Tuesday, 18 August 2009

Bodybuilding Tips, How To Train Your Body After Age 40

Bodybuilding Tips, How To Train Your Body After Age 40

by Ricardo d Argence

They say that age is just a number, but when it comes to work outs and staying in shape that age factor is a definite factor in how you will approach your fitness regimen. Some people want to say that they are over 40 and they use their age as an excuse for not maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a regular workout routine.

Age is not a sufficient excuse not to exercise and try to stay fit. When done correctly you can incorporate workouts, weight lifting and healthy diet in such a way that you remain healthy, fit and active for years and it does not matter how old you are when you start.

You may not know it but weight lifting or bodybuilding routines are good for more than simply building muscle mass. These regimens can also help you lose weight, increase bone thickness and give you a lean fit body. If you want to feel better about your body and life in overall, you should know that exercise will get you there.

People who exercise also experience the release of endorphins from the brain, which helps, maintain a sense of happiness and well-being.

To start with a few basics it is understood that at 40 years old you might need to make a concession or two in your workout regimen. That however does not mean you should fall for the lies about aging.

Remember being 20 years old and taking off at a sprint without a second thought? Well at 40 your muscles and joints are not as limber as they used to be! You will need to allot about 15 minutes to stretching and limbering up these muscles and joints. You will quickly become more flexible but best of all you will run less risk of injury through spraining a joint or damaging a muscle. Be sure you completely stretch as this helps to condition your muscles.

Next should come a 15-minute cardio session on a treadmill, an elliptical training machine, a stair stepper, or a stationary bike. You are not going for the gusto with this exercise, but you do want to get your heart rate up a little and you want to build upon the limbering and stretching that you just completed. This exercise will let your body know that you are serious about doing some work.

Next, you will want to use some lightweights in your routine. If you happen to be training with free weights or on a circuit do a run through without using any heavy weights and then follow the warm up with adequate weight and reps.

Bodybuilders of all levels find a pyramid method very helpful in their weight routines. This technique consists of doing more repetitions with less weights and then lessening the reps as you add more and more weights. The pyramid technique is great for building body mass and more muscle.

Concentrate on the proper form at all times, even if you have to cut back on the weight or the reps, having your form correct with each lift must be foremost in your mind. Not only does this maximize your results, it cuts down on the risk of injury.

Your session with weights should be kept to about 30-45 minutes and you will want to repeat your training at least four days every week. Once you have completed your weight training it is helpful to run another cardiovascular routine partly as a way to wind it all down but more so to strengthen your heart and lungs.

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Monday, 17 August 2009

Bodybuilding Tips, How Lack of Sleep Will Kill Your Muscle Gain

Bodybuilding Tips, How Lack of Sleep Will Kill Your Muscle Gain

by Ricardo d Argence

It's easy to go to the gym a few times a week and then assume you will just sit back and watch your muscles grow. But there are many other factors involved besides just physically working out and targeting your muscles through weight training.

One of the most overlooked elements involved is that you need to rest properly- not just between workouts, but actually get a good night's rest at the end of the day. Changing around your sleep schedule so you get a solid and consistent night of rest, every night, can lead to big changes in the results you see from your bodybuilding program.

If you are sitting there asking yourself questions why sleep is so important, then continue reading.

For starters, your body recovers and rebuilds muscle while you are asleep. This is the crucial time when other parts of your body are shut down and not consuming energy or internal resources that your body uses to repair damages from bodybuilding.

Without enough of this quality rest, simply put, your body won't have enough time or availability to repair old muscle and build new muscle. You will be severely inhibiting your gains by not allowing your muscles to heal, mend and grow properly.

Another reason that sleep is so important for bodybuilding is that a lack of sleep can cause you to have a lack of focus and a lack of physical energy. A lack of mental focus can destroy your results while you're in the gym.

You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you get in the gym and you can't visualize the exercises you are going to do and you can't focus on moving from one to the next, you aren't going to get a great workout.

The best thing you can do once you incorporate it into your lifestyle is to make sure that you stick with it. Getting a good amount of sleep will make this easier because you will be awake, focused, and have energy to get into the gym. If you do not get the sleep that you need you will do things at a much slower rate causing to fall behind on stuff you must take care of, and you may not have time to get to the gym on certain days.

This is as much of a mental game, as it is a physical one. You need to make sure that you get the proper amount of sleep so that chemical balances in your body are normal, providing you with a good rhythm.

Sleeping releases some hormones into your bloodstream that are essential for proper metabolism and muscle gain. At the same time, sleep also inhibits other hormones that can lead to fat gain and other unseemly consequences.

You need to make sure that you are not sleeping a wide variety of different hours every night. Sleeping for 5 hours one night and 11 the next is not the same as sleeping for 8 both nights. As stated earlier you want consistency.

So as you can see a good sleeping pattern is very important for bodybuilding. So set yourself up with a plan to sleep the same amount every night and do your best to stick with it, and you should see a significant increase in your workouts.

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Wednesday, 12 August 2009

The Reasons for Swelling after Workout

The Reasons for Swelling after Workout

by Jesse Regan

Most of us have probably experienced muscle swelling or soreness after a workout. Although this doesn't happen all the time, muscle swelling often happens after having intense work outs. But what causes muscle swelling in the first place?

Swelling of muscles is the most definite result of very intense work outs like great speed on the tracks, ever tiring star climber, and heavy weight lifting. Every time our muscles work, lactic acid is released as a byproduct of muscle metabolism. This certain byproduct goes through the muscles that produce an effect of discomfort leading to muscle swelling. Fortunately, muscle soreness caused by the said byproduct only lasts for a few hours or less than a day. When a certain muscle swelling is observed for several days, it has a totally different cause.

People who are in a goal of building up huge muscles, they tend to subject their muscles to exercises that are so intense and far greater than their capacities. When this happens, muscle is damaged but is repaired immediately through the aid of white blood cells, prostaglandins, and other fluids and nutrients. The influx of these fluids causes a discomforting effect on the muscles that trigger swelling. This certain damage is microscopic and is healed depending on how intense the work out was. This makes a good reason why muscle swelling lasts from 2 to 5 days maximum.

Some gym goers believe that muscle swelling is a vital factor for the development of muscles. However, whether you have muscle swelling or not, muscles still do grow as well as your strength. On the other hand, there are certain bad effects that are caused by muscle swelling like limited strength, difficulty in walking, and being uncomfortable for several days.

An anti-inflammatory may come in handy as a remedy for muscle swelling. However, there is a certain difference between taking an anti-inflammatory drug before and after a workout. Several studies have revealed that taking an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen before exercise reduces more soreness or swelling than taking it after a workout. In some cases, gym enthusiasts rely solely on pre-stretching to help either prevent or reduce muscle swelling. But careful investigation exposed that pre-stretching has no notable contribution to preventing or reducing muscle soreness.

Probably the best and the most relaxing remedy for muscle swelling is a massage. Several careful investigations have found out that those who received massages after their work outs experience 30% less soreness on their muscles compared to those who have not. But you may have some confusion in within you as to whether or not continue your work out even when you have muscle swelling. If you do have one, it is best if you know the exact muscles that have swelling. After which, you can then try those muscles on some light exercises. If the soreness of your muscle seems to have no effect on your workout performance, you can then proceed on the full work out itself. But if swelling happens to get worse, it is much preferable to stop the work out and have some rest. It is important to bear in mind that damaged muscles require more time for them to fully recover before they start growing. It is necessary for you to have more valuable information about workout tips if you're aiming for fitness.

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Friday, 7 August 2009

Is Buying Home Fitness Equipment The Right Choice For Me?

Is Buying Home Fitness Equipment The Right Choice For Me?

by John James

There are a hundreds of types of home fitness equipment available these days that are sold in the marketplace. Unfortunately many would-be fitness enthusiasts make the mistake of buying the wrong type of equipment because they haven't thought about what they require.

A lot of fitness equipment is promoted through television ads. Keep in mind that you will never be told the whole truth, so don't let the adverts fool you. When you are willing to buy equipment for your home gym, give yourself some time to think about your preferences and don't let your choices be influenced by commercials.

Remember that home fitness equipment is designed to perform different tasks and you will need to work out just what parts of your body you intend to train. If you have other outside physical activities then hopefully the equipment will help you train for these. The problem is that buying the equipment is the easy bit, it is actually using it that takes determination.

Always remember that the cost of an item is no guarantee it will be used so think about this before you hand over your credit card. If this were the case there wouldn't be so many ads in the classified section of the paper each week! Once you have set yourself an upper limit to the amount you want to spend, find the best you can for the amount you have available.

Although this is not always true you might find yourself buying expensive equipment that is of poor quality while a cheaper alternative, such as used equipment, can actually be made to a high standard. However, if you prefer to have new home fitness equipment with a guarantee then start your search with ex-demonstration stock used in stores or older models that may be sold for less.

When thinking of creating your own personal home gym, it is crucial to estimate how much space will be needed. Also, being aware of your current fitness level is important. Starting to work out regularly may be a shock to your body if it is out of shape, so asking for your doctor's permission first is usually a good idea.

It can also be a good idea for you to consider joining a local gym and using their apparatus to get used to it,then if you think that buying your own home fitness equipment will be a less expensive long term option, go for that. Buying fitness equipment should not be done on a whim so if you really can't make up your mind which way to go, why not ask a professional fitness instructor.

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Tuesday, 4 August 2009

The Weight Training Exercises That Will Get You Your Ideal Body

The Weight Training Exercises That Will Get You Your Ideal Body

by Emmanuel Palmer

There are two main objectives that people are armed with as they head towards the gym-- they either want to trim off excess weight, or pack on huge muscles. If you want to lose some pounds and tone up your body, then go on a low calorie diet and aim for high cardiovascular workouts. However, to build bigger muscle you will have to do the opposite. Load up on the calories and brace yourself for intense weight training exercises that will surely get you a massive physique.

For this article, we concentrate on those who want to build up their body. You will first of all need to gain a considerable amount of body mass. To accomplish this, trainers suggest 45 to 75 minutes of high intensity training. Cardio workouts will be done only minimally during certain days of the week. Maximize every session by taking only 90 second breaks between each set.

There are many new exercise equipment and drills out there but the simplest ones are usually the most effective. For legs, you can never go wrong with squats. Change up the positions in executing squats and you can target the different sections of your leg area. Supplement these drills with calf raises and lunges.

There are differing opinions between bodybuilders regarding the most effective chest exercises one can use. The bench press is the standard exercise to get that massive chest going for you. However, a lot of people claim that the mobility of performing dumbbell flyes and pullovers work better than the bench press. The right or wrong answer ultimately rests on the individual. If you see that your body responds better to one method, then go for that. What is important is that your body is challenged to do better, and you can do this by varying the weights, reps/sets and drills of your program every few weeks.

Big arms are best serviced by bench dips and barbell curls. As you go further in your training, periodically add on to the weight load you are lifting. Wait and see the difference this will make. Your arms will feel the burn and even outside of training, expect soreness to set in. If they are still painful when you go back to the gym, do not exercise. Rest them instead.

Use pull-ups to exercise your back and military press (sitting and standing) to beef up your shoulders. There are a number of back and shoulder drills which you should also use but these are some of the most effective by far. Modify your workouts every two to six weeks because your body needs to be pushed to its endurance limits for your weight training exercises to work.

For bodybuilding purposes, strong aerobic training is not advisable. That being said, make sure you do not neglect your cardiovascular training by engaging in light running or sports every so often. Your goal maybe to bulk up; but it shouldn't be at the expense of your heart's health.

Most of all, solidify your weight training exercises by giving it your all every time. You might be able to trick yourself in completing the designated drills with poor form and lackadaisical energy; but do not complain that results are long in coming. Do your best, you won't regret it. Not only will you build bigger muscle-you have an opportunity to build your character and personal tenacity as well.

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Saturday, 1 August 2009

4 Things You Must Know About Workout Meals

4 Things You Must Know About Workout Meals

by Ryse Edwards

How you workout can have a significant effect towards the amount of muscle you build. However, how you eat prior to and after your workout can have just as much of an effect on your body as the workout. Here are four muscle building tips to help you plan a diet accordingly.

1. High Calories

While you are probably well aware of the amount of protein you need to be eating, it is equally important you consume a great deal of calories. If you do not take in enough calories, you are not going to grow. Depending on the shape you are in, you want to take your bodyweight and multiply it by 10.

2. Multiple meals

How much you eat everyday is always going to be important. However, there are people out there who think that you have to eat 3 meals a day of healthy foods. There are also people out there who believe not eating at all is a great way to lose weight. The healthiest and most efficient way to lose weight is by planning your meals and eating 6-7 small meals everyday.

Pre-Workout meals

Carbohydrates are something that the body needs to fuel itself. However, one of the things that people are not aware of is that there are fast burning carbs, and slow burning carbs. The best thing to do pre workout would be to eat pasta or rice, which are slow burning carbs so that your body can train longer and harder with that energy lasting longer.

4. Post-Workout meal

Following your workout, you want a meal that is high in fast burning carbs and protein. Typically, you want to consume a protein shake that is accompanied by some form of sugar.

Making sure you stay on a strict diet is just as important as working out yourself. With that said you are going to need to make sure that you talk to a nutritionist who can put you on a diet that is right for what you are looking to accomplish.

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Thursday, 30 July 2009

Female Bodybuilding Workout - Learn 3 Simple Ways for Female Fitness Bodybuilding

Female Bodybuilding Workout - Learn 3 Simple Ways for Female Fitness Bodybuilding

by Camelion Keen

All things are equal, the female will be obviously lower muscle mass than male and there are different way of metabolizes between women and men. Female bodybuilders have to be even tougher because of their higher levels of fat i order that women need to increase the metabolism of certain physiological.

There are some female fitness bodybuilding tips for you.

Focus and concentrate on your bodybuilding plan . Set a goal for your desired bodyshape. A clear and detail goals are very important for female fitness bodybuilding thus you know what you want to achieve. Tell your trainer or friend about your goal and let's start to hit your goal.

Next, follow your plan has designed by the trainer. There's no hard and fast rule that you have to work with a trainer of your own gender, but it helps to talk about any misconceptions you may have about your own body building. Discuss with your trainer and follow the workout set and exercise from the plan. Check your goal and make sure you are on track to achieve your goal.

Increase high quality like chicken and fish but lowering carbs in your diet. Sufficient protein is needed for your diet to help supplement your muscle development. Some healthy fats like olive oil and green vegetables in your diet will povide you with neccessary minerals and do wonder for your skin. Make sure you eat enough protein for your body to develop muscle. It's recommended that you eat protein every 2-3 hours.

How about at night? Other way to make sure enough protein for night when I sleep?

Typically after 2-4 hours period, protein completely left your body system. It will not be able to keep your body with enough protein for 8 hours sleep. Some people will wake up after 4 hours and consume some protein for their body. It would recommend to eat fatty protein before bed. The protein in your body will last longer over the night because fat slows down the digestive system. Example for fatty and high protein food like cottage cheese.

Hope this Female Bodybuilding workout tips will help you. Let's start now.

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