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Wasif H

How Much Protein Do You Need When Lifting Weights? | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • Protein serves a number of functions in the body. This nutrient is essential for the proper growth and repair of muscle tissue, as well as all other bodily tissues.
  • There has been some debate about how much protein the body needs for optimal gains in muscle mass, although recent guidelines, as of February 2011, suggest that it's less than previously thought.
  • Recent guidelines, as of February 2011, suggest that the ideal protein intake for strength-training athletes is in the range of 0.7 to 1.0 g of protein per 1 lb. of body weight each day.
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  • This translates to about 28 to 40 calories from protein per 1 lb. of body weight each day. Previous recommendations have suggested protein intake in excess of 1.5 g per 1 lb. of body weight.
  • Protein is composed of amino acids, which provide protein with its ability to promote tissue growth and meet other bodily needs. The body can produce many of these amino acids on its own, although nine are deemed "essential" because the body can not manufacture them. The best sources of protein for building muscle are those that contain all nine essential amino acids. Meat, eggs, dairy products and soy have all essential amino acids.
  • Whey and casein protein are two popular protein supplements in the fitness industry. Both of these proteins come from milk extract and can be effective stimulants for new muscle growth, especially when combined with carbohydrates.
  • If you are not a weightlifter, you still need a certain amount of protein each day. Most healthy adults need 0.4 to 0.5 g of protein per 1 lb. of body weight each day
  • Endurance athletes, on the other hand, need about 0.6 to 0.7 g of this nutrient per 1 lb. of body weight. Protein should generally account for about 10 to 15 percent of your total calories daily.
Ali C

Body Toning Exercises: Upper Body - 0 views

  • Exercise 1 - Chest and Shoulders Lie on your back and grasp your weights with the palms of your hands facing up, and your arms outstretched to the sides. With your elbows slightly bent, lift your arms above your chest until your hands are almost touching. Return to starting position and repeat.
  • Exercise 2 - Chest and Shoulders Lie on your back and grasp your weights with the palms of your hands facing up, and your arms outstretched above your head. Grip your weights and bring them over your head and down to your hips, by your sides - a semi-circular motion. Lift back to starting position and repeat.
  • Exercise 3 - Chest and Back Sitting with your back straight (preferably supported) and legs straight out in front of you, hold your weights in at your chest with your elbows out to the side (parallel to the floor). Push your arms out straight in front of you then pull them back in. Repeat.
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  • Exercise 6 - Upper Arms, Shoulders and Back Standing with feet slightly apart, grasp your weights and bend at the waist until your torso is parallel to the floor. Extend your arms towards the floor with palms facing outwards. Lift your arms out to the side, keeping them straight, until parallel to the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat.
  • Exercise 5 - Shoulders and Upper Arms Stand with feet shoulder width apart and arms raised straight up above your head, grip your weights with your palms facing behind you. Slowly bring your arms forward and down, without bending at the elbow, until level with your shoulders. Lift back to starting position and repeat.
  • Exercise 4 - Back and Shoulders Stand with feet shoulder width apart and arms by your sides, gripping the weights with palms facing outwards. Making sure your movements are slow and concentrated, tense your shoulder and upper back muscles, then slowly "shrug" them up and down.
  • Exercise 7 - Upper Arms, Shoulders and Back Standing with feet slightly apart, position your arms straight down in front of you almost against your body - with your weights almost touching. Bend your elbows and lift your weights towards your chin, bringing your elbows out to the side, in line with your shoulders. Return to the starting position and repeat.
  • Exercise 8 - Arms and Chest The classic push up. With your hands shoulder width apart place your palms on the floor. Stretch out your body with either your knees on the floor, or if you're feeling ambitious, your toes - so you are supporting your body weight. Keeping your back straight and using your arms lower yourself gently toward the floor until you are hovering just over it. Push yourself slowly back to your starting position and repeat. Remember - don't lower yourself to the point where you come into contact with the floor, it'll be much harder to push back up.
  • Exercise 9 - Arms In a sitting position with your back straight, relax your arms in line with your body. Grip your weights with your palms facing upwards and curl them up towards your shoulders, then back down again. Repeat. Keep your torso still and back straight, let your arms do the work.
  • Exercise 10 - Forearms Holding your weight with your arm outstretched in front of you, tilt your wrist up and down repeatedly. Try doing this with both an overhand and underhand grip on your weight. Do one arm at a time.
    • Ali C
       
      really good site, it had everything I wanted. I wanted to learn about tone and how to tone parts of the body and it gave me every inch of detail from chest to arms to forearms.
Anita B

Protein In Your Diet | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • The protein you obtain from your diet plays numerous roles in your body. Protein contributes to your connective tissue and helps your body build muscle, which allows you to stand and walk. Protein also helps your body synthesize enzymes and some hormones. Proteins help your body maintain acid-base and fluid balance. Your body also relies on protein as part of your immune response to help destroy potentially harmful substances.
    • Anita B
       
      Protein is a crucial part of ones diet. Proteins allow us to fulfill everyday routines just like walking. But what i always wonder is how much do we really need?
    • Anita B
       
      Since every persons body is different, everyone needs different amounts of protein! It is said that: 1. consume 0.8 g of protein for every kg of body weight 2. from your calories intake, about 10 to 35 percent should be proteins
  • protein foods, such as ground beef, full-fat cheese and whole milk, are also high in saturated fat. If you consume too much of these types of protein-rich foods, it can lead to increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase your risk of heart disease
    • Anita B
       
      I never really thought about this point made here, but infact it's true. Sometimes people that are low on iron begin eating ground beaf etc. but dont actually realize that there foods are high in saturated facts. I've actually seen this with one of my family friends. She is low on iron and eats a great amount of ground-beef!
Aninder S

The Body Blog: Quick and Efficient Exercises : CollegeCandy - 0 views

  • There are certain exercises and combinations of exercises that burn calories faster than others. If you only have 30 minutes to work out, walking on a treadmill is probably not the best way to burn off that box of cookies from last nigh
  • which exercises are the quickest calorie burners and the fastest routes to a healthy and fit body?
  • 1. Running
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  • 2. Rowing
  • 3. Swimming
  • Not only do these three exercises burn the most calories in 30 minutes (avg. 300 for a 145 pound person), but they also build muscle and tone your entire body
  • Walking, biking and even using the elliptical trainer will not work your body as hard or as well, because those exercises target your lower body and leave your upper body hanging out and doin’ nothing.
  • If you don’t even have 30 minutes in your action-packed schedule to get to the gym, try jumping rope
  • but 10 minutes of jumping rope can burn up to 200 calories
  • It is really easy to find excuses not to work out, but try and squeeze these exercises into your day. You’ll feel better, look better, and give yourself a much needed break from catching up on all the reading you’re somehow already behind on even though it’s only the first day of class.
Ali C

THE ROLE OF RED MEAT IN OUR DIET - 0 views

  • Red meat has played a significant role in human evolution and remains a core food in most people's diet Red meat is naturally nutrient rich and provides so many of the essential nutrients our body requires for optimum health. Red meat is full of goodness; it tastes great, is extremely versatile and it deliciously satisfies appetites, whether eaten as part of a main meal or a snack. The goodness found in red meat Often, we are not aware of all the many nutritional benefits to be found in the food we eat and red meat is probably one of those foods. However, it is a truly amazing source of so many nutrients that are essential for healthy bodies: Protein Red meat is a significant source of high-quality protein, providing all the essential amino acids necessary for healthy body functioning and particularly important for growing children. The protein in beef and lamb is highly digestible - around 94% compared with a 78% digestibility in beans and 86% in whole wheat. Iron Red meat is a very rich source of haem-iron which is needed to form haemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood around the body. Oxygen is essential for producing energy from food to help the body function. The haem-iron in red meat is well absorbed compared to non-haem iron in plant foods. Zinc Red meat is a good source of zinc; an essential nutrient for the immune system, growth and wound healing. The zinc in red meat and other animal foods is better absorbed than from most plant foods. Omega-3 fatty acids After fish, red meat has the second highest contribution of omega-3 and is an important natural resource of this nutrient. Omega-3s are essential to the healthy functioning of the nervous system and important to heart health.
    • Ali C
       
      A great website that goes in depth with meat and its effects on our human body.
Wasif H

How Much Protein Do I Need To Gain Weight & Muscle? | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • The amino acids in the protein you eat, especially the essential amino acids your body cannot produce, stimulate muscle synthesis or the creation of new muscle tissue.
  • Men and women both need 1-½ to 2 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day to gain muscle weight. However, you must include this protein intake as part of a dietary plan very high in calories. Men must first consume 50 calories per kilogram of body weight and women must eat 44 calories per kilogram of body weight just to maintain current body mass. Then, you must add 350 to 700 calories to that to build 1 to 2 lbs. of muscle per week.
  • The best protein powders contain 2 to 2-½ g of the essential amino acid leucine per serving. Leucine appears to trigger the onset of muscle protein synthesis more than other amino acids. Ensure you eat 3 to 9 g of leucine in each of your meals.
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  • Your pre- and post-workout meals should be in the form of a protein shake made with a minimum of 48 g of protein, skim milk and fruit
  • he protein in skim milk stimulates muscle synthesis better than the protein in soy milk. Carbohydrates like fruit enhance muscle tissue building when combined with protein powder. The amino acids in protein powders are more quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and your muscle cells compared to meat and chicken, optimally enhancing muscle growth.
  • Protein powders are dietary supplements and must not replace all the sources of protein in your diet. Healthy options of high-protein foods include lean chicken breast, turkey, mackerel, lean meat, low-fat dairy and salmon. Chicken breast, turkey and mackerel are high in magnesium, a mineral essential for optimal muscular contraction
  • Lean red meat is high in iron, necessary for effective transport and use of oxygen, giving you maximal energy. Low-fat dairy products are rich in calcium, another minimal necessary for muscular contraction. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation.
  • Plant sources of protein like beans, rice, wheat, nuts and seeds are incomplete proteins. This means such plants are missing at least one essential amino acid. If you do not eat animal products, combine two different sources of plant protein such as beans with rice, seeds, corn, wheat or nuts. Consuming multiple sources of plant protein ensures you eat all the essential amino acids your body needs to build muscle.
Wasif H

Creatine Myth and Facts - 0 views

  • Q: Is Creatine a Steroid?
  • A:  I would like to dispel this myth by giving you the definition of what an anabolic steroid is.  These  are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone.  Creatine, as you will see below is not.  Basically anyone who says this should immediately be labeled a gymbecile. 
  • Q: What is Creatine?
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  • A:  First, let me emphasize that our bodies already produce creatine naturally.  Did you ever watch the transformers when you were a kid?  Well if not, there were groups of robots called " combiners. "  They would join together and form an even larger and more massive robot, crushing everything in their paths!  Our liver does the same thing with the three amino acids, Arginine, Glycine and Methionine.  It combines them to form creatine, much like the constructicons combined to form devastator!  Ok so that was a lame example, but it explains the process quite nicely.  
  • Q: What exactly does creatine do?
  • 1. Creatine works mainly to increase our Creatine Phosphate System
  • 2. Increases The Pump!
  • 3. Increases The Reparation Process of Bodybuilding.
  • Q: How exactly does Creatine Apply to An Athlete?
  • A:  Simple, it does so by enhancing your creatine phosphate energy system.  This does a number of things: 1.  Increases explosion - Most athletes notice more explosiveness after utilizing this supplement 2.  Allows yourself to push yourself harder and longer. 
  • Q: What are the side effects of Creatine, and in General how safe is it? A:  As stated above, creatine is not, and I repeat not a hormone.  Therefore it does not have the side effects associated with any Prohormone or illegal steroid. There have been hundreds of studies done on creatine that all show that it is a safe supplement. To further prove its safety two an a half million kilograms of creatine were consumed in the United States alone in 1999!  That statistic alone speaks volumes about the safety and efficiency of this supplement!  Not only that, but creatine has been the number one supplement on the market for almost a decade and no one has reported any adverse side effects from it. ( aside from the ones I listed above. )
  • : I don't workout, but do you think that creatine will build muscles and help me to lose fat?
  • No!  If you don't workout I cannot imagine what supplement would help you.  Creatine provides your muscles with more short term energy - but that is wasted if you do not exercise them. If you take creatine you should push yourself even harder in the gym. The idea is with more energy you should be able to workout harder. A harder workout leads to increased muscle mass.
  • Q: Since Creatine makes you gain weight should I not take it on a cut?
  • Yes, creatine causes your body to hold water, but that is a good thing!  The fact that your muscles are super hydrated even on a cut is fantastic.  I see absolutely no correlation between taking creatine and our body storing fat.  If anything, creatine will assist us in maintaining more lean mass while dieting.  In my mind there is no point to discontinuing the use of creatine while trying to burn fat.
  • Can I take Creatine and Protein at the same time?
  • Firstly, protein is a food product.  If you couldn't take creatine and protein at the same time, then you would have to be a strict vegetarian and still you would end out consuming around 40 grams a day just from normal foods.  To top this off, creatine is not much use without a significant protein intake.  What is the point of pushing your muscles further than they are used to, if you are not going to provide the amino acids necessary for their repair?  
  • Which supplement is Better Creatine or Protein?
  • :  ( I probably get asked this question at least once a day through email.)  Amino acids are the building blocks of our muscles.  If you do not get enough than there is no point to working out.  Creatine is an outstanding supplement, but if you have to choose from getting at least 1 gram a day of protein or getting your creatine then opt for the protein.  However I do want to stress that creatine is an excellent supplement.  In fact for assistance in muscular gains I would rate it second only to whey.
  • Do you feel that creatine is cheating?  I want to earn my muscles the hard way and don't want to cheat to get them.
  • ( I can't stand these types of questions!!! )  Yes, you would be cheating.  You would be cheating yourself out of great gains by not supplementing with it!
  • s there anything I can take to make creatine a more effective supplement?
  • The first thing I would like to emphasize is that creatine will not work if you are not properly hydrated!  It relies heavily on this, so you must drink tons of water, if you want optimal results from it.  Super hydrating your body will also improve your weight room pumps tremendously!
  • What is the best method, dose wise, of taking creatine?
  • For creatine to produce optimal results, muscle stores must be topped off or saturated with it.  To accomplish this you need to load the creatine for 5 days at 20-25 grams, spread out throughout the day into 4-5 servings.  This is the quickest and in my opinion the " best " way to saturate your muscles with creatine.  Following this phase, all you need is to take 5-10 grams a day to maintain your saturation levels.  After this, any creatine you take will be excreted as creatinine.
  • Do I need to Cycle Creatine?
  • My recommendation is to load for 5 days, followed by a 5-10 gram maintenance dosage for 4-6 weeks.  Following this, there are two particular strategies: 1.  You can take one to two weeks off and then start the cycle over.  Many athletes attest to receiving a better results this way.  2.  However, several athletes will never come off of it.  They will load it for 5 days, maintain for a few weeks and then reload again.  This is increasingly becoming the more popular method of usage.
    • Wasif H
       
      This is more of like a blog but much of his info is credible. I think of some it may not be true. I think if you take creatine you should cycle it out of your body. 
Wasif H

How Long To Notice Muscle Gain? | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • The time frame in which you can expect to notice muscle gain depends on several factors: your current fitness level, the intensity and consistency of your workouts and your body fat percentage.
  • According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine--an organization that educates personal trainers--those who are new to exercise can expect to notice muscle gain within four weeks of beginning a strength-training program.
  • Everyone from sedentary adults to seasoned body builders possesses skeletal muscles, the muscles that support the movement of the skeletal system. Body fat acts like a blanket covering these muscles.
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  • The American Council on Exercise suggests male athletes maintain a body fat percentage between 6 and 13 percent whereas female athletes should aim for between 14 and 20 percent. With this body composition, you can expect to see visible muscle gain more quickly.
  • Building muscle size requires fatiguing the muscle within eight to 12 repetitions of a given exercise in each set. Performing greater repetitions--20 to 25 per set, for example--yields muscle endurance, but this may not translate into visible muscle definition.
  • To maintain muscle size and strength, engage in at least two resistance workouts weekly. To increase your fitness level, however, perform strength-training workouts every other day. Contrary to popular belief, you do not build muscle while lifting weights; you build it during the recovery time. In the gym, you're actually breaking down the muscle and producing microscopic tears. The muscle repairs itself during the down time, yielding size and strength gains over time. Consequently, eliminating rest days to see muscle gains sooner will only backfire.
  • Because muscles are made of bundles of fibers, achieving muscle size and strength gains quickly requires targeting all of a muscle's various fibers. A single exercise, such as biceps curls, targets only one segment of the biceps muscle fibers.
  • To target the remaining fibers, work the muscle from different angles by performing other biceps exercises, such as chin-ups, hammer curls and seated angle curls. The National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends varying exercises with every workout, versus waiting until weekly or monthly intervals to make program changes.
  • Performing exercises that target multiple muscle groups simultaneously--such as a one-leg squat with reverse wood chop--burns more calories, maximizes strength gains and saves time.
    • Wasif H
       
      I think this is a great source of information. I learned that in order to see muscle gains you must have less than 10% body fat. I think to get to that goal you must have the proper diet. Also the more you change your workout the more the muscle will grow .
Wasif H

How To Build Lean Body Mass | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • If you were to wrap your hand around your upper arm and squeeze, you would feel various types of tissue. The soft, spongy material is fat mass, and everything else is considered lean body mass. This includes skin, bone, muscle, fluids and connective tissue. Out of all these types of tissue, fat and muscle are the only ones you have control over.
  • Feed your body healthy foods. Avoid foods that are deep fried, cooked in butter, smothered with gravy, doused with creamy sauces and coated with sugar. They are empty-calorie foods that offer you no nutritional value. Eat foods instead that are beneficial to muscle building such as eggs, cottage cheese, lean beef, chicken breasts, fish, beans, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and oils.
  • Drink water to hydrate your muscles and keep your calories under control. Avoid beverages high in calories and caffeine, such as energy drinks, lattes, soda, sweet teas, slushies and alcohol. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women get approximately 2.7 liters of water a day and men get approximately 3.7 liters a day. This comes out to about 90 oz. and 120 oz., respectively.
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  • Eat more often to keep your metabolism elevated and to constantly supply your muscles with nutrients. Have a meal as soon as you get up and do not go more than three hours without eating for the rest of the day. Combine protein and complex carbs in every meal. Turkey tenderloins with a baked yam and steamed cauliflower is a meal example.
  • Perform cardiovascular exercise to lose weight. Do any type of cardio that you enjoy, such as jogging, brisk walking, cycling, swimming, elliptical training, rowing or stair climbing. The American College of sports Medicine recommends 60 to 90 minutes of cardio for weight loss.
  • Lift weights to build muscle mass. Spend most of your workout time doing compound exercises. These involve more than one muscle and joint working at once. The end result is faster gains in size and strength. Perform exercises such as bench presses, military presses, back rows, squats and dead lifts. Aim for 8 to 12 reps and three or four sets of your exercises and work out three days a week, alternating with cardio days.
  • Utilize a maximal amount of weight with your exercises. This will ensure that you fully tax your muscles and gain a maximum amount of size. Have a spotter on hand whenever possible to assist you.
Wasif H

How Much Protein And Carbs Should You Eat Before Workout? | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • If your workout is the key to your dream physique, then your diet is the key to your most effective workout. The food you eat is directly tied to the way your body performs, and an under-performing body won't burn as many calories or build as much muscle as one that is perfectly fueled.
  • the most important factor is the mix of carbohydrates and protein.
  • No matter what volume of food you consume, dietitian Christopher Mohr recommends 5 g of carbs for every 1 g of essential amino acids -- about 1.6 g of a complete protein will provide 1 g of essential amino acids. Consuming these nutrients before your workout allows your body to take advantage of workout-induced increased blood flow to establish the amino acids in your muscles while boosting blood sugar for steady energy.
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  • Whatever you decide to eat, keep the 5:1.6 g carb-to-protein ratio in mind.
  • Obviously, the closer you get to your workout time, the smaller the meal should be
  • Many protein shakes and sports bars are designed specifically as pre-workout nutrition and have the precise nutrient ratio you need. They also have the added advantage of being portable, which can be convenient for those who hit the gym on the way home from work.
  • If you are stuck without your favorite supplement at hand, fat-free chocolate milk will suffice -- according to Mohr, it provides the exact carb-to-protein ratio as a pre-workout shake. The fat-free part is important though -- fat digests slowly and can weigh you down when you least need it.
  • Supplements are simply convenience products, and are not necessary to good nutrition. You can get the same benefit from whole foods, but this requires more planning and label reading. Fat-free yogurt with fruit and granola works, as does a whole-grain bagel with peanut butter.
  • Timing is important -- even the perfect meal can leave you flat if you eat it too early or weigh you down if you eat it too late
  • The actual amount of carbs and protein you eat depends upon how much time will elapse before your workout.
  • f your only pre-workout nutrition is a regular meal, eat it about three or four hours before you exercise so the food has time to digest. Otherwise, your full stomach will be susceptible to upset, and the nutrients won't be available in your bloodstream when your body needs them. Smaller meals can be eaten two or three hours prior, but stick to a small snack if you only have an hour to go.
  • Supplements are by far the easiest way to ensure you get the proper ratio in an appropriately-sized food source.
  • For a larger meal, a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce and tomato is a nearly perfect pre-workout meal, and bananas or fruit juice can be a last-minute snack for quick energy.
Wasif H

Bodybuilding.com - Weights Or Cardio: What's It Going To Be? - 0 views

  • Your primary goal will give you a general starting point for figuring out exactly how to balance your training, as well as what type of cardio and weight training you should be doing. In addition to your primary goal, you will also need to take into account two other major factors: Your Body Type - Are you naturally slim? Do you gain muscle easily? Do you tend to hold onto fat readily? The Type Of Cardio Training You're Doing - Is it high- intensity or low-intensity? Does it fatigue you for weights? Does your weight training fatigue you for your cardio?
  • If you're training to gain muscle, you will need to do less cardio training. Too much cardio can actually hamper your muscle gain by slowing recovery and burning up calories that your body needs for the process of building muscle. As a general guideline, one or two cardio sessions per week should be enough to maintain your cardiovascular conditioning and keep your bodyfat gains in check while not slowing muscle growth. You should train with weights at least three times per week, up to even six times if you can recover from it and still make progress.
  • The ectomorph is the naturally-slim person. They have a smaller bone-structure and can seem to "eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce."
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  • The ectomorph has a fairly easy time losing fat so they will will generally not need to do as much cardio for fat loss. Two or three times per week should be plenty. An ectomorph trying to gain muscle may need to lay off cardio training completely in order to have enough recovery energy available for their body to even build muscle. Once or twice a week should be the maximum cardio frequency. Even weight training may need to be less frequent (two or three times per week) in order to see results
  • Moderate-intensity cardio training, such as jogging or swimming, will need to be done a little less frequently. This type of training requires more energy both to perfom and for your body to recover from. A person trying to lose fat can generally perform four to six moderate-intensity sessions per week at around 20 to 30 minutes each. A person trying to gain muscle should reduce this amount to two to three sessions per week.
  • This type of hard training should be done less frequently than the more moderate forms of cardio as it is much harder for your body to recover from. If you are training for fat loss, you should do at least two but no more than three high-intensity cardio sessions per week. If you are training for muscle gain, once or, at the most, twice per week should be the limit.
  • High-intensity training is extremely effective for fat loss as it not only causes you to burn a lot of calories during the activity, it also raises your metabolism for a long time after the activity is done.
  • This would mean an ectomorphic person looking for muscle gain and doing low-intensity cardio training could do cardio two days a week at a minimum to maintain cardio capacity while trying to gain muscle.
    • Wasif H
       
      This is source that goes in depth to your actual goals. I would reccomend people to look at this site to get information on how much cardio to do.
Wasif H

Bodybuilding.com - Growth Spurt: 30 Pounds Of Muscle In One Year. - 0 views

  • Most sets are 8-10 reps, the ideal range for muscle growth. The first two sets of the first exercise for each bodypart are warm-ups. The last two are working sets. The first working set comprises 8-10 reps to failure, plus 2 forced reps. The last working set will include 8-10 reps to failure, 2 forced reps and 3-5 partial reps at the end.
  • 1. CHANGE IT UP Don't let your body get used to anything. Every three to four weeks, change the exercises and the order in which they are done. Change the angles by using different hand/foot positions. Rest periods can also change; this is an often-overlooked training variable.
  • . REST On at least two days per week, stay completely out of the gym. This means no lifting! And don't neglect sleep - this is one of the most overlooked factors in muscle growth. Sleep equals time to grow.
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  • GOALS Create mini goals. Don't just expect to put on a ton of muscle in one year without checking yourself along the way. Set weight-gain goals every 2-4 weeks and evaluate the results. If you fall short, make an adjustment for the next goal. When you stop setting goals, you stop critical thinking and stop making gains.
  • MAINTAIN Every 8-10 weeks, take a couple of weeks to prevent a plateau. Don't stop training, but back off a little and let your body recover. Stop trying to get stronger and don't push sets to failure. After two weeks of maintaining your previous gains, go back to 110%. Reduce your calories during this back-off phase as well. This gives your body a break from digesting and utilizing all the food you nee
  • FST-7 This is the advanced training technique I've used with all my athletes.
  • Basically, you train that bodypart heavy as you normally would on any given day, keeping the rep range at 8-12, but on the last exercise you perform the 7 sets to finish off that particular muscle, with minimal rest in between to get the best pump possible.
  • Alternate the first exercise between dumbbells, barbells and machines. Use them all each workout, but change the order and angle. On all chest moves, you must arch your back, throw your chest high and keep your shoulders back. This takes the shoulders out of the movemen
  • Low-rep flat-bench presses (fewer than eight reps) are a quick way to tear a pec. Use a full range of motion on all exercises. The only exceptions are intensity multipliers used on the last set. When you reach failure, push your muscles further with assisted negative reps or partials. Lean forward on dips to emphasize chest.
  • Work the angles. There are three sides to the shoulder muscles and countless angles to hit them. Sit, stand, lean; barbell, dumbbell, machine; use them all. Start the workout with a press. Hit the big compound movement while you're strongest. Don't be afraid to work your rear delts near the beginning or middle of the workout. If you always do them at the end they will never grow!
  • Warm up your shoulders, chest, triceps and rotator cuffs before training. The shoulders are vulnerable to injury. Try seated lateral raises to really isolate the side delts. This is my favorite move to build round shoulders!
  • BALANCE YOUR PROTEINS: Take in protein of all types from all sources — fast acting, slow acting, whey, casein, egg, fish and animal proteins (beef, chicken, turkey, etc.).
  • WHERE'S THE BEEF: Beef is great for offseason growth. In addition to the amino acids, you get tons of B vitamins, iron and testosterone-boosting fats.
  • JUNK IT UP: Don't be afraid to eat some junk food once or twice per week. This boosts your metabolism and gives your body a different type of fuel. Stick to the "clean junk." These are calorically dense, but not super greasy foods. Examples are pasta, burgers, steak, sweet potato fries and cheesecake.
  • If you want to grow, insulin spikes are your friends. You just have to time them correctly, like breakfast and postworkout. These are the times to have some fast-acting carbs that quickly replenish glycogen stores.
Wasif H

Bodybuilding.com - How To Get A Six-Pack - Complete Ab Program! - 0 views

  • Learning how to get a six-pack does not require expensive workout equipment promoted through obnoxious infomercials. You can't flick on the TV anymore without seeing two new abdominal exercise machines being promoted at once. There are so many of them that if you get suckered into these 'ab workout' gimmicks, you will be broke quicker than Ben Johnson sprints the 100 meter dash! And get this: Of the $520 million dollars a year spent on exercise equipment, abdominal machines get a $208 million dollar piece of the pie!
  • Learning how to get a six-pack does not require thousands or even hundreds of crunches a day. So much for the Brittany Spears ab workout! Crunches are decent but totally overused and associated with more being better.
  • Learning how to get a six-pack does not involve starvation diets. Starvation diets starve the muscle when you should be feeding the muscle instead. Guess what happens when you starve your body? Your metabolism shuts down out of survival and causes your body to store fat.
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  • Just Because You're Skinny Does Not Mean You Will Have A Six-Pack
  • Abdominals Are A Muscle, Too! You want your arms to be bigger, your shoulders to be broader and your chest to be fuller, correct? And what is the solution to making these muscle groups increase in size? High intensity weight training, overload, consistency and a healthy surplus of calories. Starting to sound familiar? The same goes for your abdominals. Your abdominals are a muscle group that requires the same formula and attention and are not any different from other muscle groups. For some reason many consider abdominals to be a 'special' body part that requires a different set of rules and a completely different formula for training.
  • To get thick, dense abs - the ones that 'pop' out - you must train them with intensity and overload. Here are some practical tips you can apply to your program so that you can be the 'man' or 'gal' at your gym with a ripped and muscular six-pack. Then I will provide a sample
  • If your abs are your worse body part, then why do you keep training them last, at the end of your workout? Which muscles group will receive the highest priority when you train? The ones done at the start of your workout or the ones done at the end of the workout? Of course, the exercises done at the start of the workout while you have the most energy and focus.
  • he typical response is "Nobody does abdominals first..." That is pure BS. This just supports the notion that many people who work out don't ever question what they hear or do. They want to be spoon-fed answers and follow the trends of others without thinking for themselves. I ALWAYS train abdominals first in a workout if they need the highest attention.
  • What's going to receive better results? A muscle group that is trained one time a week or two times a week (assuming you recovered prior to the second workout commencing)? Of course, the muscle that is trained 2x a week. The more stimulus on a muscle, the more growth. That is why professional athletes are professional athletes. They have conditioned their bodies to such a high amount of stress that they are able to train more frequently.
  • Right now some of you can see a perfectly set of staggered abs that are wide and thick and separated by a line down the middle. Some of you have the classic four-pack which is four big abs with a smooth lower section. Some of you have tiny cubicle boxes sitting high on your abdominal wall. Some of you have the picture perfect eight-pack that makes people's jaws drop.
  • If building a sexy six-pack is on your 'to do' list for 2007, then start training abdominals 2-4x a week. I will teach you in a moment how to split your abdominals up into two different days based on movement.
  • To train your abdominals safely and effectively you must know the basic movement patterns of your abs and train them within all sub-categories: Truck Flexion (upper abs) Hip Flexion (lower abs) Rotation (obliques) Lateral Flexion (obliques)
  • Perform this workout at least two times a week separated by at least 48 hours rest. You should experience a deep muscle soreness after each one of these workouts. Focus on using a load that causes failure within 8-12 reps and then move to the next exercise. This is a non-stop circuit. Rest 1-2 minutes and repeat until you reach 4 sets total. Exercise Sets Reps Tempo Rest Hanging Leg Raises 1-4 8-12 311 - Rope Crunch 1-4 8-12 311 - Reverse Crunch 1-4 8-12 311 - Weighted Ball Crunch 1-4 8-12 311 1-2 minutes
  • As said earlier, buiding razor sharp abs is not the easiest task in the work but nor is it the hardest. The above abdominal exercises will help you build a deeply separated and evenly placed set of abs in little time. The truth is that if you can't see your abs, then the best exercise for your abs will be better diet.
    • Wasif H
       
      I think that getting abs just requires the right knowledge and this site provides it. There are so many myths on abs and it is hard to get good info on them. The best thing to do is look on a source like this or ask someone you know with abs or just the trainer at the gym .
Aninder S

When Too Much Exercise Becomes a Problem - 0 views

  • But while a little exercise is a good thing, taking exercise to the extreme can cause serious health issues, even death.
  • When few adults exercise regularly, and many struggle to find just 20 minutes to dedicate to a workout, it may be hard to believe that some people place exercise at the center of their lives
  • Compulsive exercise is more than a desire to get in the ultimate shape or manage one's weight.
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  • Sufferers of exercise bulimia use excessive exercise to purge or compensate for eating binges or simply regular eating, often working out multiple times per day or for three or four hours at a time
  • Deep down, this disorder has more to do with control than it does the desire to fit into a smaller size of jeans
  • The scary thing about an addiction to exercise is that it creeps up gradually, usually among everyday people who start exercising, feel good afterward, revel in the calories they're burning, have a desire to get healthier or lose weight, and therefore start believing that more is better
  • Oftentimes, people who develop an exercise compulsion don't feel like there's anything wrong with what they do
  • Compulsive exercisers build their lives around working out and are genuinely distressed if they can't exercise as much as they feel they need to (or should be)
  • Exercise bulimia is similar, but involves eating binges. People who suffer from exercise bulimia often binge on food and then exercise obsessively to make up for it. Exercise becomes a way to control calories, justify eating, and punish oneself for eating too much or eating the "wrong" things.
  • In general, exercising for up to 60-90 minutes, most days of the week is reasonable and healthy for most people as long as recovery and downtime is built in.
  • Exercise is usually a good thing, but rest and recovery are very important, too
  • Excessive exercise can weaken the body and cause a host of problems, including: Fatigue Suppressed immune system Lack of menstruation (amenorrhea) in women due to a lack of body fat Reproductive problems Heart problems (such as muscle wasting and rhythm problems) Dehydration Arthritis Osteoporosis Stress fractures and sprains Kidney failure
  • Getting a Diagnosis
  • Compulsive exercise and exercise bulimia can affect both men and women of all ages, races, body types and weights.
  • A doctor may ask if the person is exercising and get the right answer (yes), never knowing the extent to which the patient is actually jeopardizing his or her health by taking exercise to the extreme
  • A physician may first suspect a problem if a woman stops menstruating due to a drop in body fat, which affects estrogen levels, but the condition may be virtually undetectable in men whose body fat levels can be much lower without creating any health problems.
  • Treatment Options
  • Studies have found that sufferers often come from families where food was used as a way of controlling behavior and battles surrounding food were common
  • Traditional treatments for exercise bulimia include support groups, cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy, and/or medication, such as anti-depressants.
Anita B

Good Carbohydrates Vs. Bad Carbohydrates | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

    • Gurkirat S
       
      So the main difference between good and bad carbohydrates is that when carbohydrates are found in natural foods its much healthier compared to foods in that are unprocessed. Examples of this would be fruits, vegetables, and whole nuts and seeds etc. Bad carbohydrates are foods that are unprocessed foods, that have taken the nutrients and fiber have been removed. Example is McDonald's From this information, it has really opened my eyes that McDonald's is not healthy at all it has bad carbohydrates, which is really bad for me, because  I do not want to just throw off insulin productions, causing fluctuations in blood glucose levels. By reading this, it really does scare me, it has given me a heads up. 
  • Basic Differences One basic difference between the quality of carbohydrates is nutrition. The carbohydrates found in natural foods are healthier than those in processed foods. While carbohydrates are an essential part of good nutrition, getting too many carbohydrates from the wrong sources can increase your risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
  • Good Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are what you want the most of in your diet. They provide the body with the fuel it needs for energy. Good carbohydrates are found in foods that have not been processed, but are eaten pretty much in their natural states. Fruits, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds are all sources of healthy carbohydrates.
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  • Bad Carbohydrates Bad carbohydrates are the refined, highly processed carbohydrates from which most of the nutrients and fiber have been removed. White flour and refined sugar contained in many processed foods are primary examples of bad carbohydrates. The body has trouble processing these foods, and therefore, they do not digest well. Simple starches and sugars throw off insulin production, causing fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Most foods that contain bad carbohydrates provide empty calories with little or no nutritional value. As a result, the body stores these extra calories in the cells as fat.
  • Benefits of Carbohydrates Good carbohydrates are high fiber foods that help you feel full longer. These are carbohydrates that are chock full of vitamins and minerals that your body needs on a daily basis. Low glycemic carbohydrates break down slowly during digestion, releasing glucose into the bloodstream gradually, thereby helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly have high glycemic indexes, causing blood sugar to rise quickly. Consuming a diet low in energy density means eating fewer refined carbohydrates and more unrefined carbohydrates that are high in nutrients. Including more good carbohydrates in your diet can help you lose excess body fat and feel more energized.
  • A healthy diet must include carbohydrates, which are broken down into glucose that the body's cells use as energy
    • Anita B
       
      There are good and bad carboydrates so it is important to avoid the bad ones. The carbohydrates which we find in processed foods are ofcourse unhealthy compared to those we find in natural foods. Bad carbs are high processed carbohydrates from which the good parts (fiber and nutrients) are removed. Example are white flour and refined sugar.
Justin D

Dryland Hockey Drills | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  •  
    Since the 1970s, hockey players have used dryland training to improve conditioning and skills for ice hockey. While skating is a huge part of the game and never can be ignored, players can develop leg strength and core strength and improve their overall skills with dryland drills. 1.) Pull-Ups vs. Lat Pull Machine: With a pull-up, a person uses their own body weight; this creates excellent body awareness, more importantly pull-ups require a great amount of abdominal strength (keeping the abs tight keeps you from swinging). The lat pull machine lacks these two important features. 2.) Push-Ups vs. Bench Press: Push-Ups again require a person's body weight along with lower body stabilization and contracted abdominals. Lying flat on a bench is a very non-athletic position and requires almost no leg or ab strength. 3.) Lunges vs. Leg Extension: Lunging requires a lot of balance and coordination along with strength from the glutes, quads, hamstrings and abs since you are standing and moving forward during the exercise. The leg extension does one thing; isolate the quads. Unless you want to walk around like Quadzilla there is no place for the leg extension in athletics. 4.) Squats vs. Leg Press: When done correctly no other exercise will develop more leg power than the squat. Since they are done in a standing position they require balance, stabilization, coordination, along with ab and back strength. The leg press lacks all of these factors. 5.) Hang Cleans vs. Shrugs: Hang Cleans are an explosive exercise that develops fast twitch motor units in the muscle. It is a full body exercise. Shoulder Shrugs isolate one muscle group the trapezious and involve little athletic ability to perform. Forget the shrugs! 6.) Squat Press vs Seated Shoulder Presses: Many athletes like to perform the seated dumbbell shoulder press. Try standing up and hold two dumbbells at your shoulders, squat down to 90 degrees as you begin to rise explode with a Dumbbell shoulder press using all
Wasif H

Bodybuilding.com - The Top 25 Ways To Pack On Serious Mass! - 2 views

  • What did you just say? Eat 6 times per day? Yes, that's right! Don't think that you are going to gain quality size eating 3 square meals per day. The only type of mass you will put on eating this way will be the fat type, and this is not our objective. There is no way that you can reach your caloric or your macronutrient needs eating 3 meals per day. If by some magical reason you can eat them in 3 meals, than you will be so full and bloated, you won't be able tie up your own shoes let alone pound out some heavy deadlifts.
  • Water is very important for many reasons. Water is good for you believe it or not. It has many health and performance benefits. It keeps your organs functioning properly, clears toxins, reduces excess sodium from your body, and it hydrates your muscle cells. It even liberates fat stores on your body so they are burned off as an energy source. Dehydration will cause a major decrement in performance. Even a 2% state of dehydration will cause your performance to go out the window
  • Sleep
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  • Consume Enough Protein "I eat enough protein. I probably ate around 50 grams today." Now if this sounds like you, we are in some serious trouble. That is unless you are a 60-pound child whose major energy expenditure for the day is playing with your Tonka Trucks. Ok, down to the serious stuff here. If you don't eat optimal amounts of protein, you will never put on the muscle mass that you so much desire. You are also hindering your strength gains as well. If you are going up a weight class and you aren't eating the proper amount of protein, guess what?
  • have some of my athletes consume between 1.25-1.5 grams of protein per pound when trying to pack on size.
  • # 5 Maximize Your Carbohydrate Intake
  • # 6 Bump Up Your Fat Intake
  • Milk…It does a body good! You should have known this would be on the list. Milk is the drink of all strength champions throughout history.
  • I knew you would like this one. What true powerlifter wouldn't? Now again, don't get me wrong here. The point is that you should increase you lean meat consumption during a mass phase. Note I said lean meat consumption. This doesn't include bacon, ham, sausage, deli meats, beef jerky, or pepperoni sticks.
  •  
    Wasif, I am glad that you are finding the Livestrong website to be of great use to you! Mr. Levitt
Wasif H

Bodybuilding.com - How More Protein Equals You Being More Lean! - 0 views

  • Protein is second to only water as the most abundant nutrient in the human body. All living tissue is made of 22 amino acids, amino acids that are only present in protein
  • The amino acids into which proteins are broken down to maintain the health of skin, mouth, eyes, hair; stabilizes appetite; necessary for carbohydrate metabolism; weight control, essential for normal functioning of the heart, nerve tissues, muscles, digestion, learning capacity, replacement of old cells and growth.
  • These amino acids work to repair muscle tissues and structures that are damaged during life and exercise. Cellular waste if not destroyed causes a bevy of ailments/disease and hinder the bodies metabolic processes.
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  • ncomplete proteins come from "plant products", beans, rice, etc. They must be combined in order to supply the body with the 9 essential amino acids it needs. Ladies and gentlemen, now that you see how important consuming protein is let's look at how much should be consume and what types.
  • The world health organization and many national health agencies have independently conducted studies, which (even though they differ slightly) all conclude our daily protein requirement should be between 10% to 15% of our daily caloric intake. If you eat 2000 calories a day that equates to 50 to 75 grams of protein.
  • Protein needs of individuals vary in nature. To estimate your personal protein needs you will need to take your current weight in pounds, divide it in half and then subtract 10. The result is a rough estimate of how much protein you should consume.
  • If you do not already do so, read food lables, then buy your food uncooked and cook it healthfully. If you do not take anything else from this article that last sentence is paramount.
  • your schedule is hectic and you are just too busy and do not have time to eat high protein foods then bars and powders can be substituted. A lot of bars on the market are loaded with other "not so good" man made additives, trans fats, aspartame, saturated fat content (over 3.5g), etc.
    • Wasif H
       
      The amount of protein when your not working out varies from each source. 
Wasif H

What Do Protein Supplements Do To Young Weight Lifters? | LIVESTRONG.COM - 0 views

  • Young weightlifters who want to emulate athletic heroes try to improve their own weightlifting skills and athletic motivation. Yet in the realm of protein supplementation, youngsters would do well to learn as much as possible about sensible nutrition
  • Young weightlifters should avoid relying on protein supplementation for muscle and strength gains, as excessive dietary protein might carry unwanted side effects, and protein supplementation can be unnecessary and expensive.
  • Teenage weightlifters immerse themselves in a demanding sport that emphasizes power and body weight. Already dealing with growth spurts and body changes, these teens may obsess about muscle gain. However, it is exercise, not high protein foods, that builds muscle -- although dietary protein provides the amino acids from which new muscle can be built.
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  • Adolescents should obtain 13 percent to 14 percent of their entire calorie intake from protein. If an adolescent weightlifter's diet contains 3,000 calories, 14 percent of the total calories would be 428 cal.
  • diet containing protein-rich foods such as eggs, lean meats, beans, nuts and low fat cheese and milk easily fulfills the young weightlifter's requirements.
  • The National Kidney Association cites studies showing accelerated kidney damage in diabetics on high protein diets.
  • However, Body Building For You suggests that athletes regularly exceed protein requirements with no adverse effects, and that no study ever scientifically proved that high protein diets are dangerous to healthy individuals.
  • n 1998, "Journal of Nutrition" reported excessive protein metabolism encouraging calcium loss through excretion, yet in 2003 the same journal suggested that calcium is not always lost, possibly because phosphorous helps to enable calcium re-uptake by the kidneys -- at least in people with no prior health problems.
  • hus, protein supplements may not harm the young weightlifter, even if those supplements contribute to protein intake beyond recommended levels.
  • Still, two concerns remain: one is financial loss at the expense of weight gain. Expensive protein supplements are unnecessary if the young weightlifter includes protein-rich foods in every meal.
  • Another danger is hidden ingredients. Some of the most respected Olympian weightlifters have tested positive for banned drugs or steroids hidden in nutritional supplements that they believed to be protein or energy supplements.
  • Some cause physical and sexual characteristics to alter, and some hasten cancer. In short, young weightlifters aspiring to world-class competition must exercise the utmost responsibility regarding nutrition. It is never too early to start such discipline.
    • Wasif H
       
      This information is valuable because I can relate to it. I dont want to be taking some protein that may have other chemicals that are harmful for my body. 
Gurkirat S

What should I eat to make more muscles? - 0 views

  • Calorie Intake Building muscle requires eating a caloric surplus, meaning you eat more calories than you burn during the day. When adding these calories, choose whole, natural foods as often as possible. Adding about 250 to 500 calories per day helps support 1/2 to 1 lb. of muscle growth weekly.
  • Protein Needs
  • Strength-training athletes should aim for the higher end of this range. Whole sources of protein, such as lean meats, poultry breast, fish, eggs and dairy are readily digested and used by the body to build muscle. These sources also contain minimal saturated fats, too much of which may cause fat gain and health problems. The occasional use of whey protein, or other protein supplements, may help you get all the protein you need to support your workouts and muscle growth.
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  • Carbohydrates Carbohydrates provide fuel for your body to make it through workouts. Carbohydrates are also a source of calories, helping you achieve that surplus to support muscle growth. The body converts carbohydrates into glycogen, which is stored in muscles and affects anabolism -- or muscle growth.
  • hoose whole grains, vegetables and fruits for these carbohydrates, as they provide the most nutrients and fiber. Oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, leafy greens and apples, for example, are superior to sugary baked goods or white breads and rice for muscle growth.
    • Gurkirat S
       
      When building up, I need to assume more calories, I should be adding about 250 to 500calories per day, because it will help me support 1/2 to 1 lb of muscle growth weekly. Protein is major, to help muscle build. Another is carbohydrates which help me to provide fuel to my body to make through workouts
  •  
    What should I eat to make more muscles?
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