Why strength training?

I recently read an article about the importance of strength training as we get older. Even more remarkable was the fact that we tend to lose muscle, at any age, if we remain inactive.

Did you know that our bodies naturally begin to lose muscle mass after about age 35? In addition, our bodies tend to lose muscle when we don't exercise on a regular basis. So many of us have sedentary jobs where we sit in of a computer all day and never challenge our muscles. This is why strength training exercises are so important as we age.

The good news is that even though building muscle take some time, it takes longer to lose that muscle mass than it does to lose cardiovascular fitness.

Convicted steroid distributor speaks out

Here's an interesting article about steroid use in professional sports. It mentions a man who was convicted of distributing drugs to athletes but now wants to help correct the situation in the future.

I hope he is sincere and has some success. He does have the experience working on the other side of the problem, which I think we'll be of great use in finding a solution. I hope that athletes take this seriously and look for ways to gain muscle naturally

Here's the CNN Story

"The man whose lab distributed performance-enhancing drugs to athletes says the policies of American professional baseball and football leagues encourage their use.
Victor Conte served four months in prison for distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, or the Bay Area Laboratories Co-Operative, said Thursday that Major League Baseball and the National Football League test for only half or fewer of the 60 stimulants the World Anti-Doping Agency lists as banned substances."

muscle related ads

I’ve noticed a lot more muscle related ads on TV lately. Maybe it’s because the new year is close, and many people will be making new year’s resolutions. Or maybe it’s simply that I’ve had the topic on my mind and have just now noticed all the commercials that are related to fitness and building muscle. I don’t think you really need all those exercise machines to gain muscle weight though

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holiday and get ready for next year.

I want you all to write down your muscle goals for next year as soon as you finish your holiday. Make next year the best year for your bodybuilding workouts

Have you started writing down your goals next year?

So the new year is almost here. Have you started writing down your goals next year? If not, you should get started right away! Well, OK, at least after Christmas.


In the beginning of your weight gain program, it is especially important that you write everything down. After a while, you’ll probably begin to get a feel for how many calories a particular food has. If your progress halts or slows down (that is you’re no longer building muscle), the problem is either with your training or with your meals. Don’t assume that you simply need to lift more weights, however. You should use a metabolic calculator to determine how many calories you need to eat, and then you can compare this to your food journal to make sure you are on the right track.

If you combine a solid weight gain diet with the correct natural bodybuilding workouts you’ll be on your way to build lots of muscle.

Is glutamine really that great?

Are you getting tired of hearing about the wonders of weightlifting supplements? Have you given up trying to keep up with the latest supplement fad? Maybe you're aware that bodybuilding magazines have close relationships with advertisers, and most of the claims about bodybuilding supplements are simply marketing tactics. Still, you may have heard a lot of your fellow trainees in the gym talk about one supplement in particular -glutamine. You may have been told this supplement is extremely helpful in growing your muscles, but do you really need to take glutamine supplements to maximize your muscle building efforts?



Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body. (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.) That much is true. But what about actual supplementation? The major reason that glutamine is believed to help muscle is that studies proved it beneficial in trauma patients. Studies have shown that muscle loss can be reduced in patients with severe trauma such as in the case of burn victims or AIDS patients. The problem is that this kind of stress cannot be automatically compared to the kind of stress your body undergoes during exercise. While there may be certain situations in which such a supplement would be helpful, glutamine supplementation is probably not necessary in the majority of cases. Don't forget that the supplement companies themselves provide much of the hype that surrounds these products. Always remember to stick with the essentials of progressive resistance training and increasing your calories, however popular a bodybuilding supplement may be.



Why do weightlifting supplements, including glutamine, do so well in the marketplace? They do well simply because so many bodybuilders are looking for the magic pill that will instantly deliver incredible results. Unfortunately, so many people in our society have become accustomed to looking for shortcuts and short term gratification. It's particularly sad when you consider that learning how to gain weight naturally is not as difficult as it may seem. The real magic pill is combining the right knowledge (weight gain diet plus proper workout routines) with determination. The beginner must understand that weight gain, like most worthwhile goals, requires diligence over the long term.



If you're feeling discouraged, consider the following. Remember that most great things in life are not achieved with one amazing act. On the contrary, both our successes and failures in life almost always come from the accumulation of small choices over time. A half hour workout a few times a week for several months will accomplish what one five hour workout cannot. Whatever you choose, keep the long term in mind and rest assured that living your dreams tomorrow, in both bodybuilding and beyond, are well worth the price you pay today.

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