Friday, 15 May 2009

Muscle building and the importance of getting enough rest

Muscle building and the importance of getting enough rest

by Jon Cardozo

Have you ever noticed that some people spend far too much time weightlifting? In fact, you may be one of those people yourself. It reminds me of when I took some personal lessons from a trainer in a local gym.

While I was there I noticed that there were a few trainees that seemed to be showing up every day and always hung out in the same area. They seemed to be performing the same exercises every day without any rest for the muscles. Meanwhile, I was just there to get some lessons for my trainer.

I've learned a few things about weightlifting, and I've also come to understand some mistakes among beginners. Over training is one of those common mistakes.

There are many symptoms of over training which result when your body experiences total exhaustion in the gym. When you work your body too hard for too long, your entire body will begin to suffer for it.

Even if you don't become sick, you may not be getting the results you want if you spent far too much time in the gym.

The idea here is that you have to give your muscles rest because that is when they actually grow. Weightlifting stimulates the muscle, but the actual growth will occur afterwards.

This process can continue throughout the next day, so if you don't give your body a rest your muscle building efforts will probably suffer eventually. You can tell this is happening if you fail to progress during the next workout. Your body really does need to rest in order to prepare for the next, more challenging workout.

Always be cautious and give your muscles (and your whole body, for that matter) a rest before going back to the gym.

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Six pack abs in a week

Six pack abs in a week

by Tim Tofting

If you have recently been going over a number of reference items on the Internet, or in the real world, you would already have come across the claim that attaining the six pack abs could possibly occur in one week. What's in this hypothesis and can it be done? Unless you get to talk to an individual or you've seen the improvement with your own eyes could you truly know if it is true or not? The following information is generous enough to give you a precise account.

The real problem is that there's no truth to the claim that the flat abs which everyone clearly wants can possibly be achieved in a week. Seven days will not be adequate to shape a not so good looking tummy. This is just a misunderstanding and if you take time analyzing it, fat cannot be converted to muscle in such a short span of time. It's not a cake that you might bake overnight so keep reading to get a more realistic explanation.

The truth is that the best abs ever could just be attained when you join the right routine with that of a good dose of good dietary habits. Indeed, you may be doing crunches as well as sit ups till you perspire like there is no tomorrow however, if you do not have the goal of increasing your metabolism, nothing will proceed properly.

Another myth which is involved in the concept of getting those good looking abs is that you should pump the muscles through doing repetitive sets of exercises. What you need to understand is that all people have abs however the majority of people's are hidden under that unneeded stomach fat so it is only right for you to know that dropping the tummy fat is the key to great abs. The high level exercise will create an effect which would nonetheless set your blood pumping so that the body is ready enough to vanquish that fat in your stomach region.

If you truly wish to shake off that tummy fat of yours, all that you have to do is to burn it off. Dedicate a minimum of fifteen minutes give or take hit the heavy exercises which would specialize on the mid-section. You have two options and they are either to work out the old fashioned way or to use a machine.

The next thing that you must watch out for is the your nutrition so eat the right food at the right time. According to the experts, it is best to take six small servings of meals in one day that will keep your metabolism working at its best so it can burn the fat as well as additional calorie deposits. Eat foods which are abundant in proteins, carbohydrates, and all of the needed fats, although, everything must be in moderation.

Do this for at least two months straight and then you will gradually earn the much desired six pack abs! However, you must be unhurried as well as diligent if you wish to bask in the results the hard work you have put into it.

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Thursday, 14 May 2009

4 Important Constituents of Body Building Supplements

4 Important Constituents of Body Building Supplements

by Angela Giles

A well shaped athletic body is a source of great confidence and pride. Many people engage in body building for this reason and not just for participating in sports. Cutting down fat and developing muscles is not an easy task for anyone. It requires a correct combination of exercise, sleep and diet.

Training for body building requires additional supply of energy and vital nutrients which is only possible by using body building supplements. There are 2 reasons to take these supplements. One is to build strong muscles and second is to restore damaged muscle tissues. Calcium, folic acid, creatine and amino acids are commonly used by body builders. However, nutritional research has produced what are known as 'Super Supplements' which include essential Omega3 fatty acids.

Proteins: These are the most essential components in any bodybuilding program. Muscles are basically comprised of water and proteins. During workouts, muscles are stretched and sometimes the tissues are broken. Proteins help in the repair of damaged muscle tissues. Whey protein, milk protein and egg white protein are common sources of protein supplements. Soy proteins are an alternative used by vegetarians. Most over the counter protein supplements are available in powdered form.

Omega3 fatty acids: Body building programs aim to eliminate fat and increase muscle but in the process they eliminate the essential fats also from the diet which are highly important in maintaining brain functionality. Therefore, it is recommended to take fatty acid supplements in the form of cold water fish oil like that of salmon and mackerel. You can also derive these from pumpkin seeds and walnuts.

Meal replacement: Serious body builders usually replace one normal meal of the day with a low glycemic meal consisting of powdered drink mixes, energy bars and snacks. These foods provide a balanced composition of proteins, vitamins and minerals. They are also low in fat and carbohydrates. A long term body building program must include a meal replacement strategy.

Creatine: This is a natural compound in the body that provides a short burst of energy to the muscles whenever required like for lifting weights. It works by increasing the water retention capacity of muscles which make them stronger and energetic. Creatine also helps in improving brain functions and in reducing mental fatigue. If you are engaging in body building, then you will need additional supplementation of this compound.

Taking body building supplements before, during and after the work-out is critical. Before the workout, the body needs to build an energy reserve and protein reserve that will build muscle mass. After the workout, repairing muscle tissues and reenergizing the body is a priority. In intense training sessions, body builders also consume energy drinks during the workouts. Usana Health Sciences offers a wide range of supplements including drink mixes and energy bars that can be effectively used for meal replacement during training.

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