1. What is it and where does it come from?
L-carnitine is very similar to the nonessential amino acid carnitine. It performs some of the same functions, such as helping metabolize food into energy.*
L-carnitine is synthesized in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. L-Carnitine is available as a high quality supplement from Bodybuilding.com, as well as from natural and synthetic sources. It is also found in avocados, dairy products, and red meats (especially lamb and beef).
2. What does it do and what scientific studies
give evidence to support this?
L-carnitine transfers long-chain fatty acids, such as triglycerides into mitochondria (a cell's energy powerhouse), where they may be oxidized to produce energy.* L-carnitine is a very popular supplement that promotes growth and development.* It is also used for fat-burning, increasing energy, and improving resistance to muscle fatigue.* L-carnitine also helps to build muscle.* It is also great in dieting, as it reduces feelings of hunger and weakness.*
Studies have been conducted on L-carnitine since as early as 1937. Those studies yielded positive results suggesting that the body's cardiovascular system can greatly benefit from its intake.* There are a variety of published studies that suggest L-carnitine is useful in increasing the heart's output and improving it's functioning, as well as stimulating the heart's energy supply and supporting cardiac performance.*
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Anyone deficient in protein or amino acids in their diet could benefit from L-carnitine supplementation. Pre-mature infants, vegan vegetarians, children, and breast-feeding women are likely to be deficient.
Although deficiencies are rare, muscle fatigue, cramps, or pre-mature aging are all signs of possible deficiency.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Between two and four grams of L-carnitine should be taken one hour before exercise, for two weeks.
Taking L-carnitine is very safe, although the DL form of carnitine may be toxic and is not recommended
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thick Back
I am kicking things off with back since it is on the first day of my split and it is so important. When you look at all the champs who win contests, from the nationals to the Olympia, you will see that each one of the top contenders has outstanding back development. If you get a chance look at a photo ofFlex Wheeler when you are on this website and you will see what I mean...Wide cobra-like lats, thick knots of muscle, detailed upper back development, Christmas tree shape in the lower back, primordial traps and steel spinal erectors...you want some of that too! And, as you look at gyms all over the country you will notice that while some people's chests are out of this world, their back is like a wasteland remit of development--not a condition you want.
The impact of its development enhances your entire body. Wide Lats help create that V-shape to the upper body and thickness makes you a redoubtable looking contender. OK, so now that I have made an impression on the importance of back development, I will show an effective way to train it-- my way that is.
I suggest you start out with a width building exercise to give your lats that broad flared out look. Vertical, overhead pulling movements work the best here (Pull downs and Chins aka Pull-ups). If you want serious width, I suggest you go with chins because the are very effective and difficult. You might be discouraged because you can only do a few. I started doing only 3! And when I do not attach any weight on a weigh belt on my waist I can squeeze out 17 or so. All you can do, do it! I would set a target number to complete each workout. For instance 30 total chins, doing as many sets as it takes to reach that number. I like to start out with lighter weight and then go very heavy as the sets progress (to the point where I can only complete maybe 4-6 reps strictly). Every once in a while you can substitute pull downs. If you do choose pull downs take advantage of the various attachments to vary the stress on your back. You have Wide Grip, Reverse Grip, Medium Grip with palms facing away, and close neutral grips with the V-bar that is usually used with Cable Rows.
Next should come a rowing movement as these are great for thickness. Here you have many choices (Bent Over Barbell Rows, Cable Rows, Seated Machine rows like the kind made by Hammer Strength Company, 1 Arm Dumbbell Rows and others). The main concern is using a strict rep- not heaving with the biceps and other muscles. Start each rep by retracting your shoulder blades and squeeze. THEN is when you follow through with the other muscles(DO THIS ON OTHER BACK MOVEMENTS TOO). Strive to get a long range of motion- nothing like those quick choppy movements you see those wannabes do.
Here you can use a pronated (palms away) or palms facing you (reverse grip). Palms away works the lats more in conjunction with outer back muscles like the teres while reverse grip allows more of a stretch in the lats. I like to usually do 2 rowing movements and finish things off with deadlifts which hit my erectors and lower back muscles along with my traps. I am not a big believer in using straps unless it is on your last set when you are going really heavy.
The impact of its development enhances your entire body. Wide Lats help create that V-shape to the upper body and thickness makes you a redoubtable looking contender. OK, so now that I have made an impression on the importance of back development, I will show an effective way to train it-- my way that is.
I suggest you start out with a width building exercise to give your lats that broad flared out look. Vertical, overhead pulling movements work the best here (Pull downs and Chins aka Pull-ups). If you want serious width, I suggest you go with chins because the are very effective and difficult. You might be discouraged because you can only do a few. I started doing only 3! And when I do not attach any weight on a weigh belt on my waist I can squeeze out 17 or so. All you can do, do it! I would set a target number to complete each workout. For instance 30 total chins, doing as many sets as it takes to reach that number. I like to start out with lighter weight and then go very heavy as the sets progress (to the point where I can only complete maybe 4-6 reps strictly). Every once in a while you can substitute pull downs. If you do choose pull downs take advantage of the various attachments to vary the stress on your back. You have Wide Grip, Reverse Grip, Medium Grip with palms facing away, and close neutral grips with the V-bar that is usually used with Cable Rows.
Next should come a rowing movement as these are great for thickness. Here you have many choices (Bent Over Barbell Rows, Cable Rows, Seated Machine rows like the kind made by Hammer Strength Company, 1 Arm Dumbbell Rows and others). The main concern is using a strict rep- not heaving with the biceps and other muscles. Start each rep by retracting your shoulder blades and squeeze. THEN is when you follow through with the other muscles(DO THIS ON OTHER BACK MOVEMENTS TOO). Strive to get a long range of motion- nothing like those quick choppy movements you see those wannabes do.
Here you can use a pronated (palms away) or palms facing you (reverse grip). Palms away works the lats more in conjunction with outer back muscles like the teres while reverse grip allows more of a stretch in the lats. I like to usually do 2 rowing movements and finish things off with deadlifts which hit my erectors and lower back muscles along with my traps. I am not a big believer in using straps unless it is on your last set when you are going really heavy.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Boron!
1. What is it and where does it come from?
Boron is required by your body in trace amounts for proper metabolism of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Boron helps brain function, healthy bones, and can increase alertness.
Boron supplements are especially good for older people. Boron is known to help support proper bone growth. Boron is also useful for people who want to build muscle.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
As boron is not yet considered an essential nutrient for humans, it is not clear whether deficiencies occur. However, diets that are low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts provide less boron than diets that contain more of these foods.
It's found in raisins, prunes, and nuts are generally excellent sources of boron. Fruit (other than citrus), vegetables, and legumes also typically contain significant amounts. Actual amounts vary widely, depending upon boron levels in soil where the food is grown.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Accidental acute exposure to high levels of boron can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rash, convulsions, and other symptoms. Although chronic exposures can cause related problems, the small (usually 1-3 mg per day) amounts found in supplements have not been linked with toxicity in most reports. Nonetheless, in one double-blind trial using 2.5 mg of boron per day for two months, hot flashes and night sweats worsened in 21 of 43 women, though the same symptoms improved in 10 others. Women who have hot flashes or night sweats have been diagnosed as menopausal symptoms and who supplement with boron should consider discontinuing use of boron-containing supplements to see if the severity of their symptoms is reduced.
One study found that 3 mg per day resulted in increased estrogen and testosterone levels. Increased estrogen has also been reported in several women taking 2.5 mg per day. The increase in estrogen is of concern because it could theoretically increase the risk of several cancers. Although no increased risk of cancer has been reported in areas of the world where boron intake is high, some doctors recommend that supplemental boron intake be limited to a maximum of 1 mg per day.
The relationship between boron and other minerals is complex and remains poorly understood. Boron may conserve the body's use of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. In one study, the ability of boron to reduce urinary loss of calcium disappeared when subjects were also given magnesium. Therefore, boron may provide no special benefit in maintaining healthy bone mass in the presence of adequate amounts of dietary magnesium.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects??
A leading boron expert has suggested 1-3 mg per day of boron is a reasonable amount to consume. People who eat adequate amounts of produce, nuts, and legumes are likely already eating two to six times this amount. Therefore, whether the average person would benefit by supplementing with this mineral remains unclear.
As boron is not yet considered an essential nutrient for humans, it is not clear whether deficiencies occur. However, diets that are low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts provide less boron than diets that contain more of these foods.
Boron is required by your body in trace amounts for proper metabolism of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Boron helps brain function, healthy bones, and can increase alertness.
Boron supplements are especially good for older people. Boron is known to help support proper bone growth. Boron is also useful for people who want to build muscle.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
As boron is not yet considered an essential nutrient for humans, it is not clear whether deficiencies occur. However, diets that are low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts provide less boron than diets that contain more of these foods.
It's found in raisins, prunes, and nuts are generally excellent sources of boron. Fruit (other than citrus), vegetables, and legumes also typically contain significant amounts. Actual amounts vary widely, depending upon boron levels in soil where the food is grown.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Accidental acute exposure to high levels of boron can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rash, convulsions, and other symptoms. Although chronic exposures can cause related problems, the small (usually 1-3 mg per day) amounts found in supplements have not been linked with toxicity in most reports. Nonetheless, in one double-blind trial using 2.5 mg of boron per day for two months, hot flashes and night sweats worsened in 21 of 43 women, though the same symptoms improved in 10 others. Women who have hot flashes or night sweats have been diagnosed as menopausal symptoms and who supplement with boron should consider discontinuing use of boron-containing supplements to see if the severity of their symptoms is reduced.
One study found that 3 mg per day resulted in increased estrogen and testosterone levels. Increased estrogen has also been reported in several women taking 2.5 mg per day. The increase in estrogen is of concern because it could theoretically increase the risk of several cancers. Although no increased risk of cancer has been reported in areas of the world where boron intake is high, some doctors recommend that supplemental boron intake be limited to a maximum of 1 mg per day.
The relationship between boron and other minerals is complex and remains poorly understood. Boron may conserve the body's use of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. In one study, the ability of boron to reduce urinary loss of calcium disappeared when subjects were also given magnesium. Therefore, boron may provide no special benefit in maintaining healthy bone mass in the presence of adequate amounts of dietary magnesium.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects??
A leading boron expert has suggested 1-3 mg per day of boron is a reasonable amount to consume. People who eat adequate amounts of produce, nuts, and legumes are likely already eating two to six times this amount. Therefore, whether the average person would benefit by supplementing with this mineral remains unclear.
As boron is not yet considered an essential nutrient for humans, it is not clear whether deficiencies occur. However, diets that are low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts provide less boron than diets that contain more of these foods.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Anabolic Erobics
Every year, there are new techniques in training, diet and supplementation that allow us to take our physiques to the next level. I think many of the "Old School" laws have hung around much longer than they should have. We have to learn to accept that there won't always be one best way to do something. You don't eat your eggs raw anymore, do you? We now have whey protein and there's really no need to do it anymore.
Cardio: Yea or Nay
Well there's one more thing that should go. And that's the law that says cardio will kill your gains in muscle. Cardio should be a part of every program whether your goal is maximum muscle or serious fat loss. In fact cardio, if implemented intelligently, can even augment your effort in the weight room! That's right, you don't need to be come a slob to put on muscle. You can stay lean and even lose that spare tire in the process.Is it really possible to build muscle with out 6,000 calories a day?? You bet your sweet ass it is! And even more interesting, it happens in young, healthy people who have been training for years. Its really a matter of how you go about it and how you manipulate your diet to maximize you bodies internal workings. This first article is going to focus on just how cardio can help grow muscle.First we need to realize that simply increasing caloric intake does not lead to muscle mass. We can all agree that the types of calories (ie. Protein, carbs, fat) play a much bigger roll. Its also been widely accepted that keeping glycogen stores high is a determining factor in the rate of growth. This is why many bodybuilders find it necessary to consumer more carbohydrates than some endurance athletes.This is where cardio, and more specifically intense cardio comes into play. A protein molecule called, GLUT4, transports glucose. It basically sits on the surface of cells. The more you have the more glucose can be carried into muscle cells. High intensity aerobic work greatly increases the amount of the transporters. Intense aerobics also creates the same catabolic state and 3 hour nutritional window of opportunity as does weight training. This is the first down fall of many bodybuilders.How many of you out there actually supplement a cardio session exactly the same as weight training?? That's what I thought. And this response stays elevated above normal resting conditions for literally days.
Insulin
However, you can't get any glucose into a muscle cell with out the presence of insulin, the king of anabolic hormones. If you don't control your insulin all day, every day, you are basically shooting a hole in the boat you're sitting in . Both aerobic and heavy weight training increase insulin sensitivity , so in the long run, less carbs are needed to reach optimal levels of glycogen stores. There is also a strong correlation between the amount of insulin secreted and the rate of protein synthesis . And, surprise, surprise, insulin responses are much higher to the initial dose of carbs after intense exercise .
However, the longer you are inactive, those high rates of synthesis drop off quickly with ever hour that passes . So for those of you who lift on a 3-day split, you may be wise to slip a short intense cardio session on those off days. And if you are someone who goes to lift twice a day, it would also be wise to make one of those times a cardio session instead of more weights. By lifting two times a day, you are setting yourself up for disaster. It seems that with every weight training session on a given day, the catabolic hormone response is amplified !But overall cortical (the catabolic hormone) levels stay very low in people who go once a day, every day . In fact, its been shown that people who incorporate 3 days of weight and 3 days of cardio gain more lean mass, and even with a negative nitrogen balance . As much as a 4% increase in dry muscle. Not, fat free mass, not weight, not lean mass, pure stinking muscle. And a loss of 5% body fat ta-boot .Growth hormones and IGF-1
The most promising aspect of cardio work is its effect on the two remaining hormones that are paramount in muscle growth, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I. Now, there has been some debate as to whether or not GH is really anabolic and increases muscle mass. Well let's say for argument's sake that it isn't. But one thing is for sure, its metabolic offspring, IGF-I sure as hell is !We all know that stacking on the heavy weights increases these two hormones rather effectively , but not many think of cardio doing that as well. In fact, cardio is just as effective as the heavy weights . GH whether or not it is actually active in muscle growth is irrelevant when you know that it is the hormone that stimulates the release of IGF-I . And it appears that as the intensity of the cardio increases, so does the amount of GH .And to top it all off, if for some unknown reason you decide to do more than one cardio session a day, the release of GH is magnified with every time . What exactly is "intense" cardio? Well roughly 85-90% or your VO2 max, or heart rate . If you can go for more than 20 continuous minutes, it simply isn't hard enough. The goal of intense cardio is to not so much burn off the 400 calories in the session, but to let your body do that as it tries to "fix" it self after the ass whipping you just dished out.The shorter your sessions, the less chance you run of hitting the catabolic wall . However, the effects of IGF-I on muscle seem to be "local", meaning it has to be produced by, or introduced into the muscle . And because contracting muscle has an insulting-like action (you probably call it the "pump"), all the extra movement from the cardio will be drawing more IGF-I in to cells. So it would be wise to find some type of cardio that uses a lot of different muscle groups.So to bring this to a close, doing cardio during a "bulking" phase to stay lean or lose some extra fat will only magnify your efforts in the gym. Cardio increases your ability to store glycogen with less carbs and calories, it conditions our body to suppers catabolic hormones for longer periods of time and it not only sets the muscle building stage buy producing an abundance of anabolic hormone, but it keeps the process going at a high rate .
Cardio: Yea or Nay
Well there's one more thing that should go. And that's the law that says cardio will kill your gains in muscle. Cardio should be a part of every program whether your goal is maximum muscle or serious fat loss. In fact cardio, if implemented intelligently, can even augment your effort in the weight room! That's right, you don't need to be come a slob to put on muscle. You can stay lean and even lose that spare tire in the process.Is it really possible to build muscle with out 6,000 calories a day?? You bet your sweet ass it is! And even more interesting, it happens in young, healthy people who have been training for years. Its really a matter of how you go about it and how you manipulate your diet to maximize you bodies internal workings. This first article is going to focus on just how cardio can help grow muscle.First we need to realize that simply increasing caloric intake does not lead to muscle mass. We can all agree that the types of calories (ie. Protein, carbs, fat) play a much bigger roll. Its also been widely accepted that keeping glycogen stores high is a determining factor in the rate of growth. This is why many bodybuilders find it necessary to consumer more carbohydrates than some endurance athletes.This is where cardio, and more specifically intense cardio comes into play. A protein molecule called, GLUT4, transports glucose. It basically sits on the surface of cells. The more you have the more glucose can be carried into muscle cells. High intensity aerobic work greatly increases the amount of the transporters. Intense aerobics also creates the same catabolic state and 3 hour nutritional window of opportunity as does weight training. This is the first down fall of many bodybuilders.How many of you out there actually supplement a cardio session exactly the same as weight training?? That's what I thought. And this response stays elevated above normal resting conditions for literally days.
Insulin
However, you can't get any glucose into a muscle cell with out the presence of insulin, the king of anabolic hormones. If you don't control your insulin all day, every day, you are basically shooting a hole in the boat you're sitting in . Both aerobic and heavy weight training increase insulin sensitivity , so in the long run, less carbs are needed to reach optimal levels of glycogen stores. There is also a strong correlation between the amount of insulin secreted and the rate of protein synthesis . And, surprise, surprise, insulin responses are much higher to the initial dose of carbs after intense exercise .
However, the longer you are inactive, those high rates of synthesis drop off quickly with ever hour that passes . So for those of you who lift on a 3-day split, you may be wise to slip a short intense cardio session on those off days. And if you are someone who goes to lift twice a day, it would also be wise to make one of those times a cardio session instead of more weights. By lifting two times a day, you are setting yourself up for disaster. It seems that with every weight training session on a given day, the catabolic hormone response is amplified !But overall cortical (the catabolic hormone) levels stay very low in people who go once a day, every day . In fact, its been shown that people who incorporate 3 days of weight and 3 days of cardio gain more lean mass, and even with a negative nitrogen balance . As much as a 4% increase in dry muscle. Not, fat free mass, not weight, not lean mass, pure stinking muscle. And a loss of 5% body fat ta-boot .Growth hormones and IGF-1
The most promising aspect of cardio work is its effect on the two remaining hormones that are paramount in muscle growth, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I. Now, there has been some debate as to whether or not GH is really anabolic and increases muscle mass. Well let's say for argument's sake that it isn't. But one thing is for sure, its metabolic offspring, IGF-I sure as hell is !We all know that stacking on the heavy weights increases these two hormones rather effectively , but not many think of cardio doing that as well. In fact, cardio is just as effective as the heavy weights . GH whether or not it is actually active in muscle growth is irrelevant when you know that it is the hormone that stimulates the release of IGF-I . And it appears that as the intensity of the cardio increases, so does the amount of GH .And to top it all off, if for some unknown reason you decide to do more than one cardio session a day, the release of GH is magnified with every time . What exactly is "intense" cardio? Well roughly 85-90% or your VO2 max, or heart rate . If you can go for more than 20 continuous minutes, it simply isn't hard enough. The goal of intense cardio is to not so much burn off the 400 calories in the session, but to let your body do that as it tries to "fix" it self after the ass whipping you just dished out.The shorter your sessions, the less chance you run of hitting the catabolic wall . However, the effects of IGF-I on muscle seem to be "local", meaning it has to be produced by, or introduced into the muscle . And because contracting muscle has an insulting-like action (you probably call it the "pump"), all the extra movement from the cardio will be drawing more IGF-I in to cells. So it would be wise to find some type of cardio that uses a lot of different muscle groups.So to bring this to a close, doing cardio during a "bulking" phase to stay lean or lose some extra fat will only magnify your efforts in the gym. Cardio increases your ability to store glycogen with less carbs and calories, it conditions our body to suppers catabolic hormones for longer periods of time and it not only sets the muscle building stage buy producing an abundance of anabolic hormone, but it keeps the process going at a high rate .
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Quats!
quats are the main diet for the powerlifter, Olympic lifter, football player, track & field competitor and every other competitive athlete. But there are many assistant exercises that deliver that extra for squat strength and quad development. These assistant exercises offer coordination and balance to specific muscle groups to execute squat performance and quad development. So, whether that boost is strength, power, size, or a combination of them all, assistant exercises play a very important factor in the squat.
The squat is a strength and mass builder. Squat assistance exercises are done for shaping, and also strength. Let me explain. Bodybuilders are not interested in getting their squat to an all time max as a powerlifter is. Not all of them anyway. The competitive bodybuilder uses squat assistance exercises for shaping. But, the powerlifter is more interested in serious strength gains. Assistant squat exercises give an extra boost on all strength levels. Absolute strength, limit strength, starting strength and explosive strength. For those of you who are not referenced to these terms and those of you who need "strength" defined let me explain. Strength is the ability of the muscle to exert maximal force at a specific velocity.
Absolute strength constitutes a maximum amount of weight lifted like a "max" squat! Explosive strength is the max force exerted in a certain extension period of time. Limit strength is similar to absolute strength, which is the recruitment of musculoskeletal force generated for one all-out effort. Starting strength is the athlete's ability to "switch on" as many muscle fibers as possible in one instant. The ability to place an overload on the muscle that is being exerted with a heavier weight for maximum reps enables those muscles to get use to higher workloads.
There are many assistant exercises that can imitate the squat itself. Like placing your legs on the leg press or a hack machine with the same feet spacing you would for squatting. Assistant exercises can be box squats or reverse-hyper extensions, famed exercises performed by Louis Simmons students, step-ups, single leg presses, and many others. This is all good, but you ask why step-ups? Well, think about it. Step-ups are in all conventional terms a one legged squat. This specific assistant exercise will benefit you in gaining leg strength, the same as the single legged press would but with the added benefit of balance. Any individual who desires a good assistant exercise for squats should give single leg presses a try. I hope you realize that one leg can't press what both can, so, start off light increasing your weight each set until you get to a good working weight performing 6-10 reps on each leg. When doing leg presses or hack squats place your feet together and try 20-reps for each set. I recommend only 2-3 sets of those. They're pretty grueling! I am sure your legs will be ready to explode after all that.
The definition of the word "assistant" means: "assisting; helping; serves as a helper," - that's all an assistant squat exercise is - a helper. There are many different supplementary assistant exercises to implement in your squat training regiment. The best way to find out what is best for you is to first ask yourself what your goal is. Is your goal Strength? Size? Or both? Really, it doesn't matter because whatever assistant exercise you choose, done properly, over a period of time, will only spell out increases in strength, size, and shape. So, don't forget to take your supplements and give me one more rep!
The squat is a strength and mass builder. Squat assistance exercises are done for shaping, and also strength. Let me explain. Bodybuilders are not interested in getting their squat to an all time max as a powerlifter is. Not all of them anyway. The competitive bodybuilder uses squat assistance exercises for shaping. But, the powerlifter is more interested in serious strength gains. Assistant squat exercises give an extra boost on all strength levels. Absolute strength, limit strength, starting strength and explosive strength. For those of you who are not referenced to these terms and those of you who need "strength" defined let me explain. Strength is the ability of the muscle to exert maximal force at a specific velocity.
Absolute strength constitutes a maximum amount of weight lifted like a "max" squat! Explosive strength is the max force exerted in a certain extension period of time. Limit strength is similar to absolute strength, which is the recruitment of musculoskeletal force generated for one all-out effort. Starting strength is the athlete's ability to "switch on" as many muscle fibers as possible in one instant. The ability to place an overload on the muscle that is being exerted with a heavier weight for maximum reps enables those muscles to get use to higher workloads.
There are many assistant exercises that can imitate the squat itself. Like placing your legs on the leg press or a hack machine with the same feet spacing you would for squatting. Assistant exercises can be box squats or reverse-hyper extensions, famed exercises performed by Louis Simmons students, step-ups, single leg presses, and many others. This is all good, but you ask why step-ups? Well, think about it. Step-ups are in all conventional terms a one legged squat. This specific assistant exercise will benefit you in gaining leg strength, the same as the single legged press would but with the added benefit of balance. Any individual who desires a good assistant exercise for squats should give single leg presses a try. I hope you realize that one leg can't press what both can, so, start off light increasing your weight each set until you get to a good working weight performing 6-10 reps on each leg. When doing leg presses or hack squats place your feet together and try 20-reps for each set. I recommend only 2-3 sets of those. They're pretty grueling! I am sure your legs will be ready to explode after all that.
The definition of the word "assistant" means: "assisting; helping; serves as a helper," - that's all an assistant squat exercise is - a helper. There are many different supplementary assistant exercises to implement in your squat training regiment. The best way to find out what is best for you is to first ask yourself what your goal is. Is your goal Strength? Size? Or both? Really, it doesn't matter because whatever assistant exercise you choose, done properly, over a period of time, will only spell out increases in strength, size, and shape. So, don't forget to take your supplements and give me one more rep!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
DHEA
1. What is it and where does it come from?
DHEA is an acronym for the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (now you know why people use the acronym.)
Levels of DHEA are quite high at birth, drop during childhood, and peak during young adulthood. The levels continue to drop throughout life.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
DHEA is HOT, and you will see why. When this compound is supplemented, it has been shown to have awesome effects. It has been shown to help people lose weight, burn fat and build muscle.* Dietary supplements of DHEA can help maintain proper levels in the body and can aid a person in their overall well being.*
Is there enough that can be said about DHEA? Apparently not. It may also have positive effects on supporting a healthy immune response and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels that are already within the normal range.*
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Because DHEA levels decrease with age, people above middle age can have incredible results as the studies above have shown. Body builders or athletes can have some of the greatest beneficial results. They can use it to help build strong muscles and lower body fat.* It is also said to help keep the brain clear and the skin smooth as well!*
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
When used in the correct dosages, DHEA is great. But, with any kind or hormone or compound, when used incorrectly it can cause problems. The exact right dosage may vary with each individual, so consulting a physician is probably a good idea. Women and men over age 60 are commonly prescribed 50mg and 100mg. Obviously since younger people produce more DHEA naturally, they should take less. Pregnant or nursing women should not take it.
DHEA is an acronym for the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (now you know why people use the acronym.)
Levels of DHEA are quite high at birth, drop during childhood, and peak during young adulthood. The levels continue to drop throughout life.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
DHEA is HOT, and you will see why. When this compound is supplemented, it has been shown to have awesome effects. It has been shown to help people lose weight, burn fat and build muscle.* Dietary supplements of DHEA can help maintain proper levels in the body and can aid a person in their overall well being.*
Is there enough that can be said about DHEA? Apparently not. It may also have positive effects on supporting a healthy immune response and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels that are already within the normal range.*
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Because DHEA levels decrease with age, people above middle age can have incredible results as the studies above have shown. Body builders or athletes can have some of the greatest beneficial results. They can use it to help build strong muscles and lower body fat.* It is also said to help keep the brain clear and the skin smooth as well!*
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
When used in the correct dosages, DHEA is great. But, with any kind or hormone or compound, when used incorrectly it can cause problems. The exact right dosage may vary with each individual, so consulting a physician is probably a good idea. Women and men over age 60 are commonly prescribed 50mg and 100mg. Obviously since younger people produce more DHEA naturally, they should take less. Pregnant or nursing women should not take it.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chest Development
In this article I am going to discuss what I feel is the most effective and growth promoting workout for the chest. The majority of bodybuilders and weight training enthusiasts feel that a chest workout is not considered "complete" without utilizing free-weight barbell press as their primary and core exercise. Many of these individuals also believe that strength is relative to size and are more intrigued by training their egos with heavy poundage they cannot handle instead of utilizing proper form and weight selection and actually stimulating the fibers of the chest to promote growth during recovery time.
Speaking of recovery time, it also amazes me how these selective individuals seem to have the ability to train chest two to three times per week. It makes me wonder what they consider an effective workout. Is it a workout that doesn't promote growth to the chest but makes poundage go up by small increments on a monthly or yearly basis? If this is so, you shouldn't be reading this article. This article if for those who want real chest growth, don't have an ego, and don't get pissed off when they have to sacrifice their "brute poundage" for a more efficient workout.
Stimulating The Chest
The chest workout that I will present is the current chest workout that I have found to be most effective at stimulating the chest. This workout incorporates techniques that many people don't believe in or follow due to observation. I feel that the main reason in which people will not utilize the three techniques that I will discuss is due to the fact that they are too whimsical to endure the pain that these principles are capable of inflicting on the body.
Most bodybuilders and weight trainers would rather use straight sets (which don't cause too much pain on the body), and they would also rather use their heavy poundage that they feel proud of achieving. I mean what is worse than having to drop the weight that you were capable of using and actually suffer while using it? But if you want to have a barrel sized chest with striations and veins running through it, I feel these techniques are the only way to blast the chest enough to get it to that point of growth. The 5 techniques that are used in almost all of my workouts are: pre-exhaust, triple drop sets, and also rest pause, and my two new favorites - super slow, and extreme stretching. Without these techniques I would be lost at a sub-intensity level and not achieve the feeling of accomplishment that I do with these principles.
So now with a simple background on what you will be up for lets introduce the most beneficial workout for the chest. This workout always begins on the Pec-deck fly machine. Why might you ask? Well it is only the best machine to fully isolate the chest and pre-exhaust it to its full extent. Lets paint a picture. Most people on chest day will go straight to the flat press, don't get me wrong its an excellent movement but it has downfalls.
When using the flat barbell press. When you reach failure your triceps andshoulders usually give out before you can fully blast and stimulate the chest. But with pre-exhaust your chest, and only your chest will already be stimulated before you get to the flat press. So back to the workout, my workout partner and I will usually warm up with some light sets before we start to inflict the pain. On this machine, only one working set will be preformed. With the style that it is preformed in you wont want/be able to perform another set in a similar fashion.
The Workout
All right, now lets get this workout going. After a few light warm up sets on the pec-deck we are then ready for our one working set. The style in which the set is preformed is a triple drop set with forced reps and also very slow reps during the set. Now the set has begun, 6 to 8 slow and controlled reps are preformed before I start to reach failure. My partner then steps in and helps me further complete another 2-4 reps. I have just completed the first of the three sets and now the weight stack has been reduced slightly. With no times rest the second set has begun and 4 to 6 slow reps are preformed to failure with an additional 2-4 partner assisted reps.
The stack has then been reduced again and a similar set as the previous is preformed, but this time I like to add some pauses at the stretch and also the contraction. After this triple drop set my chest is on fire and in enough pain to call it quits for the day. But hey, that's just the pre-exhaustion, right?
After your first working set, your chest will be pumped beyond belief and hurting enough to feel like you did a full workout, but we still have to do presses! The next exercise that I use is the Incline smith press. I feel that this hits the chest perfect if you angle it right. After one or two warm-ups we proceed to our (like the pec-deck) one working set, just like the Deck-Deck we are performing a triple drop. With the set begun I hit 4-5 reps with five second negatives, after I reached failure I get 2-3 partner assisted reps.
The weight is dropped, and the same set and rep protocol is preformed until I reach failure. Again the weight is dropped and the same style set is preformed to complete the triple drop.
With my chest destroyed beyond belief I move on to my third and final exercise, which is flat dumbbell pres, rest-pause. This exercise is just like a finishing up for the chest due to the fact that it will be destroyed from the two previous sets. After picking a weight that is moderately heavy I bang out 8-10 reps with five-second negatives, and place them back up on my thighs in a seated position. After 15-20 seconds rest I again proceed to do another set, this time only getting 3-4 reps with five-second negatives. The weight is then rested again and I final set is preformed only getting 2-3 reps and a 20 second hold at mid point at the end, ouch.
Speaking of recovery time, it also amazes me how these selective individuals seem to have the ability to train chest two to three times per week. It makes me wonder what they consider an effective workout. Is it a workout that doesn't promote growth to the chest but makes poundage go up by small increments on a monthly or yearly basis? If this is so, you shouldn't be reading this article. This article if for those who want real chest growth, don't have an ego, and don't get pissed off when they have to sacrifice their "brute poundage" for a more efficient workout.
Stimulating The Chest
The chest workout that I will present is the current chest workout that I have found to be most effective at stimulating the chest. This workout incorporates techniques that many people don't believe in or follow due to observation. I feel that the main reason in which people will not utilize the three techniques that I will discuss is due to the fact that they are too whimsical to endure the pain that these principles are capable of inflicting on the body.
Most bodybuilders and weight trainers would rather use straight sets (which don't cause too much pain on the body), and they would also rather use their heavy poundage that they feel proud of achieving. I mean what is worse than having to drop the weight that you were capable of using and actually suffer while using it? But if you want to have a barrel sized chest with striations and veins running through it, I feel these techniques are the only way to blast the chest enough to get it to that point of growth. The 5 techniques that are used in almost all of my workouts are: pre-exhaust, triple drop sets, and also rest pause, and my two new favorites - super slow, and extreme stretching. Without these techniques I would be lost at a sub-intensity level and not achieve the feeling of accomplishment that I do with these principles.
So now with a simple background on what you will be up for lets introduce the most beneficial workout for the chest. This workout always begins on the Pec-deck fly machine. Why might you ask? Well it is only the best machine to fully isolate the chest and pre-exhaust it to its full extent. Lets paint a picture. Most people on chest day will go straight to the flat press, don't get me wrong its an excellent movement but it has downfalls.
When using the flat barbell press. When you reach failure your triceps andshoulders usually give out before you can fully blast and stimulate the chest. But with pre-exhaust your chest, and only your chest will already be stimulated before you get to the flat press. So back to the workout, my workout partner and I will usually warm up with some light sets before we start to inflict the pain. On this machine, only one working set will be preformed. With the style that it is preformed in you wont want/be able to perform another set in a similar fashion.
The Workout
All right, now lets get this workout going. After a few light warm up sets on the pec-deck we are then ready for our one working set. The style in which the set is preformed is a triple drop set with forced reps and also very slow reps during the set. Now the set has begun, 6 to 8 slow and controlled reps are preformed before I start to reach failure. My partner then steps in and helps me further complete another 2-4 reps. I have just completed the first of the three sets and now the weight stack has been reduced slightly. With no times rest the second set has begun and 4 to 6 slow reps are preformed to failure with an additional 2-4 partner assisted reps.
The stack has then been reduced again and a similar set as the previous is preformed, but this time I like to add some pauses at the stretch and also the contraction. After this triple drop set my chest is on fire and in enough pain to call it quits for the day. But hey, that's just the pre-exhaustion, right?
After your first working set, your chest will be pumped beyond belief and hurting enough to feel like you did a full workout, but we still have to do presses! The next exercise that I use is the Incline smith press. I feel that this hits the chest perfect if you angle it right. After one or two warm-ups we proceed to our (like the pec-deck) one working set, just like the Deck-Deck we are performing a triple drop. With the set begun I hit 4-5 reps with five second negatives, after I reached failure I get 2-3 partner assisted reps.
The weight is dropped, and the same set and rep protocol is preformed until I reach failure. Again the weight is dropped and the same style set is preformed to complete the triple drop.
With my chest destroyed beyond belief I move on to my third and final exercise, which is flat dumbbell pres, rest-pause. This exercise is just like a finishing up for the chest due to the fact that it will be destroyed from the two previous sets. After picking a weight that is moderately heavy I bang out 8-10 reps with five-second negatives, and place them back up on my thighs in a seated position. After 15-20 seconds rest I again proceed to do another set, this time only getting 3-4 reps with five-second negatives. The weight is then rested again and I final set is preformed only getting 2-3 reps and a 20 second hold at mid point at the end, ouch.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Organic Foods
one of the biggest difficulties bodybuilders face on a daily basis is the content of their diet. Most often, the term 'diet' is typically misunderstood as the lack of food a person intakes in a day. However, bodybuilders know better.To give credit where credit is due, bodybuilders must be credited with developing thesupplements that exist not only on this website, but in any store which carries the most basic protein powder to the esoteric supplements.Bodybuilding gave birth to a non-existent niche in the food industry, to one of the most lucrative industries in the past decade with no end in sight. As wonderful as it is to go to a store and buy a supplement which will help you achieve your goals, there still is a market that is essential and a worthwhile endeavor for bodybuilders to explore.
Organic foods are perhaps the least of the explored venues to attain good health. By definition, organic foods are those foods which are grown without the use of pesticides - however, this is not always the case.Many national chains claim to carry "organic" foods by simply not using the typical pesticides, yet the national chain uses foods which have been genetically manipulated so as not to need the pesticide. However, this process diminishes the qualitative value of the food. But before I proceed with descriptions of organic foods, let me elaborate the importance of using organic foods.
Advantages Of Organic Foods
Organic foods, such as an organic tomato, have a qualitative value which a commercial tomato could not match. The organically-grown tomato has not had any pesticides used to keep its natural enemies away from them. Typically, organic farmers use a natural pesticide that is safe and does not diminish the quality of the tomato.However, a commercially-grown tomato has lost a great deal of its nutrition because of the pesticides used to keep it safe from its natural enemies.Another reason to eat an organic tomato (or any organic foods for that matter) is that organic food is picked when it is ripe versus the commercial tomato. This may seem like a small issue, but it is perhaps the most important issue which makes organic food a most invaluable tool for bodybuilders.Since organic food is picked when it is ripe, the food has had the ability to absorb all the trace vitamins and minerals which is sadly lacking in commercial foods. Commercial foods are picked when the vegetables are still green and do not have the opportunity to absorb all the trace vitamins and minerals which the soil offers.In essence, all the consumer is getting from the commercial grown food is filler with very little amounts of vitamins and minerals. In contrast, the organic tomato has an enormous amount of nutrition and a taste which the commercially grown tomato will not match.Since the organic tomato has more nutritional value than the commercial tomato, the bodybuilder can benefit from consuming organic food by the body receiving all the vitamins and minerals that the body needs from exertion from strenuous exercise such as weight training.Since the body is receiving all the vitamins and minerals it needs, the recovery time is faster, thus an improved physique in a shorter period of time. This may prompt the question: What about taking a vitamin/mineral supplement? Is that sufficient?Unfortunately no, because a vitamin/mineral supplement has the macro vitamins and minerals, but not the trace vitamins and minerals (generally speaking). This is the beauty of eating organic foods. With organic foods being the cornerstone of your diet, taking a multivitamin is unnecessary.Another benefit of eating organic food is that the body is getting all of the quality of the nutrition without having to eat huge amounts of food, which commercial foods could not match. For example, an organic tomato has the nutritional equivalent of four commercial tomatoes, thus the less amount of food a person has to consume to get all the necessary nutrition.It has been rumored in the organic "underground" that the cause of many of today'smaladies are because of the quality of food keeps diminishing yet the quantity keeps increasing.The increase in quantity of food is increased because of genetically-engineered food, which on the surface may seem like a good idea, but in reality, we are curing a headache by cutting off the head. However, this is a topic for future reading.
Organic foods are perhaps the least of the explored venues to attain good health. By definition, organic foods are those foods which are grown without the use of pesticides - however, this is not always the case.Many national chains claim to carry "organic" foods by simply not using the typical pesticides, yet the national chain uses foods which have been genetically manipulated so as not to need the pesticide. However, this process diminishes the qualitative value of the food. But before I proceed with descriptions of organic foods, let me elaborate the importance of using organic foods.
Advantages Of Organic Foods
Organic foods, such as an organic tomato, have a qualitative value which a commercial tomato could not match. The organically-grown tomato has not had any pesticides used to keep its natural enemies away from them. Typically, organic farmers use a natural pesticide that is safe and does not diminish the quality of the tomato.However, a commercially-grown tomato has lost a great deal of its nutrition because of the pesticides used to keep it safe from its natural enemies.Another reason to eat an organic tomato (or any organic foods for that matter) is that organic food is picked when it is ripe versus the commercial tomato. This may seem like a small issue, but it is perhaps the most important issue which makes organic food a most invaluable tool for bodybuilders.Since organic food is picked when it is ripe, the food has had the ability to absorb all the trace vitamins and minerals which is sadly lacking in commercial foods. Commercial foods are picked when the vegetables are still green and do not have the opportunity to absorb all the trace vitamins and minerals which the soil offers.In essence, all the consumer is getting from the commercial grown food is filler with very little amounts of vitamins and minerals. In contrast, the organic tomato has an enormous amount of nutrition and a taste which the commercially grown tomato will not match.Since the organic tomato has more nutritional value than the commercial tomato, the bodybuilder can benefit from consuming organic food by the body receiving all the vitamins and minerals that the body needs from exertion from strenuous exercise such as weight training.Since the body is receiving all the vitamins and minerals it needs, the recovery time is faster, thus an improved physique in a shorter period of time. This may prompt the question: What about taking a vitamin/mineral supplement? Is that sufficient?Unfortunately no, because a vitamin/mineral supplement has the macro vitamins and minerals, but not the trace vitamins and minerals (generally speaking). This is the beauty of eating organic foods. With organic foods being the cornerstone of your diet, taking a multivitamin is unnecessary.Another benefit of eating organic food is that the body is getting all of the quality of the nutrition without having to eat huge amounts of food, which commercial foods could not match. For example, an organic tomato has the nutritional equivalent of four commercial tomatoes, thus the less amount of food a person has to consume to get all the necessary nutrition.It has been rumored in the organic "underground" that the cause of many of today'smaladies are because of the quality of food keeps diminishing yet the quantity keeps increasing.The increase in quantity of food is increased because of genetically-engineered food, which on the surface may seem like a good idea, but in reality, we are curing a headache by cutting off the head. However, this is a topic for future reading.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Chromium
1. What is it and where does it come from?
Chromium Picolinate is thought to be the best source of chromium. Chromium is a trace mineral that is essential to the body's production of insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that stabilizes the body's blood sugar level. Brewer's yeast is considered the best source of chromium; however, foods such as corn-on-the-cob, buckwheat, apples, beets, tomatoes, wheat germ and bran, and sweet potatoes are excellent sources as well. Bodybuilding.com provides high quality chromium supplement.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Research shows that chromium is an essential part of our diet. Chromium picolinate can have many beneficial results when supplemented. It enhances insulin's effect in the body, improving the uptake of glucose, thereby causing better blood circulation and maintenance of blood sugar level. Gaining energy, burning fat, and building muscle with greater ease are attributed to chromium, to name a few. It assists the body in losing weight by helping it to build muscle to replace fat. Lowering body fat and increasing lean body mass are just a few of the positive properties that chromium picolinate exhibits on the body. Whoa, that is powerful!
Learn more about the benefits of Chromium Picolinate on Clayton South's Health Facts.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Specific people have been shown to dramatically gain from ingesting chromium picolinate. Research indicates that the majority of people in the United States are chromium deficient. Most people could use chromium in their diets. As chromium levels decrease with age and deficiencies occur with people who do not eat a good balanced diet, chromium picolinate supplementation can be very beneficial. Because processed foods have much of the chromium removed, increasing ones chromium content is recommended to sustain proper glucose levels and gain energy. Anyone who likes to live with energy, burn fat, and increase strength and muscle mass would also do well to supplement with chromium...bodybuilders, that's you!
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Research and most literature suggest supplementation of between 50 and 300 mcg to compliment a 2,000-calorie diet is adequate. When taken in such doses, chromium picolinate has not been shown to cause toxicity in humans.
Chromium Picolinate is thought to be the best source of chromium. Chromium is a trace mineral that is essential to the body's production of insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that stabilizes the body's blood sugar level. Brewer's yeast is considered the best source of chromium; however, foods such as corn-on-the-cob, buckwheat, apples, beets, tomatoes, wheat germ and bran, and sweet potatoes are excellent sources as well. Bodybuilding.com provides high quality chromium supplement.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Research shows that chromium is an essential part of our diet. Chromium picolinate can have many beneficial results when supplemented. It enhances insulin's effect in the body, improving the uptake of glucose, thereby causing better blood circulation and maintenance of blood sugar level. Gaining energy, burning fat, and building muscle with greater ease are attributed to chromium, to name a few. It assists the body in losing weight by helping it to build muscle to replace fat. Lowering body fat and increasing lean body mass are just a few of the positive properties that chromium picolinate exhibits on the body. Whoa, that is powerful!
Learn more about the benefits of Chromium Picolinate on Clayton South's Health Facts.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Specific people have been shown to dramatically gain from ingesting chromium picolinate. Research indicates that the majority of people in the United States are chromium deficient. Most people could use chromium in their diets. As chromium levels decrease with age and deficiencies occur with people who do not eat a good balanced diet, chromium picolinate supplementation can be very beneficial. Because processed foods have much of the chromium removed, increasing ones chromium content is recommended to sustain proper glucose levels and gain energy. Anyone who likes to live with energy, burn fat, and increase strength and muscle mass would also do well to supplement with chromium...bodybuilders, that's you!
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Research and most literature suggest supplementation of between 50 and 300 mcg to compliment a 2,000-calorie diet is adequate. When taken in such doses, chromium picolinate has not been shown to cause toxicity in humans.
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