Capsaicin As A Bodybuilding Supplement?

Capsaicin as a bodybuilding supplement for fat loss. Does it work?
It seems that everyone has a product on the market that is said to promote fat loss. More and more manufacturers are cashing in on the public's infatuation and obsession with fat loss. Body builders, however, tread a little more lightly. Because their bodies are their fortunes, their identities, they are more careful about the bodybuilding supplements that they take, the food that they eat as well as nutrition.

 Many tend to lean toward natural bodybuilding supplements simply because they have aversions to putting synthetic materials into their bodies. Capsaicin is a popular fat loss supplement that many bodybuilders swear by. But just how effective is it?

Capsaicin is the stuff in chili peppers that makes them hot. It is a known irritant for humans and animals, best known for it burning sensation in any tissue that it touches. Pure capsaicin is colorless, odorless and has a texture that is crystalline to waxy.

 It is the active ingredient in pepper spray, the chemical riot control agent. On the dinner table, it is used to give foods a little "heat." In the weight room, however, capsaicin is being used as a method of fat loss.
Studies Show

Scientists in Taiwan have found that capsaicin can cause fat cells to self destruct. In laboratory tests, scientists used preadipocytes, cells that develop into fat cells, as their subjects. They created a capsaicin extract in the lab and infused the fat, contained in test tubes, with the extract for a period of eight days. Every other day they freshened the extract.

The result was that the preadipocytes that were exposed to the capsaicin died off before they could develop into fat cells. The results of the experiment appeared in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

Of course, the jury is still out on Capsaicin. As natural supplements go, there is no governing body that regulates it so any claims made are not backed by what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems to be "conclusive evidence." However, scientists the world over are conducting studies to link capsaicin to weight loss and the results that are coming in look fairly promising.

 Studies show that Capsaicin can prevent new fat cells from forming as well as decrease the appetite and reduce fat in the body.

Another study used humans to test the effects of capsaicin on fat in the human body. Each subject was tested for metabolic rate and measured prior to the study.

Additionally, they were measured and their metabolic rate measured every half hour after taking the extract or after taking placebo tablets. Weight and body fat was also measured in the subjects. This study was performed over a two week period.

The findings of the study revealed that the subjects who took the capsaicin experienced a significant increase in their mean metabolic rate at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after taking the extract.

 Throughout the study that ranged a two week period, body fat was reduced in 70% of the subjects who had taken the capsaicin extract. The greatest effect of reduction of body fat occurred in those subjects who began the study with higher fat content at the onset. The subjects experienced a loss in fat, not water, based on hand held body fat measuring devices.

Supplement Forms
Capsaicin is one of the oldest natural body building supplements that has been used to a variety of conditions.

 It can be found in capsule form, liquid and even a nasal spray. The liquid form of capsaicin (as well as the nasal spray), manufactured by SiCap Industries, used a special hot pepper extract to promote weight loss. The formula includes feverfew and green tea extract. It is intended to boost metabolism, increase circulation, and decrease body fat.

 The liquid is in a spray form that can be sprayed on foods like fish, chicken or salads, or sprayed directly on the tongue.
The Jury is Still Out

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Saffron Extract Supplements for Bodybuilding

Saffron is a spice that is obtained from a plant called Crocus sativus. The plant has its origins in Greece and South-East Asia. Saffron spice is generally used in cuisine for its rich aroma and color.

 It also has many medicinal properties. It is commonly used in traditional systems of medicine such as the Ayurveda of India for treating a number of conditions such as cough, asthma, and general weakness.

Recently, it has also been found as a good medicine for treating depression. It has also been found to be promote weight loss.

If you are a body builder, you know hard it is to lose fat and build healthy muscle. Bringing the body into the correct shape requires hard work and dedication. Saffron extract supplements can help you in doing just that. Saffron contains biochemicals which increase the levels of serotonin in the brain.

 Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for controlling hunger and mood. Increased serotonin levels causes reduction in hunger and cravings. It also makes you more enthusiastic and makes you feel more energetic. Due to these reasons, saffron supplements can be very helpful for bodybuilders in cutting down fat and increasing healthy body mass.

Many supplements that are available in the market today make very high claims but often they are not backed by scientific studies. However, this is not the case with saffron extract supplements.

 Even though scientific data is lacking, quite a few studies have been conducted to ascertain the health benefits of saffron. Many of these studies have found that saffron does work indeed. Studies have found that saffron supplements are beneficial in losing weight and improving symptoms of depression.

Saffron extract supplements are available as capsules and powders. Many different companies are manufacturing these supplements. It should be noted that depending on the quality and purity, different supplements will provide different results. If you are buying supplements online, it is important to read reviews about the products and buy them only when you are satisfied about the quality and purity.

 You can also consult a nutrition expert or your doctor for more information about the product you wish to purchase.
It is very important to stick to the prescribed dosage. Taking saffron supplements in excessive quantities will not provide expedited results.

Instead, it can have negative impact on your health. Thus, it is very essential to stick to the prescribed dosage. The usual dosage is 30 mg taken once a day. 15 mg twice a day has also been found to provide good results.

For more information on the health benefits of saffron extract, visit http://www.saffronextract.in.

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Proper Nutrition And Meal Planning Provide Keys To Bodybuilding Success

I'm continually amazed whenever I encounter people who complain that they're not seeing any progress in the mirror from their workouts, but they refuse to limit their consumption of sugary and fatty foods. It's truly amazing that so many people mistakenly believe that as long as they're working out they can eat anything in sight, regardless of its nutrient composition.

 If you're one of these people (and I sincerely hope that you're not) prepare for a reality check! No matter how hard you workout, you can't build a lean, muscular body on a diet that is high in fat or sugar. No way, no how - it just won't happen. Period!

Consider the following as an illustration of what happens when you workout without also keeping an eye on what you eat. If you watch professional football or national level competitive powerlifting, you'll see huge offensive lineman and super- heavyweight powerlifters who are tremendously strong.

 These athletes have developed incredible strength through years of intense weight training. But unlike bodybuilders and other fitness athletes, many offensive linemen and powerlifters don't worry about limiting their dietary fat and sugar consumption when it's time to "chow down" at meal time.

As a result, these powerful athletes often appear blubbery and out of shape despite their Herculean efforts in the gym. While I have great respect for what offensive linemen and super-heavyweight powerlifters accomplish in their respective sports, the fact remains that I wouldn't want to look like these guys after spending weeks, months and years sweating my guts out in the gym.

The hard truth is that proper nutrition is essential to the success of every bodybuilding or weight-training program. And this rule applies even if you're not a competitive bodybuilder or fitness athlete.

 During my many years of training I've learned that there is nothing worse than working hard in the gym and then masking hard earned muscle with layers of body fat!

To ensure that you see the results of your hard work you must use some discipline at meal time. I'm not suggesting that you maintain the type of strict pre-contest diet that competitive bodybuilders use. I am, however, advising you that healthy eating habits will facilitate muscle growth, enhance muscular definition and minimize body fat.

Since the objective of any weight-training program is to build muscle and power, you must consume sufficient quantities of high quality, low-fat sources of complete protein each day. By "complete" protein I mean the form of this nutrient available in fish, meat and dairy products that contain all of the essential amino acids necessary to build muscle.

You must also eat sufficient amounts of low glycemic index ("GI") carbohydrates which are your primary energy source during your workouts. Low GI carbohydrates are basically found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains that slowly release these nutrients into your bloodstream to avoid excess insulin secretion and lipogenesis or fat production.

Finally, dietary fat consumption should be kept to a minimum, averaging no more than twenty percent of your daily calorie intake. Careful monitoring of your protein, carbohydrate and fat consumption is critical to the nutritional aspect and ultimate success of your bodybuilding efforts.

Meal Planning
Meal planning isn't rocket science and my suggestions in this area are very simple. The customary "3-meals-a-day" approach may be fine for the average "couch potato," but you're no couch potato - and you need to eat small meals more frequently in order to build lean, powerful muscle mass. Instead of eating three large meals, you should eat 5-6 smaller meals over the course of your day to avoid rapid increases in your blood sugar level and lipogenesis.

 Additionally, eating less more frequently keeps your metabolism working and ultimately increases your ability to burn excess calories.

In addition to eating more frequently, you should try to consume most of your carbohydrates earlier in the day to provide energy for your workouts or other physical activities.

 This front loading of your carbohydrate consumption not only ensures that you have energy for your workouts, but it helps you avoid accumulation and storage of excess carbohydrates as fat. This explains why you're evening meal should generally exclude breads, pastas, white rice and baked desserts if you're serious about building a lean, muscular physique.

As your energy needs decrease, which often occurs in the evening or after a good workout, the nutrient balance in your meals should emphasize high quality protein consumption. This way, your body has the protein that it needs to build muscle while you rest or sleep.

 To the extent that you can load your evening meals with low-fat protein sources, you'll satisfy your hunger without filling up on excess carbohydrates that your body will store as fat.

But let me be clear. I'm not recommending that you eliminate all carbohydrates from evening meals or that you try some extreme "low-carb" diet. There's nothing wrong with having a low GI salad or other fruits and vegetables with your late afternoon or evening meal. The point here is that the bulk of your calories in this meal should come from low-fat sources of complete protein if you want to gain muscle instead of fat.

Remember, if you train hard and eat smart and you'll surely achieve your bodybuilding goals.

Mark G. Winston, "The Master Gunslinger," is author of the ground-breaking training manual, "GO For Your GUNS - 7 Simple Secrets to AWESOME ARMS." He has also created GOforyourGUNS.com, a bodybuilding and fitness website dedicated entirely to helping you build big, muscular arms.

 Mark's forthcoming book will be jammed with workouts and training techniques to help you build the big, muscular arms that you deserve! To learn about the GO For Your GUNS bodybuilding system and get free arm training tips that really work, visit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_G._Winston

How to Get Ready For a Bodybuilding Show

My Preparation for 2004 Bodybuilding Contests
Back in the day (1996-1999), I had it pretty easy getting ready for shows, much to the envy of those who knew me. I would "diet" by having only one Snickers a day and still be in great shape.

 I was winning my weight class in almost every show and taking a few overall titles as well. In 2000 and 2001, I had a wake up call at the Team Universe, finishing no better than 9th. Then in 2002, I had mild success in a couple of NPC shows, but still hadn't achieved my 1990's-level of conditioning. I was now in my thirties and figured my career was slowly winding down. After six months of mono in 2003, and no competitions, I realized that this year was going to be my swan song. With that mentality in mind, I picked two shows to prepare for-one in September and one in October-to go "gently into that good night".

The first show would be the INBF Karen Miller Klassic in Youngstown, Ohio, on September 11. I started my pre-contest nutrition program 17 weeks out.

The first month included a cheat meal once a week, which I still can get away with, as I tend to lose too much weight too fast (at least that's my rationalization!). At 12 weeks out, here is my "diet":
Meal 1
6 egg whites + 1 yolk
½ cup oatmeal
Meal 2
8 oz. red meat or 3 scoops protein powder
7 rice cakes
Meal 3
6-8 oz. wheat pasta
7 oz. chicken
Meal 4 (post-workout)
6 scoops recovery powder
Meal 5
8 oz. red meat or turkey
white or brown rice microwaveable bag
Meal 6
7 oz. chicken or 8 oz. red meat
Totals:
2975 calories
310 g-protein
335 g-carbs
41 g-fat

Now that I look back at this, I am surprised that I ate this bad (relatively speaking). However, I was still losing body fat, and continued this way for a while. Admittedly, my fast metabolism has always allowed me to get away with things most competitors cannot do. Not this time! I had met my match. Here is what my next phase looked like:
Meal 1
6 egg whites + 6 oz. red meat or 8 oz turkey or 8 oz chicken + 1-2 kiwi
Meal 2
2 scoops protein powder + 1 scoop BCAA
Meal 3
10 oz chicken or 10 oz turkey + 2-3 cups salad
Meal 4
same as 2
Meal 5
10 oz chicken or 10 oz turkey or 8 oz red meat + 2-3 cups salad
(Meal 6 when needed)
9 egg whites
OR
Hi Carb Meal (Mon & Thurs)

A typical day yielded around 1550 calories; 300 grams of protein; 37 grams of carbohydrates; 25 grams of fat (all values not including supplements). Well, it worked! I was getting leaner by the day and ended up at 5% bodyfat the week of the contest.

The Friday before the show I weighed in at 184, and found out I was the only lightheavyweight! At least I won my class. I also ended up winning the overall. It had been several years since I had accomplished that feat. I was now ready for my next show: the Natural Northern USA in three weeks.

However, between shows, Suzanne, my wife, was going to be running a marathon....in Maui. Somehow, I had to figure out how to stay focused and disciplined for those ten days.

 It presented a dilemma as to how to help her and be there for her event, while still staying the course for my event. Everyday presented a new challenge. Even simple things like walking the beach would wear me out. I wasn't much fun. She understood, though, and I will always remember the sacrifices she made on my behalf.

We arrived home with seven days to get ready for Cleveland. I was down to 4.5%, and had achieved the best shape of my life (at least as a lightheavy). I stayed on exactly the same diet between shows. I weighed in at 181, certainly at the bottom of the weight class, but was confident that I had prepared to the best of my ability.

At prejudging, I was sure I placed 3rd-5th based on callouts. It was one of the toughest classes I had ever competed against (and this was my 16th show!).

To my sincere shock, I won the class by just a few points. The overall winner (Shiloe Steinmetz) certainly had me beat on pure muscle, but several judges told me that I had had the better physique (symmetry, aesthetics, conditioning), which made me feel good.

Some other key points:
o As mentioned above, my metabolism affords me to do very little, if any, cardio work. This year I did perform two days of either stair climbing, or sprint/plyometric work. I like this kind of activity, regardless of an upcoming bodybuilding show. It also granted me the exclusion of doing direct leg work with weights for most of the contest prep.

o I am not a proponent of dropping water, or sodium, before a contest. I drank 2.5 gallons of water each Friday before the show, as well as continued to salt my foods. The only change was the addition of potassium Wed-Sat. I lose water through sweating, not so much through dietary changes.
o My strength training also does not change until the very last week. My split looks like this:
o Day 1=back
o Day 2=hams/calves OR sprints/stairs
o Day 3=chest/biceps
o Day 4=abs/quads OR plyometrics/stairs
o Day 5=delts/traps/triceps
o My training philosophy is very instinctual, therefore, I never do the same workout twice in a row. In fact, I never plan any workout, other than the body part(s) I am going to perform that day.
o I train in a non-traditional, undulating periodization model. A once popular European model for Olympic athletes has migrated to the United States and has been applied to American athletes (although it has limited application to bodybuilders). There are numerous texts and articles for more details on this philosophy. I have tailored the different cycles found within periodized models to include variety within a workout as well as between workouts. With that said, it is unrealistic for me to outline a typical workout regimen, but this will give you some idea (upper body only).

Back
-¾ deadlifts 4 x 6
-Front pulldowns 3 x 12
-One arm high pulley row 3 x 10
-High Hammer row 3 x 20
Chest
-Incline barbell press 4 x 6
-Incline dumbbell press 3 x 10
-Hammer decline press 3 x 20
-Pec deck 3 x 12
Biceps
-Seated dumbbell curl 3 x 10
-One arm preacher curl 3 x 12
-Hammer curl 3 x 15
Shoulders
-Seated dumbbell press 4 x 8
-Seated dumbbell side raise 4 x 12
-Seated dumbbell rear fly 4 x 15
Traps
-Seated machine shrug 4 x 8
-Behind-the-back barbell shrug 3 x 15
Triceps
-Seated preacher curl 3 x 10
-Cable pushdown 3 x 12
-One-arm dumbbell extension 3 x 15

This is my off-season, as well as pre-contest, style of training. The only exception is that rest intervals decrease (i.e. 60-90 seconds) considerably during a pre-contest mode. I must re-iterate that the above is what I believe works for me. It has a loose base in scientific theory, but more than anything, it is grounded in anecdotal evidence.

This year has been a learning experience, just like every year since my first show in 1990! As I get older, and hopefully smarter, I enjoy the process, the learning, the challenge, much more than the outcome. It is nice to win, but that is only one night, and not up to me anyway. All the weeks leading up to the contest are in my control, and I cherish each small victory along the way.

I am undecided as to whether I will continue to compete. It is hard to just "turn it off", and train for the hell of it! My goals now become more intrinsic-just to keep getting better, not necessarily bigger. By virtue of my achievements this year, I now have more questions than answers....

Tony Poggiali is the owner of Adrenaline Sports & Fitness, a performance enhancement company in Ohio. Please visit http://adrenalinesf.com for more information. He has competed in 17 bodybuilding shows, and that experience has helped several other competitors help reach their physique potential.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Poggiali

Bodybuilding Cutting Exercises Are a Fitness Myth

Bodybuilders use high repetition sets to get ripped, but could get more results in less time by doing less work.
High repetition sets do not get you cut.
This is a myth, and there's a much better way to sculpt your body, get ripped, and finally achieve the elusive 6-pack.
But again, let me repeat, you won't succeed with high-repetition sets using light weights. And don't even worry about the "pump", but that's another article for another day. To get ripped, its all about nutrition and intensity. We want to be able to see our well-earned muscles and our 6-pack abs.
And that's why we get lured into the belief of the cutting exercises. Because it causes a burn in our muscles, we generally think, hey, this must be burning fat. But it's not! It's just a fatiguing sensation. If you are using a high-rep, cutting program, I doubt you are getting the results you want. You don't need to be in the gym too long.
There is a better way to burn fat. A faster way. And a smarter way. It doesn't involve "toning" workouts or "Cutting exercises". What you need to do for fat loss, and getting cut, is to focus on the same exercises that helped you build muscle in the first place.
So forget the pec-dec, and stick with dumbbell presses. Say goodbye to leg extensions, and keep using squats and lunges. Next up is the shocker! Use intervals to cut fat fast! Instead, we'll use interval training to burn fat and boost our metabolism in less than half the time as a normal cardio workout. Only 20 minutes of interval training done 3 times per week resulted in weight loss in one Australian study.

On the other hand, three 40-minute cardio sessions did not cause any weight loss in the same study. Shocking results, but it just goes to show you the power of intensity. No more slow boring aerobics. That means saying goodbye to light weights and high reps and long slow cardio. Goodbye, nice to know you! If you want to get ripped muscles, diet hard?

First, you need the proper dietary changes to promote muscle gains and body fat reductions. Nutrition is the most important factor for fat burning and getting cut. If your nutrition sucks, and you eat fast food or skip meals, you are in big trouble. There is no workout good enough to overcome bad nutrition.

 Next, focus on multi-muscle strength exercises and finish with interval training to burn more calories out of the gym.

No more machines. No more high reps. Use more intensity and put turbulence on your muscles. If you did a squat, a press, and a row in each workout, and then did intervals, you'd get ripped if your nutrition was good. Keep it incredibly simple, but intense.

Forget about slow boring cardio. You need to do short burst exercise instead. Consistency is key for getting cut.

Forget bodybuilding, use Turbulence Training to get ripped. Burn fat with bodyweight exercises.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Ballantyne

Precautions Before Taking Any Body Supplements

Earlier it used to be the women who used to try to look good but now the situation has just reversed. Today it is the male class who are in queue to look good and Bodybuilding is the new mantra of the present time.

 Almost every youth is mad about it because there is a range of reasons for every person who goes to gym. Some go to the gym to reduce their weight and they constitute the biggest class of all the bodybuilders.

 The second group is of those who go to the gym purely for the reason of staying fit and their desire is never to build muscles like Arnold.

All they want is to remain within the limit and be fit and then there is the third class, which constitutes those people who are simply there to build their muscles in as much amount as possible.

They want to have muscles like Arnold and they are the people who are targeted by the companies to sell their Bodybuilding Supplements. The prices of these bodybuilding supplements vary but there are certain precautions, which should be exercised at all cost.

The first precaution, which should be practiced, is to never buy any body supplement on your own. This could be dangerous and in some circumstances this could be lethal as well. These things are dangerous and the second advice is consulting your physician before going for any type of body supplements.

This does not mean that your gym instructor is enough for this purpose as they will push you to buy any supplement because they will make money in the process. Hence their advice is important but they are not sufficient to go for any new body supplement. Besides, your physician knows more about your body than any body else.

 Hence he/she will be in a better position to tell you that what is suitable for you and what is not suitable for you so in any case, you should consult your physician.

The next thing is the kind of information you need to have before calling the shot. It will help you in the long run. There are a number of benefits of body supplements but there are many bad effects too, if you are not taking the correct body supplement.

 If you will remain knowledgeable enough then it would be difficult for anyone to fool you by giving you suggestions about bad products. You should also consult your mates who have taken similar products and you need to see what their views are about the matter. If they agree that it is good then you should buy it.

Bodybuildingfactory is one of the United States leading bodybuilding supplements  website. First established in 2003, its mission is to become the number one site for testosterone boosters

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Bodybuilding Injury Prevention - Read This Before You Begin Lifting Weights

Preventing Injuries
An injury will slow down your results dramatically. Weight lifting and bodybuilding require strength AND flexibility. Many people leave the flexibility out of the equation when working out. One of the most common causes of training injuries is lack of a proper warm up procedure. Stretching, light aerobics and doing high rep sets with light weight can seriously reduce the chance of injuring yourself. You should seriously make injury prevention one of your primary concerns.

If you train in a way that will get you injured, remember that you probably will NOT be able to train properly, or at all, when you are injured. Lost training time means you will get results slower and maybe not at all if the injury is permanent or severe. Train safely and correctly at all times.

Patience is the key to have an amazing body. Stay disciplined so that you reach your goals with ease. Always pay attention to your body. If you're feeling weak, tired or nauseous, skip your workout that day and come back to it when you feel ready. But make sure you only skip your workouts if you're feeling sick or your body isn't strong enough to take on the poundage. A little soreness or fatigue can be expected and is normal.
Your diet also affects your body's ability to repair and renew itself properly. Proper rest and food choices give you the best foundation for a safe workout. Check out this site to get more tips on nutrition and healthy eating so you can be sure to stay safe, strong, and healthy.

What Causes Bodybuilding Injuries?
Many lifting injuries occur over a long period of time as problems build up over months or even possibly years. By not allowing a joint to rest, pushing it constantly over months, will make injury all the more likely. By listening to your body and giving it time to rest and recover after a long period of intense workouts, you're doing yourself a favor.

 For long term success, you have to realize that you are a human being and you need to take a break and rest properly. So if you're elbows are aching, or knees feel funny, take a week off - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Don't listen to your friends or others who might downgrade or shrug off your concerns as being part of the territory. Pain is counter-productive in weight training.

 Get to know your body.
As you loosen up your muscles by stretching and even lubricate your joints by warming up, the chance of injury or long-term harm is greatly reduced. In addition, stretching between sets flushes out lactic acid and byproducts while bringing in fresh nutrients, giving you more strength for your next set.

 Stretching improves joint range of motion, improves the function of your muscles and improves neuro-muscular control or efficiency. Finally, even the post-stretching warm down helps you recover faster between workouts. Stretched muscles

It is very important that your muscles and joints are flexible. Increased flexibility means increased muscle mass and less injury. Flexibility is the range of motion around a specific joint or a set of joints.

 Every movement you make from daily activities, exercise and sports require your joints to move through a full range of motion. Therefore a lack of flexibility will lead to muscular imbalances and eventually injury.

Please visit Bodybuilding-Basics.com (http://www.bodybuilding-basics.com) for information concerning bodybuilding, weight training, and fitness health and nutrition for everyone.

You can start building a better body now by lifting weights and making adjustments to your diet. You don't need a gym membership or anything but your own body weight really. Good luck in your quest for health!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmen_D'Angelo

Best Muscle Building Supplement - Know Before You Buy

Bodybuilding supplements help you to gain muscle weight and boost up in achieving your desired goal faster. Bodybuilding supplements also used to improve the performance in getting training and fast recovery from any events.

The best muscle building supplements help you but they are not being a successful muscle builder. There are many products available in the market which is taking guaranty to build muscles. Basically Protein, Glutamine, Fatty Acid and Creatine product are used to improve the muscles. In market combination of these chemicals are available in different name which taking guaranty to improve the body muscles.

Protein is the most essential building element for the muscle. People essentially take it in powder from before or after the meals or exercise. Protein absorbs by the body quickly and it allows quick growth of muscle tissue and repairs it. Protein contains most of the essential part of all of Amino Acids, Creatine etc.

Glutathione is the immune boosting element and Creatine is used for the biosynthesis of glutathione. Protein consumed by the body breaks into Amino Acids and intestines which is helpful in building the muscles. Fatty acids are also necessary nutrients for the bodybuilders but they are taking low fat diet to become fat deficient.

Glutamine an Amino acid which is found in human muscle in high volume and most of the muscle builder supplement are using this chemical in there product. These manufactures are claiming that Glutamine level is decreased during the exercise and make week your immune system, so take the Bodybuilding supplements supplement when you are doing exercise. The natural organic acid Creatine supply energy to our body muscle cells during exercise.

So, finally use natural supplement like milk, egg, soy protein, hemp seeds and hemp oil. You can take supplements in small amount because Creatine and glutamine come from your regular diet, but you need more when you are doing exercise. Protein powder will give you more calories in, but do not take it more to avoid overdose.

To receive further information on how you can build Strong Muscles, visit our website http://www.strongmusclespro.com
Get our free ebook to tone your body, build strength and boost energy just in 6 weeks. James Zordan currently transforms bodies both men & women alike. He is dedicated to giving you the body shape you desire.

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How To Build Muscle And Get Ripped-Nutrition And Fitness Tips

If you have always thought that getting a perfectly-toned and ripped body is all about using muscle building drugs, it is time that you get your facts right. There is nothing better and proven that vigorous workouts that are complemented with the right diet and the right technique.

One of the first things that anyone should know about bodybuilding is that NATURAL GAINS ARE THE BEST GAINS. Moreover, using banned performance enhancing drugs can put you at an increased risk of health complications such as high blood pressure, gynecomastia, and liver/kidney damage. If you want to improve results from your muscle-building endeavors, these nutrition and fitness tips would surely help you redefine physique in limitless ways.

1. It is a proven fact that the human body needs the right set of vitamins and minerals in daily diet. Bodybuilders are no exceptions. If you want to build muscle, grow them naturally and complement with the right calorie intake.

2. If you are new to bodybuilding, it is important for you to understand the importance of free weights like barbells and dumbbells. Make sure that you perform basic movements like the barbell bench press, the squat, the military shoulder press, and the deadlifts before you take things to the next level. Fancy machines can wait for beginners.

3. You will end up doing more damage than good if you walk straight into the gym and do whatever comes before you. Seek the assistance of an advanced bodybuilder or personal trainer to get a routine chart for building muscles and staying in the best shape. Moreover, you should always select a well-equipped gym that has professional and experienced trainer. The gym should have a wide range of equipments and free weights and it must follow all safety standards.

4. If your goal is to bulk up, make sure that you take digestive enzymes that contain lipase, protease, and amylase so that fat, protein, and starch can be broken down.

5. To allow muscles to grow, it is important for you to ensure that your body gets the right amount of proteins. Generally, professional bodybuilders consume a minimum of 1-2 grams of protein per pound of weight (e.g.: 190-lb bodybuilders will be eating between 190-360lbs grams of protein per day).

6. Last but not the least, you are wasting your money and time on bodybuilding workouts if you are not getting adequate sleep. Remember, your body grows the maximum during sleep. Therefore, you should always make sure that you get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. If you are not getting enough sleep and rest, it means your growth, energy levels, recovery, and hormone levels are getting bad hits.
Follow these tips on bodybuilding workouts and see the difference by yourself.

James McGlynn has been an active participant online for promoting awareness about health and dietary supplements. He has written extensively on bodybuilding workouts, supplements for muscle building, and how to train safe. To read his articles, visit http://www.healthandsuppliments.com/

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Human Growth Complex

Human Growth Complex is a supplement made by Ultra Lab nutrition that works to accelerate muscle growth through non-traditional, homeopathic methods. Homeopathic medications cannot be patented, and therefore in the United States people are sometimes skeptical of these supplements.

Word of mouth and reviews are typically the way that people find out whether or not a supplement works or not. HGC is one of the supplements with a solid reputation in body-building circles and among everyday people who are serious about creating the kind of physique and fitness level they want. However, you should always rely on your own research and experience.

What's in Human Growth Complex?
While a breakdown of each ingredient would be too time-consuming for an overall summary, it's helpful to know the ingredients of any supplement so that you can research how it might work to do what it promises to do. Each of the following ingredients is contained in Human Growth Complex and blend together to produce results.

- Somatotrophine(gh) - insulin-like growth factor - alfalfa - arnica montana - arsenicum album - baptisia - glesemium sempervirens - lacticum acidum - lycopodium clavatum - phophorus - rhus toxicodendron - ruta graveolens

How Does Human Growth Complex Work?
Human Growth Complex is a legal anabolic that doesn't cause the horrific side effects associated with illegal anabolic medications. It helps people to gain weight by stimulating appetite and it helps the body absorb what it consumes more quickly, causing greater weight gain and muscle growth faster than average.

The result is that bodybuilders, or people that just want a better overall level of fitness, use this supplement and enjoy many of the same benefits of other more harmful medications. It's because of this that supplements like these are very popular. They're also legal, which is important to most people.

The Final Verdict On Human Growth Complex
Bodybuilders and fitness-conscious people love to find new ways to accelerate progress, and this makes good sense. Anything that can get someone closer to the finish line, without causing any kind of harm, is something that should be investigated closely and considered for use. This nutritional supplement from Ultra Lab Nutrition promises to do just that.

It's worth noting that the reviews for this supplement are almost all positive, and that many claim that real results can be seen fairly quickly. People like this supplement and use it. It's up to every individual to learn more about any product, but if the product description and review comments coincide, it's usually a good sign and it should at least be worth your own time and effort to research it.

Let Brady Dylan illuminate the truth behind the hottest new workout training routine with his P90x reviews. Is this workout, used by NFL athletes and celebrities alike, right for you? Find out for yourself:
http://hubpages.com/hub/P90X-Reviews-Does-P90X-Work

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What's The Best Food for Natural Bodybuilding? Bet It's Not What You Think

Bodybuilding The Natural Way
Looking at some of the best natural bodybuilding supplements on the market thre are two ingredients common to most of them. The first is hemp seeds or hemp seed powder shows up in many of them because of it's incredibly high percentage of protein - 24% by weight. And second is Maca powder, which natural bodybuilder rave about. Looking further into the nutritional details of Maca, I discovered that there's a very good reason for that.

Why Natural Bodybuilders Love Maca Powder From Peru
I uncovered 7 major reasons why people interested in building their bodies naturally use and recommend Maca Powder.

1. Maca raises energy in a balanced way - Let's face it, if you want to build your body, you've got to exercise and move and to do that you need energy. One of the properties of Maca is that it boosts energy, but it does so in a balanced way, unlike caffeine, carbohydrates or sugar. This gives you increased endurance and muscular stamina which allows you to work out longer and more intensely. Interestingly, a boost in energy is one of the reasons people indigenous to the Peruvian Andes have traditionally used Maca. At high elevations where oxygen is scarce, Maca supports faster muscle recovery. Maca nutritional profile
2.   Maca is a good source of quality protein - Maca powder contains 4 grams of protein per tablespoon. There is some debate among natural bodybuilders as to how much protein a person should have daily, but the average recommended is about 1.5 grams per 1 KG of body weight. If you weigh 60 KG, for example, you would take 90 grams of protein or so. That figure is based on animal proteins, which are harder for the body to assimilate.
3. Vegetarian bodybuilders need to consume less protein because the body breaks down plant proteins easier. Maca, although not nearly has high as hemp seeds in quantity, is indeed a high quality source of vegan based protein. If you take just 2 tablespoons per day, you already get 8 grams of protein in addition to Maca's other benefits.
4. Maca is anabolic - The word "anabolic" itself means "building up muscle," and that's something Maca helps to do. Several of the natural bodybuilders I researched attest to this fact. Jeff Anderson of naturalbodybuildingtips.com says: "My day always starts with a protein shake. This typically consists of a vegetarian protein source like rice, pea or hemp protein, or some combination of the three. Blend 30-40 grams of protein in 8oz of organic coconut milk and 8-12 oz water. I also add a banana, some mixed frozen berries, a Tbsp of cacao nibs, and 2 Tbsp maca powder to naturally increase my testosterone to build more muscle."
5. Maca balances hormones for both men and women - Maca works as an adaptogen, which means that it adapts to the needs of a specific body based on health condition and gender. Both men and women can benefit from taking Maca for increased athletic performance and bodybuilding because it stimulates the production of balanced levels of appropriate hormones: testosterone for men and estrogen for women. That makes Maca unique among all supplements for muscle building.
6. Maca reduces the size of the prostate - Studies have shown that Red Maca in particular reduces the size of the prostate gland. This is important of course for older men. But it's also important for any males who have ever tried steroids of any kind. Steroids enlarge the prostate, which can lead to some life threatening consequences. Taking Red Maca appears to remedy the situation.
7. Maca is suitable for vegan and raw food vegan bodybuilders - There are some amazingly accomplished natural bodybuilders who've created their strength exclusively through raw food vegan foods. Quality Maca, like ours is always vegan (unless in gelatin capsules) and raw (not treated with heat) except for Gelatinized Maca.

Does Maca Really Work as A Supplement For Muscle Gain?
Although Maca has been used for over 3000 years stretching all the way back to Incan warriors who took it in training and preparation for battle, it only became known outside of Peru in the 1980s. Since then natural bodybuilders and athletes have used it in their training. Here are few examples:

• Stephen Alrin (a.k.a Thor Bazler), author of "Raw Power - The Power of Raw Foods, Upwerfoos and Building Strenght and Muscle Naturally" has used Maca for years and includes it in all his natural raw food bodybuilding supplements.
• Mike Adams, the Health Ranger of http://www.naturalnews.com says this about Maca: "Many bodybuilders use instead of artificial steroids have long been on the natural power of Maca tuber. Maca naturally stimulate the body's own production of testosterone and it gives visible results in strength and endurance sport."
• Peter Ragnar, who has performed various world class feats of strength as a 100% raw vegan, told us that he has gotten great gains in strength using Maca and hemp seed powder.
• Finally, Bijan Anjomi, who captured the title of "Mr. Universe - Natural Division" three times - in the years 1993 and 1994 at ages 51 and 52 - - and finally in 2003 at age 60, did so as a vegan and taking Maca.

Maca is now also making it's way into the mainstream. Here's what Dr. Oz said about it on Oprah Winfrey's website:
"In the heights of the mountains, Peruvian tribesmen get energy by sucking on maca (Lepidium meyenii) plants. This turnip-or radish-shaped vegetable from the mustard family has been used as food and medicine, to promote endurance and improve energy, vitality, sexual virility and even fertility. The data on its increased energy effects seem strong, but the reported side effect is insomnia. It can be obtained in a powder at many stores (Whole Foods, etc.) or from reputable dealers on the Internet. A single teaspoon (that's the dose in the studies) can be added to blender drinks, pancakes and other food products. The teaspoon keeps you going all day long."
How Much Maca To Take For Natural Bodybuilding
Most bodybuilders and athletes I know and talk to take between 1 and 3 tablespoons of Maca per day. At those levels one kilo (2.2 lbs.) of Maca powder will last 45-60 days.

Finally if this article has you curious, I invite you to check out the best selection of Maca Products and Maca information anywhere. Red, Black, Cream, Gelatinized Maca and more from The Maca Team. http://www.raworganicmaca.info

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Tobey Maguire's Workout Tips - Spiderman's Bodybuilding Secrets Revealed!

Tobey Maguire is very famous for his portrayal of Spiderman. His is extremely fit and very good looking. He flaunts a very well sculpted body. To get a body like his in Spiderman, you must combine a good workout plan, healthy and nutritious diet and adequate rest.

Diet Plan
Following a low fat and high protein diet is the best way to gain muscle mass fast. You must also eat foods like vegetables and fruits which are high in fiber and will help you lose weight. They also contain anti-oxidants that flush toxins out of your body.

Including protein supplements in your diet is also essential. Casein and whey proteins must be combined in order to maintain your energy levels. Creatine supplements also encourage pumping of muscles.

Exercises
Tobey Maguire's exercise regime includes body weight training, weight training exercises and aerobics. He worked put 45 minutes everyday to achieve the "Spiderman" look. Exercises like aerobics and stretching increase your flexibility greatly. To pump muscles, you must perform weight training exercises and to increase your strength, you must do body weight exercises like squats, dips, pull ups and push ups.

To get a body like Tobey Maguire's, you must perform your exercises effectively. These exercises which are high intensity need a lot of strength and endurance, which can be obtained from Nitric Oxide. It improves blood flow and encourages development of muscles.

Nitric Oxide also enhances the immune system and helps to prevent many dangerous diseases like cancer, heart attacks and diabetes. Also, it acts as an agent against the process of aging and stimulates fat loss in the body.

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Myostatin - The Bodybuilder's Secret To Unstoppable Muscle Growth

Michael Lockett - a top amateur bodybuilder from today's ranks. Flex Wheeler - a top professional bodybuilder of the 1990s. Phil Heath - an up and coming pro in the last two years who is setting bodybuilding stages on fire.

They've all been granted the "myostatin freak" label by sport observers to explain their extraordinary muscularity and ability to respond to bodybuilding inputs (nutrition, supplements, training and more) - and the fact they were so good at bodybuilding, so early. But do they have it, or is it simply hype?

Myostatin occurs naturally in the body. Its task, simply, is to limit growth. It is a protein in the bloodstream which slows the development of muscle tissue. And there is a belief that either through gene manipulation or some other factors, human beings can have their myostatin gene altered in order to have a great deal more muscle.
 Already, there have been rare cases of dogs bred specifically without the myostatin agent - and they are faster, stronger, and much more muscular than other dogs. However, they often take on a significantly altered look as their body's purpose becomes more efficient for carrying this muscular weight.

Their skulls, frames, and other features often appear "less evolved" - broader, shorter, thicker, and sometimes with limited function.

It's a brand new science, but in the coming years, there will no doubt be a wealth of studies done on this gene, and a wealth of opportunists will arrive on the scene to capitalize upon the interest held by many in the bodybuilding community.

 Imagine the day when a syringe can offer some compound which lessens the effect of the myostatin gene in humans. Imagine if your arms DIDN'T stop growing at 19 inches - and they just kept on growing to 21, 22, even 23 inches. Imagine if your body suddenly threw away what it considers your inherited genetic limitations.

Keep an eye out for myostatin studies, findings, and of course, those bodybuilders creating a hype machine by claiming to be the "next" myostatin freak. No healthy, adult human being has ever been tested and found to have the magic myostatin gene which allows for unlimited growth. A test does exist to discover who is with the gene, and most marketing machine athletes have either failed it or chosen not to take it.

 But as with all things conceived today by science, it will likely be here tomorrow. Imagine a new breed of babies born with strength and genetic potential for muscle growth which dwarfs that of today's top athletes. The potential is mind-boggling. And it's coming.

Dane Fletcher is the world's most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit http://www.BodybuildingToday.com the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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Body Building Supplements Prove Great For Seniors

The loss of lean muscle mass is proving to be a major contributor to increasing disability in old age. And this unfortunate muscle loss occurs naturally for most people at a rate of 0.5% to 2% per year after the age of 40.

 That means by age 65 [at just 1% loss per year] we may lose 1/4 of our valuable muscle! With this loss of muscle and overall strength, comes a decreased ability to perform even simple everyday tasks of daily living. It's no wonder seniors are increasingly hurt by falls and have difficulty simply climbing stairs.

In order to stave off this dreaded muscle loss, resistance training or weight lifting has become highly recommended, In fact, bodies such as The American College of Sports Medicine recommend weight training for all those over 50 years of age. Research over the years shows that human muscle remains quite responsive to resistance exercise training well into late old age. Some studies have shown that a well planned routine with just light dumbbells was enough to aid some seniors to move about without the aid of the walkers they had been using previously.

Tufts University Research Center did a study where nine women and men, ages 87 to 101, strengthened their front thigh muscles by an average of almost 175 percent over 8 weeks. A 101-year-old retired dentist by the name of Dr. Abraham Datch, actually increased his personal strength by 200 percent over what was recorded when he was age 95! There do not appear to be any age related barrier to weight training and fitness at all.

But this article has even more good news for older adults. A recent study by Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada [ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00473902] has shown that using creatine monohydrate and conjugated linoleic acid in conjunction with a strength training routine has proven highly beneficial. Participants in

the study, aged 65 to 85, used 5 grams of creatine once a day and 3 grams of conjugated linoleic acid twice a day along with their training routine. The result was an average increase in muscle mass of 2.1 kg [4.62 lbs] over 6 months for each individual taking the supplements.

 The test group not taking the  supplements gained 0.9 kg [1.98 lbs] on the same routine. And simply taking the supplements without working out will not do anything except to waste your money.

 You can read more about this study in the research report published by the Public Library of Science online at PLoS ONE.

The upshot of this article is that we don't have to be an emergency room statistic or simply a senior having to rely on the kindness of others to get by in our everyday life. Lifting weights and other kinds of strength training can provide a lot of benefits for those willing to take the time to get involved.

 And this supplement study shows that there are safe ways to aid the increase the building of new muscle through exercise as well. Remember though, you should always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program or using any kinds of supplements.

But don't resign yourself to a life of inactivity and frailty. Stay strong!

Find some great bodybuilding supplements such as conjugated linoleic acid  at Online Shopping Galore

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7 Things You Have To Know Before Choosing Bodybuilding As A Career!

Are you having problems gaining the serious muscle you want to? Are you working out a lot with little changes to your body?

 Want to get that ripped look men and women will envy and desire with a goal of becoming a pro bodybuilder? This article will reveal seven things you have to know if you are thinking about becoming a professional bodybuilder whilst on your way to building your ultimate physique.

1. Earning Your Pro Card
In order to become a professional bodybuilder, you must first earn your Pro Card. A bodybuilder looking to do this must first win a regional contest weight class.
When a bodybuilder wins or places highly they earn an invite to compete at their country's National Championships contest for that year. The winners of each weight class at the National Championships will then go head to head in a separate contest to see who is the overall champion for the year.
Depending on the federation, the overall Champion will be offered a pro card. Some federations offer pro cards to winners of individual weight class champions. This can mean that each year more than one bodybuilder may earn a Pro Card.

2. Membership
Qualification as a professional may require membership of a professional bodybuilding organization such as the IFBB (The International Federation of Bodybuilders). Many Natural Bodybuilding organizations such as the INBF (International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation), NPA (Natural Physique Association) and NANBF (North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation) also have professional ranks.

3. Income
It is possible, though difficult except at the highest level, to earn a reasonable income purely from competition winnings. It is more likely that a particular athlete will be sponsored by local companies and supplement manufacturers.
 Many bodybuilders use their new found fame and knowledge to pursue business ventures such as higher level personal training, or opening their own fitness centers. Guest posing and appearances also support income.

4. Work Harder Than Anyone You Know
If you do, everything else that is meant to be will follow. If you focus is only on becoming a pro bodybuilder, then you are not approaching the sport properly. The core of bodybuilding is not about achievement in a public forum, such as on a bodybuilding stage.
 It is about the private sense of accomplishment you get in achieving your goals, whether you're in the gym or on a stage.

5. Learn To Be Smart
At the gym, learn to be smart about your training. Go there to work, not for recreational purposes. Determine ahead of time what your workout will be for that day and stick to it, making modifications only for logical reasons. Apply the same standards to your nutrition. Decide ahead of time what you will eat throughout the day and adhere to that plan.
Don t skip meals. Don't indulge in gluttonous behaviour that will negatively impact your physique.

6. Do You Have The Necessary Genetics?
If you have the desire to compete, prepare for a competition as if you are a professional bodybuilder. Through perseverance and feedback from the judges, you will be able to determine if you are lucky enough to have the necessary genetics.

7. The Odds Of Attaining Professional Status
Above all, put as much effort into your education as you put into your training and nutrition. Too many young guys pursue a pro career without having a backup plan. The odds of attaining professional status, let alone making a comfortable living at it, are remote at best. But if you want to be a professional bodybuilder, you have to approach bodybuilding with a professional attitude.

Although passion is important, you must also have the self-awareness and logic to accurately assess your own chances of success. If you do, you will be a professional.

Your ultimate body is within reach providing you follow the proven principles in this article. Muscle building is not a pipe dream or only for those with the perfect genetic makeup. Use these strategies and very soon you will experience the private sense of accomplishment whether you're in the gym or on a stage.

Ian Burgess has put together a complementary report on bodybuilding for quick muscle growth that will help you solve your muscle gaining problem quickly and permanently. To access it instantly please visit

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Review of Scivation's Xtend - Bodybuilding Supplements

I've never paid much attention to branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements until recently. Branched chain amino's just doesn't sound all that exciting when you have all these hyped up muscle builders such as various forms of creatine, nitric oxide boosters, and testosterone enhancers out there.

 However, I've done a lot of research on supplements in general over the past few years and I now have a completely different outlook on BCAAs as I now see their vital importance.

I guess advertising really does work. Statements in supplement ads, even though greatly exaggerated, can really catch your attention and half the time you won't even realize it. But hey, that's part of advertising.

 I hate to admit that I've fallen naïve to this at times. But I have, and chances are, we all have at some point. BCAAs have never really had the tag lines that other top selling muscle builders have. These days, most supplement formulas contain BCAAs, but at a very low dosage.

Whereas most every major supplement carries some sort of BCAA product, I ran across Scivation's Xtend about a year ago, and I'm glad I did. Before I get further into this, let me first say that this is not one of those supplements you 'feel' or will gain massive amounts of muscle in a short period of time with.

 Some immediate effects I notice though are less soreness and quicker recovery. I also notice that with taking this during my workout, my muscles have more sustainable energy. Since I do take a pre and post workout drink, I use Xtend during my workout and on my off weight training days, I use it during cardio.

 The reason for this, which is the reason BCAAs are so important, is because when you work out you're breaking down the muscle. But if you're feeding your muscles BCAAs during the process, you counteract this affect.

Xtend, unlike most other BCAA products has a generous dosage of BCAAs at 3.5 grams of leucine, and 1.8 grams each of isoleucine and valine (this 2:1:1 ratio is known to be most effective).

Xtend also contains a moderate dose of glutamine and citrulline malate. I don't know a ton about citrulline malate other than it's known to enhance performance. At one gram though, I can't imagine you'll feel the effect of this unless you take multiple servings of Xtend.

 The amount of glutamine Xtend contains per serving is 2.5 grams. There have been several studies to that show just two grams of glutamine can increase natural growth hormone levels. Glutamine is also important for recovery. So this is an extremely valuable addition.

The recommendations for this product are to take it before, during, and after workouts and anywhere from two to six scoops (two scoops equals one serving).

 Again, I take this product only during my workout and/or during my cardio sessions (two, sometimes three scoops). I think it's extremely important to take this during cardio to prevent muscle breakdown.

 If you're not taking anything for pre and post workout, this product is excellent to take for those times as well, especially post workout (your post workout mix should always contain a high level of BCAAs). I've also experimented taking Xtend before bed time.

 When taking this at night, I noticed deeper and more restful sleep. This is probably more due to the glutamine in the product.

My opinion on Scivation's Xtend is this: It's the best BCAA supplement on the market in regards to quality and price per serving. In most stores you'll find the 30 serving containers of Xtend for $25-30 a pop, but I've been able to find this product at a few online retailers for around $15.

 Of course you have to consider shipping, but you're still saving a substantial amount of money. I've told people that if I were broke and could only afford one supplement (other than whey protein), this would definitely be it.
 

Jason M. Stallworth
TheMuscleProgram.com
Download your free training log at: http://www.themuscleprogram.com/

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Women's Bodybuilding: Controversial Fad or Life Changing Sport

One of the biggest changes in the world of bodybuilding has been the growing proportion of women in the sport. Increasingly more and more women are choosing bodybuilding as a method to improve their health, fitness and strength, which is hardly surprising given how successful this sport can be in achieving these goals.

One of the pioneers of female bodybuilding was Lisa Lyon, who developed many of the dance-like muscle poses that are still popular today. She also sought out a variety of photographers that took the photos that introduced the sculpted female body to the world.

 The stunning Rachel McLish, who won the very first female Ms. Olympia title then set the standards that many female bodybuilders still try to achieve today. She managed to combine her sexy looks with muscularity and body tone and in doing so created a benchmark that many people still aspire to.

The world of women's bodybuilding however had to travel a relatively rocky road to reach the point of relative acceptance that it enjoys today. Women had never built their muscles for aesthetic purposes before, although they have always used other forms of exercise to keep fit and attractive.

 In any case, bodybuilding for women was not widely approved of at first and was criticized by both men and women. These days however, women's bodybuilding, while not nearly as popular as men's bodybuilding is a much more accepted form of fitness. Whether this is simply the sport itself maturing, changing personal beliefs or the growing equality between the sexes, female bodybuilding is enjoying a much higher profile these days.

The most of obvious benefit of female bodybuilding is its effect on health and fitness. As has been written before, bodybuilding provides a very effective way to manage weight, health and body shape that many other general exercises and sports simply can't offer.

This statement holds true whether the participant is male or female. Many women suffer from strength deficits, body weight issues and a loss of physical capacity, especially after childbirth, and bodybuilding is a great way to manage these issues. Unfortunately many women concentrate exclusively on aerobic exercise and never perform any form of resistance training as they have been told they will look like a man if they lift weights, which is of course a myth.

It is very common for women to try a variety of dieting programs, some of which are extremely unhealthy and misleading. These kinds of diets can cause a loss of general health, bone mass, and lean muscle mass.

 Bodybuilding can help avoid all of these issues as participants learn to integrate exercise and nutrition using well-developed and well-understood scientific principles into their daily lives and routines, which has obvious health benefits.

Many of these bodybuilding workouts that can be easily found online are as relevant for women as they are for men. Although the goal might be to develop muscle tone as opposed to developing muscle size this is easily accommodated by varying the sets, repetitions, and weights that are used when performing the exercises. Women who want to undertake bodybuilding should therefore learn the common exercises that are performed in the gym the same way as a man would, and incorporate them into a training program that uses higher repetition and lower weights in order to achieve the goal of increased body tone.

Alexi has studied and worked in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years and specializes in health, lifestyle and fitness topics.

Alexi has a number of websites that provide valuable information on equipment that helps you get the most out of your training sessions. You can read all about workout gloves for women
 at his website about Harbinger Gloves
 

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Best Bodybuilding Program - One Flaw Most Bodybuilding Programs Share and How You Can Get Around It

If you're one of those people who have really tried various bodybuilding programs diligently and got abysmal results, a possible explanation was that you may have been doing the right weight training program but you were eating the worst foods for your body type, or vice versa. This is actually a very common problem.

Most mainstream bodybuilding programs have two major flaws: one, they have a tendency to heavily promote supplements, and two, they advocate the same generic program for everyone.
In this article I'll address the second flaw of mainstream bodybuilding programs: the one-size-fits-all approach, or lack of personalization.

Why Most Mainstream Bodybuilding Programs Are Flawed
The one-size-fits-all approach is the major drawback of most programs like South Beach, Atkins, The Zone, High Carb / Low Carb Diet, etc.

Most Mainstream Programs fail because they don't take into consideration your own individual variables and they don't help you find out the best training routine and nutrition plan FOR YOU.

Our individual differences explain why high carb diets work for some people, while others just gain weight on it. It explains why some people do well on Atkin's, while others develop health problems on this program.

If two people eat the same exact foods, do the same bodybuilding program and get the same amount of rest, they'll still produce different results. This is because of individual differences like genetics and metabolic rate.

Likewise, a bodybuilding program that works well for another may only give you dismal results. There just simply isn't just one program that cuts it for everyone. That's why personalization is a must!

The Best Bodybuilding Program Is The One Tailored For You
If you want to reach your bodybuilding goals much easier and quicker, modelling your behaviour after those who are already producing the results you want is a foolproof strategy.

Want to know the secret of the world's best and most successful Bodybuilders? They know the best weight training program for them at any given time and phase of their training period. They have measured and tracked and found the perfect nutrition ratios for their bodies. If they want to cheat, they know how much they can and cannot get away with. They know how much rest and sleep to get, and they know how far they can go to produce the results they want.

Similarly, the best bodybuilding program FOR YOU is the one that is personalized and tailored to you - and that's the secret!

An effective bodybuilding program is a holistic, complete program that encompasses how and what you should eat, what weight training and cardio training routines you must do, and what mental training you must practice in order to achieve the results your body can possibly attain.

What You Need to Do to Create Your Personalized Bodybuilding Program:
1. Tailor Your Nutrition Program - Getting your diet right is an absolute must. You must know your body type and nutritional individuality to find the optimal diet for you.

2. Personalize Your Cardio Workout - You must know how to systematically manipulate cardio frequency, duration, intensity, timing and type to accommodate your goals and to get the results you want.

3. Individualize Your Weight Training Routine - Your workout program must suit your current physical condition, fitness, lifestyle and goals.

4. Know How to Get Yourself Motivated - Bodybuilding IS hard. Bodybuilding doesn't just involve physical strength, in fact it requires more mental strength. It requires consistent and progressive work and constant personal change.

 As such you must have mental strategies and techniques to keep yourself focused, committed and driven. You must be unstoppable.

Here's the bottom line: a personalized bodybuilding program is an absolute necessity for your long-term success.

Therefore, the best bodybuilding program is one that shows you how to personalize the components according to your own uniqueness, and the best program I've found for this is Tom Venuto's Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Bodybuilding Program, because it's the first to combine all the important information you'll ever need into one exhaustively detailed resource. Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Program is flexible and customizable.

 After you've mastered the fundamentals, you'll know how to "tweak" and fine tune your diet and training to fit your body type and individual needs.

Why Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle?

• Burn the Fat reveals the very same methods used by the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models.
• There's no junk -- only solid, proven, effective principles that can be tailored to suit you.
• The program won't try to sell you supplements, drugs and similar unproven "performance enhancing" products.
• In Chapter 5 of Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle, you'll find out how to determine your body type and nutritional individuality. There are 3 different nutrition programs, starting with basic fundamentals which you have to master first. Then you adjust your nutrition based on the information you learned.
• Burn the Fat will show you how to systematically manipulate your training program's frequency, duration, intensity, timing and type according to your individual needs.
• Burn the Fat has FOUR training programs, and within each of these 4 programs there are 2 schedules, giving a total of 8 routines to choose from.

To get your own Personalized Bodybuilding Program, click here To get free access to ebooks, articles and videos about no bull, no hype, truly effective Natural bodybuilding and fat loss programs, visit our website or read our Burn the Fat Review here.
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Intra-Workout Supplements: Are They Necessary?

If you are into sports training and bodybuilding, you are surely already familiar with different bodybuilding supplements. Pre and post workout supplementation have become the trend among many gym fanatics and bodybuilders alike because of the great benefits these supplements are known to provide.

 The more modern supplement option today, however, is intra workout supplementation. Also called "during" workout supplements, products like Xtend Scivation are also starting to establish names in the sports and bodybuilding industry because of the unique and added benefits they claim to offer.

What is it?
Unlike pre and post training supplements which are recommended to be consumed before and after a workout, respectively, intra workout supplements are best taken during the exercise proper itself. There are reports, however, claiming that such supplements can also be taken immediately before or after training to maximize effectiveness.

What are the benefits?
'During' workout supplements promise to give you optimum benefits for your training. They are also known as thermogenic supplements since they help in controlling the body's temperature while providing energy to the muscles during the training. They are said to improve sports performance while increasing time to fatigue at the same time. Apart from these benefits, drinking this type of products is also linked to improving strength and muscle growth, as well as enhancing amino acid levels in the body.

 The improved muscle pump and lifts also help in muscle gain and achieving optimum performance during training. Muscle recovery and catabolism prevention are also known benefits of such supplements. Catabolism refers to destructive metabolism -- the muscle breakdown from complex to simpler substances results to release in energy. Anabolism, on the other hand, refers to the opposite. It's usually considered as constructive metabolism and is generally preferred during training.

Should you invest in it?
Compared to pre and post bodybuilding supplements, intra-workout supplementation is a relatively new concept in the sports training and bodybuilding industry.

 With this field being typically competitive and constantly evolving, however, there are already numerous studies proving the effectiveness and benefits of such supplements. Intra workout supplements typically include BCAA, carbs, and beta alanine in their main ingredients; since these are also popular ingredients in many sports supplements, make sure to go for those products that offer a healthy dose of these in their ingredient composition. Should you decide to invest in it, make it a point to choose your product wisely and settle only for a trusted and genuine supplier so you can get the best value for your money.

Nutrition Warehouse is your ultimate source of high-quality, effective, and genuine bodybuilding supplements like Xtend Scivation. Visit the site to learn more about the products you can avail yourself of.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_A_Wills

Why Bodybuilders Should Cut Down Salt and Alcohol Intake

Bodybuilders should cut down on salt intake
We need salt, and it occurs naturally in many of the foods we eat. However, there is no need to add any extra salt to your food, or to use salt tablets, even if you sweat a lot.

 There is evidence that cramp is caused by too much salt, rather than the lack of it, as so many people believe. Excessive salt increases the load on your kidneys and, if you don't compensate by drinking enough fluids, you may find yourself becoming dehydrated.

Ways to cut down on salt in your diet:
- Cut down on salt gradually and your taste buds will adjust.
- Try using herbs and spices in your cooking (as we have done in many of our recipes). You will be amazed at how little salt your really need for flavor.
- Always taste your food before adding salt.
- Choose low-salt packaged foods (check label).

Cut back on alcohol
Through sponsorship, alcohol has come to be closely associated with sport, and for many people a social drink after the game is an important part of the sporting life. Nevertheless, alcohol has a detrimental effect on your performance:
- It interferes with co-ordination.
- It dilates the blood vessels, which delays recovery.
- It may affect blood glucose levels and body temperature control.
- It adds greatly to your kilojoule / calorie intake, which could make you gain excessive fat.

- It dehydrates you.
This last effect, dehydration, is particularly damaging. Drinking alcohol before an event (even social drinking) puts you at a severe competitive disadvantage.
Bodybuilding not only can improve your health, but can help you develop skills that are vital to success in other areas of life.

 Adjusting your thinking to increase your motivation can seem like an overwhelming task. Life throws so many different demands at us that we may flounder when trying to change the way we think about challenges.

For more bodybuilding articles, resources, tips and recipes from around the world:
http://www.101bodybuilding.com http://www.desserts-recipes.com http://www.101cookingrecipes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Carey

Bodybuilding Workout - 3 Bodybuilding Workout Tips You Must Know

Do you feel like all the blood, sweat and tears at the gym has been for nothing? Are you fed up with all the flashy new supplements that don't produce what they promise? Do you just want some help so that you can get the body you so desperately desire?

The 3 following workout tips have been created for you in mind. Follow them and you will start building muscle quickly, safely and effectively. (Even if you are a skinny hardgainer!).
Ok, so let's get started.

1. The first bodybuilding workout tip is to include Squats and Dead lifts in your workout routine. Squats and dead lifts are the two "bad boy" or "animal" exercises which are a favourite of muscle building experts worldwide.

 Because of the amount of intensity and strain which they put on the body they create hormone spikes which mean you will gain muscle mass faster all over the body. Furthermore these exercises work a large portion of your body, including your chest, shoulders, back, gluts and core muscles all at once. These 2 exercises must be included in your bodybuilding work out, especially if you're skinny or a hardgainer.

2. Reduce your workout time and lift the intensity. Perform more work in less time and not only will you save time which you could spend doing something else but you will also increase your workout capacity which results in big muscle gains.

 Have smaller rest periods (but make sure they are consistent) and hustle from one exercise to the next. You will start to improve your fitness and get a lot more out of your bodybuilding work out as a result.

3. Cardio. There is a popular myth out there that cardio makes it harder to build muscle, and one which I admit I used to believe.

However the truth is that cardio actually helps you build muscle! By speeding up your recovery time and keeping your heart in lungs in good order, it gets your body in maximum muscle building mode. Surprising but true!

OK, so now that you have completed my 3 bodybuilding workout tips you are ready to start building some muscle. The tips may seem quite simple, but if you correctly apply all 3, then you are in a much better position to gain muscle than those who don't.

Of course this is just the start, if you want to start building some serious muscle then check out my resource box for more information.

Discover the Methods that have Helped over 20,000 People from 120 Different Countries Build Muscle Quick [http://Build-Muscle-Quick.com], Safely and Effectively. Champion Fitness Icon and Personal Trainer Reveals his Secrets for the First Time Ever. For more details visit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rory_Wilkinson

Female Bodybuilding Fitness - How to Start

Female bodybuilding fitness can be daunting for the beginner. Where to start? How to learn muscle building quickly and effectively? How not to waste time getting no results? Here are some excellent basics you need to learn about female bodybuilding fitness which should propel you to seeing the results you want to see quickly and effectively.

1. Weightlifting.
Obviously to build your muscles quickly, lifting weights is going to be what gets the job done. Don't be intimidated by weightlifting! It is very straight forward and you can catch on how to train properly very quickly if you follow the right advice and routine. Basically you have a bunch of different muscles you will be training.

You will split those muscle groups up into different days (one day you will train your chest, your triceps, and your shoulders for instance. This is just an example of a common split.) And then another day you will train a different set of muscles. Once you have it all on paper, know your routine, then you can pick up the weights and go at it.

2. Eating.
What many newcomers don't realize is just how important eating is to female bodybuilding fitness. It's not about "dieting", more than it's about eating the right foods at the right times throughout the day. Eating properly (the right amount of protein/carbs/and fats throughout the day) will make the difference between barely average results to outstanding results. Once again, eating is not hard to figure out once you have a good plan in front of you.

3. The Routine.
To see results quickly and not waste time with your training, a good routine is essential. A routine will consist of a workout program and eating recommendations.

The workout program will consist of a body part split to follow and the proper number of sets and reps. An eating program will consist of the right portion and combination of food to eat to put on muscle while getting lean.

Want to see an awesome Female Bodybuilding Fitness routine? Check it out at http://femalefitnesssecrets.blogspot.com/
You'll get results quickly on this great female bodybuilding fitness routine - http://femalefitnesssecrets.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Flowers

IMPACT Nutrition Product Alternatives

Most of us know that "IMPACT nutrition" went out of business a few years ago. With that went their products.

 I have had people tell me that they are having a difficult time locating products like, "Dynadrol", "Equibolan", "Maxteron" and remember those awesome shakes, "Killer MRP's"?!
I did a bit of research and found some alternatives for the now defunked products.

 Although there are a few sites that still offer these products, such as Zupplements.com, they are slowly disappearing. The list below will help you with a replacement when these products are no longer available
Permadrol: An anabolic steroid alternative that was developed as a legal, non-prescription substitute to testosterone replacement therapy.

 It contains a blend of four testosterone enhancement compounds that work together to increase the users' testosterone levels. Like pro-hormones of the past, it is comprised of elements that are found in nature.

 However, unlike pro-hormones, it is designed to not interrupt the natural testosterone production cycle as it works through natural pathways.

Anyone who could benefit from higher testosterone levels may benefit from using Permadrol. In men, testosterone levels start to decline as they get older.

Testosterone replacement compounds like Permadrol have a wide variety of benefits that range from increased athletic performance and bodybuilding to anti-aging and sexual enhancement effects. The real beauty of this product is its versatility! It can benefit pretty much anyone regardless of their goal or experience level. This is an awesome alternative to Dynadrol.

TestoXterone: This product has been touted as a "gene specific" steroid alternative. Gene specific simply means your own natural testosterone that is "gene coded" to fit into the nucleus of the cell. But the amount of testosterone being produced in the average male is very low. Between 5-10 mg a day, and the vast majority of this is "bound" and not usable to build muscle.

 So to increase your natural testosterone production just free up your own testosterone! But, TestoXterone also has a "juggernaut" gene specific testosterone enhancer... so you get a double barrel testosterone effect! This is a great alternative to Equibolan.

Orastan A: Orastan is an extremely effective, and much safer, legal alternative to the c17-methylated and c17-alpha alkylated prosteroids banned from the supplement marketplace.

It is the perfect adjunct to a healthy diet and proper resistance training regimen to insure you reach or surpass your genetic potential in athletic performance, muscle hypertrophy, overall mass gain, motivation and fat loss. This is a great alternative to Maxteron.

Lean Mass Matrix Meal: Prolab's Lean Mass Complex is a convenient shake mix like the "Killer MRP's", and is specifically designed for people who are working hard to create a leaner, healthier body.

 This program consists of 40% low-glycemic carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 20% healthy fats. Plus, it's a good source of fiber. It has a few more calories than the Killer MRP's and also more protein. Each serving of Lean Mass Complex contains a diverse ration of proteins from whey and Micellular casein as well as added free-form L-Glutamine. It was designed to supply a generous amount of the Daily Value of B Vitamins (to help maintain energy levels needed to sustain a scheduled exercise program) as well as the antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E. Balanced Levels of Minerals.

 I can't finish without saying the cinnamon oatmeal flavor is awesome! This is an excellent alternative to the "Killer MRP's"

Reminder:
It doesn't matter what you take if you don't train and eat big!
NO supplement is a miracle drug, in addition these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Robbinson