| Archive for the ‘Natural Bodybuilding’ CategoryApril 5th, 2010 by Joe In today’s realm of bodybuilding, where new scientific developments lead to the developments of supplements, creatine has become something of a hot topic for athletes. It is one of the most widely-used supplements, and there have been many recent studies that show that there are very few long-term side effects for most people who use it. With any supplement, however, especially those that can alter the body’s chemistry, it’s necessary to talk to your doctor before beginning any kind of new regimen. But what, exactly, does creatine do? Creatine is already in the body, something that it produces naturally. It’s found in the skeletal muscles, and is that thing that gives muscles energy, as well as aiding in muscle contraction. Taking creatine supplements, then, can also help in building muscle mass, if used carefully, and in the recommended allowances. The force of muscle contraction depends on the amount of ATP, which the muscles use quickly before turning it into ADP. Creatine works with this to turn ADP back to ATP, so there is more energy to work with. As such, it provides a quick boost of energy to the muscles. It also decreases fatigue, so the athlete can work out longer. It also helps to increase lean muscle mass, and can increase the amount of fluid going into the muscle. That’s why it’s useful for some people in developing more quickly, and also allowing for that extra energy boost. However, it’s also always a good idea to increase muscle mass naturally, working with the body’s own chemical balance to improve performance and develop strength and tone without the help of supplements. This is because a body that develops naturally tends to hold its shape and definition for much longer. Exercise is something that’s intended to prolong life by promoting health in all areas and all levels. Creatine supplements can certainly aid in this development for quick boosts, but for long-term health, proper nutrition and a reasonable exercise are the best tools for any aspiring athletes. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System March 23rd, 2010 by Joe Creatine is not a relatively new supplement, but many new studies have been released on its various uses and effects. Most people who use the supplement use it to gain muscle mass. Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that is naturally produced in the body by amino acids. Body builders have used it in order to supply more energy to their muscles in order to maximize muscle mass capabilities. It is now found that vegetarians may benefit from creatine as well. Since vegetarians do not consume animal proteins rich in amino acids, they have lower levels of creatine in their body. Taking a daily dose of 2-5 mg a day can significantly raise their levels of creatine. In fact, levels can be doubled or even tripled than that of a person eating a high protein diet. Creatine is not only good for the physical body it is also good for cognition. Studies have shown that among vegetarians those taking creatine had higher I.Q. scores than those of a placebo group. This study was done over a few weeks, and each participant was given 5 grams daily. The term ‘meat head’, usually a derogatory term used for men with big muscles, may just make a positive comeback! Many people with degenerative disease can benefit from creatine. People suffering from Parkinson’s or muscular dystrophy and even arthritis have shown signs of improvement. This is not to say that creatine is a cure for these diseases by any means. Just like vitamins help your body function at its peak performance, so this supplement can provide a little boost for those who need it. Like any other drug prescribed or over the counter, there are side effects. Creatine can cause stomach aches, nausea and loss of appetite. There have not been any significant studies done to test the safety of the supplement for women who are nursing or pregnant. It has also not been tested on children. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System March 9th, 2010 by Joe One hundred and seventy-eight years ago, in 1832, Michel Eugene Chevreul, a French chemist, discovered a nitrogenous organic acid that was a part of skeletal muscles. He named the compound after the Greek word for flesh, creatine. Creatine occurs naturally and helps provide energy to the muscles. In humans, the substance is derived from amino acids in the liver and kidney, and blood transports the compound to the muscles. Ninety-five percent of the total creatine used by the body is contained in skeletal muscle; the remaining five percent may be found in either the heart or the brain. Creatine is not considered an an essential nutrient because the human body manufactures it from glycine and L-arginine and L-methionine. The primary source of the compound, though comes largely from fresh meat. Vegetarians, in order to raise their muscle creatine to normal levels, may require supplements. Athletes and bodybuilders use creatine supplements in order to gain muscle mass. There are a few cautions regarding creatine use; for example, there’s a warning against consumption by people with some allergies. There are also side effects that include stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and even nausea. For a short time, there was a concern that creatine supplements might affect one’s ability to tolerate heat and the status of the body’s hydration. However, more recent studies have not supported this concern. There was a concern, too, about kidney damage from creatine; however, there’s less of a concern currently, even though some have reported kidney damage (interstitial nephritis, for instance). As a precaution, anyone with kidney disease shouldn’t use creatine supplements. It’s also theorized that creatine may alter insulin activities, and therefore, if a person has hypoglycemia or diabetes, or generally takes supplements that might affect the blood sugar levels, then creatine supplements are not recommended. Research over the past ten years suggests that creatine supplementation, orally, at about five to twenty g/day will be safe, and most likely, free of any bad side effects, while at the same time, improve the muscles’ response to exercise. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System February 19th, 2010 by Joe Most of us understand that protein is very necessary for good health, but we might not understand exactly why. In order to know why protein is necessary, it’s probably helpful to look at how the body produces and processes amino acids. Inside the body, we make non essential amino acids. When we eat food that are high in amino acids, food like fish, other meats, eggs, and milk, they combine with the non essential amino acids in the body to make a perfect combination. It’s clear that we’re programmed to eat this way, and it’s rather interesting to see how it actually works, like two partners coming together in a dance. We can see how the body creates protein, but we may not understand why. Protein is the necessary element to promote growth in the muscles, skin, and brain. This is what helps the body to repair itself. We are always in a constant act of creation, where old cells die off and new ones come to life, and a healthy body can move through this process very easily. To keep the system going, we need to continue to eat protein. People generally think about muscle growth here, but it’s very important to remember that a lot of the body’s systems are affected by protein. Just as some athletes will want to load up on protein before physical exertion, there are brainy people who load up before an exam, or a project where they need all their senses. Everyone needs protein, essentially. It is one of the great building blocks of the body. We get protein through the foods mentioned above, but there are also ways of getting protein without consuming animal products. Here it is a good idea to have some knowledge of how food combining works. For example, rice and beans form a perfect bond, and when eaten together, it’s a protein as complete and as useable as a hunk of meat or cheese. It’s necessary to know how to get enough protein, but it’s also necessary to know what is too much. An excess of what the body needs, above 46 and 56 grams for women and men, respectively, and the protein-rich foods turn to fat. Avoiding fanaticism, then, is the best way to go, while being conscious of getting the building blocks of life working in your own bloodstream. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System February 18th, 2010 by Joe Bodybuilding is something that some people do for life, and others just try it out when they’re young. For teenagers, it has come to be something of a rite of passage. We learn facts about muscles in health class, and then we put these to the test in gym class. For some, this is a great way to learn, and also to keep in shape, developing the muscles along with the mind. For others, it can be a rather traumatic event where an underdeveloped body gets exposed publicly, in a forum where weakness is something that’s openly mocked. For still others, it’s the only hope for expressing a talent or an ability. In the best of circumstances, of course, there is a balance, and the body and the mind can work together for health and for good decisions. Bodybuilding is an excellent form of exercise, meditation, and a means to improve a self-image. Noncompetitive bodybuilding, particularly, is a way for someone to get in touch with the athletic self without fear of humiliation, or having to worry about looking good in front of all your friends. It works by tearing down and building up the muscle, and when you can find a good regimen, the results can start showing very quickly. This can be quite a boost to the confidence of a young person, and can lead into other problems if not checked. By the same token, bodybuilders also experience the runner’s high, where endorphins are released to fight the physical pain, and this can also be addictive. In itself, addiction to exercise is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be seen as something similar to addiction to food and to sleep, and therefore can be enormously healthy. For some athletes who do it competitively, it can be tempting to cross over into the realm of steroids. Steroids boost the body’s output of testosterone, the male hormone that promotes muscle growth, along with other “masculine” traits, like aggression and paranoia. They are very addictive, and long term uses of steroids can lead to severe physical problems. There are many reasons why they are banned in professional sports, beginning with the unfair advantage, and ending with severe health problems. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System February 15th, 2010 by Joe Bodybuilders and weight lifters alike find it true that in order to keep the protein in their diets and to maintain and build on large muscle mass, which is important to their respective sport, that they need to consume 2.0 grams of protein intake per body weight. The formula to get just how much protein intake is necessary per day, divide 2.0 by the body weight. For example: body weight is 160, take 160 and divide by 2.0, which equals 80. An intake of 80 grams of protein is necessary for any serious bodybuilder. Eggs are a good source for low-cost and high-quality protein. Eggs provide 5.5 grams of protein and has only 68 calories. All humans are built from protein, we rely on animal and vegetable protein for a good supply of amino acids, which then is transformed and rearranged into nitrogen in order to create the correct pattern of amino acids our bodies require to stay fit and healthy. Protein is also found in fish, meat, milk, beans and in soy products, like tofu. There is a less amount of protein in grains and nuts. While protein requirements for adult males who are extremely athletic is 2.0 to 2.2 grams per kilograms of body weight per day, much less can be consumed for men with only a moderate workout routine. Egg protein gets 1.3 grams of protein per hour transported to the blood and get assimilated into muscle and other tissue for repair and for rebuilding. Eggs are considered a slow acting protein compared to Whey isolate, which get 8 to 10 grams of protein per hour or Casein isolate, which offers 6.1 grams per hour. But, there’s really no evidence that all the variations make any difference to building muscle over the long term, however, Whey has shown a bit of an advantage in the short term studies. Interestingly, the information gleaned from the numbers listed, is that with only an average protein absorption of 7 grams per hour, it’s theorized that the absorption is limited to about 168 grams every day. If this is accurate, it makes it entirely unnecessary to have an intake of anything over 200 grams of protein per day. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System February 12th, 2010 by Joe Reading the sports news these days, we are constantly bombarded with news of top notch athletes being exposed for using illegal steroids. Steroid use involves huge costs, legal issues and above all, potential health problems. With such risks, you wonder why anyone would be tempted to go this route. Medical researchers have gained a new understanding of how the human body builds muscle and endurance. They are developing safe and legal substances which can increase the body’s ability to build muscle, without the health risks associated with steroids. Read more…. Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System January 28th, 2010 by Joe Adam Fabbri never saw himself as a bodybuilder. He grew up lifting weights and he played college football as a linebacker for Division II Western State College of Colorado. But standing just 5-foot-9 and weighing 170 pounds in college — now 180 — Fabbri has never fit that muscle bound, steroid-using stereotype often associated with bodybuilders. “I always thought bodybuilders were the guys on the magazine covers,” he said, referring to some of those stereotypes. That perception vanished in 2003 when Fabbri met a man named Roscoe Kirby while working out at a fitness center on the Arizona State University campus, where his wife, Alicia, went to school. Kirby asked him if he was training for a competition because he thought he looked like a drug-free — also known as natural — bodybuilder. Read more… Ads How to Build Muscle – The Nonsense Hardgainer Guide To Bodybuilding 7 Minute Muscle – Build More Muscle In Just Minutes! Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed the Muscle How To Build Muscle and Gain Weight Fast – Top Mass Building System | |
