Jun 30 2008

The Powerbuilding Precepts

Read this….all of it!! The pro’s at AnimalPak have a very soulful philosophy about training and bodybuilding. I think every serious bodybuilder, be it amateur or pro, can identify with what these guys have to say. Here is one article that is inspirational to all bodybuilders. Don’t forget to look through the AnimalPak website for more great reads like this, as well as stay up to date with the various animal paks offered from Universal Nutrition.

(Click on the picture and it will enlarge into another window)


Jun 29 2008

WHAT IS NATURAL BODYBUILDING

Article out of Muscular Development examining what truly is Natural Bodybuilding.

Click Here: for the enlarged article:


Jun 27 2008

Steroids & Right Ventricular Function

Here is an interesting article out of the June issue of Muscular Development about some research that was conducted pertaining to a possible negative side effect that steroids may have on the heart. I would like to stress that the term the article uses is long term steroid abuse and not just steroid use.

Link to larger version of the article:


Jun 26 2008

A1Supplements Discount Coupon

I have never ordered from A1Supplements so I am not making any recommendations one way or the other, but should you decide to place an order with this company, I would like to share this coupon for $5.00 off your total order.

Here is the link for the full size image just in case you would like to see what the coupon looks like and some popular supplements to order. Note that just like in BodyBuilding.com’s top 50 supplements (which I posted an article on previously), Muscle Milk, Animal Pack, Syntha-6, and NO-XPLODE are all listed. Told ya they were some of the best! Now you have some confirmation.

Type in the following coupon code during checkout:

A1SAVE5


Jun 26 2008

Cholesterol- Key Role in Muscle Mass Increases- Don’t Be Afraid of The Egg!!

Here is an article out of June’s Muscular Development magazine that talks about research showing the importance of cholesterol in relation to building muscle mass. I decided to post this article to shed some light on the notion a lot of people have (especially bodybuilders that only eat the egg whites for fear of cholesterol), that you should avoid cholesterol intake as much as possible.

This article’s research states that, "researchers found that cholesterol-but not protein-was associated with changes in lean muscle mass……although dietary protein was correlated with dietary cholesterol, protein by itself was not significantly correlated with change in lean mass". But what does it mean? Basically, the presence of protein along with cholesterol and not just protein alone is what is needed to build muscle mass.

Are you skeptical about that last statement? Allow me to put this in bodybuilding terms. Go back and check the ingredients (& amounts) on your last can of Muscle Milk. Oh what did you find included???? Looks like a significant amount of cholesterol!!! Looks like Cytosport may have heard the same rumor that cholesterol must be present for protein synthesis to occur.

It is all making sense now. Cytosport didn’t forget to take out the cholesterol, they added it along with the protein to make it that much more of an anabolic compound.

And just for all of you worry warts out there that swear that eating five eggs for breakfast will give you a stroke by Christmas next year, check out what Dr. Franco Columbu (yes he is a doctor of kinesiology and is also a Chiropractor and Mr Olympia) says about the relationship between eating eggs and cholesterol intake; "Eggs are one of the richest sources of choline, yet many people are afraid to eat them, believing the cholesterol they contain will lead to clogged arteries. Yet the cholesterol found in eggs is accompanied by lecithin, a waxy substance that not only nullifies the harmful substances in cholesterol but my also play an important role in lowering any risk of clogged arteries and heart attacks".

Sounds like eggs are actually beneficial to lowering heart problems to me. And just a note from Franco Columbu for all of the egg eaters, "Larger eggs are usually a better buy per ounce, but smaller ones often have a better flavor". 

Columbu, Dr. Franco. The BodyBuilder’s Nutrition Book. Chicago, Illinois: Contemporary Books, 1985.

Durand, Robbie. "Nutrition Performance: Dietary Cholesterol and Statins Increase Muscle Mass." Muscular Development May-June 2008: 180-184.

 


Jun 19 2008

Best Time To Take Vitamins

What is the best time to take your vitamins? Good question with a common sense answer that people don’t always follow.

Well, what time is best? Meal time!! Before, during, or following a meal.

Taking vitamins at a meal time will help to avoid digestive upset and nausea that may be experienced if vitamins are taken on an empty stomach (especially if you are taking a potent multi like Animal Pak).

In doing so, an additional benefit is gained: the nutrients in the supplements integrate with those in the food, making for a faster rate of absorption into the bloodstream.

Remember, there are two types of vitamins: Fat and Water Soluble; both have different absorption pathways and rates.

Two Kinds of Vitamins:

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Once absorbed into the circulation these vitamins are carried to the liver where they are stored.

Vitamins A, D, E and K make up the fat soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D and K are stored in the liver and vitamin E is distributed throughout the body’s fatty tissues.

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin C and the B vitamins are stored in the body for only a brief period of time and are then excreted by the kidneys. The one exception to this is vitamin B12, which is stored in the liver. Water-soluble vitamins need to be taken daily.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the B complex group make up the nine water soluble vitamins. The B complex group comprises of vitamins:

  • B6 (pyridoxine)
  • B1 (thiamine)
  • B2 (riboflavin)
  • B12 (niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid and cobalamin)

When choosing your multi vitamin it is beneficial to get time released tablets. Point being that, “since the body has little capacity to store water soluble vitamins, only the amount needed is absorbed by the body; the remainder is excreted in the urine within a few hours”.

Vitamins like Universals Animal Pak are time released so there is a longer constant absorption period offered to the body. Animal Pak also comes with enzymes that aide digestion of the vitamins.

Columbu, Dr. Franco. The BodyBuilder’s Nutrition Book. Chicago, Illinois: Contemporary Books, 1985.


Jun 17 2008

Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s Body Building Encyclopedia

Officially titled, “ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MODERN BODYBUILDING” aka The Bible of BodyBuilding.

Simply said, this book is a must have of over 800 pages of body building wealth of knowledge. If you search Amazon.com you can purchase this book for very cheap, especially considering the amount of knowledge you will possess once you own this book. I conducted a simple search and got a quote of $17.82, not bad ehh!?

The book has been revised so be careful to get the latest version which looks like this:

The Encyclopedia is divided into 5 “books” with individual chapters within each book. Each book covers a broad topic then the chapters address more specific topics. Within each chapter, more sub topics are outlined and covered.

Here is the break down of the BodyBuilding Encyclopedia:

BOOK 1 INTRODUCTION OT BODYBUILDING

CHAPTER 1: EVOLUTION AND HISTORY

CHAPTER 2: THE ABC’S OF BODYBUILDING

CHAPTER 3: THE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

CHAPTER 4: THE GYM

CHAPTER 5: GETTING STARTED

BOOK 2 TRAINING PROGRAMS

CHAPTER 1: BASIC TRAINING PRINCIPALS

CHAPTER 2: LEARNING YOUR BODY TYPE

CHAPTER 3: THE BASIC TRAINING PROGRAM

CHAPTER 4: ADVANCED TRAINING PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER 5: BUILDING A QUALITY PHYSIQUE: THE ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAM

CHAPTER 6: COMPETITION TRAINING PROGRAM

CHAPTER 7: MIND OVER MATTER: MIND, THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL

BOOK 3 BODY PART EXERCISES (NO CHAPTERS LISTED, ONLY SUBJECTS)

THE SHOULDERS

THE CHEST

THE BACK

THE ARMS

BICEPS TRAINING

TRICEPS TRAINING

FOREARM TRAINING

THE THIGHS

THE CALVES

THE ABDOMEN

BOOK 4 COMPETITION

CHAPTER 1: POSING

CHAPTER 2: TOTAL PREPARATION

CHAPTER 3: COMPETITION STRATEGY AND TACTICS

BOOK 5 HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND DIET

CHAPTER 1: NUTRITION AND DIET

CHAPTER 2: WEIGHT CONTROL: GAINING MUSCLE, LOSING FAT

CHAPTER 3: CONTEST DIET STRATEGIES

CHAPTER 4: INJURIES AND HOW TO TREAT THEM

It is worth mentioning that just the sheer number of awesome photographs in the book make it a piece of historic bodybuilding art all in itself.


Jun 16 2008

BodyBuilding.com

BodyBuilding.com functions dually as a Super Site and Super Store:


bbJust simply click the link then choose to enter the site or the store.

SuperSite

  • Over 20,000 pages of bodybuilding and fitness information with content updated every single day!
  • Learn the truth about gaining muscle, losing fat, competing and staying motivated.
  • Interact with our popular message boards and chat!
  • Contest listings and results, amateur profiles, exercise guides and more!


SuperStore

  • Over 6,500 products including supplements, clothing, tanning supplies, accessories and more!
  • Complete scientific info on each product. We help you choose the right products for you!
  • Guaranteed safe and easy ordering. We keep your info private.
  • Award winning customer service! We are here for you when you need us.


The super site has a wealth of product information and is a good place to conduct research at. If you need to research a product before you buy it, this is a good place to start. Everything from protein to pre work out supplements, you can find articles about them here.

As far as the super store goes, the prices are good, service is excellent, and you get a free gift with most orders. Bodybuilding.com will pricematch with any other site, just keep in mind that shipping policy will be matched as well.

BodySpace

is another added feature to Bodybuilding.com

BodySpace can be compared to a MySpace for bodybuilders.


Jun 16 2008

Muscular Develpment: Website & Magazine

Muscular Development Is a paperback and/or online Hardcore BodyBuilding Magazine!

The MD Website is 100% free and is a top notch resource for Bodybuilders.

Highlights of the website are the

Forums-for both

natural and chemically enhanced bodybuilders

MD TV which provides free interviews and video coverage of many pro events and athletes

Contest Coverage and Photos are available for free online

MD has an online supplement store

* An added perk to the forums is that several pro bodybuilders have accounts on the forums that provide an endless amount of Q&A.

MD is the most up front, no bull, body building magazine. There is a reason why so many IFBB pro bodybuilders are affiliated with MD.

Here are all of the covers to each issue of the MD magazine and a few randoms that says it all.

Franco Columbo, 2 time Mr. Olympia

Legendary Worlds Strongest Man, Bill Kazmaier

Big Nasty, Markus Ruhl

The German Giants: Markus Ruhl & Dennis Wolf

The Gift: Phil Heath