GYM ARCHIVES

Gym Etiquette

Gym Etiquette

Etiquette

Have you ever been at the gym, got on a machine to start your exercise, grabbed the handles and baulked as you feel someone else’s sweat still on the grip… It’s happened to us all and it really isn’t a very nice experience.
Thankfully there are things you can do to prevent this happening such as wiping a machine before you use it.  It would be easier  if everyone cleaned up after their workout but not everyone follows the correct etiquette.
In an environment where there are lots of people working out throughout the day, the gym is bound to get hot and sweaty and there are going to be problems.  In some gyms of course there are signs and rules that you should follow such as limiting time on cardio machines during busy periods etc.  How about the unwritten rules though?
I’m going to give you some pointers if you’re a beginner at the gym and you’re not quite sure on how to behave.  Hey, we’ve all been there as newbies and we all learn through experience.

• Cleaning – After you use equipment or a machine, wipe it down with a towel or if the gym provides paper towels and disinfectant spray then use that.
• Keep the place tidy – Don’t leave empty water bottles or plastic cups (empty or half full) lying around.  The number of times I’ve seen water cups kicked causing puddles on the floor is ridiculous.
• Always put the free weights back on the rack provided.  On the barbell put the weight discs back on the relevant holding area.  On weight machines, ensure the weight selected is put back to the smallest weight after you use it
• Share machines if you are using one particular piece of equipment for a while, you can offer to share it during your rest times.  Also, if you are waiting on a machine or a piece of equipment, don’t ask the person if you can use it when they are in the middle of a set, this is very distracting to them!
• Minimise the nudity! – In the locker rooms, please keep the nudity to the shower area.  I don’t like trying to get my things out my locker with a naked person bending over next to me!  Drying yourself in the shower area and wrapping a towel round your body when in view of others will ensure uncomfortableness is at a minimum!

Also, there may be people at the gym who are unfitter  than yourself.  Appreciate people for who they are and don’t laugh at people who are trying to change their habits and improve their lives.  And don’t stare at people either!!!

Free Weights Or Machine Weights

Free Weights and Machine Weights can both be used as you want to strengthen and build muscle.  Free Weights and Machine Weights are both very effective however there are advantages and disadvantages to using Free Weights or Machine Weights.

If you are a beginner to working out with weights then in general using Machine Weights are better  and as you become more of an intermediate to advanced Free Weights can be better however you can use both Free Weights and Machine Weights in your weight training routine.

FREE WEIGHTS – ADVANTAGES

• Free Weights are more versatile and  allow you to perform hundreds of exercises to work all the muscle groups in your body.
• As you workout targeted muscles using Free Weights additional muscle groups are also worked out to stabilize your body as you work the targeted muscles.
• Using Free Weights will help you increase your balance and coordination as you need to keep your body stable to keep a good posture during the exercise.
• Free Weights take up less room and cost less than Machine Weights.

FREE WEIGHTS – DISADVANTAGES

• Lifting heavy weights without a spotter or without maintaining proper posture increases your chances of getting injured.
• Using Free Weights can increase your workout time as you will need to spend time adding or removing weights plates to barbells or dumbbells for different exercises.
• You need to have more control and focus using Free Weights as you will be supporting the Free Weights completely on your own.

DUMBBELLS VS BARBELLS

Barbells will allow you to lift more weight with both hands simultaneously.  Dumbbells on the other hand will allow you to balance the strength in each arm correctly and you can do many more types of exercises using dumbbells.
MACHINE WEIGHTS - ADVANTAGES

• Machine Weights are generally safer than Free Weights.  As you are not holing the actual weights there is no change of you dropping the weights onto yourself allowing you to workout on your own without a spotter.
• Most Machine Weights are very simple to use.  You select the weight by inserting the pin into the weight stack and away you go.
• Machine Weights allow you to target specific muscle groups without using other muscle groups to the same extent you would using Free Weights.
• Machine Weights help guide and control your movements, making it easier to maintain proper posture as you are forced to using the Machine Weights in a specific manner.
• You can usually complete your workout in a shorter time as you will not be fiddling with weight plates.  To increase or decrease the weight simply pull the pin out from the weight stack a push into a different weight.

MACHINE WEIGHTS - DISADVANTAGES

• If you are much bigger or much smaller than the average person, you may have trouble positioning your body in the correct manner on the Machine to use it properly.  Most machines are not designed for people under 5’5”.
• Exercises using Machine Weights usually involve working the muscles on both sides of your body at once. If one side of your body is stronger than the other you may end up lifting more weight from your stronger side on the machine.  This will not help you balance your body strength.
• As you are using a Machine Weight you are limited to a specific movement which only allows you to perform one specific workout.
• Machine Weights can be expensive and bulky, which can make them impractical for home use if you have a tight budget or limited space.

7 Things To Consider When Choosing A Gym

As you have decided to start a Fitness Workout the 7 things to consider when choosing a gym you want to join are Location, Cost, Opening Hours, Contract, Cleanliness, Staff and Equipment.
Location
Sticking to a Fitness Workout is probably the most important part about working out.  Due to this, it is very important the Gym you choose is local to your home or place of work.  This will give you a better chance of following through with your Fitness Workout Plan as you will make it more convenient for you to go to the Gym from your home or place of work.  Remember to consider convenient parking if you will be driving to your Gym.
To find a local Gym you may want do a search online or speak to friends to get a recommendation.  Once you have some Gyms in mind establish if there are any open day passes or trial passes you can have so you can take a look before you decide to join.  When you go to have a look it is recommended to go at the time of when you would go to do your Fitness Workout so you get a feel for how busy it is and whether there is space for parking etc.
Cost
Joining a Gym can be a big expense every month.  Different Gyms will cost different prices and this will generally be down to what the Gyms have to offer.  You want to get a clear breakdown of how much it is going to cost you every month and what that will give you (towel service, spa, swimming pool).
Gyms can offer discounts if you recommend friends and if you are going to be working out with a friends then this is something to ask about.  If you are deciding to start your Fitness Workout near summer or winter then Gyms may have season offers.
If you do not want access to the Gyms full facilities you can ask if there is a reduced monthly rate.  Sometimes it will also work out cheaper if you pay for the full year in one go rather than paying on a monthly basis so this is something you may want to consider.
To make the most of your Gym membership you may want to try asking or negotiating your membership rates.
Opening Hours
It’s important the Gym you choose to go is going to be open at the time most convenient for you.  If you are going to Workout off peak times or weekends then this may also reflect on the price you pay for your membership.  The closing times for Gyms can vary so its worth doing your research.
Contract
Some Gyms can be pay as you go and cancel at any time.  One the other had Gyms can tie you into a minimum contract and to cancel before the contract minimum period you could be faced with cancellation fees.  Never feel pressured to sign the contract for the Gym membership.  Make sure you are happy with the reputation and service of the Gym before signing a contract.
Cleanliness
You do not want to spend your hard earned cash working out in a Gym where the facilities are not looked after.  The Gym area, bathroom, locker rooms should be clean tidy and fit for use.  The Showers should provide the appropriate water pressure.
Staff
All good Gyms will have great staff available to answer any questions about an exercise or the equipment.  All staff should be very approachable and be willing to help and be well informed regarding the Gym and the equipment.
Equipment
All the equipment in the Gym should be working.  Make sure the equipment is high quality and looks like it is maintained regularly.  You want to make sure the Gym has the equipment you want to use.  There is no point joining if you favourite piece of equipment isn’t there.  Ensure the machines are running well and the seats and upholstery on the equipment is in good condition.

Professional Body Builders

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The Truth About Professional Body Builders

Mr. Banawich has an expose piece of sorts over at Bodybuilding.com that contains an eye-opening description of the would-be Ah-nold’s that creep me out on ESPN 2.

The ultimate irony is that the IFBB is facing in trying to get bodybuilders into the Olympics is that while every athlete in every other sport is presumably the healthiest they’ve ever been so that they are able to compete athletically and break records, the bodybuilder is so weak on competition day that he or she would have trouble fending off the attacks of an enraged mouse. The weeks of constant dieting, workouts that continually tax the body almost beyond recovery, and a constant influx of potentially harmful drugs and diuretics have brought most of them to total exhaustion.
To think about the huge amounts of food some steroid-using bodybuilders eat. In all the longevity sites in the world where people routinely live to be one hundred, the only common denominator is that they all either under-eat or eat just enough to meet their daily caloric requirements. By ingesting less food, they ingest less harmful chemicals, and fewer free radicals are formed in the body. The average professional builder probably eats at least four or five times what these aforementioned people eat.
As a result, bodybuilders often suffer from high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Plus, with all that extra mass, the heart has to work that much harder and will probably stop beating years before it was designed to. That’s why professional bodybuilding is the ultimate act of vanity. It was done strictly to fulfill some misguided notion of the superhuman ideal, and health was not even a consideration. Almost without exception, these guys and gals are not healthy, and they’ll probably be among the first to tell you so. However, weight-training and consuming a nutrient-rich diet is very healthy, as long as it is not carried to extremes.
Terry Banawich – BodyBuilding.com

 http://blisstree.com

10 Bodybuilders

10 Bodybuilders Who Took Things to the Extreme

Now, let us take a look at the list of the top 10 bodybuilders who took bodybuilding a bit too seriously, which ended up making them look really big, bulky and brawny:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Before he was known as California’s “Governator”, Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be a bodybuilder.  He’s an American and Austrian actor, businessman and politician who started weight training at the age of 15.
To sum up his bodybuilding accomplishments, he earned the title of Mr. Universe at the age of 22.  Later on in his bodybuilding career, he won the Mr. Olympia contest seven times.
Even long after his retirement in the sport, he still remained to be a prominent figure in the world of bodybuilding.
What makes Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career in bodybuilding so significant is that he managed to popularize the sport by becoming its spokesperson, especially later on when he became an actor in Hollywood films.
According to him, he had the following measurements during the peak of his career: 20″ calves, 28.5″ thighs, 34″ waist, 57″ chest and 22″ arms. His personal record in bodybuilding was 181 kg/400 lbs for 12 repetitions in a full squat.
The Governator earned his first Mr. Olympia title in 1970 at the age of 23, making him the youngest bodybuilder to ever hold the title. He went on to win the title six more times.

2. Charles Atlas

You probably won’t believe the story of how the late Charles Atlas has grown from becoming a scrawny weakling to one of the most popular extreme bodybuilders when he was still at his prime.
The Italy-born bodybuilder was dubbed in 1921 by the Physical Culture magazine to be the “World’s Most Perfectly Developed Man“. Aside from being a world-renowned bodybuilder, Atlas also became popular for his Dynamic Tension program.

3. Dr. Franco Columbu

He may be a 67-year old man today, but Italian actor and bodybuilder Dr. Franco Columbu was an extreme bodybuilder who was also a “World’s Strongest Man” competitor.
Despite his not being as tall as his bodybuilder counterparts, Dr. Columbu did not allow this to prevent him from achieving worldwide success.
During the 1977 competition for the World’s Strongest Man, he bagged the first place and that signaled a winning streak for him. Mr. World, Mr. Universe, Mr. Europe, a four-time winner of the Mr. Olympia title, champion power lifting titles and power lifting best lifts are among his accomplishments in the bodybuilding industry.

4. Louis Lou Jude Ferrigno

Those who are old enough may remember Lou Ferrigno as the man in the television series and movies who played the Incredible Hulk. The 57-year old actor appeared in countless magazine covers which featured bodybuilders.
His first bodybuilding award came in 1971, when he bagged the title of Pro Mr. America. He also went on to win four Mr. Olympia titles. At the peak of his bodybuilding career, Lou Ferrigno was known as one of the tallest professional bodybuilders, standing at a height of 6’5″.

5. Sergio Olivia

His nickname in the bodybuilding industry is “The Myth”. Sergio Olivia earned this nickname because someone commented at how unbelievable he is as a bodybuilder when he joined a 1967 Montreal World Fair competition.
This Cuba-born athlete has quite a number of feats under his belt.  He’s the only bodybuilder to win all the top titles in four major bodybuilding federations.
He’s the first black athlete to win Mr. America, Mr. World, Mr. Universe and the Mr. Olympia titles.

6. Dexter Jackson

Also known as “The Blade”, Dexter Jackson is yet another bodybuilder who took working out to the extreme. He first became active in the world of bodybuilding in 1992.
His most recent accomplishment came in winning the Mr. Olympia titles for 2008. The 5’6″, 39-year old athlete joined a seemingly endless number of bodybuilding contests and until now, he is working towards maintaining his perfectly sculptured body.

7. Dorian Yates

Yates was born in Hurley, Staffordshire, near Birmingham, England. He started working out in 1983.
After some victories in England – Novice Championships in 1985 and British Championships in 1988, Yates visited New York for the 1990 Night of Champions and, in his pro-debut, he came second to Mohamed Benaziza. He won the contest next year when he returned.
Yates may well be the bodybuilder that most aspiring trainees can best identify with because of his blue-collar roots, dogged determination and quiet confidence.

8. Markus Rühl

German bodybuilder Markus Rühl is a professional bodybuilder known for having the world’s biggest shoulders as well as one of the tallest athletes during his time.
Standing at 5’10″, his competition weight reached to more than 130 kilograms and his chest size measured an astounding 60″.
Through the course of his bodybuilding career, Markus Rühl went on to win titles as Mr. Olympia and other awards in different bodybuilding contests – with his huge shoulders as his main asset.

9. Ronnie Coleman

For a bodybuilder, earning a Mr. Olympia title is one of the best accomplishments that he will ever have in his career.
But what if you multiply that feat eight times over?  That’s exactly the number of times that Ronald Dean ‘Ronnie’ Coleman won the Mr. Olympia title.
Through the course of his bodybuilding career, he went on to bag several awards in different competitions.  He also is the man behind training videos like “Ronnie Coleman’s First Training Video“, “The Unbelievables”, “The Cost of Redemption”, “On the Road”, “Relentless” and “Invincible”.

10. Johnnie O. Jackson

Johnnie O. Jackson is a New Jersey native and another extreme bodybuilder. When you look at his photos, he is not as bulky and as brawny as his other bodybuilding counterparts, but what makes him stand out from the rest is the density and thickness of his muscles – even without flexing them


http://www.fitnesshealthzone.com

Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding Program

Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding Program

That’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger BodybuildingProgram.
Also check the Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding

Everybody know who is Arnold Schwarzenegger. He have a lot of success in his career and bodybuilding.
Today’s best bodybuilders are bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger time, but we still can learn from him how to train, so here you will see Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding program and tips.
These days so many people want to know how Arnold reached his succes in bodybuilding, so in this article i will try to help you to understand what Arnold Schwarzenegger bodybuilding program was and how

http://blog.extremebodybuildingtips.com/

Men’s Fitness

The Situation on the cover of Men’s Fitness

I subscribed to Men’s Fitness through Zinio.com (which offers digital magazines through your computer and iPad) after two droll-inducing covers featuring Rob Lowe, and Charlie Hunnam. Men’s Fitness fails spectacularly for the final issue this year. They’re featuring the king of the shirtless douches, The Situation, on December’s cover. As long as the guy doesn’t open his mouth, he’s passable if you don’t focus on his face. Is that too cruel? I refer you to the Glee girls’ defense of making fun of the boys’ bodies on last week’s episode. Turnabout is fair play, and we know this guy regularly refers to women as “grenades.” If he wasn’t so stuck up his own ass I would find him much more attractive.
The article primarily focuses on The Situation’s diet and exercise tips, including specific ab exercises and lifestyle recommendations. The most interesting part for me were his “8 Fit Rules,” which are actually rather sensible.

The Situations 8 Fit Rules
Eat every few hours. Aim for six small meals per day - three meals and three protein shakes.
Drink tons of water.
Choose lean proteins, fruits and veggies whenever you can.
Get six to eight hours of sleep “Sleep is when your body grows and repairs itself”
Avoid simple carbs and junk calories, includnig condiments like mayo and jelly.
Approach fitness as a long term lifestyle, not an instant transformation. Be dedicated, patient, and work hard for it.
Make working out your No. 1 commitment, because it builds the confidence and discipline you need to succeed in every domain of your life.
Give yourself one “cheat day” per week when you can eat whatever you want and recover from your training.

[From Men's Fitness, December 2010]
It’s common sense and not groundbreaking, but it’s nice to hear semi-legitimate diet advice from a celebrity that doesn’t sound like starvation or a fad. Maybe that’s part of the reason this guy is so successful. That and the fact that he’s able to score loads of chicks despite his permanent douche face. They’re all so mesmerized by those abs.
These photos are courtesy of Men’s Fitness, where there are more in the print edition. They also have exercise guidelines and more tips from Mike. Someone has to be interested.

http://www.celebitchy.com

You Can Be Fit Forever

You Can Be Fit Forever2009-02-09

Modern Ghana Eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is just the beginning of living a healthy, nutritious lifestyle. Maintaining your best weight, staying physically active and...

 

Fun fitness options: Spring Hill offers alternative to traditional P.E. classes2009-11-19

Longview News Journal Spring Hill Middle School students are getting a chance to experience physical education that goes beyond running laps and playing ball games. The fifth- and sixth-grade students are participating in a pilot program by the Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living called Fun Fitness Fridays. For four weeks, the kids are learning about exercise options such as kickboxing, hip-hop dance, yoga and...

'Man mountain' who nearly ate himself to death loses 28 stone and becomes fitness instructor2009-01-19

The Daily Mail A reclusive man in his twenties who weighed 45 stone and was given months to live, is now a slim fitness coach after he turned his life around. David Smith, 31, lost a whopping 28 stone and had more than 30 pounds of excess skin removed. He replaced his double chins and man boobs for bulging biceps and a flat stomach. David Smith dubbed himself a 'man mountain' at his heaviest. He was reclusive...

Obesity begins in the womb?2010-09-12

The Examiner The cynical may blame poor fitness habits and excess junk food, but increasing evidence has suggested that childhood and later obesity may in fact begin as early as in utero. According to such research, excess weight gain during pregnancy may result in larger babies who "are prenatally programmed to become overweight children- who, in turn, are more likely to develop...

Ask the Mayo Clinic: Can you be at a normal weight and still be obese?2009-01-19

Seattle Post-Intelligence Dear Mayo Clinic: I recently read that a Mayo Clinic study says I can be at a normal weight for my height but still be considered obese. Can you explain? A: This condition is known as normal weight obesity. Because obesity often is equated with being overweight, the idea of being obese while maintaining a normal weight may sound odd. But, obesity isn't a measure of excess weight; it's a measure of...

10 commom sense safety tips for exercise enthusiasts2009-03-19

The Examiner    Feed .examiners_body img{padding:5px;} .Get your body ready to exercise.  Always warm up before you work out.  Warming up properly helps to ensure that your body is prepared to safely handle the stress of physical exercise.  Warming up means doing enough movement to raise you body temperature.  It increases the blood flow to the muscles and synovial fluid in the...

Not Exercising Could Mean Big Babies2009-09-21

ABC News By KRISTINA FIORE Staff Writer Sept. 21, 2009 Women having their first child can lower the chances of having an overweight baby with regular exercise during pregnancy, researchers say. For women having their first child, regular exercise during pregnancy can lower the chances of having an overweight baby, researchers say. (Getty Images) Working out at least three times per week reduced the odds of...

Farrah's Articles2009-10-07

The Examiner Showing: Most recent articles Airplanes and Weight Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 Have you ever been the overweight person walking on the plane, dreading the moment when you have to buckle your seat belt, knowing it won't reach... Keep Reading » No Boys Allowed: A Look at Ladies' Only Gyms Monday, October 5th, 2009 In my previous article about being self-conscious at the gym because of mirrors,...

Weight Loss 101 - Will losing weight make you fit?2009-08-24

The Examiner Get alerts when there is a new article from the Bay Area Women's Fitness Examiner. Read Examiner.com's For most of us, losing weight and fitness are almost synonymous. And for most Americans, losing weight would make us healthier. However, the two are not the same. Losing weight means losing fat, right? Being fit usually means having better muscle tone, right? If we agree to these basic...

New Stayhealthy Body Composition Technology Announced at Microsoft's Connected Health Conference2009-06-11

Canada Newswire BELLEVUE, Wash., June 11 /CNW/ -- Following a two-year clinical study at the University of Southern California, Stayhealthy introduced their next generation body composition analysis technology at Microsoft's Connected Health Conference. The technology accurately measures body composition, comes in various forms depending on the need - from a home use individual device, to a commercial grade... 

 

http://article.wn.com/view/

Hindu Pushup

Hindu Pushup

Category: Sports

hindu pushups

Steve Maxwell does the Hindu push-up

Category: Sports

keep those elbows in, boys!

How to do HINDU PUSHUPS & get ripped abs, chest, tricep workout

Category: Howto & Style

RockTheBody.blogspot.com Download my free 16 page e-book. No email or sign up required. No marketing or ulterior motives... just free information!

Hindu push-ups and Hindu squats

Category: Howto & Style

Tom Kurz cools down with Hindu push-ups and Hindu squats after lifting weights. Normal speed movie is at www.stadion.com

 

 

Hindu Pushup, www.power-fitness.info

Category: Sports

Hindu Pushup, Power Fitness - Complete system of effective proper hindu bodyweight calisthenics exercises workout based on Matt Furrey's Combat Conditioning royal court

RIGHT TECHNIQUE TO HINDU PUSH UPS

Category: Sports

THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE OF HINDU PUSH UP,PERFORM BY INDIAN BODYBUILDER , EXERCISE FOR UPPER BODY

Hindu Push Ups

Category: Sports

Hindu Push Ups, Renegade Rows, Snatches, Broad Jumps

Category: Sports

Want more than just functional fitness workouts? Jon Hinds instructs seminars for Eischens Yoga: ReBuilding Warriors. monkeybargym.com 30 Hindu PushUps, 40 Renegade Rows, 50 Snatches, 60 Yards of Broa

Fitness & Exercise Tips : How to Do Hindu Push-Ups

Category: Sports

A Hindu push-up is done by getting into the downward dog yoga position, keeping the head down when lowering the arms and coming up like a cobra. Strengthen the back, arms, shoulders, triceps and chest

Steve Maxwell Hindu Push-Ups

Category: Sports

MaxwellSC.com pushupboard.com

Combat Fitness-Body Power-Tiger Push ups - Jim Brassard

Category: Sports

www.shaolinamericankempo.com www.trafficgeyser.net For info on the course. building body at home bodyweight training www.shaolinamericankempo.com Combat Fitness www.shaolinamericankempo.com Body Power

 

1st of 3 circuts of Battling Ropes, Hindu Pushups, Hindu Squats, Situps mixed

Category: Sports

Circuts of Rope 2 minutes followed by Hindu Pushups, Hindu Squats and a mix of Sit-ups. This is the 1st of 3 sets all done non stop. Total time of 19 minutes

Hindu Push-Ups

Category: Sports

Once you're able to complete multiple sets and reps of the standard push-up, it's time to advance further. My trainee Anne demonstrtes the Hindu Push-up. This requires exceptional shoulder and tricep
Hindu push-ups

Category: Sports

My First Project

Six Pack Abs Routine/Combat Fitness Exercise/Body Power-Jim Brassard

Category: Sports

www.shaolinamericankempo.com www.trafficgeyser.net Combat Fitness has been sold Internationally. "Visit our site and we'll Email weekly fitness tips & videos.' Dr. James Brassard building body at home

http://sport-with-you.ru/

www.power-fitness.info

Why Excess Abdominal Fat Is More DEADLY Than You Think

Why Excess Abdominal Fat Is More DEADLY Than You Think

I remember when I watched the first episode of The Jersey Shore, I was taken back by a few things;

1. How so many people in one room could possibly be wearing Ed Hardy t-shirts,

2. That someone would show up with all their belongings in a garbage bag - classy,

3. And that anyone who called himself "The Situation" had any hope of appealing to women...

...but then the guy lifted up his rhinestone studded shirt and revealed a 6-pack, no wait - 8-pack, that would make even the most experienced personal trainers jealous. But as it turns out, a toned torso isn't just something you should aim for because it's going to help you score at a bar or look hot down at the beach (although lets face it - it helps), it's also an indication of how healthy you are, and excess fat around your abdomen is a market of greater health risks, and could be as dangerous to your health as your addiction to bad MTV reality shows. Check out this article below by Mike Geary, the author of The Truth About Abs.  

Read More...

Post Workout Meals For Muscle Growth

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. When I wake up I am starving and in the kitchen within five minutes busily whipping up an egg and spinach omelette and if anyone gets in my way they will likely get whacked over the head with my Paula Dean non stick skillet. Although it may be my favorite meal of the day, it is not necessarily the most important. You see, if you are gym junkie or fitness enthusiast, or even just like to lift a few weights a couple of times a week, your post workout meal can determine whether all that work you have just done will equate into muscle growth or be in vain. And if you think consuming large amounts of protein is the answer, then you will be surprised. Today we are going to take a look at how and why post workout nutrition should be your most important meal of the day, and show you a ratio that will optimize your muscle growth that can apply no matter where or what you eat after you workout.

So why is what you eat or drink after you workout so important? Well when you are in the gym, lifting weights or performing resistance training, you are breaking down muscle fibers and depleting your muscle's glycogen stores to use as energy. When you step off the weights floor your body is in what's known as a catabolic state, which means that because of all the stress you have just put on it, you have hormones circulating that are counterproductive to muscle growth. You need to switch your body into an anabolic state, where you have replaced muscle glycogen stores and given your body the right amount of calories and nutrients to help your muscles repair.

How To Naturally Increase Your Testosterone

Ever since you were a child, whether you were aware of it or not, hormones have been coursing through your veins and have been responsible for all of your biological processes. From growth, to decision making, to what you choose to eat and when, and even that annoying pimple you have on your back that has completely interfered with your plan on wearing that muscle bound tank top to show off your bulging biceps on the weekend. When it comes to health and fitness however, hormones play an even more prominent role; they determine how much energy you have, how much muscle size you can gain, and even how much fat you can lose and how quickly you can lose it. So much so that bodybuilders and fitness junkies have for decades tried to manipulate them, even via illegal means such as anabolic steroids, to get the best body, or best performance, possible. The main hormone we are taking about here is testosterone, but you don't have to resort to sticking needles in your butt or ordering questionable illegal drugs from that red-faced, bloated muscle head in the gym to reap it's benefits. Today I'm going to show you how you too can manipulate it naturally via a few diet and exercise tips and tricks that will help speed up your fat loss and help you put on lean muscle mass quicker than ever.

Testosterone is known as the male sex hormone, and is primarily found in the male testes and also in smaller amounts in female ovaries. It's associated with strength, youth and sex... that's right, all the fun things. Low testosterone can result in fatigue, loss of libido, premature aging, sexual dysfunction, muscle loss and fat gain, just to name a few, so you can see it's important to keep it at optimal levels for proper daily function and way of life. Low testosterone is a serious medical issue and should you suspect that you are suffering from this, you should consult your doctor immediately. However today for the purposes of this article, we are going to assume you are a healthy individual with normal, regular testosterone levels, as we show you ways of manipulating and optimizing it for your exercise and fitness goals. Take a look at the tips and tricks natural bodybuilders (they're ones that don't resort to using steroids) use to burn fat and get buff...

Food Poisoning

Unfortunately Healthy Boy hasn't been so healthy the last couple of days as I contracted a nasty bout of food poisoning. Feeling better but sunday night wasn't pretty. Hoping to have some new content up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my abs have never looked better...

Healthy Boy x

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Ultimate Gym Bag

Do you go to one of those gyms that have those stupidly designed lockers that have multiple ledges? They are great for hanging up a shirt or putting your phone and keys in, but if you have a gym bag like most of us do, then you have to stuff it in and it ends up falling down the side of the locker and anything inside gets squashed including your that peanut butter and jelly sandwich you were looking forward to for lunch which ends up smooshed all over your work clothes. Not only that, but trying to get things in and out of your bag while you are changing in the locker room is a hassle. Well fret no more because a newly designed gym bag has become available that not only helps solve all those problems for you, but it helps you look stylish while doing so.

Let me introduce you to the Glo Bag and the newest must have for any gym junkie or fitness enthusiast. It separates everything via two self contained shelves within the bag, dividing it up into three compartments. One compartment is designed for your gym shoes which has ventilated compartments so that stinky sweaty smell your feet get after a long run on the treadmill doesn't linger. The second shelf is designed for your toiletries bag (because who doesn't need some hair product after a grueling workout), and the upper compartment is to keep anything you need to be fresh and clean. The bag also comes with a cell phone pouch and a water bottle holder.

Not only that, but the manufacturer is also throwing in a free toiletries bag for all your manly skin care and body wash products, and a wet bag so you can throw your sweaty gym shirt and shorts in after your workout, normally at a value of $34.

Lucy enough to have a standard level locker at your gym? Well this gym bag is for you also. It can stand on a flat surface or hand from any coat hook or hanger.

The bag comes in solid black, black with gold webbing, or black with silver webbing. You can buy them below or with other healthy products via my shop tab above.

Solid Black                            












Black with Gold Webbing

Black with Silver Webbing

Happy Shopping!

Healthy Boy x

What's Really In Your Red Bull

Energy drinks have become increasingly popular amongst health minded individuals over the last decade for the extra "kick" they can provide before or during a workout. Not only that but they have become a staple for students wanting to stay up late studying for exams, and even made their way into our everyday lives by being available in office vending machines, and at your favorite bar as an ideal mixer in alcoholic beverages to keep you from passing out all over your friend like a Jersey Shore housemate at 2am in the morning... although I vaguely remember consuming one two many Vodka Red Bulls a few weeks back and still managed to eat the pavement. But whether you are consuming them with your favorite tipple, or as a much needed energy kick at 3pm in the afternoon, do you really spend the time to turn over the bottle to see what's inside? Today we are going to look at the ingredients in a regular Red Bull and why some of those ingredients may not only be detrimental to your health, but can interfere with your quest for a better body.

Sugar
Think energy drinks like Red Bull are better for your waistline than soda? Well they're not. One can of Red Bull has 27 grams of sugar, which is roughly the equivalent of 6 teaspoons. Still not hitting home? Well let's put that into perspective. A Dunkin Donuts Glazed Donut has 19 grams of sugar, Reeces Peanut Butter Cups have 21 grams of sugar, and a Twix Bar has 28 grams of sugar. So you are basically eating the sugar equivalent of a candy bar. The whole can itself only has 110 calories, but all of that is coming from sugar. You could throw 6 teaspoons of sugar in your morning coffee and basically get the same effect for much cheaper.

Are You Making These 10 Workout Mistakes?

How many of you out there have actually ever sat down with a personal trainer, developed a workout routine, and had them show you how to correctly lift weights and perform cardio for optimal muscle growth and fat loss? Unfortunately, a lot of people never have, and consequently make their way through years of working out by watching other people in the gym, and surfing the web for tips and techniques. While many people are satisified with this approach, and because of the fact it is the only one they can afford, it often leads to countless mistakes, from incorrect form when lifting, to over-training. Because of these mistakes some people never truly realize their physical potential or know that with a few simple changes, they could be seeing greater results. Take a look at this article below by Tom Venuto (I know this is the second article I've posted from him this week but Healthy Boy is a little strapped for time today and wants to make sure you are still getting some good reading). It's a great article where Tom not only tell us what the Top 10 Workout Mistakes are, but even tells you what you need to do to rectify them, which will result in some positive changes to your body. Number 9 should definitely resonate.

The Top 10 Bonehead Workout Mistakes

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCSwww.burnthefat.com

“Common workout mistakes” has always been a very popular topic in fitness publications. But no matter how many times this subject is re-hashed, you almost always hear about the same half a dozen or so mistakes, including poor form, overtraining, going too heavy, not stretching, not warming up, yadda, yadda yadda. Ironically, you seldom hear about the biggest mistakes of all. I call these humongous bloopers “bonehead mistakes” because once you start to analyze and think about them, they’re really just common sense and they all seem so obvious… except of course to the person doing it… who is often quite oblivious until someone else points it out to them... then the light goes on and it's like... "Doh!"

Before I begin the countdown, (in no particular order), there’s one more gripe I have about the treatment this subject has been given in the past: Most of the attention has been put on the mistakes, but very little on the solutions. It’s all too easy to point fingers and say, “Don’t do that” and “Shame on you, dummy” but only 1% of your time should be spent on problems. 99% should be spent on solutions. So in that spirit, after I bring each mistake to your attention, I’ll give you a solution-oriented training tip to help you avoid boneheadedness and join the elite group who “kick butt” in the gym at every workout…

http://www.thehealthyboy.com/