body that are "lagging behind" other, stronger parts of your body. The proper bodybuilding exercise program can help you do this, so that you're focusing on every part of your body in equal measure and not unduly strengthening one part of your body while ignoring another.

In addition to building muscle mass, you're also going to need to work on cardiovascular conditioning. Muscle mass is great because it can make you look toned and healthy, but conditioning your heart and lungs is just as important. Cardiovascular exercise is going to help keep you from injury and help keep you healthy while you gain the weight you need by engaging in the rest of your bodybuilding exercise program, where you add muscle. Remember that cardiovascular conditioning is just as important as building visible muscle, though.

You'll need to know about many things if you want to engage in a bodybuilding exercise program that will turn your slender frame into one with plenty of muscle. The best program is going to include exercises that will work on everything, from your core stability, to your posture, to stabilize your shoulders, to making you as flexible as possible, and improving your overall conditioning through cardiovascular exercise. Having a ball got physique is great, but if you want this, you'll need to learn the right techniques for your particular body type.

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Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Gain Weight The Natural Way

Gain Weight The Natural Way

by Jeremy Sanders

Eat correctly is a key element when it comes to bulking up your body mass with muscle. If you have been attempting to bulk up for several months and not seeing the results you want, then it may be time to review your bulk-up plan. The basics of gaining weight is to simply consume more calories then you are using. Sounds simple enough right? Well, not so it seems.

So what kind of meals should you be eating to gain weight? Glad you asked. First, you should start with consuming low saturated fat. You will also need complex carbohydrates to allow your muscles to recover after you have had an intense gym workout. Some examples of complex carbohydrates you can take are rice, potatoes or pasta. You will also need plenty of protein " this is what will allow your muscles to grow.

For those of you who are gifted (or cursed) with fast metabolism, you might have problems getting this to work. Why is this so? Well for the skinny guys you already have problems gaining weight naturally. This means you will have to consume more calories and with greater frequency. Remember the key is to take in foods there are calories dense.

Take healthy foods and not junk foods! If you have problems getting enough calories throughout the day, you might want to consider protein shakes. These pack quite a handful of calories and you will not feel full after drinking it, so it is a good way to consume more calories than you would otherwise with normal foods.

So there you have it, some quick tips on how you can gain weight. Once you are able to follow through and tweak your results, you will finally be able to get that muscular look you've always dream of. Going down to the beach for a stroll with only your shorts on will not be a problem anymore.

Imagine enjoying the attention you get from other people and the confidence you've gain from discipline and attainment of your hard work from dieting and working out. It will definitely be a great feeling once you have achieved your bulking up goal.

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Awesome Stomach Exercises

Awesome Stomach Exercises

by James Statham

Tired of traditional stomach exercises? Did you know that many exercises that target your abs are actually useless and can even harm your chances of getting lean and ripped? In this article, I'm going to be showing you which exercises and pointless, and what types of exercises will really blast your abs, and shred that fat! By the end of this article, you'll know the basics of what you need to do to burn belly fat super quick!

So what are these traditional stomach exercises? I'm guessing you know what crunches and sit ups are. The so called experts always tell you to target specific areas of your body to see really defined abs. However, the two things that are essential for getting cut abs, are to burn the layer of fat from around you body, and raise your metabolism. These types of exercises are just useless for doing those two things, and all they will do is give you a sore back!

Well then which stomach exercises should you be performing? Good question! Basically, the best abs workouts, aren't abs workouts! I used to perform endless sets of crunches and leg lifts, sometimes two or three times a day, because I was always told by so called experts, that this was how to get ripped. However, after months and months with next to no results, I finally found out what exactly targets your abs and burns fat insanely! The exercises that work best are what's known as compound exercises.

Compound exercises are awesome stomach exercises, because they target a whole bunch of muscle groups. the problem with traditional abs work outs, is that they are too small and isolated. People seem to think that if you target a certain area, you'll burn fat from that area more. Nope! When you exercise, you burn fat from all over your body in equal amounts. This is why it's so important to perform high intense exercises and really blast your muscles.

Now you know a bit about how to improve your stomach exercises, you need to learn about the one vital component about trimming away the fat quick. If you're eating lots of rubbish foods, then how on earth do you think you'll get rid of the belly fat? Make sure you cut out foods that contain empty calories, otherwise all your work at the gym will be for nothing! Now what foods should you eat? Well, protein is key to build muscle, and you want to be strengthening your abs as well as getting rid of fat. Be sure to eat foods such as meat and fish, that contain high protein content.

Remember to keep you workouts under an hour. If your workouts are going over 75 minutes, then you won't get the best muscle burn, because a long workout is no way near as intense enough as a short, sharp workout.

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Friday, 25 September 2009

Building Muscles While at Home

Building Muscles While at Home

by Carey Pontius

Being healthy and fit is something we all want. That said, most of us cannot afford to go to the gym because of time and financial constraints. The viable option has always been working out at home. However, many said doing aerobics in the living room is not going to help us tone our body and get us into the shape we really want.

If you really want to build yourself into a muscle buff, do what bodybuilders do, do some heavy lifting. And yes, you can do that at home as well. But heavy lifting should not be a series of random actions. It should be meticulous and with purposes. That is, if you want to get the best results.

Making or creating a home gym routine can be hard work as well. But you can start off by knowing what you really want to achieve. Do you want to work on your upper body, legs, or a total body workout? Read on and find out how you can become a health buff right in your own living room.

One of the most effective methods of bodybuilding, heavy lifting is a serious type of gym exercise that will require hard work from you. But do not go full throttle just yet. Start light. You can begin your lift training with five to eight pounds of weight. As your level of fitness increases, you can gradually add the weight between 20 to 80 pounds and intensify your routine.

You can't expect your muscles to grow after a week of working out. Unless you started off with 15 pounds of weight, you'll see some little results. The thing is you should be patient and closely monitor your progress as your training goes further.

There are many weight exercises that provide great workouts even in a domestic atmosphere. But remember that these exercises must stimulate simultaneously different muscle groups if you want to achieve great results. Weight exercises like biceps curls and triceps only targets specific muscles. By contrast, squats, step-ups and shoulder press are far more effective in toning and building your body since they really employ the use of various muscles in one exercise.

Most of these weight training exercises require the use of gym equipment. However, there is no need to trudge down to the fitness store and purchase the latest home gym equipment. You just have to be creative and use what are readily available to you.

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Saturday, 19 September 2009

Two Fundamentals for Long Term Bodybuilding Gains

Two Fundamentals for Long Term Bodybuilding Gains

by Eric W. Bricker

If you have goals to build muscle and gain weight then you should know an effective fitness weight training program is important if you want to achieve your goals fast. Many people are discovering that it's not enough to just go in the gym and lift a couple weights.

Commitment and the desire to follow through will determine whether or not you are simply a hobbyist or a true bodybuilder who does what it takes to reach your goals.

Others can show you the proper exercises and routines but it is up to you and only you to get out there and do them consistently. Take action and build momentum until you become unstoppable.

Keep in mind that reaching your goals is your responsibility and as we go over the two basic rules you must include in your training routine to reach your goals as quickly as possible.

1. High Intensity Training

High intensity training is a short but very intense workout. This type of training requires you to workout 1 to 3 times a week with full body single set routines performing 8 to 12 reps each set. The idea behind high intensity training is to produce an increase in your strength so the next time you perform your workout you will be able to perform more reps with the same weight or the same number of reps with heavier weights.

2. Mix it Up

It is very important that you balance your routine so that you develop strength in all of your muscles while bulking up the larger muscle groups. The intense workouts described above should be performed on a one week on, three weeks off basis. The other three weeks should focus on standard strength training with less weight and more sets of reps for a more balanced strength training to keep up with the increasing muscle mass.

Keep these two fundamentals in mind while planning your routine and be sure to find a good supplement to keep your body properly fueled and your are guaranteed to see the results you desire.

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Monday, 14 September 2009

Simple Tips To Build Muscles

Simple Tips To Build Muscles

by Spike Elpinski

A number of people have been wondering what are the best exercise they should do to increase muscle mass. This has been plaguing the minds of bodybuilders and strength athletes for years. This article aims to determine how you should pick the exercises that suit you well and help you achieve your goal.

A lot of people have been debating over the issue of compound versus isolation exercise. for starters, compound exercises work on various muscle group simultaneously. Among the activities belonging to this category are bench press, dips, and squats.

In contrast, isolation workouts only focus on fewer or a single muscle group in one exercise. Dumbbell flies, pec deck and leg extensions are examples of exercises that belong to this category. Isolation works best if you want to work on a single muscle group than working various muscles in a single session.

That said, a lot of muscle experts are opposed to such approach. They believe that if you want to really buff your body up more efficiently, then do some compound exercises. Compared to isolation exercises, compound exercises employs more muscles groups, therefor enabling you to take on heavier loads.

The squat, for example, employs the use of various muscle groups. The activity includes the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus, lower back, abdominals, hips, and abductors. With more muscle groups involved, you are able to lift heavier weights than normal. As such, the squat is quite efficient in building you more muscles.

The leg extension, by contrast, only works on the quadriceps. Without a doubt, squatting builds more muscles than leg extensions. However, if you really want to just center your attention on your quadriceps, then an isolation exercise is the best way to do it.

Another important reminder is that free weights offer a better alternative compared to doing machine exercises. Free weights present you to an environment that stimulate your muscles. In comparison with machine exercise, these activities do not stimulate your muscle groups, since the machines are doing half your job, such as balancing the weights. Bear in mind that machine exercises cannot duplicate the same quality of free weights.

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Friday, 11 September 2009

Five Myths of Weight Lifting

Five Myths of Weight Lifting

by Jack W. Anderson

1. The 12 Rep rule

The twelve rep standard is often prescribed in bodybuilding routines for gaining muscle mass. However, doing this many reps at once actually places the type of strain needed for strength and endurance, rather than gains in muscle mass. In order to develop strength and gain mass, you will need to include both strategies in your workout with the addition of sets of fewer reps of heavier weights to your routine.

2. Three Set rule

It's best to look at this as a guideline for three sets rather than the rule for which it is usually taken. The number of sets in your routine will depend entirely on your goals for that routine. If you are going for strength then the old 3 sets of twelve is perfect, but for muscle mass you will want to do more sets of fewer reps and increase the weight.

3. 3 to 4 exercises per muscle group

The sad fact is that this is the most inefficient way to target a muscle group during a single workout. Instead of spreading all those reps out across three to four different exercises, it's best to do just fifty reps of one exercise during each workout. This way you are more effectively targeting each muscle group during a single workout.

4. Your knees and toes

Due to a study performed by researches at Memphis University in 2003 where they discovered that knee stress during squats was increased by about 30% if you allowed your knees to extend past your toes, it is know a common myth that doing squats this way should be avoided to prevent that extra stress on your knees.

While a 30% increase in knee stress may seem like a big deal, it's nothing compared to what they found next. If you attempt to keep your knees back, you lean forward more and transfer 10 times as much stress to your hips and back instead.

5. Bodybuilding supplements

The market saturation of early weight gain supplements led to a mass hysteria of bodybuilders everywhere buying and drinking gallons of what amounted to nothing more than sugary, overpriced milkshakes. While these do provide some muscle gain, the tendency of the body with these types of supplements is to store it as fat instead. Modern research into nutrition has led to a new and more competitive market of supplements that provide better nutrition for the aspiring bodybuilder.

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Monday, 31 August 2009

Body Building for Teenagers and It's Benefits

Body Building for Teenagers and It's Benefits

by Ricardo d Argence

More and more teenagers are taking up bodybuilding. Getting in shape and building muscle is not a bad idea if it is done correctly. Many key areas of the body are still developing during the teen years, although their bodies may appear to have reached adult height. Teenagers in search of an excellent body building routine need to include nutrition, weights and rest.

Body building routines are often disturbed by the normal teenager's energy supply. Teenagers are able to work out for long periods of time without getting fatigued, which allows them to spend more time targeting specific sets of muscles.

The idea is that more is better; in weight training, this is completely false. A rounded workout in which all muscle groups are worked equally is better. If a muscle reaches a certain point, no need to strain it more; this can reverse progress and cause injury.

Proper weight training starts slowly and then progresses. Don't make the mistake of straining yourself by starting with a weight that's too heavy. You should start with light to moderate weight and then work your way up.

Much too often, large quantities of supplements take priority over basic nutrition. While supplements can be helpful in moderation eating the right quantities of protein and fiber are more important. Getting enough nutrients is imperative for healing the muscles, which have actually been torn during your workout.

Water is an often forgotten aspect of nutrition. Our body gets major nutrition only from water because major organs depends on water and it comprises about 60% of our body. This includes your muscles. When training, your water consumption should significantly increase to well above the standard eight 8-ounce glasses a day recommendation. Your joints and vital organs will thank you, plus you will increase the success of your work out.

Next to water, this is the most overlooked aspect of training, especially in teens who feel indestructible. When you sleep the growth hormone, IGF-1 and testosterone are released, these are both necessary to the repair and growth of your muscles. That is what sleep was designed for, reparation of the body.

It is not enough to hit the gym hard every day to build muscles, you need a balanced approach for steady growth. This can hard to do for a generation who is used to getting what they want right now, but for long term success and to prevent injury this is the only way.

You can start weight training now and if you are into major physical sports like football it is imperative that you have a strong healthy body. Simply follow the tips above and you can have a safe productive work out.

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Discover Some Great Fat Burning Secrets

Discover Some Great Fat Burning Secrets

by Christina Carey

We all want to believe that there are some fat burning secrets that will help us lose weight. The truth is that no matter how bad you want to lose weight; there are no secrets why you and millions of other people are constantly struggling with weight loss.

While we all want to believe that there are fat burning secrets that we do not know about. The truth is that unless you are willing to take the necessary action to begin developing the body that you desire; chances are you will not notice any of the desired results that you want to see.

The weight is not just going to magically fall off of your body. People who first set weight loss goals for themselves become all excited in the beginning. After awhile of doing all the fat burning exercises and watching what they eat; they easily become depressed because they are not noticing the results that they would like to see.

If you have ever tried to lose fat from your body then you know that it can be very difficult. Here is one of the only fat burning secrets that you need to know; you have to keep persisting until you reach your weight loss goals.

Millions of people are not willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goals. This is the reason that so many people are overweight in our society.

Do not forget to visit our site below. It is jam packed with valuable information that will help you burn fat from your body and begin to develop the body that you really love. Sign up for our FREE 10 day ecourse that will walk you through with some tips and advice for getting back into shape.

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Sunday, 30 August 2009

Beginner Muscle Building Guide to Avoid The Common Mistakes

Beginner Muscle Building Guide to Avoid The Common Mistakes

by Ricardo d Argence

When you begin an exercise program, a lot of people are tempted to skip steps. I can tell you from my experience and mistakes that it will be beneficial to you to take a little more time to get the job right from the beginning. Allow me to share some advice so you can steer clear of the typical mistakes and discover what you should do different.

The use of a personal trainer can not be underestimated, and one thing you will never find them doing is starting your training program without a plan. So, even if you aren't using a trainer, use what is possibly the most important part of your training program. Set up a program that will progressively add to your workout load so that you continue to see results, and take your weight and inch measurements so that when you hit a slump, you can look back on how far you have come.

You need to incorporate different elements to your workouts while making it progressively more difficult. In order to maximize results, make each workout session more difficult as well. This is when your muscles start to show the toned results.

The majority of people have tried to cut down on calories, based on the many different sales pitches for various diets. Remember, it is absolutely necessary to eat in order to maintain a healthy metabolism. To maintain peak performance, you must keep adequate fuel in your body's tank. You must eat when you work out and healthy foods will not only make you muscular but also will fuel the energy you use during these workouts.

Illness and family emergencies, among other things may cause you to miss a workout here and there; but never let yourself become complacent about skipping your regular routine. As this attitude grabs hold of you, you miss the advantage of the tiny steps that will lead to the body image you desire. Your workout is important and that time may need to be altered when you aren't in your usual environment; perhaps while vacationing for example.

If you have thought about steroids and the magic pills well, if it seems to be too good to be true it probably is. Even if you see results from these things, you don't know the health risks associated with them. Diet pills are not supervised by the Food and Drug Administration, and several types have resulted in heart problems. The best route is a healthy diet and consistent exercise plan.

When you are not sleeping well, your whole body feels the effects. It hurts your mental clarity, you immune system and the safety you need during training. Get your eight hours in every night, even if you have to drop an activity that you like. It will make you much more productive during the time you are awake.

So, these should be common sense things, right? Even though you probably know all of this already, sometimes it doesn't hurt to get reminded. Good luck in your workouts, and just remember to stick to your plan.

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Saturday, 29 August 2009

Unique Protein Shake Recipes For Bodybuilder Diets

Unique Protein Shake Recipes For Bodybuilder Diets

by Marget M. Pena

Drinking whey protein shakes aids in the development of your body by giving you adequate amount of protein. With just one drink, you can complete your whole protein requirement for the day. The problem is that drinking the same ready-made protein shake is tiring. The solution to this is to concoct your own protein shake.

Protein powders can be mixed with dozens of ingredients and flavorings to create rich smoothies and shakes that not only taste great, but provide ample nutrition. David Heber and Susan Bowerman, authors of the book "The L.A. Shape Diet" point out that it's best to adjust shake recipes to suit your protein needs; most people need to consume a shake mix that provides at least 9 grams of protein before adding other proteins such as soy milk or skim milk. If you're getting tired of your usual nutrition program, here are a few delicious protein shake recipes to try:

Banana Protein Smoothie: You'll need 1 medium banana, 1 cup of soya milk, 1 teaspoon of golden syrup, 3 to 4 ice cubes, 2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt and of course, 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder. Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. This drink can be consumed as a meal replacement.

Strawberry-Nut Protein Shake: The ingredients for this are 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder, 1 cup low fat strawberry yogurt, 1/4 cup sliced strawberries and 5 macadamia and pine nuts. Shred the nuts and place all ingredients in a blender.

Chocolate Coffee Shake: This recipe requires 2 scoops of chocolate powder, 1 cup soy milk, 1 cup water, 5-6 ice cubes and 1 spoon of instant coffee. This recipe tastes like frozen frappuccinos available in coffee shops. You can drink this as a substitute for your coffee.

Wild Berry Smoothie: You'll need two scoops of vanilla powder, 1 cup of soy milk and one and a half cup each of three wild berries: raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. Place all ingredients in a blender and drop in some ice cubes for a cold drink.

Peanut Butter Shake: Prepare 2 scoops of vanilla protein, 1/2 cup each of raspberries strawberries, and blueberries and 1 cup of soy milk and three to five ice cubes. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. This recipe is great for desserts or as a stand-alone snack.

Cinnamon-Oatmeal Shake: The ingredients for this recipe are 1 cup dry oatmeal, 3 dashes of cinnamon, 2 scoops of vanilla protein, 2 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 tablespoon chopped almonds and 1 cup of soy milk. This shake is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.

Pina Colada Shake: Prepare 2 scoops of vanilla powder, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon of coconut extract and 1/2 cup of pineapple juice. This recipe needs 1/4 teaspoon of rum as well. Blend all ingredients and add 5 to 6 ice cubes for a thicker and colder drink.

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Friday, 28 August 2009

How to Build Pecs

How to Build Pecs

by Frank Hommes

If you're a beginner to weight lifting, you may feel like you're not doing something right when you're trying to learn how to build your pecs. You may see yourself doing all of the same exercises you see other people doing, but you're still having trouble getting your pecs built up. What you missing, is the understanding that's not just about the exercise itself, there's other things involved.

1. The first tip is to eat the correct types of food, because this is just as vital as doing the proper exercises. The reason for this, is that muscle can't be built without certain types of nutrients. Muscle is composed of protein and in order to build up the muscle properly, you should be eating food with a lot of protein. Eating foods rich in carbohydrates can also help, because they give the body extra energy during the workout.

Overall health is a big part of how to build pecs so having a well balanced diet will be useful. Along with eating a lot of protein a person should be eating many fruits and vegetables. The body will be able to focus on building new muscle as long as it is healthy.

2. The second secret is stretching. A person trying to build their pecs should do stretches that get the upper chest ready to do some hard work. One can do something as simple as mimicking the motion of a push-up while standing can stretch out the pectoral muscles.

People should avoid overworking their pecs for the same reason they should stretch. Too much activity on the pectoral muscles can strain the muscles causing them damage as opposed to making them stronger. It could also lead to overly pronounced pecs which some people call "man boobs."

3. The third tip is to perform the proper types of exercises if want to build up your pecs. An exercise such as push-up, can properly work the pecs and can be done right at your home. Also, if you have access to a weight lifting bench you can do bench presses in addition.

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Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Five Known Fat Loss Mistakes People Continue To Do

Five Known Fat Loss Mistakes People Continue To Do

by Tomuse Gospuse

Straight to the point, there are up to five different fat loss mess ups that I've seen men and women do everyday. Fix these mistakes now and you will lose fat.

1. No support whatsoever

Trying to lose fat without any social support from your friends, family, trainer, etc. is not the way to go. Research has proved that with social support you will most likely be successful in burning fat. Concentrate on two people out of your social support that has be successful as well.

2. Not using a program

If you walk into the gym wondering what you are going to do first today then you should just leave because your wasting your time. Make a plan, understand what you got to do. Stay with it and complete it. Now you wont be walking around the gym figuring out where to start.

3. Keeping the same workout after 4 weeks

The longest you should go with one program is 4 weeks. If you have stayed with a program more than 4 weeks and if it hasn't worked yet, it isn't going to magically start now. Change it up more frequently. You will receive more results and have a lot more fun.

4. Not taking it into consideration that nutrition is a big part to losing fat as well

Diet and nutrition is a big part in losing fat. Eating right is an important factor for fat loss. You can't just go to the gym bust it out training like an animal and still eat junk food. That way you won't see the fat loss your looking for. Your diet is as important as your training. Consume natural whole foods, 6 meals a day (medium sized). Take in plenty of protein, vegetables and fiber. Eat fats that is good for you, stay away from trans fat. Also drink a lot of water. It is simple and yet effective.

5. Not knowing their limit to exercising

I always get asked by people if adding more lifting and cardio to their workout is good, no it isn't. People get this crazy idea that if they add more cardio and lifting to their training it would be even better for them. Doing so is not advised.

Your body can breakdown to fast from too much exercise, especially when you are dieting. Over training and low calories do not go together. This type of combo will not make your engine run at optimum performance.

Look towards quality in your workout not quantity. For lots of reasons stick to high quality training and high quality nutrition. All that matters is the results that you see not aching muscles or exhaustion after each exercise. It is all about quality exercising and a quality diet for a healthier better looking body.

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Save Money By Muscle Building at Home

Save Money By Muscle Building at Home

by Mark Wilson

Is driving to the gym to time consuming? You can produce great results from the convenience of your home working out under the right advice. You can ensure success if the right steps are taken, in a home work out as opposed to a gym membership.

Muscle building at home can and should be easy as long as you have motivation and dedication, and put in the hard work needed for the results youre looking for.

You need to start eating healthy before beginning to work out, contrary to popular belief that exercise is the first step. You can focus on finding the right exercises after you have good diet plan and are eating only the correct healthy foods.

Buy the right equipment for your home before you start working out. The right weights, and the equipment that comes with them, makes muscle building at home much safer and more effective. If you dont have the right amount of weights for the exercises you want to perform, the risk of injury increase.

As with most health related issues, consult your physician before starting a home work out program. You can learn what is needed to shed excess body fat and the proper use of the weights in your first visit with your physician. Your physician will be able to let you know what lifts to you should be avoiding as well as diagnosing any potential health conditions that would inhibit in your muscle building program.

Remember the pros and cons of weight machines and free weights when it comes time to buy equipment. Weight machines take up a considerable amount of space and limit movement, unlike free weights. When considering which weights to buy, always consider quality and durability.

Envision the weights in the space you have allotted to work out in. Do you have storage available when the weights are not in use? Make a more economical choice if space is not sufficient for a large set of weights or machines. Free weights are able to be purchased in weight combinations for numerous exercises and generally garner less space than machines. The ease and efficiency of muscle building from home will come to fruition by buying the proper weights.

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Tuesday, 25 August 2009

What Body Builders Understand About Muscle

What Body Builders Understand About Muscle

by Dr. Dorothy Nevelestein

Whey protein isolate and whey protein powder concentrate is an examination very frequently sought. This question without a doubt is one that has crossed the minds of a lot of hopeful weight lifters when glancing at the shelves of an assortment of kinds of whey protein powder on hand in the health food supermarket.

Which whey protein is the one for you; concentrate or isolate?

The most imperative differentiation amid the two is that Isolate is processed at deeper levels so that the fat and lactose are removed. This more involved system provides a higher quality of protein. The fact is that over 90% of whey protein powder isolate is protein calculated by weight.

This is precious as smaller levels of fat are an advantage for the standard daily diet of bodybuilders and when whey is utilized for the principle of losing mass.

Decreased lactose levels are also a positive for individuals who are lactose intolerant and can also diminish the chance of that bloated feeling that can go along with some protein supplements. There are some side effects to using whey protein isolate nonetheless.

Since it is high in protein ratio, isolate powder requires you to pay a higher retail price. The filtering procedure isolate goes through is significantly more intensive to remove the components that are known as alpha lactoglobulins and lactoferrins which is significant immune boosters.

Whey concentrate has lower protein availability that can range from anywhere between 29% and up to 89% in some instances. Concentrate is elevated in levels of lactose and anyone in distress with lactose intolerance needs to be very wary.

Concentrate does have an advantage because it cost less so this can be a better alternative depending on what your financial plan is. Whey concentrate protein powder also is small in levels of cholesterol, which is another positive to consider for your diet.

On the whole, dietary and medical circumstances call for action to be taken into consideration when choosing the type of whey protein powder you choose.

Isolate may have the minor edge in terms of biological value (BV) and will provide you with more worth for the money if you are requiring a higher dosage per serving of protein.

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Sunday, 23 August 2009

Solid Protein is Good for Muscle Gain

Solid Protein is Good for Muscle Gain

by Dr. Dorothy Nevelestein

Out of the many protein sources out there, whey protein is the ultimate. It comes from milk. During the process of turning milk into cheese, whey protein is separated out. Protein can be found in a variety of foods -mainly meats, such as fish, beef, and chicken.

Dairy products as well as eggs, cottage cheese, soy and vegetable protein also contain good amounts of protein. Nevertheless, none of these sources compares in quality or ease of use like whey protein. Whey protein has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which result in building and retaining muscle tissue.

Research has shown that ingesting protein powder every day can boost immune system health, facilitate the healing of wounds after surgery or injury, and promote healthy skin - in addition to fostering muscle strength and development.

A human body needs daily protein because that is what muscles and tissues are built from, and there is no place where the body can store extra protein. The need for adequate protein in the human body is second only to the need for water.

Luckily, it has been found that most varied diets - including vegan get plenty of protein through daily intake of various food combinations. However, some people like to supplement their protein intake, or occasionally substitute a fast, easy protein shake for a meal.

Whey protein also plays a role as an antioxidant and helps support a health immune system. Most importantly, consistent whey protein intake coupled with exercise will result in consistent muscle building.

Protein powders can also be a combination of one or more ingredients.

These concentrated sources of protein are processed into the powdered form, to be reconstituted into liquid form as a protein shake, or mixed with fruit juice or milk. Additionally, protein powders can be sprinkled on cereal, stirred into soups or stews, and cooked into baked goods.

Protein powder is designed to be taken everyday as a dietary supplement. Even if you aren't a bodybuilder, starting your day with a protein powder shake can provide nutritional benefits. While many nutritionists advise consuming protein throughout the day, a healthy boost of protein first thing in the morning can stabilize your blood sugar levels throughout the rest of the day.

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Thursday, 20 August 2009

Toughen Muscles with Proper Protein

Toughen Muscles with Proper Protein

by Nathaniel Millsby PHD

If you want to get big and strong, don't forget to take your protein powder. Bodybuilders have long relied upon protein powder to make sure they get the high level of protein needed to beef up their bodies through lifting weights and exercise.

Dairy products as well as eggs, cottage cheese, soy and vegetable protein also contain good amounts of protein. Nevertheless, none of these sources compares in quality or ease of use like whey protein. Whey protein has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which result in building and retaining muscle tissue.

When you use that protein powder, though, can really help you. So you want to strategically place when you are adding the protein powder in. It's a great tool also, because it's digested easily, it's easily absorbed. So it makes a great post-workout recovery drink.

A human body needs daily protein because that is what muscles and tissues are built from, and there is no place where the body can store extra protein. The need for adequate protein in the human body is second only to the need for water.

Luckily, it has been found that most varied diets - including vegan get plenty of protein through daily intake of various food combinations. However, some people like to supplement their protein intake, or occasionally substitute a fast, easy protein shake for a meal.

Protein powders are made from four basic sources: whey (from milk), egg, soy and rice.

Protein powders can also be a combination of one or more ingredients.

By being a direct precursor to building muscle and essential amino acids.

Protein powder is designed to be taken everyday as a dietary supplement. Even if you aren't a bodybuilder, starting your day with a protein powder shake can provide nutritional benefits. While many nutritionists advise consuming protein throughout the day, a healthy boost of protein first thing in the morning can stabilize your blood sugar levels throughout the rest of the day.

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