It's a scary world we live in. Terrorism, economic uncertainty, and globalization all promise to present us with a brand new world in the coming decades.

But what the heck does this have to do with bodybuilding?

A lot, actually. Watching the news and learning how to apply it to your own lives is a very valuable skill, which could significantly improve your quality of life.

Affects of oil prices on food

The price of a gallon of milk has gone up over a dollar in the last year. Supplement manufacturers are beginning to raise their prices, as the prices of raw materials they use to produce their goods are going up 25 to 50%. Should additional wars erupt in the middle east and the Persian Gulf find itself closed, we should be aware that the prices of food and water here in America will rise significantly, as oil prices will rise, leading to higher gas costs. This affects food prices because a lot of gasoline is used to deliver food to grocery stores.

Affects of food scares

Every time there is a 'mad cow' disease scare, beef production halts, and that daily steak you enjoy so much costs more to get to your dinner plate. Every time another 'avian bird flu' headline hits our screen, the poultry industry is forced to make adjustments, which are reflected in the price of chicken at the supermarket. The same is true with fruits and vegetables. Remember the scare with the tainted water causing bad produce resulting in several deaths? A smart bodybuilder will watch the news and make purchases accordingly. Not only avoiding foods which could potentially harmful - but by quickly buying goods which might become scarce/more costly when a market takes a hit.

Whey as a survival food

Should things (God forbid!) ever get bad in our country, they whey in your cupboards will be worth its weight in gold. Aside from its long expiration dates, whey protein provides high protein, good carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals. Used sparingly, a tub could last a family for weeks should no other food source be available. A few hundred dollars' invested in whey protein for a rainy day might be very wise investment.

Should natural (or manmade) disaster ever befall our nations or world, the strong always survive. As do the prepared. So each night as you catch the news, spend just a moment considering how the things happening on the global and national level could very possibly affect your bodybuilding goals. Being strong AND prepared is a very wise idea as we all enter the unknown world that is the future.

By: Dane Fletcher

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So you’ve seen one too many Men’s Health fitness models and decided that it was time to start your own quest for a ripped six-pack, eh?

 

Well being a beginner bodybuilder requires a conscious step back to build the proper foundation to your training program before following the more advanced tricks you’ll find floating around the muscle mags and web.

So where does one turn without the steroid-driven wisdom of the super giants of the stage?

Relax. I have got just the advice for you to start packing some serious muscle on your frame…

Beginner Bodybuilding Wake-Up Call #1: Reality Check

First let’s start with a reality check…

Do NOT expect to miraculously start looking ripped after a week.

Even with great genetics, you can’t change Mother Nature and your body is only capable of building so much muscle at a time…despite what the supplement ads may say.

Bodybuilding, especially beginner bodybuilding, requires time, discipline and consistency.

However, the good news is that the first couple of months will be the most exciting for you because this will be the time when you make the most visual gains to your body.

Shoot for .5 to 1 lb of lean muscle growth per week and you’ll be doing just fine.

Beginner Bodybuilding Wake-Up Call #2: Rest, Relax, Recover…and GROW!

Contrary to what most beginner bodybuilders believe, your muscles don’t grow while you’re ripping them apart in the gym.

The muscle fibers you’ve spent so much time pulverizing on the bench only get bigger when you’ve given them time to recover and grow in anticipation for the next “attack”.

Getting plenty of rest and a good 7-8 hours of sleep will help your body make the changes you’re looking for…especially since this is when you have your greatest release of natural growth hormones to help with the bulking up!

Beginner Bodybuilding Wake-Up Call #3: Check Your Ego At The Gym Door

Look, everyone started out somewhere.

So don’t feel you have to impress any of the no-necks at your local sweatbox simply because you think they’re constantly watching you and giggling under their breath.

They’re not.

But I’ll tell you what IS funny…

Watching beginner bodybuilders (and yes…even so called “experienced” lifters) flopping around like a hooked bass lifting too much weight on the bar and having to “cheat” on correct form to get the weight up.

Start at a low enough weight to get a full range of your muscle’s motion and use perfect form.

You’ll be rewarded with respect from the other guys around you…and consistent muscle growth the other “fish” won’t see.

Beginner Bodybuilding Wake-Up Call #4: The BASICS Still Work The Best!

Don’t get caught up in trying out some of the complicated exercises you see as filler in some of the muscle mags.

Standing on your head while balancing a dumbbell with one hand and a yoga instructor with the other while whistling the them to Rocky isn’t some ancient secret for massive muscle growth.

Beginner bodybuilders should stick with basic compound exercises (exercises that use more than one joint movement) to build the most muscle in the least amount of time.

Here are a few to get you started:

Curls

Bench Press

Squats

Pull Ups

Chin Ups

There are variations on all of these exercises so feel free to experiment with them as you gain experience.

Just be careful not to get too carried away in your beginner bodybuilding workout at first.

Start slow and listen to your body and how it’s responding.

In no time, you’ll be the expert everyone else will turn to when their routines stop bringing them the gains they were expecting.

Check out my bio for more advice.

 

By: The_Trainer

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One of the biggest lies told by elite bodybuilders (who are experimenting with dangerous levels of chemicals) is just how good their blood work is. For starters, many of them lie about having any blood work done at all. To have a blood panel done, one must make a doctors appointment, admit to the doctor that you do consume potentially illegal substances, and face ones own mortality should the news come back grim. However, as we get older, and as we inject foreign and very often unknown substances into our bodies, we should be mature enough to bit the bullet and get blood work done. Here are a few blood work values, and what they mean for the bodybuilder.

HDL/LDL and Total Cholesterol

These scan for heart disease. As a bodybuilder, you likely carry around a high bodyweight, and you likely consume a fair deal of cholesterol via eggs or red meat. Watch these levels, as half of Americans do die from heart failure, and bodybuilders are a high-risk group.

Homocysteine

Anabolic steroids cause high Homocysteine levels. This amino won't always be monitored in a blood screen, but as a bodybuilder, you should follow it. Homocysteine levels in the high range can mean you are in a high-risk group for heart disease. Taking your B vitamins daily reduces these levels.

Hemoglobin Profile

These are standard blood analysis tests and are used to discover serious diseases.

White Blood Cell Total

These are known as leukocytes, and their levels are indicative of cancers, stress, and other taxation of the immune system.

Red Blood Cell Count

If you use steroids and you have high red blood cell values, you are at risk for a heart attack.

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin delivers oxygen and carbon dioxide to the body. Use of anabolic or androgenic agents can cause an increase in this count, which can reveal higher instances of kidney disease, cancer, or anemia.

Platelets

Platelets help your body to form blood clots and stop bleeding. High platelet levels mean you should consult a specialist immediately and see what the minor problem could be. Low platelet levels are more serious, and can be indicative of diseases such as anemia or leukemia.

Sodium

Bodybuilders will often manipulate sodium levels before shows, and many will use this practice off-season as well. The use of diuretics is also one of the key reasons that many bodybuilders suffer from kidney failure. And one cannot forget the supplements we take on a daily basis, which must be filtered by the kidneys.

Standard blood tests study many other factors. This is just a starting ground. If you use anabolic steroids, you should have your blood work checked immediately, then yearly, to ensure you are keeping yourself healthy.

 

By: Dane Fletcher

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