Nov 29 2009

Top 10 Bodybuilding Supplements

Many bodybuilding supplements have been monitored and tested. Some are proven to work while some are just waste of precious money. Experienced body builders and athletes have listed the top 10 effective bodybuilding supplements they use in their muscle programs and these are the results:

1. Probiotics.

Probiotics are made of acidophilus and bifidus which are both good forms of bacteria. They assist the digestive system to work properly. Manufactured probiotics products include powders, yogurts, capsules, and probiotic drinks. Probiotics are very important to body builders because they lower cholesterol level and they stimulate the body to produce alpha-interferon that regulates the immune response.

2. Meal replacement powders.

These are a great substitute for small meals that muscle builders need throughout the day. Meal replacements are great in accelerating weight loss and increasing lean muscle mass quickly. They are packed with vitamins, friendly fats, minerals, exact amount of carbohydrate and protein.

3. Muscle mass increasing formulas.

These gain powders have always played an important role in bodybuilding. These are especially created for beginners who are too skinny and having difficulty consuming sufficient amount of food to gain weight. Use a weight gain formula to super-charge your bodybuilding program to the next level

4. Maltodextrin.

Also known as multidextrose or glucose powder. A synthetic polysaccharide can be used by people who are involved in extreme sports. It is a food additive made mostly of cornstarch. It can be quickly absorbed as glucose, thus making it easier to gain weight.

5. Protein powders.

Most bodybuilders rely heavily on protein powders so that they get amount of protein they need to gain weight. Protein powder does not only help bodybuilders get the body they desire, but it also helps them build a stronger immune system and healthier skin. In addition, it also helps in developing muscle strength.

Protein powders can be made of soy, rice, egg and whey. These are purchased in powdered form that can easily turn to protein shake by just adding water or mixing it with milk or fruit juice.

6. Pre-workout drinks.

These are energy drinks that contain one or more of stimulants like ephedra, guarana, or caffeine. These help bodybuilders feel pumped about their daily workout. Drinks taken before a workout should contain carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, creatine, and amino acids.

7. Creatine monohydrate.

This leading bodybuilding supplement was scientifically researched and has been proven to improve performance. It’s all-natural and can be found in many food like salmon, tuna, herring, and beef.

8. Creatine formulas.

These usually come in powdered form that contains pure creatine monohydrate, carbohydrate dextrose, and sodium. Studies show that most bodybuilders choose this supplement because they get amazing result in no time.

9. Health bars.

These are useful for athletes who cannot find time to eat. Different types of health bars are high protein bars, energy bars, and slimming bars. These are not recommended for bodybuilders because they contain high levels of fats and additives. They are also very expensive.

10. Glutamine.

This is important because it increases your ability to secrete growth hormones which supports muscle growth and metabolizes body fat. Bodybuilders use glutamine to lose weight without sacrificing the size of their muscles.

Supplements are a key component to a strong bodybuilding program. Use this information to choose the best supplement for you and get your money’s worth.


Nov 19 2009

Increase Metabolism While Adding Muscle

Before deciding to follow any set muscle or bodybuilding programs, it is essential to understand the impact of what foods you choose to put into your body.

Meatbolism plays a key role in fat loss and muscle development.  Metabolism is the rate at which your body turns food into energy. This energy is then stored in the form of fats and glucose. The more your body increases its percentage of utilizing energy, the more your muscle gains mass. Your body must adjust to the stress put upon it in order to gain firm muscles.

These instructions are of the moderate type. Folloow these guidelines to boost your metabolism and at the same time gain the muscle that you want.

1. A ten minute warm up is suggested. You can do a brisk walk in order to get blood pumping. This kind of warm up exercise can increase the amount of circulating blood inside your body. Muscles need a constant flow of blood to maintain a strong bodybuilding state. Your muscles will also become more receptive to any kinds of resistance.

2. Be sure that you target larger muscle groups in order to boost the level of your metabolism and provide the needed resistance your body needs to build the muscles. You have to maintain consistency in order for you to capture results in just a couple of months.

3. Start on your hips, buttocks and thighs. Doing lunges will raise your body’s metabolic rate. You should first hold on to something hard to be able to attain balance. By building muscles, you can better support your lower body and hold the dumbbells which will raise muscle resistance and your metabolism.

4. Stand straight, then use the dumbbell which has the heaviest weight that you can lift comfortably over the head. Grasp it at shoulder level with the palm of your hand facing forward. Then push it overhead until your arm has reached its full extension before returning to the starting position. Do this for 10 reps, slowly, so you don’t strain your arms. Then switch the dumbbell to the other arm. Using each hand, repeat at least three times. You have to be sure that your body and arms can tolerate the repetitions otherwise you are prone to muscle wasting as well as injury.

5. Alternate exercises. For the last one, you can try the dumbbells, and after several reps, go down with a push-up. This is very efficient because of the evident use in military training. Push-ups, in general, provides resistance to weight that is needed to build muscles and at the same time increasing the rate of metabolism. If you are having difficulties with push-ups, you can start with simpler ones like knee push-ups.

6. For other upper-body exercises, you can use the dumbbells so that you can target the shoulders, upper muscles of the chest, forearms and muscles of your deltoids. Dumbbells have a greater chance of increasing the rate of your metabolism faster that other equipment does.

7. Lastly, consider altering certain areas of your lifestyle. Bodybuilding programs will be a waste of time if you are eating the wrong kinds of foods. If you consumed a lot of fat before, then try toning it down to limited amounts. Instead, focus on consuming high protien meals which are high in calories and nutrients, yet low in fat.

It is also good that you consume vegetables, whole grains and citrus fruits. This will give you more of an advantage for your muscle building program.