Wednesday, April 9, 2008

One supplement that may actually help

Creatine is one of the only supplements that I would recommend besides protein. The reason that creatine can be so helpful in building muscle is the way that it provides energy during your workouts. Because it recharges ATP (the main energy molecule in our bodies), it allows you to work out longer and thus stimulate your muscles more intensely. However, you should only consider this and similar products when you have mastered the basics of weightlifting and chosen good foods to gain weight. When these fundamentals are in order, then supplements like creatine can give you a slight edge as you progress in your program.

Ultimately, the real lesson here is that supplements should not form the core of your muscle building program. While a few supplements can be useful for advanced trainers, you need to have a solid strength training and meal program to even consider spending your money on supplements. The basics will always be gradually increasing your weights in the gym and getting enough calories and protein. Many of the popular supplement fads are unnecessary. You may not want to hear it, but skipping the basics and looking for shortcuts will leave you broke and disappointed.

If you would like to learn more about how to gain muscle naturally, visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com. Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Why injury prevention is a must in a muscle building program

If only he had taken the time to learn about injury prevention, he would have saved himself some major headaches. Who am I talking about? I’m talking about a bodybuilding friend of mine who recently visited a chiropractor to get an evaluation for his injuries. He had been struggling with various symptoms in his right arm for at least several weeks, and he finally realized he could not continue with any kind of weight training until he resolved those issues. He had tried to rest his arms for a while hoping that it would take care of all the problems. Alas, that was not enough, and several weeks later he was still in pain and had a sense of weakness and tightness in his arm.

The good news is that he has found a promising therapy from a reputable chiropractor who performed a thorough examination. The bad news is that the treatment will end up costing several thousand dollars over the next year or so, and even worse, he will not be able to participate in strength training until his injuries have healed or at least improved significantly.

Can you imagine not being able to lift weights for several weeks, months, or more? Can you imagine having to pay a nice chunk of your paycheck each month to a doctor or therapist? These are certainly not pleasant thoughts, but the truth is that many, if not all, of these injuries can be prevented if the training begins his program on the right foot. Correcting posture problems and muscle imbalances is crucial to minimizing the risk of injuries down the road. Likewise, using proper technique during weightlifting and including stretching in your daily routine can help ward off problems. If you’re serious about gaining muscle, make sure you follow a comprehensive program that includes instructions on minimizing your chances of injury.

If you would like to learn more about how tobuild lean muscle, visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com. Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Here it is: best possible muscle building supplement

I guess it's a sign of the times we live in, but it doesn't make it any less disturbing. With all the advances that we've experienced, with all the wonderful technological breakthroughs of the last century, one of the unfortunate habits that we've acquired is looking for the next greatest thing. Whether we're trying to lose weight, build a successful business, or improve our marriage, we tend to rely on finding the one magical tool that will instantly solve all of our problems. Of course, we rarely if ever find that magic bullet, and this leads us to the inevitable Dr. Phil moment: How's that working out for you?



When it comes to building muscle, why should things be any different? Well, I'll tell you why ' because it just doesn't work this way. Looking for the easy way out will surely leave you disappointed with your results.



Supplement companies will continue to push the latest and greatest breakthrough pill from now until the cows come home. (By the way, I've always wondered about this expression ' when exactly do the cows come home?) Simply put, don't bother looking for the perfect supplements in some magazine.



Consistency and commitment form the real muscle supplement. Follow a comprehensive program that includes progressive overload and an adequate muscle gaining diet.



Are you a little disappointed with that conclusion? Are you still looking for something that you can spend your money on, something that excites you when you open the tub for the very first time? Well, since you insist, I'll mention a couple of supplements which can be useful to your muscle building efforts. The first is protein powder, and this can be a good weapon to have in your pantry because of its convenience. If you're going to try to build a large amount of muscle, you're going to need a considerable amount of protein in your diet. For example, a common formula given by many is to eat 1.5 g of protein per pound of body weight. It can of course be difficult to consume enough protein without resorting to supplements. Thus, protein powders can provide a great and convenient way to get some extra protein each day.



The second supplement you may want to consider is creatine, a popular supplement trusted by many trainers, which can replenish your energy reserves and allow you to train harder. Of course, this supplement will make little difference if your overall weight training and diet program are not set up properly. A good muscle building program can pay big dividends here.




If you would like to learn more about bodybuilding workouts , visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com. Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

you’re not alone

Yes, I know, it’s shocking to hear that some people actually want to gain weight than there are so many people who are obsessed with the idea of losing weight. The truth is, however, that there are many people out there who feel they are underweight and would love to put on some pounds as quickly and safely as possible. If you are one of those people, rest assured that you’re not alone. You may get dirty looks from your friends, though, when you share your previously held secret desire to gain some weight. Some may react with jealousy because you appear to have a higher metabolism than they do. That’s not so surprising when you think about it. Everywhere you look you see ads for the latest weight loss pill or new exercise machine designed to burn fat. Virtually every news story, magazine cover, or a new prescription drug that has anything to do with weight will be about losing weight, not gaining it.

So what if you are one of those fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it) souls who desperately want to put on some weight? Well, first of all we need to make clear what kind of pounds you’re trying to put on. I’m assuming that you want to put on lean muscle mass and not a bunch of flab (otherwise known as fat). There are some basic suggestions given by nutritionists that may help you in your quest to increase your weight. For example, most recommend that you stick to healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, and seeds. You certainly should not spend all of your time at fast food restaurants when you’re trying to gain healthy weight. Another suggestion is to measure the number of calories that you consume each day (packaged foods will contain this information and you can also use the Internet to look up other common foods) and then increase your daily calories by 500. The goal would be to increase your weight by about a half pound a week.

These suggestions aren’t bad, but if you’re serious about gaining large amounts of muscle you will need to commit to a comprehensive program of weight training in addition to your weight gain diet.

Click here for more information on how to gain weight