Muscle Building And Fat Loss 101

A Bodybuilder’s Most Valuable Vitamin: Are You Getting Enough?

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:34:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Natural Bodybuilding Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.MuscleGainTruth.com

Everybody knows that consuming sufficient amounts of vitamins through their diet is an important way to maintain overall health and to keep the muscle building and fat burning processes functioning optimally.

If you are deficient in just a single vitamin, it can potentially have negative effects on literally thousands of different processes within your body.

While every individual vitamin plays an important role in the overall picture, there is one that definitely stands out among the rest... especially when it comes to the specific needs of a hard training bodybuilder.

I’m talking about the water-soluble Vitamin C; the one vitamin that no serious lifter should be short on.

Here are 6 ways in which sufficient Vitamin C intake will benefit you both in and out of the gym…

1) It is a powerful antioxidant.

When oxygen combines with other compounds as a result of intense exercise and natural bodily processes, it can form what are known as “free radicals”. Free radicals are metabolic waste products that attack cells, mutate cell membranes and that have also been linked with many diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Antioxidants battle against free radicals by either preventing their formation in the first place, or by latching on and neutralizing their effects. Through its effects as an antioxidant, Vitamin C protects the body from free radical damage.

2) It suppresses cortisol production.

Cortisol is a powerful catabolic hormone that is triggered as a result of stress, both from your workouts and from everyday life. Cortisol stimulates the breakdown of muscle tissue for use as energy, increases fat storage (particularly in the abdominal area), impairs nutrient transport into the muscles and inhibits muscle recovery in between workouts.

Vitamin C appears to have a measurable impact on reducing cortisol secretion in the body.

3) It assists in the formation of steroid hormones.

One of the major limiting factors that determines how much muscle a person can build is their natural anabolic hormone levels. Vitamin C assists in the formation of these hormones.

4) It enhances the absorption of iron.

Iron is what allows oxygen to bind to hemoglobin in the blood, which is then delivered to the muscles to enhance performance. Low iron levels will decrease the amount of weight you are able to lift in the gym and how long you are able to maintain a high level of intensity during your workouts.

5) It increases the integrity of the immune system.

Those following an intense training program should always be concerned with keeping their immune system functioning at optimal levels. This will help you to prevent sickness and to maintain top levels of performance throughout the week.

6) It reduces muscle soreness.

When taken close to workouts, Vitamin C has been shown to reduce muscle soreness in the days following a training session. While this doesn’t really have any direct positive physiological implications, it can be beneficial for those who would prefer to eliminate that deep aching that is usually felt in the muscles following a hard workout.

It should be clear by now that consuming adequate amounts of Vitamin C each day is an important part of maximizing the results from your program, whether your goal is to build muscle or to burn fat.

The recommend daily allowance for Vitamin C is just 60mg, however, this is a guideline set out for average everyday individuals and not for hard training athletes. Those who are following an intense muscle building and/or fat burning program will obviously require far higher amounts.

On the flipside, there are those who recommend taking “mega doses” of Vitamin C. Although Vitamin C is water-soluble (meaning the body can simply flush out an excess through the sweat and urine), mega-dosing is not natural to our biochemistry and could possibly interrupt other important bodily functions.

All things considered, I would recommend consuming Vitamin C in supplemental form in the range of 500mg-1500mg daily, spread out over 2-3 doses.

Try taking one dose in the morning, and another with your pre-workout meal. Most multivitamins will contain a small dose of Vitamin C in the range of 50-200mg, so purchasing a separate Vitamin C supplement is usually the best way to go.

You can also bump up your daily Vitamin C intake by increasing your consumption of natural foods such as tomatoes, apples, oranges and red/green peppers.

While you probably aren’t going to notice any immediate effects to your bottom line progress as a simple result of Vitamin C supplementation, it still can and should be part of an effective overall plan that will maximize your results over the long term.

If you want to gain access to more highly effective muscle building tips just like this, make sure to visit www.MuscleGainTruth.com. You can read all about my hugely popular natural bodybuilding program, "The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System", and read my unbiased reviews on all of the top muscle building supplements available today.

About The Author

Once an awkward, pencil-necked "social reject", Sean Nalewanyj is now a renowned natural bodybuilding and fat loss expert, best-selling fitness author, and creator of the wildly popular online muscle building program, "The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System". Learn how to build muscle and gain weight in just 24 minutes a day by visiting: www.MuscleGainTruth.com.

Sean is also the owner and operator of the web's premier muscle building and fat loss support community, currently accepting new members at www.FitnessInnerCircle.com.

Note to the reader: You are free to reprint and redistribute this article as long as the content is not altered in any way, the links remain live and the author resource box (including this message) is left intact.

If You’ve Hit A Training Plateau, Read This

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:24:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Natural Bodybuilding Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.MuscleGainTruth.com

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another…

Our training programs are running smoothly, and with each week that passes we’re successfully adding more weight to the bar, more pounds to the scale and more muscle size and thickness to our bodies.

Then, all of a sudden and without warning, those gains come to a screeching halt and our muscle building and strength gaining progress is stopped dead in its tracks.

In the bodybuilding world, this is referred to as a “plateau”.

The very idea of this would send shivers up the spine of any serious trainee, as this plateau essentially means that despite our best efforts in the gym and in the kitchen, no additional progress can be made.

What does a typical lifter do in response to this?

They immediately begin haphazardly switching up their training routine in an effort to “shock” their muscles into new growth... They change their exercises and rep ranges... And they implement new “advanced techniques” such as forced reps, negatives and static holds in an effort to break through the plateau into new levels of growth.

STOP!

While exercise variety can sometimes be a reasonable option here, these plateaus exist as a result of far more fundamental reasons. They usually have nothing to do with the repeated use of the same workout.

In the majority of cases, training plateaus are simply the result of overtraining.

All we have to do is review some basic physiology in order to see why this is the case…

When we train intensely in the gym, we are damaging our muscles. Each set that we perform digs a “hole” into the body’s recovery ability. When we leave the gym, the body then uses rest and nutrients in order to rebuild the damaged muscle and to fill up this hole.

Once the muscles have been remodeled back to their previous state, the body will then compensate by building additional muscle mass as an adaptive response to the stress.

So far, so good, right?

Here’s the critical factor that you need to keep in mind…

As you become stronger and add more and more weight to the bar on your exercises, the overall stress and resulting “hole” that is dug into the body’s recovery ability continually increases.

The advanced lifter who is bench pressing 300 pounds for 6 reps is placing his muscles and body under far more overall stress than the beginner who is benching 125 pounds.

What does this have to do with plateaus?

Everything!

If you are consistently adding more weight to the bar and pushing your body to higher and higher levels of stress each week, you MUST compensate for the increase in stress by reducing your training volume and frequency.

If the stress from each individual set is constantly on the upward climb yet you are still performing the same number of sets and training days, your body will inevitably be pushed beyond its ability to properly recover in between workouts.

Improper recovery means that the muscle is not given an adequate amount of time to remodel and to increase its size and strength further.

This is why your gains slow down and eventually stop; it’s because every time your body is about to compensate by increasing the size and strength of the muscles, you interrupt the process by placing them under more stress and digging a new hole into recovery.

If the hole never gets filled, you never progress forward, and you keep yourself on the plateau.

How crystal clear and obvious is that?

As you become more advanced, you must train less often and with fewer sets!

Training intensity and volume are DIRECTLY related, and are part of a balanced equation that determines your progress. As one variable increases, the other MUST decrease.

So to all of you out there who are “stuck” on this weight training plateau…

Regulate your volume and frequency!

Decrease the number of sets that you perform for each muscle group slightly, and consider
inserting an additional rest day in between workouts.

If by doing this you begin coming back to the gym stronger than you were before, you'll know for sure that you were previously overtraining.

A slight reduction in volume and frequency is usually all that is needed in order to make steady, uninterrupted progress in muscle size and strength.

Instead of panicking and reaching for the latest Muscle Mag for a new "ground breaking" routine, simply understand that the body has a finite amount of recovery ability and that as you grow stronger, you use up more of it on each individual set.

Reduce the volume slightly, consider inserting an additional rest day, and that is most likely all you’ll need to blast yourself through the plateau and into a new phase of growth.

If you found this article helpful, make sure to visit me at www.MuscleGainTruth.com for more highly effective muscle-building tips and tricks. If you want to build muscle fast, then you can't be making mistakes that will sabotage your efforts.

About The Author

Once an awkward, pencil-necked "social reject", Sean Nalewanyj is now a renowned natural bodybuilding and fat loss expert, best-selling fitness author, and creator of the wildly popular online muscle building program, "The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System". Learn how to build muscle and gain weight in just 24 minutes a day by visiting: www.MuscleGainTruth.com.

Sean is also the owner and operator of the web's premier muscle building and fat loss support community, currently accepting new members at www.SchoolOfMuscle.com.

Fiber, All About Fiber

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:51:00 +0000

By Vince DelMonte

If you are trying to create a healthy diet for yourself, you cannot overlook the importance that fiber will play. The main benefits you'll receive from dietary fiber include improvements in the cardiovascular and digestive system along with providing a high degree of satiety.

Unfortunately, in today's world of over consumption of processed foods, a high fiber diet is hard to come by. Here are the top facts about fiber you need to know.

Promotion Of A Healthy Digestive System

Fiber's primary role in the body is going to be to help promote a healthy digestive system. It does this by helping to keep the intestines in proper working order and prevent the accumulation of cholesterol along the lining.

Lowering Your Bad Cholesterol Levels

Another thing high fiber foods will do, is help to decrease the level of LDL cholesterol that's seen in the blood. They do this by binding with the dietary cholesterol you take in while it's in the small intestine and then removing it from the body.

Therefore, a high fiber diet can be a very good defense against the heart disease.

Fiber And Weight Loss

Women who are consuming high fiber diets on a regular basis generally maintain a much lower weight than those who don't, simply because they typically consume fewer total calories as a result.

Because it takes fiber a long time to be digested by the body, this means you will stay feeling fuller longer than if you would have done without it.

Since it is your end of the day total calorie intake that determines weight gain or weight loss, this is absolutely essential for weight loss.

Getting Enough Fiber

It's recommended, when it comes to being sure you are getting enough fiber in your diet, to try and average 14 grams per 1000 calories you eat. Most women will have diets consisting between 1500 and 2000 calories, depending on your body weight and activity levels, so that will translate to 21-28 grams of fiber total.

Increase Your Intake Slowly

Be sure that if you have not been eating much fiber in your diet at all in the past few months, increase your intake slowly.

If you go from eating very little fiber a day to getting a very high dose, you will likely suffer from extreme digestive upset and will not feel well at all.

Try and increase the consumption over the period of a few weeks to ease this process.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber is the type that plays the more predominant role in the lowering of bad cholesterol levels and is fully broken down the by the body. Sources to try and aim to consume include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, and fruits.

Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber, on the other hand is not digested by the body and rather, helps to slow down gastric emptying, causing that increased satiety effect discussed above. This is what will provide the biggest benefit when it comes to weight control for you.

Good sources of this type of fiber include whole-wheat breads, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, wheat bran, cabbage, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and the skin of apples.

So, be sure you do not overlook the importance of fiber in your diet. If you do get your consumption levels in line, you will most definitely notice a change in how you feel, and more than likely, a change in how you look as well.

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com

He specializes in helping skinny guys how to build lean muscle mass and burn off the body fat that is covering their muscles.

Protein Powder, The Skinny Guy's Guide To Protein Powder

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:29:00 +0000

By Vince DelMonte

So what do you really need to know about protein powder? As a skinny guy or beginner to the whole bodybuilding scene you simply want to know a few answers. Is protein powder necessary? Does it really work? How much do I need? What kind should I take? What is the best? And finally, will any of these answers make a difference when it comes to getting jacked and attracting the ladies?

This article is not meant for you if you want to learn the science behind the ion-exchanged, cross-mutated, isotopically labeled protein tracers - blah blah blah. In this article, I will strip away all the hype, science, and confusion that surrounds protein powder. By the time you are through this article and put it to memory, you will become the resident protein powder expert and amaze your friends the next time you visit the sport nutrition store. No more 2-hour shopping trips for protein powder because you don't really have a clue what to look for!

Is Protein Powder really necessary?

So, although protein supplements are not an absolute requirement for gaining mass, I have yet to meet any person able to get 400 grams of protein per day from cooking food. If your protein intake is greater than 200 grams per day I will suggest a protein powder - it will make your life a lot easier.

In addition, dollar for dollar, protein powders and meal replacement drinks tend to be more cost effective than whole food. Don't get me wrong, though. Protein powders are still supplements in my book. Supplement means an addition to the diet. I emphasize this because the focus of any diet should be food. Whole food is often preferable to powders because it can offer a whole spectrum of nutrients that powders cannot.

Most of your dietary protein should come from meat, fish, poultry and eggs. However getting all your protein from whole food is not always practical or convenient, especially if you have to eat 6 or more times a day to get your required intake. I will stress to you, for optimal muscle gains, you should limit yourself to a maximum of three shakes per day or 40 % of your meals. To some this might even sound like it's going 'overboard' and I would not disagree.

The bottom line is that both food and supplements are necessary to achieve a complete nutritional balance as well as the desired level of protein intake, especially if you're not a big fan of cooking. And I assume that over 95% of you reading this do not have a personal maid at home cooking all your meals while you sit around waiting for your next meal. Do not make the fatal mistake of thinking protein powders can take the place of a solid training and nutrition program.

Does protein powder really work and are they healthy?

I get this question emailed to me almost every day. I just showed how it 'works' as a supplement to help you hit your supplemental protein mark but you are probably still wondering, 'Yeah, but is protein powder going to help me get muscular or is it a scam?" A better question would be, "Does protein really work?" and the obvious answer is 'yes.' You are fully aware that protein is composed of building blocks called amino acids, which performs a variety of functions in the body such as building and maintaining healthy muscles when combined with diet and exercise. Protein also:

* Supports red blood cell production
* Boosts your immune system
* Keeps your hair, fingernails, and skin healthy

However, not all protein powder is created equal. Most protein powder contains an array of questionable ingredients such as aspartame, saccharin, fructose and artificial colors. It's interesting to note how unhealthy most of these protein powders actually are. Look for a protein powder with natural ingredients rather than products that are sweetened with chemicals and made with ingredients that are certainly not going to create an environment for muscle growth and fat burning.

Also avoid products with refined carbohydrates such as fructose, sucrose or brown rice syrup. Make sure that the product is made from a reputable company that is genuinely interested in good health. Unfortunately supplement manufacturers will continue to meet the demands of bodybuilding consumers with unknown crappy products because we buy it and it is cheaper for them to create. Do your homework by seeking out unbiased reviews, investigating the company’s history, and reputation. And then make a decision and take responsibility!

In the past one of my criteria for a healthy protein product was that it was great tasting and that it should mix easily. Most protein powders mix quite easily, even with a spoon, however I was disappointed to discover that taste will inevitably be sacrificed for a safe and healthy product. I can live with this. You see, once a product is removed of all artificial chemical sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, and simple sugars, it is left almost tasteless and sometimes even gross.

How much protein powder do I need?

A better question would be, "How much pure protein do I need to achieve my goals?"

Protein is an extremely important macro nutrient and should be eaten frequently throughout the day. I recommend at least 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass. This means that if you are 150 pounds and 10% body fat (150 x 0.10 = 15 lbs of fat leaving 135 lbs of lean mass), you will require at least 135 to approximately 205 grams of protein per day.

I recommend that protein powder be used primarily for your pre-workout, workout and post-workout shake. This is when liquid food is more advantageous over whole food since it has a faster absorption rate.

I do not recommend protein powder do be used for meal replacements for more than two meals. Here is what a typical day might look like:

Meal 1 (breakfast) - whole food

Meal 2 (mid morning) - liquid protein meal

Meal 3 (lunch) - whole food

Meal 4 (mid afternoon) whole food

Meal 5 (pre and post workout) liquid protein meal

Meal 6 (dinner) whole food

Meal 7 (before bed) whole food

What kind of protein powder should I use?

Before deciding which protein powder is necessary, here is a short protein primer to help you make sense of the thousands of different protein powders from which to choose:

WHEY PROTEIN makes up 20% of total milk protein. Whey is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, high cysteine content, rapid digestion, and interesting variety of peptides. Since it is very quickly digested the best time to consume it is before your workout, during your workout or immediately after your workout. These would be considered the phase in the day where you need energy the most and when your body is in anabolic state.

CASEIN PROTEIN makes up 80% of total milk protein. Casein is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, slow digestive nature, and interesting variety of peptides. Since casein is slowly digested into your bloodstream, don't use it during workouts or after workouts - you need a fast absorbing protein at these times. Instead, use a casein protein for all other times outside the pre and post workout window.

SOY PROTEIN is the most controversial of all protein types. While the soy groupies have gone to great lengths to label soy as a super food with magical effects, there is also a good amount of research that suggests soy protein may be contraindicated in many situations. BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONFUSION, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I SUGGEST AVOIDING SOY PROTEIN ALTOGETHER AND STICKING TO THE OTHER TYPES LISTED.

Protein Blends are generally a combination of several types of protein blends such as whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein, and soy protein.

Why would you want a blend anyway? You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein - use this kind at any time of the day but NOT before or after a workout.

Whey hydrolysates (also known as hydrolyzed whey protein, and are also called peptides), are powerful proteins that are more quickly absorbed; more so than any other form, since your body prefers peptides to whole proteins. Hydrolysates are produced through very low heat, low acid and mild enzymatic filtration processes, (those highest in the essential and the branched chain amino acids) and are potentially the most anabolic for short-term protein synthesis such as the pre and post-workout window.

Whey Protein Versus Whey Isolate:

Most whey protein powders that stock the supplement shelves are made up of whey concentrate and mixed in with a small portion of whey isolate. Comparing the two, whey protein isolate is more expensive than whey protein concentrate because it has a higher quality (more pure) and a higher BV (biological value). Whey protein isolate contains more protein and less fat and lactose per serving. Most whey protein isolates contain 90-98% protein while whey concentrates contain 70-85% protein.

Whey protein isolate is the highest yield of protein currently available that comes from milk. Because of its chemical properties it is the easiest to absorb into your system. Obviously with its high concentration, it appears that an isolate protein would be the obvious choice instead of a concentrate. However, this is an individual decision because the isolate is more expensive, and just because it is purer does not guarantee that it will help build bigger muscles. Its extra concentration may not justify its extra cost.

SO WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

For the Pre-workout and Post-workout phases, as long as whey hydrolysate is the first or second ingredient on the supplement label then there is probably not enough in the product to influence protein synthesis to reap the optimal benefits. As stated, whey isolates are also a extremely high quality whey and for maximal anabolism isolates should be combined with whey hydrolysates for only the pre-workout and post-workout phases of your program. The inclusion of small amounts of whey concentrates will not harm you but this should not be the first ingredient on the tub of protein powder.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE STRONGEST PROTEIN POWDER TO EXPLOIT YOUR FULL GROWTH POTENTIAL DURING THE GROWTH AND RECOVERY PHASES (ANY TIME OTHER THAN PRE AND POST WORKOUT PERIOD) THEN USE A BLEND.

You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein.

Conclusion

I hope this article familiarized you with the basics of protein powder and gave you a foundation to work from when deciding on your next order. Don't get caught up in the hype and start becoming a more educated consumer when you take your next trip to the nutrition store. Now you can tell the sales rep exactly what you are looking for instead of staring blankly at the shelves without a clue!

Oh yeah, protein powder will help you get more jacked and attract the ladies, but it's not going to do it in a 'ultra short period of time' with the simple addition to your diet.

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

Breast Enhancement Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Breast enlargement surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), was the fourth most popular invasive surgical procedure among cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in 2000. In a press release dated July 12, 2001, the ASPS says that breast augmentation was performed on 212,500 women last year.

Meanwhile, millions of women have been subjected to the ill effects of these modern day vanity contraptions that were bought in good faith.

Remember!!

Silicone gel implants were banned in 1992 by FDA.

If you have (or had) a ruptured silicone breast implant, you will be denied Health Insurance Coverage.

Saline-filled implants tend to have a higher rate of leaking and deflation than silicone gel implants, which means more frequent surgery to replace them.

In a study published in the Lancet medical journal, Dr Lori Brown of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says: "There is emerging consensus that both the incidence and prevalence of breast-implant rupture are much higher than previously suspected."

21% overall increase in cancers for women with implants, compared to women of the same age in the general population.

Implant patients were three times as likely to die from lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia as other plastic surgery patients.The study is based on medical records and death certificates of almost 8,000 women with breast implants, including silicone gel implants and saline implants, and more than 2,000 other plastic surgery patients. ( National Cancer Institute (NCI), Boston University, Abt Associates, and the Food and Drug Administration, with Dr. Louise Brinton from NCI as lead author. )

For more information visit: Breast Actives Natural Breast Enhancement

Losing Body FAT Versus Body WEIGHT: Do You Understand The Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:33:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Fat Loss Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.HowToBurnFat.com

So much focus and attention is placed on the idea of “weight loss” and “losing weight” that most typical beginners seem to lose sight of the actual concrete goal of achieving a lean, defined and healthy body…

Here's a hint...

It's NOT a simple matter of "losing weight".

In fact, let’s go ahead and remove the term “weight loss” from our fitness vocabulary altogether.

Why?

It’s because “losing weight” is NOT what you should be concerned with!

If you’re reading this article right now, then chances are that you’re looking to achieve at least one of the following goals…

1) Improve your appearance to feel more confident, attractive and sexy.
2) Enhance your overall health to increase longevity and quality of living.
3) Boost your energy levels and mood to feel better about yourself on a daily basis.

Surely there are other reasons as well... but for the majority of you out there, these are probably your primary concerns.

Am I right?

If so, it is absolutely critical that you understand the following…

Losing body weight on its own will NOT allow you to achieve these goals. Instead, all of your focus must be placed on changing your body composition.

The reason for this is simple…

Your body is made up of various different “types” of weight, all of which contribute differently to your overall appearance and health.

There are very “heavy” individuals who are in excellent health with lean and impressive bodies... and there are very “light” individuals who are in poor health with soft, flabby and out-of-shape bodies.

Your overall body weight is made up of various different components, such as body fat, muscle tissue, water and glycogen. The haphazard approach of simply aiming to “lose weight” is incredibly misguided as it does not take these specific types of body weight into account.

In order to achieve your goal of a lean, energetic and healthy body, your goal is to get rid of the excessive amounts of “bad” body weight while maintaining as much “good” body weight as you can.

To put it simply, the underlying goal of your entire program is as follows…

Burn off body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass.

This is truly the only way to get into the shape you desire and to set yourself up for permanent, positive long-term results.

Stop obsessing about the number on the scale!

Instead, start worrying about gradually dropping your body fat percentage while holding on to your lean muscle mass.

There are three primary reasons why you should focus on this...

First of all... one very important factor that determines your body’s basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn at rest) is the amount of lean muscle tissue you have on your body. The more muscle you have, the faster your fat burning metabolism operates.

Secondly... maintaining a reasonable level of muscular development will allow you to achieve the shapely and athletic appearance that the majority of you are probably striving for.

A low body fat percentage may be the ultimate goal, but without a decent amount of muscle mass your body will simply take on a small and smooth form without those “cuts” and “lines” that are considered so desirable.

Finally... those who simply place themselves on “crash diets” and attempt to drop large amounts of body weight over short periods of time are inevitably doomed to fail. Such an approach places the body into a starved state and actually programs you to store more fat over the long run.

The body will react to severe calorie deficits by slowing down the metabolism in an attempt to conserve energy, wasting away lean muscle mass, and increasing the production of hormones that inhibit fat loss.

The end result is an unhealthy, out of shape body that, while being temporarily “lighter” than it was before, has now been programmed to store fat and will inevitably end up returning back to its original weight and more.

The way to avoid all of the negative effects listed above is simple...

Structure your “weight loss” approach in such a way that you aim to gradually reduce your body fat levels while keeping your lean muscle tissue levels in tact.

This is the ONLY realistic way to burn fat, keep it off over the long run, and achieve the kind of lean and athletic appearance that you strive for.

Forget about this obsession with trying to lower the number on the scale as fast as possible, as it is only one small piece of a much larger and more important puzzle.

To equip yourself with the rest of the pieces to that puzzle, go ahead and visit www.HowToBurnFat.com. You can gain instant download access to my renowned body makeover program, "The Real Deal Body Transformation System", as well as sign up for my free 6-part fat burning email course.

About The Author

Once an awkward, out-of-shape "social outcast", Sean Nalewanyj is now a renowned fat loss and muscle building expert, best-selling fitness author, and creator of the wildly popular online fat loss program: "The Real Deal Body Transformation System". Learn how to burn fat and lose weight quickly, safely and permanently by visiting: www.HowToBurnFat.com.

4 Reasons Why Sleep Deprivation Will Inhibit Your Muscle Gains

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:57:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Natural Bodybuilding Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.MuscleGainTruth.com

It may seem like a trivial issue that could be easily overlooked, but giving your body a proper sleep every night really is an important step in setting the wheels for maximum muscle growth into motion.

If you really want to see the most dramatic changes in your body over the shortest period of time possible, a restful, quality sleep every single night is a must.

What makes a proper sleep so important?

Well, let’s simply take a look at what happens when you DON’T get a proper sleep each night…

1) Mental focus will decline.

One of the biggest problems with sleep deprivation is the effect that it will have on your mental state. Studies have shown that just a single night with insufficient rest will have a significant negative impact on your mental focus and willingness to perform difficult tasks.

Putting forth an all-out effort every time you enter the gym is one of the primary keys to building muscle fast, and in order to do so you must remain mentally sharp at all times.

2) Physical performance will suffer.

Not only will sleep deprivation have a negative impact on your state of mind, but it will also have physical consequences as well. Without a proper sleep, your strength levels will decrease and you'll end up using less weight and/or performing fewer reps than you would normally be capable of.

Your bottom line muscle gains are ultimately determined by the steady increases in poundage that you are able to make on all of your exercises, and keeping your strength at top levels is critical in achieving this as quickly as possible.

3) Recovery will be interrupted.

As you are probably already aware, your muscles do not actually grow while you are IN the gym. Rather, they grow while you are OUT of the gym eating and resting.

The time that you spend sleeping is one of the primary periods where the recovery and remodeling of damaged muscle tissue takes place. Not only do your muscles require recovery time, but your central nervous system, joints and immune system need rest too.

4) Hormone levels will be compromised.

Depriving your body of sleep will have a negative impact on some of the most important muscle building and fat burning hormones circulating in your body. I’m talking specifically about cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone and insulin.

Simply put, sleep deprivation has a negative impact on every single one of them...

a) Cortisol - A catabolic stress hormone that increases abdominal fat storage and stimulates the breakdown of muscle tissue for use as energy.

Studies have shown that insufficient sleep will cause the body to release higher amounts of this hormone.

b) Testosterone - The most important hormone when it comes to building muscle. The higher your levels of testosterone, the more muscle you can build.

Sleep deprivation measurably lowers testosterone levels.

c) Growth Hormone - Regenerates the body and plays a large role in building and maintaining muscle.

The time that you sleep is also the time when your body experiences a natural surge in growth hormone levels. If you fail to get a proper rest at night this hormonal surge will be compromised.

d) Insulin - Responsible for the uptake of important nutrients into your body cells.

Sleep deprivation can result in an increase in your body's insulin resistance levels. This means that your body will have to release higher-than-normal amounts of this hormone to compensate. This can lead to excess fat storage, diabetes or heart disease.

So, just how much sleep is enough?

As with most things, it’s certainly an individual factor and varies from person to person. As a general guideline though, I would recommend that everyone out there strive to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every single night. If you feel that you require more than that, sleep for 9 hours or for even longer if you need to.

The bottom line is to get enough sleep each night so that you feel 100% rested and energized throughout the day. If you regularly feel fatigued and sluggish, then increasing your sleeping time is a must.

In terms of building muscle size and strength, proper amounts of sleep will:

- Increase your mental focus and energy
- Improve your strength
- Allow for proper recovery in between workouts
- Lower cortisol levels
- Increase testosterone
- Raise growth hormone levels
- Decrease insulin resistance

That should be plenty of incentive right there to start paying close attention to how much sleep you’re getting each night.

See you in the morning!

Make sure to visit www.MuscleGainTruth.com for more winning muscle-building and fat loss strategies that you can begin incorporating into your program right away. You'll have the chance to instantly access my award-winning natural bodybuilding program, "The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System", and sign up for my free 8-part muscle building email course.

About The Author

Sean is also the owner and operator of the web's premier muscle building and fat loss support community, currently accepting new members at www.SchoolOfMuscle.com.

The Truth About Building Muscle And Burning Fat: You Should NEVER Skip A Workout… Or Should You?

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:51:00 +0000

The Truth About Building Muscle And Burning Fat: You Should NEVER Skip A Workout… Or Should You?

You Should NEVER Skip A Workout… Or Should You?

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:45:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Natural Bodybuilding Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.MuscleGainTruth.com

If you want to be successful at anything, discipline and consistency are mandatory.

You’ve got to be willing to work hard week in and week out, and put forth the effort even on those days when you’d rather stay at home, lie on the couch and relax.

The saying says that “80% of success is showing up”, and for the most part I’d say that’s true.

Building muscle is no different.

You’ve got to stay tight to your workout schedule and get yourself into the gym even when it’s the last thing on your mind. If you want to gain muscle size and strength as quickly as possible, you should never, ever miss a workout…

Or should you?

Here’s the thing…

Yes, consistency is important. Yes, you should be sticking to your workout schedule the vast majority of the time. Yes, simply bailing on the gym out of pure laziness is not acceptable.

However, I would like to bring up a quote from the late Mike Mentzer when he said… “Rituals have nothing to do with science”.

What you need to keep in mind is that the human body is an extremely complex biological “machine”, and that not every single workout and recovery period is identical.

In other words, just because your schedule states that you must train on days X, Y and Z doesn’t necessarily mean that this will always be the optimal pattern every single week of the year.

If you wake up on a training day and your muscles still ache, you feel physically tired and your regular motivation to train just feels like it has been zapped... don’t you think your body just might be trying to tell you something?

Why would you force yourself to train in a situation where more recovery time is clearly needed, and when you know that your training performance will be less than optimal? If your body, muscles and mind are clearly still reeling from the previous session, what sense does it make to force yourself to train despite this?

After all, we know that the recovery phase is the ultimate “muscle builder” (the actual process of adding new muscle tissue occurs out of the gym on resting days) and that intense weight training is extremely demanding on the body as a whole…

So why would you deliberately interfere with the very process that transforms your physique in the first place? Why not take an extra 24 hours off and re-enter the gym once you feel physically and mentally ready to do so?

What harm could there possibly be in that?

There is no threat of losing muscle size or strength, as these decreases require 2 or more weeks of inactivity to be set into motion. Yet, there is the perfectly likely reality of a positive gain in the form of proper recovery from the previous workout and improved performance on the following workout.

The underlying key is to listen to your body.

Rituals truly do not have anything to do with science, and if it feels obvious to you that additional rest is needed, take it.

Don’t force your body into another battle with the weights if it clearly is not ready to do so. Don’t let your ego get in the way; just because some muscle building guru told you to “never skip a workout” doesn’t mean that it’s always the best approach.

You do have to use this method with caution, though...

If you develop the mindset of only training when you “feel like it”, then it’s likely that you’ll start delaying your workouts and convincing yourself that it’s correct to do so when in fact it is not.

There are plenty of times when you won’t feel like training purely for psychological reasons rather than concrete physical reasons, and that’s not what I’m talking about here.

I’m simply talking about those days where you are able to sense that from a physical standpoint, taking an extra day of rest would be the better course of action.

Just remember... there is no long-term harm in taking an extra day of rest, but there IS the very real and immediate harm of training your body without being fully recovered first.

If in doubt, take the day off!

Want more no B.S muscle-building strategies just like this one?

Check out www.MuscleGainTruth.com for more info. In a bodybuilding world full of marketing hype and exaggerations, I cut straight through the lies and give you the no-nonsense truth about what it takes to gain muscle fast.

About The Author

Sean is also the owner and operator of the web's premier muscle building and fat loss support community, currently accepting new members at www.SchoolOfMuscle.com.

Muscle Building And Fat Loss 101: Neglect Your Leg Training And Every Muscle Group Will Suffer

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:41:00 +0000

Muscle Building And Fat Loss 101: Neglect Your Leg Training And Every Muscle Group Will Suffer

Neglect Your Leg Training And Every Muscle Group Will Suffer

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:35:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Natural Bodybuilding Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.MuscleGainTruth.com

Let’s face it; the honest truth is that a good portion of lifters in the gym just don’t seem to care
too much about training their lower body.

I mean, a thick pair of quadriceps aren’t exactly what most people would consider a “showy” muscle... and I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can remember the last time a woman asked him to “flex his hamstring” for her.

Everyone is so hell-bent on having a wide, thick upper body that they either neglect or flat-out ignore the other half of their muscles down below.

They’ll come up with just about any excuse to avoid hard and heavy leg training, citing such responses as “I just run to develop my legs”, “squats are hard on my knees”, or some other bogus reason along those lines.

I cannot even begin to stress how costly a mistake this really is...

Not only does it look ridiculous having a ripped and muscular upper body sitting atop a pair of toothpicks-for-legs... but what if I told you that your refusal to place equal muscle building focus on your lower body was actually limiting the amount of muscle you could gain in your chest, back, arms and shoulders?

You might think it was nothing more than a cheap tactic to get you into the squat rack, but it really is true.

See, most people think of weight training as a simple black and white issue of “train muscle X using exercise Y, and muscle X will become bigger and stronger”.

This limited view of muscle growth is one of the primary reasons why most trainees fail to maximize their results in the gym. They end up settling for mediocrity and never achieving the kind of explosive, monster muscle gains that they are truly capable of.

Here’s the truth…

The muscle building mechanism within the body goes far beyond a simple localized event that happens at the level of the muscle tissue itself!

A great deal of muscle growth also results as the entire body as a whole is placed under stress and adapts on a holistic level. This is achieved through the increased secretion of important hormones such as testosterone and growth hormone.

These hormones are considered the “holy grail” of muscle growth, as they are one of the primary limiting factors that determines how much muscle any given individual can ultimately gain. When bodybuilders inject anabolic steroids into their bodies, all they are really doing is increasing the circulation of these important substances.

Now, because you’re a natural trainee and jamming a roid-filled needle into your butt just isn’t your style, you’ve got to find other methods of speeding up the production of these muscle-increasing compounds.

And what is one of the most effective ways to do this?

You guessed it…

Hard and heavy leg training!

Squats, leg presses, lunges, stiff-legged deadlifts…

Did you ever notice how incredibly challenging and downright gut wrenching these exercises can be when performed to a high level of intensity?

After finishing an all out set of these lifts you may find yourself wishing that you hadn’t come to the gym in the first place. This is because they involve the largest muscle groups on your body and allow you to move massive amounts of weight.

The reality, however, is that while these leg exercises require a lot of mental toughness and willpower to stick to, their intense difficulty is one of the key ways to really force your body to rev up its anabolic hormone production.

Greater anabolic hormone levels means greater muscle size and strength, not only for your lower body, but for your entire upper body as well.

What this means is that if leg training is not a regular part of your workout schedule (or if it is part of your schedule but is simply treated as an after-thought), you are missing out on significant total body gains that you could otherwise be achieving.

Really, take me up on this offer…

Incorporate a hard and intense day of leg training into your weekly workout schedule. Include the most basic compound lifts such as squats, leg presses and stiff-legged deadlifts, and focus on pushing yourself to the limit and adding more weight to the bar each week.

Try this out for 4-8 weeks, and then come back and tell me what you notice.

If you’re like 99% of the population, you’ll report that your strength on every single upper body exercise shot through the roof... and that your chest, back, arms and shoulders became noticeably thicker and more muscular as a result.

If you truly don’t care about the size of your legs, then fine, I can’t force you to do so. However, if not for the sake of your lower body, then at least include hard and intense leg training for the sake of those upper body muscles that you care so much about.

It may not seem logical at first glance... but the plain reality is that intense and consistent leg training really is one of the true “secrets” to a massive, ripped and strong upper body!

To learn exactly how to structure an effective leg workout, and to get all the insider tips for training all of your other major muscle groups, make sure to check out www.MuscleGainTruth.com. I lay everything out for you in step-by-step detail, including full training routines, video lessons and more.

About The Author

Sean is also the owner and operator of the web's premier muscle building and fat loss support community, currently accepting new members at www.SchoolOfMuscle.com.

Knee Raise Dips: Advanced Ab Training Exercise To Get Shredded

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:58:00 +0000

Knee Raise Dips: Advanced Ab Training Exercise To Get Shredded!

By The Muscle Nerd, Jeff Anderson

Combine these 2 powerful exercises to see your abs FAST!

Sure there's a time for "micro-targeting" your abs to really dig in deep and shred some muscle fibers.

But you know that this is only HALF of the battle, right?

If you really want to see your 6-pack, you're gonna have to shred some FAT as well and the exercise I'm going to show you will help you accomplish BOTH...

...at the same time!

You see, by working a "chain" of muscles together, you can not only target muscle fibers for growth, but you also recruit more TOTAL muscle fibers.

This helps by increasing overall calorie expenditure DURING your workout...

...and jacks up your metabolism even higher AFTER your workout!

Here's a GREAT exercise that demonstrates this powerful principle:

"The Knee Raise Dip"

The concept is quite simple really, though it may take some working up to if you're not as strong in your upper body.

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Get yourself set up at a Dip Station (sorry...you won't be able to use the "Assisted Dip Station" at your gym if they have one).

To start, lower yourself all the way as you would if you were targeting your chest and arms (because you ARE).

Keep your elbows out so you use more "chest" than arms if you can.

This way you won't tire as quickly.

On the way UP during the repetition, you're going to continue the movement by bringing your knees up toward your chest, just as you would in a "knee raise" targeting your abs (um...because you ARE).

Then lower your knees back down as you begin your descent for your second dip repetition.

Continue in this movement until one of your muscle groups gives out.

To take it even further, once one muscle group DOES reach exhaustion, switch to doing ONLY the other exercise until you hit failure.

That may mean you hopping off the dip station and grabbing hold of a pull up bar to continue your knee raises, as an example.

Give this exercise a try and start slow to get the movement down.

You'll love this one so much, you'll make it a staple in your ab training!

Ab workouts - Finding The Best Ab Workouts

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:03:00 +0000

By Vince DelMonte
www.YourSixPackQuest.com

When trying to achieve the illusive six pack, it' easy to get confused by all the "best ab workouts" available. You'll likely notice that there a multitude of ab workouts to choose one, so deciphering which ones will work the best can be tricky.

The thing to remember is that whenever you are trying to work your core, everything works, for a certain period of time. Everything from high reps, low reps, weighted work, bodyweight work, stability ball exercises, and BOSU ball exercises - it all works until your body adapts and says, "This is easy, I'm not going to change unless you give me a new reason to adapt."

Your ab training should be progressed from stable floor work with your body weight to a unstable surface with weighted work. Progressing to movements that will reduce your base of support as much as possible are the best ab workouts because they will call into play all the muscles within the core, especially those really deep that stable floor work can not target.

Such examples of floor ab exercises that would do this would be crunches, sit ups and leg raises. Eventually you want to do these same exercises against gravity, then a load and then on unstable surface like a stability ball. Body weight exercises like "front planks" and "side planks" should be the foundation of a core program and progressed to one arm planks in the frontal and side planes and then eventually on a stability ball or BOSU ball for further recruitment.

The best ab workouts to make your abs "pop" would be a variety of weighted movements. I'm sure you've skinny guys with a flat stomach but no "eye popping" abs, which is because they have not developed the actual abdominal muscle, just like every other body part. Part of getting nicely chiseled abs is going to be developing the muscles underneath the fat, and weighted ab crunches with cables or on a stability ball with a heavy dumbbell will do this best.

During all your ab workouts be sure to get a full stretch during the eccentric phase of your ab exercises. Going through an entire range of motion on the way up (if doing a crunch on the floor or ball) is not necessary, however, you should be "crunching" your upper abs onto your lower abs during each rep to maximize the burn, recruitment and full development.

The one weighted exercise you will not find in my programs is weighted side bends, as this could make you look wider in the waste, distracting from creating a lean image.

One concerning question most people have is regarding lower ab workouts, typically the most troubling spot. Yes, hip flexion (emphasis more so on lower abs) is important to perform and should be done first in the workout but the reality of the matter is that you cannot specifically separate your abs into upper and lower components. Whenever you perform any type of ab movement you should automatically be focusing on working both the upper and lower portion at the same time.

Good exercise to definitely direct a little more force into the lower area would be the progression of lying leg raises, lying leg raises on a incline and eventually hanging leg raises fully vertical. Lying leg raises on a stability pull is also an extremely challenging and advanced exercise to create razor sharp abdominals.

Finally, the last thing to consider is when you are going to perform your ab workout is training frequency. Again, generally speaking, the more the better assuming your abdominals have recovered. Whether you want to perform it at the end of your workout, before your workout, during your workout or on a day of it's own is up to you. My ab workouts incorporate all methods depending on if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced. Some theories of that warn you not to start with abs is because abs work as a synergistic muscle for so many of the other exercises you'll do, if you pre-fatigue them before the start of the workout, you may not progress as much during the rest of your workout. I don't agree with this and if you're abs are your weakest link then they should be given first priority when you are the most fresh, the start of your workout.

Incorporating a specific ab workout is only a small part of the battle - diet, lifestyle and overall caloric expenditure through weight training and cardio are the true building blocks to creating a sexy and desired mid section.

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He provides chubby guys and gals with the best ab workouts to get a six pack without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

Ab Exercises - The Best Ab Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:40:00 +0000

By Vince DelMonte
www.YourSixPackQuest.com

When it comes to getting a solid six pack, doing the right ab exercises is crucial. You can spend hours doing needless sit-ups that aren't really going to have all that much benefit, much to your disappointment. Taking the time to choose smart ab exercises will save you not only gym time, but a great deal of frustration as well. In this article we will discuss the best lower ab exercises and the best home ab exercises as well.

The best movements for the abdominal muscles are going to be ones that reduce your overall stability. The reason for this is because this will require all your muscle tissues, even the ones deep within the core, to contract in order to maintain balance. When you perform regular sit-ups, for example, they are really only going to target the more superficial muscles; one that will still help, but not get you near the results you could be seeing.

So what ab exercises are ones that reduce your balance?

Basically, anything done on an unstable surface is going to get the job done. This would include movements such as walking across a balance beam, performing one leg squats, one arm shoulder presses, or bent over dumbbell rows standing on one leg and of course, utilizing an exercise ball for any laying abdominal movement you perform. Working on a BOSU ball and stability ball ab exercises are also excellent options. As long as you have a set of free weights and stability ball then these would qualify as your best home ab exercises as well.

By far the most effective lower ab exercises are hanging leg raises while you use your lower abs to rotate your pelvis which is the secret to performing this effectively. Lying leg raises, lying leg raises on a 45 degree incline and cable crunches are also rock hard ab exercises.

Another area you might want to venture into with your ab exercises are those that utilize heavy weights.

While this will not necessarily get you 'cut' so that all your individual muscles are showing - that takes having low levels of body fat, what weighted movements will do is help further build the muscle tissue and make your abs "pop".

The more muscle mass you have, the faster your metabolic rate will then be, so in an indirect way, that could in fact help you burn off excess body fat.

Furthermore, doing weighted movements will also increase your strength greatly, reducing the risk of injuries from any other type of exercise you may attempt. Weighted ball crunches with a stability ball on your chest is my favorite home ab exercises.

When choosing when to perform your ab exercises, if you are looking for performance, do them on a separate day from all your other work. Just like any muscle group, you want to be fresh when you do them.

If, on the other hand, you are more just doing them to help build some strength, but more to round out your exercise program, then you should be doing them at the end of your workout session. This will prevent them from fatiguing early, because they are going to be predominately used in all the other lifts you perform (heavy squats for example).

In many cases this rule can be bent though. For example, if a client comes to me and their abs are the weakest muscle group then performing them at the end of the workout makes no sense because they will be pre fatigued from the workout and you will not be able to train them as intensely so prioritizing your abs at the start of the workout can become the exception in this case.

So, next time you are creating your workout and are picking out ab exercises, keep these points in mind. Having good dedication to performing these exercises on a regular basis and then following a clean diet based around raw vegetables and proteins are the two main components to developing that six-pack you're hoping for.

----------------------------------

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

6 Pack Abs - The Secret To 6 Pack Abs

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:13:00 +0000

Everywhere you turn, someone's promising the next secret to getting 6 pack abs. Some of these so called 'secrets' have some degree of accuracy, while others, not so much. Deciphering which are the best methods to getting 6 pack abs is going to be critical to your having success with this goal.

The biggest area you need to focus on when trying to obtain 6 pack abs is going to be on your diet. Like it or not, the old saying that 'abs are made in the kitchen', is probably one of the most truthful statements in the fitness industry. If your diet isn't in line, your stomach is going to show it.

So, what should you be doing with your diet?

First, ensure you are getting enough protein. Not only is protein going to form the key building blocks you need to build muscle tissue, but it's also going to provide you with a better feeling of fullness than eating just carbohydrates alone would for example. Protein is more "expensive" than any other macronutrient meaning that your body will burn more calories breaking down protein compared to carbs and fats.

Next, don't be afraid of dietary fat that comes from primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as olive oils, fish oils, a mix of nuts, natural peanut butter and avocado. While it's true that eating fat will increase your calories fast, as long as you keep it between 20-30% it can be one of the best things to get 6 pack abs fast. The important point here is that dietary fat helps keep your insulin level stable, which, when high enough can actually cause fat gain itself.

Furthermore, dietary fat will keep you feeling the fullest for the longest duration in time; longer than both protein or carbohydrates would. Interestingly, some diets high in fat can get you 6 pack abs fast because your body learn to metabolize fat for energy.

So, while you do need to watch it, be sure you are getting some in your diet.

Finally, when it comes to carbohydrate intake and getting 6 pack abs, you want to focus most of your carbohydrate intake around the post workout period.

Why?

The biggest reason for this is because this is when your body is going to need those carbohydrates the most and will really suck them up into the muscle tissue. When you eat them at this time, it is least likely that they will turn into body fat.

Additionally, consuming carbohydrates during this period will also help to aid with muscle recovery and repair, so that means less down time from the gym for you.

If getting 6 pack abs fast is your goal than each meal you should consist of 1-2 cups of raw vegetables to control insulin levels, improve absorption of your protein and flood your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

So, if you are aiming to get 6 pack abs in the coming months, have a good hard look at your diet. That is the big secret that must not be overlooked if you are to succeed.

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

Build a Bigger Chest in 3-4 Workouts or Less

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:41:00 +0000

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
www.BurnTheFat.com

If your pecs are a weak body part, or, if you’ve simply hit a progress plateau in your chest development, then this high intensity chest training program will pack slabs of muscle mass on your chest after just 3-4 workouts - and I guarantee it. This is a high intensity bodybuilding workout for advanced bodybuilders only. (Beginners don’t even think about it...)

I’m currently on workout 3 of 4 in this pec routine and the results have been so impressive that I decide to write it up for you before I even finish the final workout next week.

Considering I’m on a calorie deficit in a cutting phase, I’m especially impressed with the increase in my chest size and development after 3 workouts. You’re not going to gain much if any muscular body weight if you are in a caloric deficit, but NO DOUBT, you can improve the development of a muscle group even while cutting up. This is a perfect example. I’m going to return to this program again for sure on my next mass phase. This program is called…

Multi-Angular Rest Pause With Pump Finisher

Here’s how it works. You select two exercises. For exercise one (the main course), I chose a basic pec mass exercise that can be done at any angle from steep incline to flat bench. Thats the primary exercise you stick with for all 4 workouts. Incline Dumbbell Press was the natural choice. I set up on a fully adjustable bench that allows multiple angles of incline.

For exercise two (dessert), I chose an isolation exercise for a pump finisher, and it changes with every workout.

Here’s the sequence:

A1 Incline Dumbbell Press - steep incline - about 65-70 degrees

6 reps
rest 10 seconds

A2 Incline Dumbbell Press - medium (regular) incline - about 45 degress
6 reps
10 seconds

A3 Incline Dumbbell Press - low incline - about 20-25 degrees
6 reps
10 seconds rest

A4 Dumbbell Press - flat bench
6 reps

Now rest 2 - 3 minutes.

That’s one "set." Technically of course, that is FOUR SETS, done in rest pause fashion, so lets call it one “round” for clarity’s sake.

Yes… that was round ONE. Now do it two more times.

Note: It helps a lot if you have a training partner change the bench angle so you can stay seated and keep the dumbbells in your hands. Doing it alone is slow and cumbersome.

For poundage, you're going to have to go MUCH lighter than usual. Although I don't train heavy pecs anymore, last time I did, I was doing 6 reps with 125s on the incline. So for this program I took about 50-60% of that; 70 lbs on workout 1, 75 lbs on workout 2,and 80 lbs on workout 3. On the last one, I had to drop to the 75s to finish all 3 rounds and even then I needed some forced reps towards the end.

You may need to decrease the weight on the 2nd or 3rd round, but if at all humanly possible, do NOT reduce the weight during each round. Doing all four angles at the same poundage is the whole idea.

What may happen, especially if you even slightly overestimated your starting poundage, is that reps may drop with each angle change within a round. First angle - 6 reps is easy. second angle, a little harder, but still no problem. Third angle, you might only squeeze out 5 reps or hit honest failure on the 6th rep. 4th angle (flat), you might hit total failure on the 4th or 5th rep.

Now this is also where a training partner comes in. This routine should not be attempted without a spotter. Sorry, but you are a dork if you try to do this without a spotter. This program causes HONEST muscle failure (I’ll explain that in more detail shortly), so you need the spotter for safety, but moreover, you will need a spotter’s assistance to complete forced reps, at least on the final round or two, if not the first round. In general, forced reps should not be overused, but they play an important part of this program.

Ok, where were we? Oh yeah, you just finished your 3rd round. You might be finished! Yeah. some people will be DONE, KAPUT, ZONKED, BONKED, NUKED, GAME OVER, after 3 rounds of that (think about it - that was 12 sets, disguised as 3 sets!) However, for those who want the full course…. come with me and lets finish off those pecs with the pump (oh, you thought were already pumped… heh.. just wait…you’ll see what a pump is!)

The second exercise (exercise B) is going to be an isolation exercise.. ie., DB flye, cable crossover, machine flye (pec deck), etc., and you will perform 20-25 reps, non stop in piston-like fashion. use a steady quick tempo, but not so fast that you use momentum.

This isolation /pump exercise will change with every workout:

B1 Workout 1: standing cable crossover

2-3 sets, 20-25 reps

B1 Workout 2: machine flye or pec deck

2-3 sets, 20-25 reps

B1 Workout 3: decline dumbbell flye

2-3 sets 20-25 reps

B1 Workout 4: flat bench cable flyes in cable crossover machine

2-3 sets, 20-25 reps

That’s it! That’s the whole program. Three rounds of multi-angular rest pause, then finish your workout with 2-3 sets of 25 reps on a pumping, isolation movement.

This routine is performed within a standard bodybuilding type of split, so it should be done once in 5-7 days, no more. You would probably do another body part after chest,such as biceps or triceps, depending on how you organize your split routine.

I would recommend advanced bodybuilders use this program a couple times a year if and when they need a boost in chest development. This is not the type of program you would use all the time. You would burn out and overtrain.

There’s one more very important part of this routine - progression.

On the Incline Dumbbell Presses, you will increase the poundage with every workout. Keep in mind, you will not be able to complete all 3 rounds at all 4 angles for 6 unassisted reps. Its going to get harder each time, even as you get stronger. You may have to use a spotter more with each progressing workout. You may also find that on workout 1 or workout 2, you can complete all 3 rounds with the same dumbbells, but on workout 3, by the 2nd or 3rd round, you have to drop the weight or you’ll barely be getting 2 or 3 reps.

Now let me re-emphasize the importance of a spotter. Theres something thats going to happen when you do this routine that does not happen often. You will hit what my training partner and I call “HONEST FAILURE.” This means that your muscles literally fail, or give out right underneath you. Mind you, this is not something you would usually aim for, but that’s just the nature of this program and this is only a 4-workout high intensity “shock” type of routine.

When I say your muscles will give out, I mean that literally. On the last rep or two of 3rd or 4th angle, of the 2nd or 3rd round, your arms may literally buckle underneath you. That’s honest failure.

You see, there are several types of failure… First there is “sissy failure”.. that’s when there is a lactic acid burn or a fatigue in the muscle (you’re tired) and because it hurts or youre tired, that causes you to stop. Thats sissy failure (sarcasm).

Then you have positive failure. This is where you can no longer push the weight up in a concentric motion, but you are still able to lower the weight and exert an upward force against the weight. For example, you’re bench pressing and you hit the “sticking point,” but you are holding that bar at the sticking point (its not coming back down), and you’re still exerting force to push the bar upward, but the bar simply isn't moving up!

Then you have honest failure. This is where the muscle simply gives out.. it buckles. you have reached concentric and eccentric failure. This type of failiure is rarely discussed. In fact I don’t recall anyone ever writing about it except for Arthur Jones and Ellington darden and the rest of the High Intensity Training (HIT) camp.

Rarely does any bodybuilder tread in this territory, and for good reason, as it is really not necessary and can be dangerous for anyone but a veteran who knows what the heck he is doing - and all the kidding aside for a moment, Im serious about this. Its no joke if your chest and arms give out from underneath you and you dump a 70 or 80 pound dumbbell on your face. (you do like your teeth, don’t you?)

However, as a technique you use on rare occasion for a shock routine that breaks through progress plateaus, that untrodden territory is there… for those who dare. There is something about this particular program (multi angular rest pause) that takes you there. You've been warned! Train hard, but be safe!

Now, go out there and get jacked!

Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS

Lifetime Natural Bodybuilder
www.BurnTheFat.com

About the Author:

Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified personal trainer and freelance fitness writer. Tom is the author of "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: www.burnthefat.com

Free Online Fat Burning Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:07:00 +0000

Sean Nalewanyj presents Free Online Fat Burning Videos to help you achieve your fat loss and muscle building goals.

Click on the links below to view the FREE fat burning videos:

"The Key To Effective Fat Loss: Work WITH Your Biology!"

"Why Almost Everyone Is DEAD WRONG About Achieving 6-Pack Abs"

"5 Simple Ways To Track Your Fat Burning Progress"

Once an awkward, out-of-shape “social outcast”, Sean Nalewanyj is now a renowned fat loss and muscle building expert, best-selling fitness author and success coach.

Sean has been researching and promoting natural fat loss and bodybuilding techniques for the past decade, has written articles for dozens of the most popular fitness sites on the web, and is recognized as an expert authority on the subjects of building muscle and burning fat fast.

Through his highly successful website, www.HowToBurnFat.com and his information packed online email lessons (visit his website using the link above for signup details), he has helped thousands of average everyday people from all over the world burn fat, build muscle and get into the best shape of their lives.

Sean is well known as the creator of the renowned online body makeover program, “The Real Body Transformation System”, which teaches people how to burn fat, increase their muscle definition and look their best without supplements, drugs, fad diets or fancy equipment of any kind.

The full package includes his best-selling e-book, “The Truth About Burning Fat”, along with a detailed collection of fat loss support modules and free bonus gifts. The system is backed by a ton of dramatic before/after success stories and is also endorsed by several top fitness experts in the field.

In a weight loss world where intense marketing hype and exaggerations have become the norm, Sean is well respected for his direct, no-nonsense approach. He admits that getting into impressive shape is not a walk in the park, but believes without a doubt that he can help anyone achieve the body they desire as long as they are willing to put forth the effort.

You can read more about Sean and his full-blown fat loss success system by clicking here to visit his website.

The Real Deal Body Transformation System Program Review

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:49:00 +0000

The Real Deal Body Transformation System
www.HowToBurnFat.com
By Sean Nalewanyj

Rating:

What You Get: The Complete Real Deal Body Transformation System

The Truth About Burning Fat 261-Page E-Book + 6 Real-Deal Support Modules + 6 Free Bonus Items

Real-Deal Support Modules:

1) Metabolic Ignition Workout Plan
2) Perfect Form Video Exercise Database
3) Customized Body Sculpting Meal Plans
4) Flavorful Fat Burning Recipe Book
5) No B.S Fat Burning Supplement Reviews
6) Body Progress Tracking Tools

Free Bonus Items:

Check out Sean's Website for more information on these 6 additional free bonus items!

Delivery: Instant download from website

Money Back Guarantee: 100% Unconditional 8-Week Guarantee

Editorial Review:

In a weight loss world dominated by marketing hype, exaggerations and flat-out lies, finding a reputable fat burning program that actually produces results is no easy task.

Even if you're able to dodge past the "miracle supplements", "revolutionary diets" and "breakthrough equipment", how can you know for sure which products are worth your money and which ones are nothing more than hyped up junk?

For those looking to burn body fat, gain lean muscle mass and increase their health and energy, trying to figure out which advice to follow can sometimes be a nightmare.

Well, I'm happy to say that I've already done the dirty work for you.

Best-selling fitness author and fat loss expert, Sean Nalewanyj, has just released a brand new fat burning system that I had the pleasure of reviewing. For those of you who don't know who Sean is, he's the creator of one of the most well-known natural bodybuilding programs available on the web today: The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System.

His program has been a top-seller for several years, and he's finally decided to channel his efforts to taking on the fat loss world as well. After spending many hours examining this new package from top to bottom, I have to admit that it's one of the most complete and comprehensive fat loss programs to hit the market as of late.

It's called "The Real Deal Body Transformation System", and contains virtually every tool you'll need to get into impressive shape fast.

It starts with his 261-page e-book, "The Truth About Burning Fat". This is the main component of the system, and covers the entire fat burning process in detail from A to Z. You'll learn everything you need to know about proper nutrition, weight training, cardiovascular exercise, progress tracking and everything in between.

The book is all written in simple layman's terms, so anyone can understand and follow it. You can read through the book directly from your computer or print it off and place it in a 3-ring binder to read wherever you'd like.

Along with the main e-book, Sean hands you an entire collection of detailed support modules and bonus gifts to help you even further.

You get the "Metabolic Ignition Workout Plan" that shows you exactly how to train for maximum fat loss, as well as a full video exercise database to teach you proper form and technique to use in the gym.

Next up you'll receive 7 different "30-Day Body Sculpting Meal Plans" to remove all of the guesswork from your diet. These exclusively developed plans show you what to eat and when to eat it to turbo charge your metabolism while staying full and energetic.

On top of the meal plans, Sean gives you a full recipe book that contains over 35 delicious fat burning meal ideas that can easily be included in your diet. One of the biggest fat loss progress killers is simply getting bored with what you have to eat, but with this booklet by your side you'll be able to get into great shape and enjoy your food at the same time.We then come to the "Fat Loss Supplements Exposed" e-book, where Sean shares his unbiased reviews on all of the top weight loss supplements available today. This one report alone could potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars that you might have otherwise wasted.

Finally, Sean gives you 5 different printable progress tracking booklets to help you stay organized and motivated all the way through. Included are a workout logbook, daily meal planner, supplement organizer, 12-week progress analyzer and goal-setter.

Although it might be hard to believe, everything I've outlined so far is really just the first half of the entire package. The Real Deal System also includes 6 free bonus gifts, including a 6-pack abs audio course, instant online diet generator and fat burning food report. You can check out Sean's Website to read about all of the bonus gifts in detail.

After making my way through all of the detailed items included in this package, I can say with honesty that there are no other fat burning programs currently available that offer this kind of value.

But the real question you're probably wondering is simple...

"Does the program actually work?"

In short, YES!

Sean has a great reputation in the industry for offering high quality and effective programs, and this one is no exception. Even though this system is still quite new, his members and colleagues are already raving about it. You can check out what they're saying by visiting his website.

Even more noteworthy than the program itself is Sean's obvious desire to genuinely help those who follow his advice. Unlike most junky programs out there that look to have been slapped together over a weekend, it's clear that a ton of time and effort was put in to make this program really stand out.

Best of all, Sean offers everything to you for an extremely reasonable price. The system is currently selling for no more than the cost of a single session with a personal trainer, which is incredible considering everything you'll receive. However, this is simply an introductory price, and I suspect that the cost will be increasing in the near future.

Bottom Line Verdict: If you're interested in burning fat and toning your entire body quickly, safely and permanently, The Real Deal Body Transformation System is one of the best investments you could possibly make.

It's an incredible value... is endorsed by top experts in the field... was created by a reputable expert... and more importantly, it is highly effective at producing results fast.

In fact, Sean is so confident with the results that can be obtained from his system that he offers the following guarantee:

"Try the program for a full 8 weeks... If it isn't the BEST investment you've ever made for your body and health, send me a quick email and I'll refund your entire purchase on the spot!"

You've got nothing to lose by at least giving it a try.

Important: When you place your order at Sean's website, you'll be given the chance to upgrade to the "Ultimate Edition" of the program which includes even more awesome add-ons.

You'll receive a professionally narrated audio version of his e-book, a fitness smoothie booklet, a mind & motivation mp3 course, as well as 3 other items that you can check out for yourself.

If you're truly serious about achieving a lean, attractive and healthy body, these additional features are strongly recommended and can be purchased for only a few extra bucks.

Go ahead and check it out now...

(Even if you're not interested in spending any money on a fat burning program just yet, you can still sign up for Sean's free part email course, "6 Critical Keys To Rapid Fat Loss Revealed ". You can also read some inspiring before/after stories of people who achieved incredible results using Sean's principles.)

Click Here To Visit Sean's Website
For More Information

Why A Low-Fat Diet Will Make You FATTER

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:12:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj
Fat Loss Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.HowToBurnFat.com

As an individual who desires a lean, attractive and “fat-free” appearance, you most likely have the idea that your ultimate dietary goal is to limit your consumption of fat as much as possible.

And who could blame you for thinking that?

For years we’ve been told that low-fat diets are the only healthy solution and that dietary fat is somehow an evil, harmful substance that should be steered clear of at all costs. Just walk into any grocery store and you’ll be bombarded with package after package of “low fat” and “fat free” products lining the shelves.

For those of you who point the finger at dietary fat as the major cause of a soft and flabby body, here’s an interesting fact for you…

Despite the current obesity crisis in the United States (where 7 out of 10 individuals over the age of 25 are considered overweight) our consumption of dietary fat is actually at an all-time low!

That’s correct, we’re consuming LESS fat, yet we’re FATTER than ever!

How could this be?

Simple: diets that focus on the extreme restriction of fat consumption are actually counter-productive to your fat burning results.

Don’t believe me?

Let me give you 5 good reasons why…

1) Low-fat diets are naturally higher in sugar.

Fats contain 9 calories per gram, and when you place severe limitations on your fat intake, you’ll naturally have to make up for those lost calories through an increased consumption of protein and carbohydrates.

For most individuals, this means piling up their intake of fruits, breads, pastas and other such items that, while low in fat, are very high in sugar. Although your body requires a certain amount of glucose to fuel its daily tasks, any excess that isn’t needed and cannot be stored in the muscles for future use will simply be stored as fat.

2) Low-fat diets increase cravings and hunger pangs.

Not only does the addition of dietary fat provide a more “filling” effect from the meals that you eat, but since your carbohydrate consumption is now naturally higher, your blood sugar levels and insulin production will be in overdrive.

Constant rising and falling of blood sugar not only lowers your energy and increases your appetite, but it increases your body's rate of fat storage as well.

3) Low-fat diets decrease testosterone levels.

Most people are aware that testosterone plays a large role in the process of building lean muscle tissue (which in turn causes greater body fat losses), but testosterone in itself also has direct fat burning effects.

Diets that focus on significant reductions in fat consumption also produce a measurable negative effect on testosterone production.

4) Low-fat diets increase the rate of body fat storage.

Your body is a far more complex and intricate “machine” than you might think, and it has all sorts of defensive survival mechanisms in place to deal with stressful situations. When you severely reduce your fat intake, the body perceives this lack of dietary fat as a potential threat to its survival since fat is a primary source of energy.

As a result, the body will make the necessary adjustments which include a slow-down in the fat burning metabolism (to preserve its current fat stores) and a rise in hormones that promote fat storage.

5) Low-fat diets are unhealthy.

Your body quite simply NEEDS dietary fat in order for regular and healthy functioning. Forget about your concerns with storing body fat; if you deprive your body of the fat it needs to keep you alive and healthy, you will inevitably cause problems.

Fats perform an endless array of positive functions in the body, including brain and nerve tissue development, organ insulation, immune system strengthening, anti-inflammatory effects, controlling cell membrane fluids and regulating hemoglobin production just to name a small fraction.

For all of the reasons outlined above, your dietary fat intake should NEVER drop below 10% of your total daily caloric intake. This is just a minimum, and 15-20% is probably ideal.

It’s not fat itself that is the enemy; it’s simply consuming the wrong types of fat, and consuming it in excessive amounts. However, it must be noted that an excess of ANY nutrient will lead to body fat storage.

Your goal should be to limit your intake of saturated fats (those that are solid at room temperature and are typically found in animal meats), and instead place the majority of your focus on healthy, unsaturated fats which are derived from plant sources and are liquid at room temperature.

This favorable form of fat provides a whole host of powerful fat burning, muscle building and overall health benefits and should make up the vast majority of your daily fat intake.

You can consume these fats through solid food sources such as:

- salmon
- cod
- sardines
- mackerel
- avocado
- almonds
- flaxseeds
- olives
- peanuts
- pecans

Or from healthy oils such as:

- flaxseed oil
- extra virgin olive oil
- fish oil
- canola oil
- sunflower oil
- hemp oil

To learn more great tips about proper fat loss nutrition, including detailed information about protein, carbohydrates, caloric intake and more, visit www.HowToBurnFat.com. You can gain instant download access to a full collection of customized body-sculpting meal plans, and can also sign up for my free 6-part fat burning email course.

About The Author

Check out these FREE Video Lessons by Sean Nalewanyj....

"The Key To Effective Fat Loss: Work WITH Your Biology!"

"Why Almost Everyone Is DEAD WRONG About Achieving 6-Pack Abs"

"5 Simple Ways To Track Your Fat Burning Progress"

Are There Any Fat Burning Supplements That Really Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:28:00 +0000

By Sean Nalewanyj

Fat Loss Expert & Best-Selling Fitness Author
www.HowToBurnFat.com

If there were one industry out there that could be used to encapsulate the very definition of the word “marketing hype”, weight loss supplementation would be it.

I honestly don’t know of any other market out there filled with more fairy tale logic, exaggerations and flat-out lies than this one.

Promoting an endless array of “magical” pills, powders, creams and teas to entice your interest, those in the fat burning supplement industry seem to be willing to do just about anything to get their hands on your hard-earned money.

All they have to do is use fancy terms like “clinically proven”, “patented”, “scientifically formulated” and “research proven”... slap some ingredients together in a fancy bottle... place a grossly excessive price tag on it... place it on the shelves... and people will continue to fork over their cash.

Does it matter if the product actually works? No.Does it matter if there is concrete research to support its effects? No.

Does it matter if there is any logical basis whatsoever for their claims? No.

As long as there is a compelling advertisement and an uninformed consumer willing to take the bait, this unfortunate situation will continue to perpetuate itself over and over again.

People will continue to spend billions of dollars on this garbage every single year, and the “geniuses” at the top of the ladder will continue to reel in the dough without ever delivering on their promises.

Am I going a bit over the top? Am I exaggerating to make my point stronger?

Not in the least.

Let me make one thing clear here…

There is not a SINGLE fat loss supplement available in the WORLD that could ever take the place of a proper fat loss training approach and nutritional program.

If your goal is to burn body fat and achieve a lean and defined body, then an intelligent workout routine and diet is the only way to get there. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going, and the notion that the “secret” to rapid fat loss lies in this pill or that powder is completely and totally false.

Does this mean that I am totally against the use of fat burning supplements?

No.

However, it’s very important that you see them for what they are: a very small additional boost that should be used in conjunction with a consistent workout plan and proper diet.

In addition, it’s also important that you understand that the majority of the fat burning supplements you see lining the shelves ARE a waste of money, and that only a select few are really worth bothering with.

There are literally hundreds, it not thousands of specific fat burning compounds available for use, but throughout my research I can count on one hand those that I really feel are worth trying out.

Here are 3 fat burning compounds that I feel might be worth experimenting with as a small addition to your overall program…

(Make sure to consult your physician before using any of the compounds I’m about to discuss, as individuals with certain pre-existing medical conditions should not use them.)

Ephedrine/Caffeine

Although these are two separate compounds, ephedrine and caffeine appear to have synergistic effects when used in combination with one another.

EC combinations increase thermogenesis within the body (the rate at which calories are burned as heat) as well as the metabolic rate. They are also a powerful energy-increasing combination that can be used as an effective pre-workout or pre-cardio stimulant.

The most commonly used dosage is to consume caffeine and ephedrine in a ratio of 10:1, meaning that you should be ingesting 10 times as much caffeine as compared to the amount of ephedrine. A typical dosage is 15-20mg of ephedrine coupled with 150-200mg of caffeine consumed 2-3 times daily.

Green Tea Extract

A very rich source of a powerful antioxidant known as “ECGC”, green tea extract also appears to have a thermogenic effect in the body, but via different pathway than EC supplements.

It does so without increasing the heart rate or blood pressure, which is an added benefit for those who want to avoid the “jitters” that are a common response to other stimulants.

When purchasing green tea extract in pill form, look for products that are standardized to contain a minimum of 90% polyphenols and 55% EGCG. In order to derive all of the fat burning and energy enhancing benefits of green tea extract, aim to consume about 200-400mg of EGCG daily.

Yohimbine

Derived from the bark of a tree growing in West Africa, yohimbine is an alkaloid that appears to accelerate fat loss by increasing lypolysis during exercise.

It also appears to specifically target stubborn fat areas such as the hips, butt and thighs due to its effects on the “alpha adrenoreceptors”, which are present in high numbers on the lower body.

Yohimbine appears to be effective when used in conjunction with EC combinations. If you are not supplementing with an EC combination then it probably has little use. If you would like to give it a try, start by reducing your ephedrine/caffeine intake by 40-50%, and try adding in just 10mg of yohimbine to start.

These are a few examples of specific fat burning compounds which just may prove to be a useful addition to an effective fat loss approach.

If you want the full inside scoop on weight loss supplements, visit www.HowToBurnFat.com. You can instantly download my "Fat Loss Supplements Exposed" e-book, which contains in depth, unbiased reviews on over 25 of the top-selling fat burning supplements available today.

About The Author

Sean Nalewanyj presents...

“The Real Deal Body Transformation System”

available August 5

He is celebrating the launch by offering everyone a 40% discount between August 5 - August 8.

Don’t miss out on this amazing new product launch!

If you’re ready to finally take control of the way you look and feel, this explosive new program is going to be your guaranteed ticket to success.

Visit www.HowToBurnFat.com to check it out now.

Brand New Body Transformation Site To Launch Aug 5

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Sean Nalewanyj presents...

“The Real Deal Body Transformation System”

available August 5

He is celebrating the launch by offering everyone a 40% discount between August 5 - August 8.

Don’t miss out on this amazing new product launch!

If you’re ready to finally take control of the way you look and feel, this explosive new program is going to be your guaranteed ticket to success.

Visit www.HowToBurnFat.com to check it out now.

60 Minutes Report on Hoodia

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:34:00 +0000

(CBS) Each year, people spend more than $40 billion on products designed to help them slim down. None of them seem to be working very well.

Now along comes hoodia. Never heard of it? Soon it'll be tripping off your tongue, because hoodia is a natural substance that literally takes your appetite away.

It's very different from diet stimulants like Ephedra and Phenfen that are now banned because of dangerous side effects. Hoodia doesn't stimulate at all. Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you're full, even if you've eaten just a morsel. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports.

"Hoodia, a plant that tricks the brain by making the stomach feel full, has been in the diet of South Africa's Bushmen for thousands of years."

Because the only place in the world where hoodia grows wild is in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa.

Nigel Crawhall, a linguist and interpreter, hired an experienced tracker named Toppies Kruiper, a local aboriginal Bushman, to help find it. The Bushmen were featured in the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy."

Kruiper led 60 Minutes crews out into the desert. Stahl asked him if he ate hoodia. "I really like to eat them when the new rains have come," says Kruiper, speaking through the interpreter. "Then they're really quite delicious."

When we located the plant, Kruiper cut off a stalk that looked like a small spiky pickle, and removed the sharp spines. In the interest of science, Stahl ate it. She described the taste as "a little cucumbery in texture, but not bad."

So how did it work? Stahl says she had no after effects - no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day. "I'd have to say it did work," says Stahl.

Although the West is just discovering hoodia, the Bushmen of the Kalahari have been eating it for a very long time. After all, they have been living off the land in southern Africa for more than 100,000 years.

Some of the Bushmen, like Anna Swartz, still live in old traditional huts, and cook so-called Bush food gathered from the desert the old-fashioned way.

The first scientific investigation of the plant was conducted at South Africa's national laboratory. Because Bushmen were known to eat hoodia, it was included in a study of indigenous foods.

"What they found was when they fed it to animals, the animals ate it and lost weight," says Dr. Richard Dixey, who heads an English pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm that is trying to develop weight-loss products based on hoodia.

Was hoodia's potential application as an appetite suppressant immediately obvious?

"No, it took them a long time. In fact, the original research was done in the mid 1960s," says Dixey.

It took the South African national laboratory 30 years to isolate and identify the specific appetite-suppressing ingredient in hoodia. When they found it, they applied for a patent and licensed it to Phytopharm.

Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million so far on research, including clinical trials with obese volunteers that have yielded promising results. Subjects given hoodia ended up eating about 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control group. To put that in perspective, the average American man consumes about 2,600 calories a day; a woman about 1,900.

"If you take this compound every day, your wish to eat goes down. And we've seen that very, very dramatically," says Dixey.

But why do you need a patent for a plant? "The patent is on the application of the plant as a weight-loss material. And, of course, the active compounds within the plant. It's not on the plant itself," says Dixey.

So no one else can use hoodia for weight loss? "As a weight-management product without infringing the patent, that's correct," says Dixey.

But what does that say about all these weight-loss products that claim to have hoodia in it? Trimspa says its X32 pills contain 75 mg of hoodia. The company is pushing its product with an ad campaign featuring Anna Nicole Smith, even though the FDA has notified Trimspa that it hasn't demonstrated that the product is safe.

Some companies have even used the results of Phytopharm's clinical tests to market their products.

"This is just straightforward theft. That's what it is. People are stealing data, which they haven't done, they've got no proper understanding of, and sticking on the bottle," says Dixey. "When we have assayed these materials, they contain between 0.1 and 0.01 percent of the active ingredient claimed. But they use the term hoodia on the bottle, of course, so they -- does nothing at all."

But Dixey isn't the only one who's felt ripped off. The Bushmen first heard the news about the patent when Phytopharm put out a press release. Roger Chennells, a lawyer in South Africa who represents the Bushmen, who are also called "the San," was appalled.

"The San did not even know about it," says Chennells. "They had given the information that led directly toward the patent."

The taking of traditional knowledge without compensation is called "bio-piracy."

"You have said, and I'm going to quote you, 'that the San felt as if someone had stolen the family silver,'" says Stahl to Chennells. "So what did you do?"

"I wouldn't want to go into some of the details as to what kind of letters were written or what kind of threats were made," says Chennells. "We engaged them. They had done something wrong, and we wanted them to acknowledge it."

Chennells was determined to help the Bushmen who, he says, have been exploited for centuries. First they were pushed aside by black tribes. Then, when white colonists arrived, they were nearly annihilated.

"About the turn of the century, there were still hunting parties in Namibia and in South Africa that allowed farmers to go and kill Bushmen," says Chennells. "It's well documented."

The Bushmen are still stigmatized in South Africa, and plagued with high unemployment, little education, and lots of alcoholism. And now, it seemed they were about to be cut out of a potential windfall from hoodia. So Chennells threatened to sue the national lab on their behalf.

"We knew that if it was successful, many, many millions of dollars would be coming towards the San," says Chennells. "Many, many millions. They've talked about the market being hundreds and hundreds of millions in America."

In the end, a settlement was reached. The Bushmen will get a percentage of the profits -- if there are profits. But that's a big if.

The future of hoodia is not yet a sure thing. The project hit a major snag last year. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which had teamed up with Phytopharm, and funded much of the research, dropped out when making a pill out of the active ingredient seemed beyond reach.

Dixey says it can be made synthetically: "We've made milligrams of it. But it's very expensive. It's not possible to make it synthetically in what's called a scaleable process. So we couldn't make a metric ton of it or something that is the sort of quantity you'd need to actually start doing something about obesity in thousands of people."

Phytopharm decided to market hoodia in its natural form, in diet shakes and bars. That meant it needed the hoodia plant itself.

But given the obesity epidemic in the United States, it became obvious that what was needed was a lot of hoodia - much more than was growing in the wild in the Kalahari. And so they came here.

60 Minutes visited one of Phytopharm's hoodia plantations in South Africa. They'll need a lot of these plantations to meet the expected demand.

Agronomist Simon MacWilliam has a tall order: grow a billion portions a year of hoodia, within just a couple of years. He admitted that starting up the plantation has been quite a challenge.

"The problem is we're dealing with a novel crop. It's a plant we've taken out of the wild and we're starting to grow it,' says MacWilliam. "So we have no experience. So it's different? diseases and pests which we have to deal with."

How confident are they that they will be able to grow enough? "We're very confident of that," he says. "We've got an expansion program which is going to be 100s of acres. And we'll be able - ready to meet the demand.

This could be huge, given the obesity epidemic. Phytopharm says it's about to announce marketing plans that will have meal-replacement hoodia products on supermarket shelves by 2008.

MacWilliam says these products are a slightly different species from the hoodia Stahl tasted in the Kalahari Desert. "It's actually a lot more bitter than the plant that you tasted," says MacWilliam.

The advantage is this species of hoodia will grow a lot faster. But more bitter? How bad could it be? Stahl decided to find out. "Not good," she says.

Phytopharm says that when its product gets to market, it will be certified safe and effective. They also promise that it'll taste good.

For more information visit: www.hoodiagordoniiplus.com

5 Common Ab Myths

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:49:00 +0000

By: Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Ab exercises aren't the only thing you have to do in order to get your 6-pack. You also have to work hard on your diet as well, sticking to a fat-burning, muscle-building diet all year round.

Here's a list of 5 common myths about abs.

Myth 1) You don't need to watch what you eat

Diet is first and foremost the key factor when trying to get 6-pack abs. Plan your nutrition in advance, to avoid dietary downfalls.

Myth 2) As long as you do a lot of ab exercises and repetitions, it doesn't matter how well you do them

It is important to do all repetitions with good form. Focus on quality, not quantity. Avoid sit-ups and an excessive number of crunches. Both exercises can damage the lumbar spine in your low back, and crunches are rarely effective anyways.

Myth 3) You can "Spot reduce" the fat on your abs with crunches

No matter how many crunches you do, you won't be able to get rid of your ab fat with crunches alone. You need a good diet and an increase in your calorie burning from strength training and interval training.

Myth 4) Infomercial products will help you get a 6-pack

You've probably seen dozens of ab gadgets on TV, but none are magic bullets. You can't expect anything you order from TV to help you get a 6-pack. You have to do the hard work with nutrition and training to get results.

Myth 5) You must do abs every day

You don't need to do abs every day. Instead, train them twice per week and use non-conventional exercises such as Mountain Climbers and Stability Ball Jackknives to reduce the stress on your low back.

Click here to learn how to burn belly fat, get a flat stomach, and sculpt six pack abs at home.

About the Author

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men’s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com

6 Pack Abs - The Secret To 6 Pack Abs

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Everywhere you turn, someone's promising the next secret to getting 6 pack abs. Some of these so called 'secrets' have some degree of accuracy, while others, not so much. Deciphering which are the best methods to getting 6 pack abs is going to be critical to your having success with this goal.

The biggest area you need to focus on when trying to obtain 6 pack abs is going to be on your diet. Like it or not, the old saying that 'abs are made in the kitchen', is probably one of the most truthful statements in the fitness industry. If your diet isn't in line, your stomach is going to show it.

So, what should you be doing with your diet?

First, ensure you are getting enough protein. Not only is protein going to form the key building blocks you need to build muscle tissue, but it's also going to provide you with a better feeling of fullness than eating just carbohydrates alone would for example. Protein is more "expensive" than any other macronutrient meaning that your body will burn more calories breaking down protein compared to carbs and fats.

Next, don't be afraid of dietary fat that comes from primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as olive oils, fish oils, a mix of nuts, natural peanut butter and avocado. While it's true that eating fat will increase your calories fast, as long as you keep it between 20-30% it can be one of the best things to get 6 pack abs fast. The important point here is that dietary fat helps keep your insulin level stable, which, when high enough can actually cause fat gain itself.

Furthermore, dietary fat will keep you feeling the fullest for the longest duration in time; longer than both protein or carbohydrates would. Interestingly, some diets high in fat can get you 6 pack abs fast because your body learn to metabolize fat for energy.

So, while you do need to watch it, be sure you are getting some in your diet.

Finally, when it comes to carbohydrate intake and getting 6 pack abs, you want to focus most of your carbohydrate intake around the post workout period.

Why?

The biggest reason for this is because this is when your body is going to need those carbohydrates the most and will really suck them up into the muscle tissue. When you eat them at this time, it is least likely that they will turn into body fat.

Additionally, consuming carbohydrates during this period will also help to aid with muscle recovery and repair, so that means less down time from the gym for you.

If getting 6 pack abs fast is your goal than each meal you should consist of 1-2 cups of raw vegetables to control insulin levels, improve absorption of your protein and flood your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

So, if you are aiming to get 6 pack abs in the coming months, have a good hard look at your diet. That is the big secret that must not be overlooked if you are to succeed.
About the Author:
Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

2 Simple Steps To Ripped, Shredded Muscles

noreply@blogger.com (Bodybuilding Geek) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Picture this scenario...

You've been training your tail off for the past 4 months, trying to pack on as much muscle size as you possibly can. You've bulked up considerably and are quite happy with the size you've been able to achieve.

There's just one problem...

Along with all of that solid, lean muscle you've gained, you notice that you've also packed on some excess body fat in the process.

Let's face it, no matter how "huge" you might be, no one wants to be walking around with a soft, smooth and flabby body. After most trainees have finished their "bulking" phase, they decide that it's time to "cut down" and strip off the excess body fat that they gained due to their high calorie, muscle-building diet.

How do they usually go about this?

They lighten up the weights and perform higher reps.

This has always been a widely accepted method of “cutting down” and if you ask most trainers in the gym they’ll tell you that “heavy weights bulk up the muscle and lighter weights define the muscle”.

Do you want to know the reality behind the “light weight and high reps” method of obtaining a ripped and defined physique?

It is completely, totally and utterly DEAD WRONG.

It couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, there is no logical basis for this way of training whatsoever, and whoever dreamt up this downright ridiculous way of thinking has caused the vast majority of lifters to waste their time and impede their progress in the gym.

Let me clear this up once and for all: you CANNOT spot reduce. In other words, it is physically impossible to target fat loss from a specific area on your body. Performing bench presses with light resistance and high repetitions will not magically burn fat off of your chest or cause it to appear harder and more defined.

Every single time you wrap your hands around a barbell, dumbbell or cable, your goal is to stimulate as much muscle growth as you possibly can. There are no special, secret weightlifting exercises that will “define” your muscles or cause them to become more “ripped”.

Training with weights builds muscle mass, end of story.

So how exactly do you “define” a muscle?

The only way to “define” a muscle is by lowering your body fat percentage in order to make your muscles more visible. Body fat reduction can be achieved in two ways:

1) Modify your diet.

You'll need to create a slight caloric deficit within your body to stimulate the fat burning process. This can usually be achieved by lowering your overall caloric intake to around 11-13x your bodyweight and focusing on consuming smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. This will keep your metabolism naturally raised at all times and will keep your body in a constant fat burning state.

2) Perform proper cardio workouts.

Let go of the traditional method of moderate intensity cardio in 30-45 minute durations. If you want to maximize your body’s fat burning capacity and also minimize the muscle loss that inevitably accompanies a fat burning cycle, focus on shorter, 15-minute cardio workouts performed 3-5 times per week at a high level of intensity.

That’s all there is to it, folks. Take the notion of “light weight and higher reps” and throw it right out the window, down the street and around the corner. Following this misguided method will only cause you to lose muscle mass and strength, and will not assist you in burning fat or defining your physique.

If you're looking for the complete inside scoop on maximizing your muscle gains and lowering your body fat levels, check out my website by clicking the link below. You'll have a chance to download my 250-page e-book "The Truth About Building Muscle" as well as a special fat burning course entitled "Metabolic Blast"...

About The Author

Once an awkward, pencil-necked "social reject", Sean Nalewanyj is now a renowned bodybuilding expert, fitness author, and creator of the most celebrated natural bodybuilding program online today: "The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System".

If you can spare just 24 minutes a day, then you too can build a powerful new head-turning body that will skyrocket your confidence, drive gorgeous women crazy, and leave your friends, family and co-workers staring in disbelief... ALL in just a matter of months: http://www.MuscleGainTruth.com/