Essential 6 Pack Ab Training Techniques

These 6 pack abs training techniques will get you ripped faster. With just a few simple changes to your workouts and eating, you'll start looking much hotter. That' simple.

Don't Do Abs!

Don't work your abs?! Yes, this'll actually help you get your abs faster.

See, getting ripped abs doesn't have a lot to do with how big your abdominal muscles are. It hinges more on how little body fat you have.

So skip the work on your abs and spend the bulk of your time planning your diet. A well planned diet to cut fat will do way more for your abs than any amount of crunches or curls.

Get The Right Body Fat Percentage

Like I said before, having ripped abs is all about having a low body fat percentage. That's it.

See, when guys get down below 10% body fat, and ladies get down below 17%, they'll begin to be able to see their abs. That's the long and the short of it.

So if you can't see your abs right now - drop some fat! If you're serious about getting ripped, (1) measure your current body fat percentage and (2) then lose fat and track your progress.

Measure, diet, track yourself, measure, diet, track yourself... It might seem boring, but it's actually the winning formula.

Lift Heavy Stuff

Lift heavy stuff. For most of us, this means weights like barbells and dumbbells. Why? They work!

Barbells and dumbbells will build up your major muscles, which is what you want to do in addition to losing fat. You can cut lots of fat off and you'll look 'ripped', but more muscle will make you look even more ripped.

Also, heavy lifts will work your abs in addition to your big muscle work. Lifts like the standing barbell press not only work to strengthen your arms and shoulders, but also strengthen your abs and all your supporting muscles.

So, lift big and heavy!

Add Some Cardio

Do some cardio to burn off your fat. Not a ton, mind you, but 30 minutes of extra running a few times a week will really help you. And sprinting is great too.

And even just a few days a week is fine. It's just another way to increase the number of calories you're burning.

But...

Don't get carried away with cardio. It is great for burning some extra calories, but if you burn too many calories too quickly, you'll start losing lots of muscle instead of fat.

You can only lose about 1 to 1.5 pounds of weight a week that's fat. Beyond that, about half the weight you lose will be fat, and half will be your valuable and hard-won muscle.

1.5 Pounds of fat a week is fine.

Drink Tea, Coffee, and Water

OK, both tea and coffee contain caffeine, which will not only keep you alert and active, but also help mobilize fatty acids from you fat tissue. Meaning, they'll help you lose fat.

Tea, especially green tea, is great for fat loss for reasons beyond just its caffeine content. It's very intriguing, and you don't need to understand the biochemistry behind how it works- just drink green tea.

So just use these five 6 pack ab training techniques and you'll start getting ripped - fast! They aren't big changes, but together they'll speed up your progress.

If you want 6 pack ab training techniques, check out this info on abdominal muscle anatomy, and learn how you can even get 8 pack abs. I'm Aaron McCloud and I run the website Complete Strength Training.com, and I'm an American College of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer. I've been lifting heavy things, trying different diets, and practicing Japanese martial arts for quite a while. There's a lot of info about all different kinds of strength and weight training, and how to get ripped. Check it out!

Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Original article

Factors to Consider When Buying Bodybuilding Supplements Online

As a body builder, you may be required to use bodybuilding supplements at some point. They provide all the energy and essential nutrients that the body needs to enhance your performance. Additionally, they magnify your ability so as to train more efficiently and achieve the best possible results. There are many stores that sell supplements and the internet is one of the best places where you can purchase the products. However, there are essential factors that you should always keep in mind when making a purchase online including:

The quality of the products

There are many dealers in the market today and not all stores provide quality products. In this relevance, take time to read client testimonials and reviews online to learn of the quality of products that a store offers. Quality supplements enhance your safety and offers desirable results within the specified period of time.

The value

It is also important to consider the value of products you wish to purchase. Different dealers offer different prices for their products. However, it is imperative to carry out extensive research and learn of a market value of the supplements you are interested in. Avoid prices that appear too lucrative because there are many scammers and lure clients into purchasing their products by quoting low prices. Look for dealers with reasonable prices and ensure the products you purchase are of the best quality.

Ensure the store is licensed

When purchasing bodybuilding supplements online, ensure the store you approach is licensed. It should operate legally and offer products that are safe for human use. Counterfeit products come in handy in the market. They are below market standards and can be harmful to your health. For this reason, take time to carry out a background research and settle for a store that offers quality products for your body building needs.

Reputation of store

There are many stores that offer the products online. However, not all stores enjoy good reputation for quality services. Utilize client testimonials to learn of the type of products and services that a client offers so as to settle for the best. Buying from a reputed store enhance your chances of getting quality and safe products that will deliver the best possible results. It should also offer a wide range of products. Depending on your body building needs, you may need to use different products over a specific period of time. The store should therefore offer a wide selection from which, to choose products that meet your needs best.

There is no doubt that bodybuilding supplements come in handy online. However, ensure to get the right bodybuilding supplements from the store and achieve your goals in a safe efficient way.

Original article

Bodybuilding Supplements 101

The physical training of ones body is not a walk in the park. Intense workout sessions, the tear of a muscle here, the twitching of a nerve there, and other related quibbles are the scars that your average body builder has to essentially bear. Thankfully, there is some form of aide along the road to that ideal body. This help comes fashioned as body building supplements.

A bodybuilding supplement is a dietary alternative used by those who are in the field of athletics and bodybuilding. The operative word here is alternative - not meal replacement. These proxies are classified into different groups; the grouping of the supplement comes down to the particular biological chemical processes affected by the proxy. Some of these proxies are as follows: protein, amino acids, fatty acids, creatine (an organic acid), just to name but a few of this products. These are disposed of either in powdered form or as a capsule.

As a body builder, the assumption is that your choice of a particular supplement is dictated by the subjective goal being pursued. For instance an individual who wants to build up muscle and ensure that torn muscle recovers properly will go the way of consuming a protein diet or amino acids; an individual who would want to shorten recovery time during periods of intense work out might elect to go the road of Cretin; and so on and so forth. A word of caution though, the body builder has to have more than a rudimentary understanding on the proxies that they are consuming. The points to ponder are as follows:

Foremost ensure that you know the ingredients of whatever you are consuming and their effect on your system. This is important because of the fact that some of these could have side effects on your system.
Secondly ensure that your steer away from supplements that might not be legal in the strictest sense of the word. In mind are products such as hormones -whose legal definition is dicey - the main reason for this is that the side effects from their consumption can be devastating (androgyny and other such related effects).
Lastly ensure that you get the guidance of a nutritionist, your fitness instructor, or a medical professional. This folk are best equipped to give you a run down on what likely impact on your kidneys, hormone system, and muscular system, a particular drug is bound to have on you. They are also best placed to elect on whether you are suited to even partake in any of these regimens (body building supplements).

Just use the provided links to know more about bodybuilding supplements, uses, possible side effects, and bodybuilding supplements types, and other such related information.

Original article

Different Weight Benches and Weights

A weight bench and weights are sold separately most of the times although some companies selling weight benches now offer free trial weights for the fitness beginner. Different types of weight benches utilize different kinds of weights while some weight benches do not use any weights at all. Abdominal weight benches, for example, do not use weights as the person utilizes the bench's inclined plain and his own body weight to build resistance as he performs crunches on the inclined plain.

There are different types of weights which one can use for strengthening and toning a set of muscles. All these kinds can be split into two types: Free weights and weights machines. Free weights are any sort of gym accessory such as dumb bells or barbells which are not constrained to an equipment and are actually portable. Weights machine is an apparatus wherein they are affixed to it (by cables, for example) and are not portable. Examples of weight machines are cable operated, where one pulls on a bar with a cable attached to it and the weights are at the other end.

Free versions are more versatile and easier to use as they are not constrained to one equipment and one purpose. They are cheaper, too. It often utilize the body's natural movement whereas with a machines, they are just constricted to one movement. A hundred different exercises can be done with just a few pieces of free weights.

The perfect type of weight benches to use when you plan on using free weights is the flat bench. You can do many types of positions while weight lifting when using flat benches. You can lie supine as you lift barbells. You can sit on one side while your elbows are propped on your knees while lifting dumb bells. You can stand on one side with one leg kneeling on it and one hand palm down while lifting dumb bells with the other.
Another equipment to use free weights on is the preacher curl bench. The preacher curl bench has an inclined table facing opposite the fitness enthusiast. He drapes his arms over the table and rests on them as he lifts weights. This position is perfect in isolating the biceps and you can use it to its full potential while weight lifting.

Choosing the right combination of weight benches and weights can help a person stay fit and in shape. Different sets of combination adhere to different body types and different weight training goals. If you are just a beginner, you can start with a flat bench and several rubber encased weights (so it won't chip off nor scratch the floor when you accidentally drop it). For advanced users, one can get preacher curl tables and a heavy duty barbell.

I always wanted to stay fit that's why I always go for a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle and part of it is to do my routine exercises. I have my home gym and I love to invest in durable cheap weights benches that are available in the market. I also have a couple of folding weight benches that I found to be useful in my exercises.

Original article

Three Whey Protein Side-Effects

Is there such a thing as Whey Protein side-effects? Before we can answer that question, we have to note that protein in general is a fundamental substance in every living organism. Not only for muscle development, but also in any aspect of our daily life, protein plays one of the most significant roles since it is considered as the building block of the human muscular and skeletal system.

Protein exists in several different forms and types. As a dietary supplement whey protein is a cheese byproduct. Its value is highly appreciated especially in the area of bodybuilding and different brands of Whey Protein overwhelm the market. But are there really any side-effects? Although over-consumption can cause some side-effects it hasn't been scientifically proved that consumption of Whey Protein is responsible for any serious side-effects. However, some slight consequences have been reported:

1) Since Whey Protein is a byproduct of cow's milk it might contain some small amount of lactose. People who are allergic to lactose could face similar problems with Whey. Nevertheless, the amount is too small to cause any serious side-effects even to allergic people.

2) Some people claim that prolonged intake of large amounts of any kind of protein can eventually lead to liver problems. Such a statement though, has never been scientifically verified. All you have to do in order to be sure is to follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage and take the supplement periodically throughout the year allowing yourself resting periods. For example, after finishing your protein powder, wait for a couple of months before buying the next one.

3) Another possible side-effect of Whey Protein over-consumption is osteoporosis. Increased Protein intake for years can cause imbalance of the bone minerals, which leads to osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis lose their bone density, and face increased risk of injuries and bone breaks. This side-effect is also without scientific backup. As I mentioned above, if you keep the right dosage and consume protein supplements periodically you have nothing to be afraid of.

As a conclusion, we might say that like everything in our life overdoing it can only have unpleasant results. Most of the claims about Whey Protein side-effects haven't been proven scientifically and others aren't severe enough to alarm you. If consumed properly Whey Protein can be your most valuable ally in muscle development. The above statement is valid for any protein type like casein, egg, soy, etc.

Keep those muscles pumping!

Chris G Pap
Since 1993 involved in bodybuilding and fitness area.Visit the following link for more info about bodybuilding, supplementation, workout routines and nutrition.
http://www.strengthtrainingmuscle.com/

Original article

Reasons Why You Should Consider Using Bodybuilding Supplements

Every man loves to have some well enhanced muscles especially because they enable them to look handsome and strong. Muscles are also important in enhancing masculinity in men. They also make clothes look more fitting. The good thing is that there are various bodybuilding methods that men can use to enhance their muscles. However, not all these methods are reliable. In fact, some of them are really unhealthy and they can cause serious harm to the individual. That is why it is always advisable that you seek doctor's advice before you embark on any muscle enhancement mission.

Fortunately, medical and wellness experts have discovered a simpler way of enhancing muscles without making a lot of sacrifices. This technique has helped a lot of people to gain muscles without putting their lives at risk. With the use of bodybuilding supplements, it becomes easier for you to get the muscles you want. But before you decide to use these supplements to enhance your masculinity, there are some important aspects of them that you need to understand. For instance, you have to know how they work, their effectiveness, side effects and so on. Above all, you should understand some of the important reasons why you should consider supplements over other muscle enhancement methods.

Importance of Bodybuilding Supplements

Little exercises: Due to the accelerated pace with which life is moving, it is very hard for people to maintain a viable workout plan. Most of the working class citizens arrive home in the evening while they are totally exhausted and it is almost impossible for them to make time to exercise. They will therefore want another simpler way of enhancing their muscles without disrupting their busy schedules. With the use of enhancement appendages, it will be easier for you to gain the muscles that you want without putting too much effort. However, this does not imply that you do away with exercises and concentrate on the supplements. On the contrary, exercises and appendages go hand in hand. You can only realize the effectiveness of the supplements when you exercise regularly.
Quick and better results: Most of these add-ons are known to boost body muscles very quickly and effectively. They provide your body with the additional nutrients it requires to grow and enhance its muscles properly. That is why these enhancements are preferred by people who want to have a rapid increase in muscle mass.

The important thing to note about these muscle enhancements is that they can be used by everybody including ladies who would love to enhance their muscles.

Bodybuilding supplements are available at different online stores. But you have to ensure that the bodybuilding supplements that you purchase are the legitimate ones

Original article

5 Actually Useful 6 Pack Tips

These 6 pack tips will help you develop chiseled abs. Now, it takes a little bit of time to get ripped, but these tips will minimize that time greatly.

So, try them out. I think you'll be surprised at how much they help!

1. Eat Less

OK, if you want to get 'ripped' abs then you need to lose body fat. Nobody will be able to see your abs, no matter how big they are, if you have fat covering them.

And the only way to lose body fat is to eat less. That's as simple as it gets. Nobody likes to diet, but there it is.

Once you get your body fat low enough, your muscles (especially your abs) will start shining through. You'll look more ripped and hotter, even though you've just lost weight.

2. Lose 1 To 1.5 Pounds A Week

Lose only a little bit of fat each week. Don't go on a crazy, crash diet and try to lose a ton of weight quickly - you'll just be hurting your progress.

Why? Well, if you lose weight any faster than 1 or 1.5 pounds a week, you'll be losing about half fat and half muscle after that. Which is not a good ratio; muscle is precious like gold, and you should protect it at all costs!

Of course, this does not mean that it'll take longer for you to reach your goal. You'll be taking the most efficient path to getting ripped.

3. Lift Weights

Lifting weight is vitally important for getting a ripped 6 pack. Weight lifting will not only build up your muscles, it'll help you retain muscle mass when you're dieting and burn calories.

Now, your weight training program doesn't need to be incredibly complicated. Just lifting once or twice a week, if you work hard, is fine.

Oh, and for your routine, keep it simple. Don't go overboard with tiny lifts, like bicep curls and calf extensions. Sweat and work hard with a few big lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, standing presses, clean and presses, and weighted chin-ups.

Ab exercises are useful, but only after you're lost most of the body fat you need to lose. That's the time to start worrying about making your abdominal muscle bigger.

4. Tea and Espresso

Green tea and coffee (especially espresso) will help you lose weight. And not for the reasons you might think.

First off, neither of theses have any calories. OK, maybe if you have five shots of espresso it'll be two or three, but it's essentially zero. Which makes them much better to drink than orange juice, milk, or triple-mocha-frapa-latte-whatever-with-three-shots-of-vanilla.

Both tea and coffee also have caffeine, which help to mobilize fatty acids (so you can burn fat for fuel easier) and keep you active. Again, this won't make up for a crappy diet, but it will help when paired with good eating habits.

5. Get Cold

Getting cold will help you drop fat. Not a ton, but some.

See, your body burns a lot of energy each day to keep you at a constant body temperature. If you get cold, either by turning down there thermostat, taking cold showers, wearing less layers, or drinking tons of cold water, you'll lose weight faster.

If you want learn more about how to get 6 pack abs, check out these 6 best ab exercises. And this 6 pack abs diet will really help, too! I'm Aaron McCloud and I run the website Complete Strength Training.com. I'm also an American College of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer. I've been lifting heavy things, trying different diets, and practicing Japanese martial arts for quite a while. There's a lot of info about all different kinds of strength and weight training, and how to get ripped. Check it out!

- Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Original article

5 Bodybuilding Tips and Tricks That Work

Here's 5 bodybuilding tips and tricks that will help you build your body faster. True, you can put on muscle without using these idea. But why make it hard on yourself?

1. Go Big To Little

Start your workout with big lifts. Squats, bench presses, standing presses, and deadlifts - the good stuff!

Then, if you need to and have the time, use smaller lifts to specialize your body. Maybe use bicep curls (even though I hate them myself) if you want your biceps bigger. Or other smaller lifts to focus on body parts that you want improved.

My main point is that you should do the lifts that give you the most bang for your buck, time wise and energy wise, first. Then move on the exercises that will take more energy for less returns. Make your time count.

2. Want More Muscle? Eat Before You Workout!

OK, you've probably heard that eating right after your workout is important. And there's more than a grain of truth to that. But eating before you workout is even better!

Here's one of the important things that happens when you eat. You're giving your body the fuel and materials it needs to build your body up bigger and stronger. That means that as soon as you damage your muscles by lifting weights, you've got protein and food already digesting - giving your body the ability to start immediately building new muscle.

3. Count Your Calories

Want to put on weight, as muscle? Eat more.

Lose weight, as fat? Eat less.

These are the basics. Now if you want to be certain about your weight loss, or stay good while just gaining muscle, count your calories to make sure you're eating exactly the right amount.

It is a pain in the ass, but... It works. End of story.

4. Don't Whine About Your Setbacks or Your Genetics

These days, everybody seems to be focused on why they can't reach their goals. "I have bad genetics," or, "I don't have the time," or whatever.

If you really want it badly enough, you'll find the time. You'll find the time to work hard, really find out everything you need to know, and work around the setbacks in your life.

Everybody has stuff that doesn't go as planned. Everybody has family obligation and work and 10,000 reasons to not get their workout done.

But some people get to the gym and make progress. And others just don't. Which will you be?

5. Find A Routine That Works, And Stick With It

Lastly, when you find a routine that works for you and that's giving your results, stick with it! Do not change anything!

I meet so many people who say, "Well, my routine is working, but I want to get results faster so I...". If you're getting consistent results, don't do anything different. Really.

In the beginning virtually anything works, but as you lift longer and longer it becomes harder and harder to put on more muscle. If you're making progress, don't risk shooting yourself in the foot by changing things up. Keep on keeping on, and you'll reach your goals.

If you want more bodybuilding info, check out these bodybuilding routines that work, and this info about your own personal bodybuilding genetics. I'm Aaron McCloud and I run the website Complete Strength Training.com, and I'm an American College of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer. I've been lifting heavy things, trying different diets, and practicing Japanese martial arts for quite a while. There's a lot of info about all different kinds of strength and weight training, and how to get ripped. Check it out!

- Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Original article

Six Workout and Motivation Tips

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced bodybuilder there is a high chance that sometime you will lose interest on what you are doing. In other words, you will lose motivation. Since motivation and setting new goals are very crucial in bodybuilding we want to prevent that.

First of all, we have to make it clear that this is completely natural. Losing motivation somewhere along the way can happen to anybody at any time. I have six tips for you, which will help you avoid any situation where you might feel that you have lost your interest:

1) Never Say I Quit
No matter how disappointed you are from your progress don't even think of quitting. Especially beginners can lose their interest pretty quick since it is difficult to understand that as an amateur you will never have muscles like Phil Heath and maybe you don't even want to. However, if you are patient and persistent with your workout you can achieve a more realistic goal and be proud of yourself.

2) Set Specific Goals
Setting specific goals means that you must forget going to the gym without even knowing the reason you go. For example, set the realistic goal of gaining five pounds of muscle mass during the next couple of months or to increase your bench weight ten percent. Your workout, your nutrition, your supplementation even your mind must be focused on this goal.

3) Changing Workout Routines
Following the same training routine for a long period of time leads to adaptation and ultimately lack of motivation. In previous articles, I have covered thoroughly the changing of workout routines topic.

4) Note your Improvement
Writing down your improvement keeps you in track and helps you stay motivated. The sensation you get every time you become your own witness of progress is unique and gives you the mental boost to continue the good work.

5) Focus on Weak Spots
Regardless of how well-trained you think you are there is always a weak part on your body that needs improvement. Focusing on that spot will give you an extra motivation to train harder.

6) Benefits of Pause Periods
It is possible and completely natural that sometimes you will feel exhausted physically and mentally. Training continuously for long periods of time might have consequences like muscle fatigue, injuries and loss of motivation. It's not bad to take some time off the gym just to recharge your batteries. One or two weeks will do it.

Follow these simple tips and I promise you, motivation won't be an issue for you anymore.

Keep those muscles pumping!

Chris G Pap
Since 1993 involved in bodybuilding and fitness area.Visit the following link for more info about bodybuilding, supplementation, workout routines and nutrition. http://www.strengthtrainingmuscle.com/

Original article

Best Protein Shake Recipes

Making your own home-made protein shake is very easy and the procedure can also be really entertaining. There is a great variety of recipes to choose from. They are divided into two subcategories: The protein shakes that are based on protein powders in the form of a food supplement and the ones that are based in protein rich foods.

So, a good question would be what kind of protein shake recipes to search for. Although protein shakes based on protein rich foods are a great option, I would recommend the ones, which are based on actual protein powder.

Another question that might come up is why bother fixing a shake in the first place since we can get all the protein we need from an existing protein brand? Well, the answer is quite simple. Fixing your own protein shake gives you the opportunity to add the ingredients you desire and therefore have the taste you like best. Protein powders might have a large variety of tastes to offer, but sometimes we all need a new taste. Here are some easy to make protein shake recipes:

1) Whey Protein (Chocolate)
Two Scoops Whey Protein Chocolate
Ten oz low-fat skimmed milk
Two tablespoons low-fat yogurt or low-fat ice cream
One tablespoon instant coffee
Ten ice cubes
You mix all the ingredients into a shaker and your protein shake is ready!

2) Orange Shake
Two scoops Whey Protein Vanilla
Six to eight oz orange juice
Natural Sweetener
Two or three strawberries
One banana
Five ice cubes

3) The Creatine Shake
Two scoops Whey Protein Powder Vanilla or Chocolate
One small tablespoon Creatine Mono-hydrate
One banana or two apples
Five oz skimmed low-fat milk
Five ice cubes

4) The Honey Shake
Two scoops Vanilla Whey Protein
One cup of water or banana juice
Half a cup of low-fat yogurt
Two tablespoons honey
One spoon flax-seed oil
This one will boost you with energy and I promise you its taste will drive you insane!

5) The Peanut Butter Shake
Two scoops Chocolate Whey Protein
One or two spoons peanut butter
Ten oz low-fat milk
Half a cup vanilla ice cream
Five ice cubes

As you can see fixing a protein shake is pretty easy. All you need is a blender, imagination and of course common sense in order to avoid in taking too many calories. Also keep in mind that you should never use these shakes as a substitute to your normal supplementation.

Keep those muscles pumping!

Chris G Pap
Since 1993 involved in bodybuilding and fitness area. Visit the following link for more info about bodybuilding, supplementation, workout routines and nutrition.
http://www.strengthtrainingmuscle.com/

Original article

Muscle Strength Training

Nowadays, it is widely accepted that muscle strength training is the most important factor for building solid muscle, lose fat, increase endurance and in general promote good health.

Before we start, let us define strength training. It is the exercise method in which we increase or maximize our physical strength. It is divided in two subcategories:

a) Strength Training and Muscle Build

b) Strength Training without Body-weight Increase

Lets us start from the second category. Strength training without body-weight increase is referred to athletes who use strength to accomplish their goals. They increase their strength through their sport activity without adding a remarkable amount of weight to their bodies. For example, bikers, swimmers hikers, footballers etch are exercising to increase their strength, but only as a mean to achieve their goals.

On the other hand, strength in weight lifting and bodybuilding is obtained through mass adding and muscle-building. Strength training in bodybuilding is most of the time a part of an annual periodic schedule.

Another question would be why is strength so important? Here are a few reasons:

1) Increased Endurance

It has been scientifically proven that strength training increases endurance. Better endurance means longer quality workouts, which is what we all aim for.

2) More Muscle

Being stronger means lifting more and lifting more simply means more muscle. Those two factors are closely related. Developing strength inevitably leads to adding more lean muscle.

3) Strength Builds Self-Confidence

When you are physically strong you will also feel mentally strong. Stronger people are much more self-confident and self-discipline and this helps achieving their goals much easier.

4) Losing Fat

I left the best for last. What many people aren't aware of is that working on your strength is the best way to lose fat! It helps increase your metabolism and therefore lose weight easier.

After pinpointing some of the benefits of muscle strength training, let us see how we can build up our strength:

a) Try Reaching your Limits

Give your strength an extra boost by performing one or two reps more than you normally do.

b) More Reps Less Weight

This is the best training method to increase your strength. Keep your rep range at 10 to 12 and the weight load at 70% of your maximum lift.

c) More Speed

Perform the exercises quicker in order to involve more muscle fibers for the movement. More muscle fibers involvement ultimately leads to strength increase.

Muscle strength training is obligatory for any athlete regardless of the sport activity he is into. It is the basic element for any muscle or physique development.

Keep those muscles pumping!

Chris G Pap
Since 1993 involved in bodybuilding and fitness area.Visit the following link for more info about bodybuilding, supplementation, workout routines and nutrition.
http://www.strengthtrainingmuscle.com/

Original article

How To Gain Weight - 3 Simple Tips

In this article I will share with you proven eating and training strategies that will help you to add high quality lean muscle mass to your frame.

I know that you want to gain weight, but the fact is that you do not want to gain any kind of weight. You see, a lot of people who are new to fitness do not realize that gaining weight is not about eating whatever the hell you want and increase your body fat stores. No way! Gaining weight is about gaining high quality lean muscle mass so eventually you would have an aesthetically pleasing physique. Got it?

Now let me share with you few simple tips that will help you to achieve that:

Increase your daily caloric intake

I know that you have probably heard this before, but the fact is that there is only one way to make your body grow and that is to increase your daily energy intake. Energy which is needed to make your body grow can only come from calories, therefore the first step you need to take if you want to start gaining lean muscle mass is to increase your daily caloric intake.

The fact is that some calories will make you fat, whereas other will make you gain high quality lean muscle mass. To avoid gaining body fat make sure that you get your calories from high quality proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.

Start lifting weights

To start gaining high quality lean muscle mass you will need to start pumping iron. The single most effective way to start gaining weight quickly is to combine a good eating plan with a good weight training workout plan.

At the end of each weight training session your muscle fibers will break down on a micro level and once they will recover they will grow bigger and stronger.

Forget about supplements

A lot of people who are new to gaining weight think that there is some sort of pill or powder that will make things easy. The fact is that all of these pills and powders that are promoted by the fitness gurus will not make you big!

Everything that works is right in front of you. Stop looking for secrets, stick to the basics, take the baby steps and move one step at a time.

Apply proven eating and training principles and you will add high quality lean muscle mass to your frame.

Original article

3-Day Workout Routine

In a previous article, I suggested a 5-day workout routine, which is mainly focused on training each body-part separately every day. For example: Monday-Chest, Tuesday-Arms, Wednesday-Shoulders, Thursday-Back, Friday-Legs and Weekend-Rest. Although I believe that the ideal workout is the one that you devote a single workout to a single body-part, most of us do not have the available time to execute such an overloaded weekly training schedule.

So, what is the best alternative? Your goal still remains to train each body-part at least once a week. In order to achieve that without having to go to the gym every day, you must combine training a major body-part along with a minor at the same day. Here is a typical example of a 3-day workout routine:

Monday: Chest-Biceps

Chest Exercises

1) Bench Press 4 sets x 12,10,8,6

2) Incline Bench Press 3 sets x 12,10,8

3) Cable Crossover 3 sets x 12,10,8

4) Peck-Dec (Butterfly) or Dumbbell flies 3 sets x 12,10,8

Biceps Exercises

1) Barbell or Cable Curl 3 sets x 12,10,8

2) Alternate Hammer Curl 3 sets x 12,10,8

3) Concentration Curls or Preacher Curls (machine) 3 sets x 12,10,8

Wednesday: Back-Triceps

Back Exercises

1) V-Bar Pull-Down 4 sets x 12,10,8,6

2) Wide Grip Pull-Down (machine or cable) 3 sets x 12,10,8

3) Bent-Over Barbell Row 3 sets x 12,10,8

4) One Arm Dumbbell Row (leaning on a bench) 3 sets x 12,10,8

Triceps Exercises

1) Cable Extension (kneeling or standing) 3 sets x 12,10,8

2) Lying Close Grip Barbell Extension (Forehead) 3 sets x 12,10,8

3) One Arm Dumbbell Extension 3 sets x 12,10,8

Friday: Legs-Shoulders

Legs Exercises

1) Leg Extensions (machine) 4 sets x 12,10,8,8

2) Squats Barbell or Machine 4 sets x 12,10,8,8

3) Dumbbell Lunges 3 sets x 12,10,10

4) Leg Curls (Lying-machine) 3 sets x 12,10,10

Shoulder Exercises

1) Barbell or Dumbbell Shoulder Press 4 sets x 12,10,8,8

2) Arnold Dumbbell Press 3 sets x 12,10,8

3) Dumbbell Raise (Front or side) 3 sets x 12,10,8

4) Cable Chin Rows (Standing) 3 sets x 12,10,8

Always train the major body-part first: Chest, Back, Legs and continue with the minors: Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders (Shoulders are considered as a medium size body-part, so whenever you have the chance train them separately). You can shuffle the exercises of each body part the way you like, but keep in mind that main exercises like bench press for chest, squat for legs or shoulder presses should be executed first.

If you are currently on a mass or volume workout routine, then lift maximum weight and decrease your reps. I call this training schedule "3-day workout routine". However, if you have some extra time you can perform it four or even five times a week. Just keep in mind to rotate the workouts. For example, if you add training session on Thursday, then work on your legs and shoulders on Thursday and on Friday train your chest and biceps. Never break the sequence of the above-mentioned workout routine so that all body-parts are being trained the same.

Whether you are on the 3-day or the 5-day workout routine, remember that muscle build is a result of three different factors: Training, nutrition and resting. Each one of these factors is equally important.
Keep those muscles pumping!

Chris G Pap
Since 1993 involved in bodybuilding and fitness area.Visit the following link for more info about bodybuilding, supplementation, workout routines and nutrition.
http://www.strengthtrainingmuscle.com/

Original article

How Popular Is Bodybuilding Today

In today society, a lot less people have started bodybuilding, and more people have started fitness model programs. Not a lot of people want to be huge with massive biceps and big chest anymore. Instead, they would rather want to have a lean, ripped physique of a cover shoot model. How has bodybuilding popularity declined in the last twenty years? I'll show you how and why people shun bodybuilding and how you can make a difference.

Back in the "Golden Age" of bodybuilding, people were fascinated at how men can develop their muscles in way that makes people want to start bodybuilding themselves. Take a look at Eugen Sandow, the "father" of bodybuilding. He had a lean, muscular, ripped physique with insane ab muscles. Then came along other bodybuilding icons, like Steve Reeves, Reg Park, and many other famous athletes. But the real bodybuilding craze began with Arnold Schwarzenegger, after appearing in the bodybuilding movie "Pumping Iron". Widely considered to be the greatest bodybuilder ever, he made bodybuilding and himself a household name. From that point on, people opened many gyms everywhere to start bodybuilding, whether it's to go professional or just to build muscle. Movie directors recruited bodybuilders like Arnold to star in their movies. For a long time, the bodybuilding era was spreading all over the world.

But what went wrong? How did this era slowly dwindle away? Simple. People started getting "too big, too muscular", which made people think that it looks impulsive, overbearing, and to add it all up, disgusting. Today, bodybuilders want to be bigger and muscular than their opponents. Bodybuilders like Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman are perfect examples of people are "overdone" their muscle growth and development. What really put a stop to this era was the movie "Fight Club" with Brad Pitt, where the lean, muscular body was introduced, and people realized that you don't have to big, you just have to get lean. My opinion is that men have become "feminized", meaning they want a body that will look more attractive to a woman and people start modeling like women, which is easy to understand why men today wear pink t-shirts or shirts that say "Real men wear pink". This is absurd!

Let's talk about Arnold for a moment. Why do you think he was considered the best bodybuilder? Was it because he had the biggest muscles? Or than he had a confident presence when he went on the bodybuilding stage? Maybe it could be that he gave the best advice on building muscle? It was any one of these three reasons. In the movie "Pumping Iron", Arnold talked about having the perfect physique. He said, "You have to get you proportions right. If you look in the mirror and say "Okay, I need a little bit more deltoids. So you would go to the gym and put those deltoids on. Where as an artist would just slap his brush on a picture there it's done. We have to do it the hard way because we building the human body. Now some people will look at you funny like you're doing something strange, but it's not really something a lot of people know about. And once you find out about it, you understand so much about bodybuilding that you haven't realized before".

You see? Arnold had the perfect proportional body, and bodybuilding enthusiasts knew that. He differs a lot compared to today's bodybuilders, who build their bodies out of proportion. So how can you make a difference in building muscle? Get you proportions right. Let every muscle be just right, not smaller or bigger than it needs to be. Hope you enjoyed this article and will properly make the best in building muscle.

If want to know more about how the "Golden Age" bodybuilders used to build muscle, then go and watch the movie "Pumping Iron". If you are looking for a program that allows you to get your proportions right while building muscle, then you should go to http://www.leehayward.com/ for a range of muscle building programs.

Original article

How to Make the Most of Bodybuilding Supplements

Bodybuilding supplements are great for a body builder. The products have been specially designed to enhance your performance during workouts. They come in a wide range therefore, you can always settle for a product that serves your needs best. However, it is imperative to know how to make the most of the products so as to get the most desirable results.

Define your goals

Prior to using bodybuilding supplements, it is imperative to define your goals. This is because the products have been designed for different purposes. There are products that help to build a lean and physically fit body while others are designed to build body muscles. Therefore, deciding on what you want say level of fitness that you want to achieve helps you to settle for the right product. Ensure to choose a product that enables you to optimize on your goals and rest assured of the best possible results. Take time to read client and expert reviews so as to settle for a product that serves your needs best.

Look for healthy supplements

When working out, it is imperative to use products that enhance your general health. Learn more about specific supplement and how it's going to benefit you. Go through its ingredients, any side effect and overall benefits of a product. Having comprehensive information will enable you to settle for the most ideal supplement that offers notable results within the anticipated period of time. A product that enhances your general health is the best because it builds muscles while supplying the body with essential nutrients. Consider products with a wide range of vitamins and minerals to make the most of the supplements.

Buy from the right store

There are many stores that offer body building products online and offline. Even so, it is wise to do your home work well and settle for a store that is well reputed, experienced and licensed to offer the products. This is one of the best ways to rest assured of products that are of the best quality and safe for human consumption. Take time to read testimonials and client reviews to get the right store. The store should provide quality services and explain in detail how to use the products for the best possible results. Should you need any clarification; a good store will always offer the services you may need so as to make the most of your supplements. More importantly follow instructions as provided to get the best results.

It is evident bodybuilding supplements come with many benefits. However, you have to get the right product and use it correctly so as to benefit from your bodybuilding supplements.

Original article