Archive for October, 2009

15 Foods That Build Muscle- Top Muscle Building Foods

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Eating the right foods is just as important as training hard. It can actually determine how fast you build quality muscle. So, what I’m going to do is share with you 15 foods that build muscle. That way, you can quickly and easily build muscle mass in a short amount of time.

The top 15 foods you should eat to build muscles are:

1. Steak (red meat)- good source of protein. Steak has vitamins and other nutrients in it that are crucial for muscle growth. The fats in steak has been shown to help increase your testosterone. If you’re serious about putting on muscle, add this to your meal plan.

2. Brown Rice- great carbohydrate source. Slow digesting, which means it won’t spike your insulin levels.

3. Pasta- great source of carbs. Two cups provide about 90 grams of high-quality carbs. This will definitely help you build muscles.

4. Avocado- Helps increase your testosterone and also has other health benefits.

5. Eggs- This is a must if you are trying to build muscles. Great protein source.

6. Chicken- Lean protein. Great for anytime of the day.

7. Fruits (apples, bananas, strawberries)- Carbohydrate source. Also, fruits have many health benefits.

8. Oatmeal- Complex carb. Great for helping with carb intake.

9. Turkey- Great for lunch. Excellent protein source.

10. Salmon- Good source of protein. Salmon has omega fatty acids in it. Its a serious mass builder. You should eat this at least three times a week.

11. Cottage cheese- slow-digesting protein. Cottage cheese is a great late night snack.

12. Salad- Add olive oil and vinegar to your salad. It has alot of health benefits.

13. Tuna- Lean protein source. Tuna also has fatty acids in it. It’s great for helping with muscle growth.

14. Whole wheat bread- Great carb source.

15. Almonds- Great as a snack. Almonds have a decent amount of protein in it. It also has healthy fats in it. And is good for increasing testosterone levels.

Eating these foods is important if you’re trying to build muscle. Don’t skip meals. Make sure you eat every 2-3 hours. You should intake at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day and 1.5 grams of carbs per pound of body weight per day.

An example would be if you weighed 200 pounds, you would consume 200 grams of protein per day and 300 grams of carbs per day. This will ensure that your body is constantly in “muscle-building” mode. If you don’t intake enough protein, your muscles won’t grow.

These are the 15 foods that build muscle. Add them to your meal plan. Train hard. Drink plenty of water. And watch how fast your muscles grow.

Build Muscle With These Bicep Exercises

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

The most effective bicep exercises to build muscle

If you want to build muscle in your biceps, here are the best bicep exercises for building muscle.

Standing straight-bar curls

This is, without a doubt, the best overall bicep exercise you can do to build muscle.

It is the epitome of this muscle building program we are doing, which are low reps of heavy, intense, basic compound movements. Standing straight-bar curls allow you to directly hit the biceps with a great degree of overload.

Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Space your hands shoulder width and grip the bar with an underhand grip.

Begin with your arms straight, biceps fully extended, and your upper body leaning slightly forward. With an explosive motion, curl the weight towards you contracting the biceps.

During the curling motion, move your upper body back to an upright position. With control, lower the weight back to its original position getting a good stretch and lean slightly forward.

To make these the most effective at muscle building they can be, you need to lower the weight twice as slowly as you raise it.

Most of the muscle fiber stimulation actually occurs on the negative, or lowering, portion of the exercise.

So don’t just let the weight drop. This will not allow you to build muscle in the biceps as well. Control it all the way down.

Also, make sure you lower the weight all the way down so that the bar is touching your legs.

Do not get into the habit of doing partial reps on curls. You need a full range of motion in order to work the bicep.

Remember, the lowering portion actually works the biceps more than the lifting, so why wouldn’t you want to increase the range of motion and go all the way down with the bar?

If for whatever reason these straight-bar curls create a lot of stress to your wrists, try using the curved curl bar. The positioning of the wrists will reduce much of the tension.

Standing alternating dumbbell curls

These will also help you build muscle in the biceps.Hold the dumbbells at your side with your palms facing each other.

Curl one dumbbell at a time rotating your palm forward as you lift the weight.

After fully contracting the bicep, lower the dumbbell under control rotating your hand back to its original position.

Repeat the same steps with the opposite arm. Alternate back and forth until you have completed your reps.

Normally I am not an advocate for many 1-arm movements for muscle building, but this one is great for creating overload to the biceps.

These should be done standing, for several reasons. First, you should be able to lift more weight if you are standing versus seated. More weight means more overload.

Also, sitting down while performing these could add unnecessary stress to the lower back you do not need. These add a different twist than do straight-bar curls.

With dumbbells, you can twist your wrist at the top of the exercise, when you contract the bicep.

This twist of the wrist on the way up allows you to more fully contract the bicep, which will help you build muscle at the peak of the bicep.

Once again, it is very important that you lower the weight twice as slowly as you raise it. Also, allow one arm to be completely done its repetition before lifting the other arm.

I see many people start to raise and curl one arm before the other one is even done. It is all right to cheat a bit on your last, heavy set of these.

Try to get as many reps with good form as you can, but the last few you can cheat a bit by swinging the weight up a bit.

Do this only after fatigue has set in with proper form. These extra cheat reps cause additional overload to the biceps.

The combination of these two bicep exercises will allow you to gain strength and build muscle in your arms more so than any other bicep exercises.

They are both included in every single bicep muscle building workout that I do.

In fact, many bicep workouts I do only include these two exercises and yet they have allowed me to add inches to my arms in a short amount of time.

Build Muscle Through Bodybuilding

Monday, October 19th, 2009

You can build your muscles in two different ways. First you can rely on the heavy and fatty foods. It will help accumulate extra fat on your body and your muscles would look heavy due to the deposition of the fat. But this is not the right way to increase your muscle. It develops obesity and creates a number of health problems. On the other hand you can build muscle through bodybuilding. It connotes a well-shaped body muscles with the loss of extra fat. Bodybuilding gives a good and sculpted look to your body without actually increasing your weight.

Building muscles through natural ways is always good. You can do it with a proper planning. Here are some tips discussed for gaining body muscles through bodybuilding.

First, do strength training and get stronger. Strength training will help you gain huge muscles. If you don’t know how to start just begin with strong lift program. Do it at least half an hour daily.

Second, go for weight training. It will make you stronger and making your muscles more prominent. It works your muscles. Muscles undergo wear and tear and then recuperate. In addition to it weight training teach you how to balance weight. It increases your muscle endurance. It is quite safe if you work in a natural motion. It is versatile in nature as there are plenty of equipments you can use for weight lifting. You can better go to a gym for weight training.

Third, Target your biceps, triceps abdomen and legs also while doing weight training. Don’t forget to train your legs. Then only your entire body will take a good shape.

Fourth, eat properly. A good diet is necessary for muscle growth and recuperation. It will help build your muscles. Split your meals. Eat six times daily but avoid fatty and junk foods. Strength training burns your calories. So you need extra protein and carbohydrate to compensate the loss of energy. This way you can gain weight without gaining fat.

Fifth, eating healthy is also must in muscle making program. Your diet should incorporate all kinds of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, saturated fat containing fish and olive oil and fiber food.

Food to Eat to Build Muscles

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

When it comes to building muscles, you already know that training hard will help you grow. However, if you’re serious about training, you should also be serious about your nutrition. So, what I’m going to do is share with you some food to eat to build muscles.

I’m going to outline some foods that will help you grow. I’ll categorize them by protein and carbs, which both play vital roles when building muscles.

Protein

Lean Chicken Breast. This is one of my favorites. Great protein source.

Turkey. Lean protein source. Low in fat. Great for anytime of the day.

Beef (lean burgers and steak). This is the “big daddy” of muscle building foods. Red meat has a great rep in the muscle building world. It helps increase testosterone and supplies a good amount of protein.

Tuna. Great protein source. Low in fat. And great for lunch.

Salmon. It has alot of protein and healthy fats in it. Should be eating 2-3 times a week when trying to build muscles quickly.

Cottage Cheese. This food is a slow digesting protein. Great for eating during the day or right before bed.

Eggs. Great at building muscles. So, make sure you add eggs to your meal plan. I usually eat 3 whole eggs and 3 egg whites in the morning for breakfast.

Carbohydrates

Pasta. Loaded with carbs. Great for helping build muscles. You can choose between regular pasta or whole wheat.

Brown Rice. Another food that’s loaded with carbs.

Whole wheat bread. Great with turkey, tuna, or chicken. It also has a good amount of carbs in it.

Oatmeal. Great in the morning with eggs. 2 packets (or 1 cup) provides about 40-50 grams of carbs.

Fruits (apples, bananas, oranges). Provides a good amount of carbs, as well as other health benefits.

Potatoes. Another great source of carbs. Add this with a steak and you’ve got yourself a great muscle building meal.

Bonus

Avocados. Great for increasing testosterone, which is extremely important when it comes to building muscles.

Almonds. Decent amount of protein. Great for a snack. And will also help with your testosterone.

These are some foods to eat to build muscles. Add these foods to your meal plan and you’ll definitely notice dramatic increase in your muscles.

How to Build Muscles Fast

Friday, October 16th, 2009

If a person wants to build muscle fast and rapidly then this article is the best option for him to gather information about how build muscles in a fast and rapid manner. Different people have different reasons for building muscles. For example, some people want to build muscles for staying healthy and fit to perform well in sports while others build them for looking in front of the opposite sex. If a person wants to build muscle fast then he should first get a motivation for this because without motivation no task is possible for a person. The best way to get a motivation is to write the reason behind building muscles on a paper and stick it somewhere so that the person would be able to read it everyday. When he continuously reads the motive of muscle building everyday, then he would realize that he need to get off from his couch and go to the gym and exercise regularly.

For building muscle fast, the person need to know the reason or rather the “science” involved in building these muscles. This is not the science which is involved in rocket propulsion but the working of the biological processes of how the muscles expand themselves in our body and get heavier and bulkier in less time required. Not every person has 17 inch biceps and proper abdominals on his stomach. So, a person need to work hard and go through intense workouts daily in order to build muscle fast and in a very effective manner. Some people decide to go for supplements but most of them have their own side effects and adversely affect the body in the long run. So, intense workout is the best way for building muscles fast.

When a person goes through an intense workout, the molecules of the muscles breakdown inside his body and are split into lighter particles. This process is called micro trauma and it is invisible to us as it occurs inside our body. When the workout is over, these lighter particles again join themselves and form bigger particles during the recovery time. When these bigger particles are re formed, they become stronger and heavier then before and hence muscles are built in the person’s body. Foods like chicken, eggs, fish and beef which are rich in protein are suggested along with these workouts as a lot of energy is drained. These foods provide the body with intense amount of energy so that the body gets ready for the next workout.

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How to Build Muscle Fast in Bodybuilding

Friday, October 16th, 2009
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Nowadays people are getting crazy about bodybuilding. Hey! You wannabe a muscle man don’t you? Well, it’s not a big deal. Gaining muscle fast is quite possible. But it requires some strategy. The strategy has three main elements. First is weight training through weight or hydraulic resistance equipment. Secondly, high level nutrition intake supplemented by extra proteins is equally important. Third, taking rest for recuperation between workouts will serve the real purpose.

Weight training is critically needed for a sculpted body with prominent muscles. Here weight training should not be confused with strength training. Weight training builds muscle fast whereas strength training helps strengthen muscles and increases muscle flexibility. Weight training is not started abruptly. It should be preceded by some stretching and warm up exercises. Cycling, running and jogging are some good warm up exercises. Sit ups and push ups exercises constitute important elements in bodybuilding program.

It is always better to set a goal for the build muscle fast program. Build a three months program. In the first month the number of sit ups and push ups should be kept up to 15. It should be done in three sets followed by weight training. Weight training should be started with mild weight. It slowly improves the stamina and endurance of the body. Moreover, it should always be targeted to the major muscle groups such as biceps, triceps, and thigh and abdomen muscles.

In the second month the number of sit ups and push ups may be increased up to 50 in a week. The quantity of weight in the weight lifting should be increased as per stamina. The number of repetitions in the weigh lifting should be increased. In the third month the pace of sit ups and sit ups should be maintained with minor additions in the exercises. The quantity of weight should be increased to give maximum stretch to the muscles. But the build muscles fast program is still incomplete. What is missing here is the nutrition.

Adequate nutrition is must for the muscle building program. A body builder needs more carbohydrate and proteins than an average person. During weight training and other exercises muscles undergo micro tears which later recuperate. Therefore body demands extra energy and nutrition. Extra energy is provided by carbohydrate and protein works as bodybuilding substance. Therefore an ideal diet for muscle gaining program should incorporate protein and carbohydrate enriched food such as rice, oats, nuts, mutton, soy, fruits and green vegetables. In addition to it, plenty of water intakes are also must. It helps in digestion and keeps body metabolism in good condition. This is all about how to build muscle fast. Just keep it up and see the difference within six months. Good luck!!

How to Build Muscle Quick- Top Muscle Building Tips

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Building muscle quick is easy to do. All you have to do is follow simple blueprint that allows for maximum muscle growth over a short period of time. So, what I’m going to share with you are some tips on how to build muscle quick. That way, you get the most out of your effort in the gym.

The first thing you have pay attention to when trying to build muscles quickly is your nutrition. You have to eat alot of protein and carbs in order to grow. Make sure you eat at least 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight and 1.5 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight.

An example of this would be if you weigh 200 pounds, you’ll want to consume 200 grams of protein per day and at least 300 grams of carbs per day. This will help your body stay in “muscle-building” mode all day, everyday.

Some foods you should eat are red meats, salmon, eggs, cottage cheese, fruits, chicken, turkey, whole wheat breads and pastas, and brown rice.

Along with nutrition, you should train hard in order to quickly build muscle. Make sure you do mass building exercises. These exercises consists of bench press, squats, deadlifts, barbell curls, and military press. You should do about 4-5 sets of 6-8 reps.

Be sure to train at least 3 times a week. Don’t train more than 5 times a week, though. You don’t want to overtrain your muscles. If you do, you’ll actually lose muscles instead of building muscle.

Before your workouts, you should consume whey protein with complex carbs (oatmeal, apple, or banana). And after your workout, drink 40 grams of whey protein (about 2 scoops) with simple carbs (powerade, white bread with jelly, bagel, or baked potato). This is important if you want to build muscle quick.

These are some tips on how to build muscles quickly. Use these tips and watch how fast you grow.

How Women Can Build Muscle

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Some women are afraid to engage in exercises that allow them to build muscle.

They have the misconception that doing so will give them a manly figure.

However, that doesn’t have to be the case. Exercises that allow you to build muscle will make you look leaner and healthier than ever.

Since muscle weighs more than fat you will also find that your metabolism is revved up.

That means you will burn more calories than you did before. If you are attempting to lose weight such efforts will certainly be beneficial to you.

Many personal trainers are encouraging women to build muscle as well.

Even if they have successfully lost weight they may not be happy about how their body looks.

Areas of loose skin such as on the arms, legs, and stomach can make a woman feel unattractive.

Exercises to build muscle though can help to firm up those areas so a woman does feel good about how she looks.

For most women, using small amounts of weights can be very effective. You don’t have to lift large amounts in order for resistance training to be effective.

You need to start out where you are a comfortable and then work from there.

You will start to feel that you have more strength as well as firming up not long after you incorporate such a regular exercise routine.

Women need to realize that they won’t build muscle like men do. This has to do with the fact that men have so much more testosterone in their bodies.

Women bodybuilders have to take a variety of steroids to be able to really build those huge muscle masses.

It is important for a woman to take her current body type into consideration when it comes to how to build muscle.

If you already have a muscular build then you will find it is easier for you to continue to define it.

Those women that have a round body with excess fat will need to work on losing fat at the same time in order to see results.

Those women with a very slender build may not see the results of their efforts to build muscle.

However, they will notice they continue to get stronger which will benefit their body as well.

For many women, endurance is something they struggle with from the start of their efforts to build muscle.

Make sure you use lighter weights than you can handle to start out with.

Focus more on the number of reps you are able to accomplish with them than the overall weight of what you are lifting.

Women can definitely benefit from exercises that allow you to build muscle.

Take the time to learn the various exercises that are a good match for our current fitness level. You also need to make sure you perform each one correctly.

Failure to do so can result in disappointing results. It can also result in injuring yourself.

As your level of fitness increases you can move on to more difficult exercises designed to help you build muscle.

Aid Of Natural Supplements To Build Strong Muscle And Body.

Building Muscle – How Do You Really Start ?

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Do you want to build muscles? Where do you start and where do you get all the information from? Even though there is a lot of information on the internet, much of it is contradictory and the beginner oftentimes does not know what to believe. However, especially when you start out with building muscles it is vital that you get the right information before you begin. Why? Because body building can be a potentially dangerous sport, if you don’t know what you are doing. I had a friend, Mike, who was very enthusiastic about getting his dream body. So he went to the local gym next door just to find out that he strained his back right away. He had enough of building up muscles but rather goes to his physiotherapist to get his back right. This example is not to scare you but just to keep you aware that knowing what you are doing is a good idea, especially for body building. Yes, you will find a lot of good information on the internet and there are some good sources where you can even get online support. However it might also be a good idea to get an additional trainer in the gym who will watch you. By watching you, I mean doing a proper medical check up before you start, giving you the right advise on nutrition and workout plans and keeping your posture right to avoid injury.

Be also aware of the controversial issue involving supplements. It is true that if you want to start body building and grow muscles that sources of protein are vital. Keep in mind however, that not all supplements are equally good. Supplements provide your body with the right energy and help your muscles to grow effectively strong and big. It will also provide you with the right energy to endure during your workout.

Having a training partner when you do your exercises is also a great way to motivate you and to focus on your muscle building strategy. A partner can also look at the proper posture you are taking so you don’t make mistakes that might harm you. He can also help you go beyond certain limits to enhance your muscle growth. Stay away from a too much competitive behaviour though. That might not only endanger your health but also your friendship.

Nutrition is a very important part of muscle building, as well. This is an often underestimated topic in body building. Probably the best body building tip I can offer you right now is to stay very hydrated in the first place. Water is a good hydration source and you should avoid drinks that contain too many sugars. Eating well and having a balanced diet is also vitally important to body building. Instead of three big meals a day, eat 5 or 6 smaller ones that are well-balanced and filled with proteins and carbohydrates. The carbohydrates will provide you with energy and the protein will contribute to more energy in your body building workout.

To summarize, having the right kind of information about building muscle is crucial when starting out. I guess it is with everything in life, that you need to get the right knowledge from the right place. Keep in mind that having the proper guidance, for example from an ebook might be a good place to start. Also don’t just join any gym to start out. Go some place where you find the right trainer who will coach you and treat you as an individual. Well done, you are taking the right steps towards a better body by getting the knowledge first.