September 23, 2008
One of the best arm exercises to achieve excellent gains in arm size is the preacher curl. We show how to do the preacher curl correctly in order to work the upper biceps muscle to the max.
Many people ask me What are the best arm exercises? Well do not miss out the preacher curl for for big arms.
If you wish to dramatically increase the size of your upper biceps muscle, well look no further than the preacher curl. The preacher curl is one of the best arm exercises and also one of the easiest to perform. This exercise get its name due to the body position adopted whilst carrying out the movement relating to a preacher leaning over a pulpit. The preacher curl predominantly works the upper biceps muscle, with some secondary resistance on the forearm flexors. It is important that when performing this exercise that your arms are positioned in front of your body and that you are leaning forward slightly. Always ensure that your elbows are in full contact with the bench throughout the movement and concentrate the feeling directly onto your biceps.
Execution of the preacher curl
Select a preacher bar and load it with a moderately heavy weight one in which you are capable of performing 10 to 12 good quality repetitions. Sit on the preacher bench, leaning over the angled arm pad with your elbows pinned against the pad. Assume the starting position, which is with the preacher bar level with the top of the chest and the biceps tensed. Slowly lower the barb resisting strongly as you do so until your biceps muscle is fully extended and then raise the bar tensing your biceps as you do so to the starting position. This constitutes one full repetition, you need to perform 10 to 12 reps and a total of four sets. On each consecutive set increase the weight incrementally
Great emphasis should be put on the lowering phase of the exercise. This really is one of the best arm exercises and you can expect rapid gains in arm muscle.
September 23, 2008
We show you how to make up a muscle diet designed to make muscle. Learn the significance of protein in your muscle diet in order to achieve maximum muscle gains. Learn how to determine the amount of calories required to maintain body weight and be able to choose good sources of healthy fat.
A lot of thought needs to go into producing a muscle diet designed to make muscle, we are going to address the main requirements in order for you to easily understand.
When we ingest food into our bodies it is broken down into fuel, which is used to sustain life and all of our energy requiring activities. There is a base level of calories required to maintain body weight and this figure can be calculated by multiplying your body weight in pounds by 15. So as an example for a 200lb man, the base calorie rate would be 3000 calories i.e. 200 x 15 = 3000. In your muscle diet in order to make muscle your calorie intake needs to be greater than your calorie expenditure.
The most important nutrient in your muscle diet is protein. Protein is the building block muscle consisting of a full range of essential and non-essential amino acids. Amino acids are the muscle repair agents, which are vitally important after your workouts. When undertaking weight training it is important to increase your protein intake to make muscle. Scientific research suggests that your protein intake should be in the region of 1 gram for every 1lb of body weight, when consumed at these levels you will ensure adequate supply of amino acids to support muscle repair.
The next most important nutrient is carbohydrate, which should form up to 50 to 55% of your muscle diet. There are two main forms of carbohydrates simple and complex basically bad and good. Forget and avoid simple carbohydrates they are worthless and are in abundance in sweets, cakes, sugar coated cereals and biscuits. Always opt for complex slow release carbohydrates as found in brown rice, brown pasta, wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables like broccoli.
The third most important supplement in your muscle diet to make muscle and which is essential to make muscle is fat. Fat should form no more 15% of your daily diet. It has been scientifically proven that good quality fats in your muscle diet have a positive effect on testosterone production, which is the main hormone responsible for building muscle. Good sources of fat include nuts particularly almonds, virgin olive oil, oily fish particularly salmon and mackerel and flax seed.
There you have it, incorporate high protein, complex carbohydrates and good sources of fat in your muscle diet to make muscle.
September 23, 2008
Muscle gain truth is hard to come by nowadays with all the chemical enhancements that are common place. But there are some essential rules that the natural bodybuilder needs to follow in order to gain muscle mass. First of all the importance of a good bodybuilding diet cannot be underestimated, it is not the time in the gym that builds the muscle, it is the recuperation period and post workout nutrition that achieves the results.
So ensure you follow the muscle gain truth tips below
1) You need to eat regularly every 3 hours, which will mean eating 5 to 6 meals a day. By eating small but frequent meals you ensure that your muscles are receiving a constant flow of protein and nutrients, whilst at the same time controlling your blood sugar levels. Digesting food is thermogenic process, which involves the burning calories and the more muscle you build the more calories are required to maintain the muscle. Another reason to eat small meals is simply you ensure that you do not overload your digestive system. Do not forget when we say 5 to 6 meals we do not mean banquets, 1 meal can simply be a tuna sandwich and protein shake.
2) You need high quality lean protein to gain muscle mass. Whey protein is the preferred source and the most biologically pure. Other good sources of protein are eggs, all white meats and tuna. Research states that you require at least 1 gram of protein for every 1lb of body weight in your bodybuilding diet so do not under measure yourself.
3) Stay away for the simple carbohydrates, which are the cakes, sweets and biscuits etc they are worthless and will turn to stored fat in no time. Steer towards the healthy slow release complex carbs predominantly found in wholegrain rice, brown pasta, wholemeal bread and all types of fruit.
4) Include good quality fats into your diet good sources include nuts, olive oil and oily fish. Good quality fats increase testosterone production, the main growth hormone responsible for gaining muscle mass.
5) Recuperation is vitally important to gain muscle mass. Once a muscle has been trained always allow 72 hours before training that particular muscle again. This will ensure that all the micro tears imparted on the trained muscle have repaired and that the muscle is back to full strength.
6) People ask if creatine is important for muscle gain truth is yes, it is very important. Creatine is well proven for creating optimum muscle size and muscle strength, so make sure you use it in your bodybuilding diet.
In order to gain muscle mass the number of calories ingested must exceed the number of calories burnt. Do not fall prey of the low fat diets, which significantly lower your calorific intake and at the same time lower your testosterone levels which inhibits muscle growth.
September 22, 2008
Whilst travelling around the world on bodybuilding seminars the most commonly asked question that is asked repeatedly by concerned bodybuilders is “Is it possible to build muscle and burn fat with a full body workout?”
Well you will be glad to know that the answer is a categorical yes. Have you ever heard the old wives tale saying that when you stop training your muscle will turn to fat, well a lot of old rubbish.
Muscle cells and fat cells are totally different and both respond to different types of stimulation. To basically increase your number of fat cells you need to increase your calorific intake and lead a sedentary lifestyle with a lack of physical exercise. Muscle cells on the other hand are stimulated to grow larger and multiply by applying resistance in the form of weights. Once the muscle has been subjected to this increase in resistance it requires adequate rest or recuperation time and most importantly correct nutrition in order in repair and increase in size. So in order to build muscle burn fat you need to incorporate brief high intensity exercise into your routine this will stimulate growth in the muscle cells and attack the cells which will in turn breakdown to release energy. You need then to ensure that you adhere to a well-balanced reduced calorie diet consisting of high protein, complex carbohydrates and good sources of fat.
Aim to reduce your daily calorific intake by 500 to 1000 calories below your base maintenance rate (body weight x 15) to ensure a gradual depletion of your body fat stores. As the number of intake calories are reduced the body looks for alternative sources of energy, the stored body fat is this alternative source. Muscles require extra calories for growth so you’ve guessed it the more muscle you build the more calories you burn. Follow these simple but effective guidelines and you will build muscle and burn fat guaranteed.
With over 25 years of build muscle and burn fat experience we would like to show you the most effective muscle building routine which guarantees to build muscle and burn fat.