January 4, 2009
This compound is a perfect example of the extremes that some bodybuilders will go to be the “biggest”. Not content to have 20 or 22-inch arms, bodybuilders found a way to push the limits up to the 27-inch barrier. Yes you read correctly there are freaks walking around now sporting thigh-sized arms from their shoulders!
Synthol has its origins in the 1980’s when a drug called Esiclene was all the rage. For those who missed the 1980’s, Esiclene, was not used to build muscle mass like traditional steroids but instead was used as a quick fix to bring up weak bodyparts before a contest. The drug acted primarily by causing a localized swelling. Bodybuilders found it very useful in bringing up such small muscles as the calves, rear shoulders, and arms. The only drawbacks were that Esiclene was very painful to use and very short-lived.
In the mid 1990’s a researcher took the next logical step and invented an oil-based compound that could be injected directly into the muscle.
The initial name he chose was Synthol, but he later learned that this was already registered and trademarked by a pharmaceutical company. So he renamed his product Pump N’ Pose, but as with steroid trade names the first name stuck. It has now reached the point that Synthol is as well known as such bodybuilding compounds as creatine, Dianabol, and whey protein.
Chemically the drug is composed of 85% medium-chain triglyceride oils (a fatty acid), 7.5% lidocaine (painkiller), and benzyl alcohol. The oil is injected straight into the muscle where it becomes trapped between the muscle fibers. With each injection, a larger volume of oil builds up, and the muscle swells up just like a balloon. It is estimated that about 30% of what is injected is broken down by the body while the remaining 70% breaks down slowly over three to five years. Users report incredible muscle pumps during training, but this could be a result of the extra pressure generated by the trapped oil.
Is it safe?
Although some bodybuilders consider Pump & Pose relatively safe to use, there are numerous health issues to consider. Injecting any amount of fatty-acid material intramuscularly can be dangerous. This is compounded by the fact that most bodybuilders have any medical training. It’s very easy to hit a major nerve and if you do hit one by accident you can easily cause permanent paralysis of muscle fibers in that area.
The repeated injections cause other problems. As bodybuilders have discovered from long-term steroid use, sticking a needle into the same are results in the build up of painful scar tissue that may require surgery to remove. And it gets worse. Should you inject into a vein or artery by mistake the fatty acids could be carried to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. They may also reach the heart and induce a heart attack. They might even make it to the brain and lead to stroke. As you might guess all three cases are potentially fatal. Oh and did we mention that if you strike a larger artery such as the femoral artery you could bleed to death in minutes!
The safe and legal way to build muscle mass!
Hopefully we’ve convinced you about the many perils to using Synthol. That short-term fix may put you in the big training gym in the sky. We don’t think a few extra inches are worth risking your life over; certainly not when there are safer ways to do it. Unless you’ve been training for decades, odds are you’ve haven’t given natural training a chance to maximize your genetic potential just yet. You don’t build 20-inch arms in three or four months. It takes years. There is also a good possibility that you haven’t explored the many facets of healthy eating yet. The late Vince Gironda said bodybuilding was about 90 percent nutrition. While Vince’s number may be high, he was definitely on to something there.
Finally have you tried any of the legal steroid analogs yet? These powerful compounds are safe, legal, and highly effective.
Don’t fall for the quick fix. Play it safe!
The previous information has been created by experts to help you increase your knowledge base about anabolic steroids and bodybuilding supplements. Be knowledgeable. Be informed. Make the right choice!
Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and legal
steroid analogs. Are you looking for
more of his Synthol
articles?
http://www.bodybuilding-news.net
©Article Bob Howard 03/22/2006
Comments Off
January 1, 2009
You may have seen lots of women being crazy about men with six-pack belly. I know because I am, as they look masculine to me. Almost every model I see on TV has the 6 perfect ripples and it seems all the women melt at the sight.
Nevertheless, don’t take it personally. Every man can have six perfect ripples on the stomach. The only problem is the extra fat that mostly takes place in the stomach area. The fat covers the six-pack body of a man.
I have seen some male models work very hard to achieve such good body. They have done so many exercises to get rid of the fat from their belly.
I’m sure every man can do it as long as he is willing to do so.
Do you want to have and show your six-pack? Don’t worry, you can get rid of your fat and get your six-pack by learning the facts and finding the right way to reach your goal.
But you must make sure you discipline yourself in doing it.
Here are the things you should do to have a six-pack performance:
1. Avoid Fat - Avoid foods containing many fats and sugar as they will increase the number of fats in your stomach. Also, don’t drink soda as it could kill your hard work.
2. Jogging - You can jog everywhere, either in the neighborhood or at the gym. Jog for at least 15 minutes and increase 5 minutes every week to get rid of your fat.
3. Do Sit-Ups - Do your sit-ups every time you want to go to bed and after you wake up at least 50 times each (it depends on your physical strength).
4. Go to the Gym - If you are not sure about your exercise, go to the gym and find a professional trainer. Be a member of your local gym so you can be sure about losing weight and gaining muscle for your stomach.
If you can do it routinely, you may see the result in one or two months. It depends on how you train your self.
Those exercises, which mostly strengthen your stomach, are also important to support your spine and protect your back. So, don’t ever give up doing your stomach exercises as you will get all the benefits.
There are good points by doing those mentioned above. You will not only have your six-pack, but also increase your health. You will change into a real man by having a healthy and well-shaped body.
Good luck with your exercise.
About The Author: Riana Lance writes about health in some publications. Twice a week she informs her health tips and knowledge in a newsletter. Subscribe to get your free twice a week newsletters so you can stay healthy for the rest of your life from http://Heathifica.com
Comments Off
December 31, 2008
In an earlier article we concluded that muscles must be worked to failure if an adequate hypertrophic response is to occur. Whether this involves one or more sets is irrelevant as in either scenario the muscles must be worked to failure and beyond. This causes significant microscopic damage to the muscle tissues and it is during the period of recovery that protein synthesis undertakes the repair process that results in bigger muscle fibers.
But how long does this process take and when is it safe to expose those same muscles to further intensive exercise? Scientific studies suggest that muscle fiber degradation takes approximately five to seven days to repair and recover. Any further exposure of the affected muscle to intensive activity will interfere with the recovery process and actually prevent it from achieving maximum growth. However, using the muscle to assist in exercising other body parts or even taking part in low intensity aerobic exercise will not prevent recovery.
It follows therefore that each muscle group should be trained intensively only once each week in order to allow full recovery. This can be achieved by incorportating a split training regime that allows you to work out several times each week but still exercise each muscle group intensively only once every seven days.
You can find out more about building muscle by visiting the site listed below.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
Comments Off
December 27, 2008
If you are a regular exerciser and on the day after a hard workout, you never feel soreness in your muscles, you are not exercising properly and you will not improve your fitness level as much as you could. Take a tip from competitive athletes who train by taking a hard workout, feeling sore on the next day and then take easy workouts until the soreness goes away in a day or two.
The good soreness that makes you stronger is called DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and is caused by microscopic tears in your muscle fibers. It is not caused by lactic acid buildup. When muscles are damaged, they produce healing prostaglandin that cause muscles to become bigger and stronger than before they were exercised vigorously. Researchers have shown that DOMS heals faster when you do nothing, but if you take off every time your muscles feel sore, you will never become an athlete and you will not reach a high level of fitness. When you exert very slight pressure on your muscles when you have DOMS, you cause muscle fibers to become more fibrous and they will become stronger so they can withstand greater stress during your harder workouts. Never try to put a lot of pressure on your muscles when they feel sore. That will markedly increase your chances of injuring yourself.
It is relatively easy to tell the difference between DOMS and an impending injury. DOMS is usually symmetrical, involving muscles equally on both sides of your body. An injury is more likely to cause pain that is only on one side. DOMS does not feel worse as you exercise at light intensity. An injury worsens with continued use of the injured part. Stop exercising when you have an injury.
When your muscles feel sore from exercising, take the day off or exercise with very light resistance, such as running or cycling very slowly, or lifting extremely light weights. Try stretching gently to help restore flexibility. Deep massage may help you to heal faster and toughen your muscles. Creams and ice will not help you recover faster, but many aspirin-containing creams and the coldness from ice may help alleviate discomfort.
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com
Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.
Comments Off
December 21, 2008
Building muscle is a quality very few people possess. Not only do you have to train like a bodybuilder, you must be willing to eat like one too. This article will educate the people who are interested in building muscle on the basics of bulking. You will learn what bulking is, the difference between clean and dirty bulking, and supplements used when trying to bulk up.
Bulking is a time when you are primarily focused on building muscle. You must be willing to train like an animal and eat more calories than what you are used to eating. It is very important that you set goals for yourself when trying to successfully bulk. You can only gain .5 to 1 pound of muscle naturally every week, so set realistic goals for yourself so that you don`t get discouraged when you`re not gaining the amount of weight you`ve set yourself out for.
Your main concern when trying to bulk is your diet. Clean bulking is eating clean, making sure that you don`t gain any fat. Dirty bulking is thinking that by eating pizza and cookies that you will gain mass. Doing this will cause weight gain, but not the kind of weight you want to be gaining. Your diet should consist of the same bodybuilding foods that you would normally eat, just in a higher caloric amount. Aim for an excess of 300 to 500 per day and make adjustments at the end of the week if you feel that you`re not gaining enough muscle.
Most bodybuilders use supplements to assist with muscle growth. The three most frequently used on a bulk are creatine, whey protein, and glutamine. Creatine holds water, making your muscles look harder. Whey protein is just a more convenient way of getting your daily protein needs, and glutamine is an amino acid used to keep fat gain to a minimum while doing a clean bulk. There are many other supplements that aid in muscle growth, but for the beginning bodybuilder, these three are your best choices.
Don`t confuse bulking with cutting. Cutting is the exact opposite of gaining muscle. When cutting, you are trying to shed as much fat as possible while not worrying so much about muscle gain. It is very hard to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time, so bodybuilders have two choices. To cut or to bulk. Which one are you? Until next time, later.
*http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_100/119_fitness_tip.html
*http://bodybuilding.about.com/b/a/225939.htm
*http://www.bodybuilding-supplement-guide.com/bulking-up-muscle.html
*http://www.freedomfly.net/Articles/Training/training19.htm
Zach Bashore
February 06 ,2006
My Sites: http://www.clubbodybuilding.com and http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html
Comments Off
November 17, 2008
When it comes to exercise, resistance training is often overlooked. Resistance training is an essential part of any fitness program and has many amazing benefits. Taking part in a sound resistance training program will improve the conditioning of muscle tissue and increase metabolism. Metabolism can be defined as the amount of calories the body needs each day to sustain life. An improvement in muscle conditioning and metabolism will result in the reduction of body fat and give the body healthy lean appearance.
What is resistance training?
Resistance training is a form of exercise that challenges the muscles of the body by applying resistance to a movement. Methods of resistance training include using one’s own body weight, stretch bands, free-weights, machine weights, medicine balls and anything else that will apply resistance to movement.
Who can benefit from resistance training?
People of all ages can benefit from resistance training. From teenagers to seniors the benefits of resistance training are unmatched by any other form of exercise. When starting any fitness program it is recommended that you seek the knowledge of a certified fitness profession.
Why should one apply resistance training to their fitness program?
Aside from improved muscle conditioning and an enhanced metabolism, resistance training has number of other great benefits.
Additional benefits of resistance training include:
* Enhances physical appearance/Increases lean muscle/Decreases body fat
* Increases energy
* An increase and restoration of bone density
* A decrease in coronary disease
* Increases strength, power and endurance
* Injury prevention
* Aids in rehabilitation and recovery from injury
* Increases (LDL) good cholesterol
* Slows the aging process
* Improves balance, flexibility, stability and mobility
* Lowers resting heart rate / Lowers blood pressure
Some closing tips to apply to your resistance training program:
1. Perform a 3-5 minute warm up on a piece of cardiovascular equipment before beginning you resistance training routine. This will help you avoid injury and improve the quality of your workout.
2. Stretch before (after warm up) and after your resistance training program. This also will help you avoid injury and improve the quality of your workout.
3. Perform your resistance workout before performing your aerobic workout. This will maximize the benefits of both your resistance and aerobic training workouts.
4. Perform each set of resistance training to the point of momentary muscular failure while maintaining proper form. This will maximize muscular conditioning.
5. Exercise large muscle groups before small muscle groups. (i.e. Chest before Triceps)
For additional information about this article and articles similar to this please visit http://www.lakenormanfitness.com or you can e-mail me at craig@ncprecisionfitness.com
Craig LePage, CSCS, NASM-CPT
Precision Fitness NC, Director
Craig is a well-known Fitness Professional in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and is the Director of Precision Fitness Mooresville. He has been helping people reach their fitness and wellness goals for more than 12 years. His credentials include a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Bridgeport Connecticut, CSCS credentials from the NSCA and a Personal Training Certification from the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Craig has written for Charlotte, NC area Newspapers, authored his own fitness & nutrition program and is a frequent guest on a Charlotte area radio show that focus’ on health and wellness. He has recently co-authoring a golf specific exercise book (Play Better, Longer - Golf) and is also working on a book of his own that should be available sometime next year.
Comments Off
November 8, 2008
Lets discuss Muscle and Fitness — The Second Key To Successfully Achieving Your Fitness Goals. But just before that, I’d like to remind you about what the previous article discussed.
In a previous article called: “Muscle and Fitness — The First Key To Achieving Your Goals”, you were given ten steps to follow. If you haven’t received this article, I suggest you read that before this one here, as it will make what I’m talking a little clearer.
You can access that article here:
Muscle and Fitness — The First Key
In summary, that article discussed the first key — the ‘HAVE‘ key. This is where you identify your muscle and fitness goals. There are still the ‘BE‘ and ‘DO‘ keys to go.
Which brings me to the second key:
The ‘DO’ Key
This is the action key. The one that gets you to do what is necessary to make things happen.
So what you need to do is first identify what your goals are. Decide exactly what you want to achieve and then choose the necessary actionable steps to achieve those goals.
In the first key, the HAVE key, you went through a process that helped (or will help) you in deciding what you want. Maybe it was to lose weight or gain mass muscle, or whatever.
The point is that you know what you want to get out of your training routine before commencing the routine that suits your goals.
Assuming you have gone through the HAVE key, it’s time to go through the DO key and structure your bodybuilding workout routine, or fitness routine, around your goals.
So lets do that, shall we?
1. Review the work you did in the HAVE key. In other words, look at the index card (postcard) you created that identified your exact goals.
2. Read them. As you do so, feel them. Imagine performing a specific exercise that would be most beneficial for that particular goal. See it happen, as if it is actually happening. What exercise would be the most effective one in helping you achieve that specific goal?
Once you have decided which exercise to use, write it down.
3. Now move onto the next goal on that card. Go through the motions that you just did in number two above. Feel it. See it. How good do you feel?
Now, which exercise will be most effective for that specific goal? Write it down just below the first one.
4. Now move onto the next goal on your card and repeat steps two and three above. Do this until you’ve decided on your specific routine.
Again, write the exercises down.
5. How many repetitions do you need to do?
How many sets should you perform?
This depends on your goals. If it’s to lose weight, then keep the weights light, but heavy enough to provide adequate resistance. If you choose to build muscle, then decide how much muscle you want to build. Then you would choose heavier weights and fewer reps.
If you’re not sure how much weight to use, reps to do or sets to perform… then seek the advice of a professional.
6. Time to choose how often you need to train. If you building bigger muscle, you may need to break your training regime into two to three parts. In other words…
You may decide to work the chest, back and legs on day 1. Then shoulders, biceps and triceps on day 2. Then rest on day 3.
Or are you looking to lose weight?
Then you may choose to perform a total body workout on day 1 and rest on day 2. You may wish to add in some aerobical workout routine as this will help burn off the excessive calories much more quickly.
Just make sure that it’s appropriate for your goal.
7. What about your diet?
Decide what foods are right for you and your goals. Are you looking to lose weight?
Then eat less, but consume more healthy food with low fat and calories. Decide how often to eat.
Looking to gain weight?
Then eat more. Also choose better foods that can help with weight gain, while they are healthy at the same time. Look for decent whole foods. Decide if supplements are necessary.
8. Make sure that you’ve written everything down. Review it and see if you’ve left anything out.
Now you have the DO key done. You are at the point where you have structured your training program to help you get your goals. In other words…
You now have two of the three keys:
‘DO - HAVE‘.
All that’s left is the ‘BE‘ key. But, that’s enough for today. Just review this article and take action on the steps above. Follow these steps until complete.
Once you follow these steps, you are set up for the final key… the BE key.
Keep an eye out for it.
Tony Farrell of provides valuable insight into the world of health, fitness and bodybuilding. Through his unique approach, he truly helps people to succeed and reach their goals. To subscribe to his ezine, just visit:
http://www.how-to-build-muscle-and-fitness.com
Comments Off
November 1, 2008
Sculpting your body involves two factors - losing fat and gaining muscle. Only when these are enjoined will there be any noticeable improvement in your physique.
Some people have good muscle mass. Unfortunately, it is lost in a sea of fat. The only way you can get muscle definition is by losing the excess fat around the muscles. On the other hand, some people diet and lose fat only to realize that they don’t have any muscle to show for the diet.
There should be a balance of the two to have any meaningful result to one’s diet and body building regimen. Here are a few tips for losing fat and gaining muscle:
1. Build Muscles With Weights - Free weights are some of the most effective means of gaining muscle. The technique here is to start a high-intensity, low-rep workout to build muscles.
Contrary to what people think, the only way to build muscles is to push your muscles to exert themselves to about 80 to 90 percent of its limit. This forces the body to bulk up its muscles in anticipation of greater workload over the course of a few weeks.
Some people settle for low-intensity, high-repetition exercises. These types of exercises increases the endurance and tones the muscles, however, they do not build muscle mass that much. A good regimen would be to engage in muscle bulking programs before going on endurance training in alternation.
Don’t forget to increase your protein intake as you will need it to build new muscles.
2. Lose Fat - As mentioned earlier the only way to get muscle and cuts defined is by losing fat. You can do this in a variety of ways. Here are some of them.
Dieting - thanks to today’s high-fat, high-salt diet, most Americans are obese and overweight. If you are to lose fat, you will have to reduce the amount of fat, and salt in your diet. Go for healthy foods such as vegetables, grains, and fruits, and avoid processed foods, fats, some oils, and eat meat in moderation.
Water - While most body builders try to lose water by decreasing fluid intake, increased fluid intake can actually help flush out fats in the body, not to mention it helps you body function better - and a healthier body is easier to sculpt.
3. Rest - Without rest there can be no room for your body to grow. Some body builders have had trouble gaining only to realize that it is due to overtraining. Your body needs rest to repair tissue and grow muscle, so don’t forget to rest and get enough sleep.
Conclusion
In all, sculpting a better body is not impossible. However, it will take a total commitment from you to be anything but futile. If you invest enough time, effort, and patience, you will very soon find that your body has rewarded you for your efforts.
Comments Off
October 31, 2008
This is a nice little workout for those who want to maintain or increase strength, while knocking some excess fat off the body. It combines power exercises and sprinting with minimal rest between exercises.
Diet is very important here. You can’t be trying to lean up and eat McDonald’s at the same time. Clean it up with fruits and veggies, chicken, fish, lean meat and whole grains.
Forget the whole no-carb crap. The brain needs carbohydrates for nourishment and you need them for the energy that hard workouts demand. It’s the cheap carbs like white bread, candy, soda and chips that you don’t need. Fruits and veggies will never hurt anyone, period.
The Get Lean, Stay Powerful Workout
Overhead Press 2 x 6-12
Pulldowns 2 x 6-12
Squats 1 x 15-20
Pullovers 1 x 20
Bench Press 2 x 6-12
Sit-ups 1 x 25
Interval Sprints: 10-12 minutes with one minute sprinting and one minute at an easy pace
Notes: Workout 2-3 days per week. Start out and do as many intervals as you can working up to the 10-12 minute range. If this feels like too much, drop down to one hard set to failure for each exercise. If you decide to do one hard set and don’t have a squat rack or a partner, DO NOT go to failure on the squats or bench press!
Understand that to be successful in any weight training program - hard work is a must! Half-hearted effort does nothing for you. If you’re new to weight training or grossly out of shape, consult a physician first. End of disclaimer.
Brian Carson is a writer and workout enthusiast who write and edits the Workout Routine blog, the site devoted to workout routines by bodybuilders, powerlifters, strength trainers and strongmen from the past to the present. Visit us at http://workout-routines.blogspot.com/
|
|
Comments Off
To be the best bodybuilder that you can be, it is vital that you understand the different body types to determine which workout and dieting routine you want to follow. Every body is classified as one body type or a combination of two different types, each having a unique classification in of itself. You are going to learn all about endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph body types which will give you an idea of what type you are, and the proper plan that you should follow in obtaining the body of your dreams.
The typical body of an endomorph is soft and round. This physique presents the illusion that much of your muscle mass has been absorbed in the abdominal area. The arms and legs of the endomorph are very short in length, which is the main cause of a stalky appearance. Endomorphs usually have a high waist, and hands and feet that are small compared to the thighs and upper arms. Other features of the endomorph include a large head, broad face, fine hair, and smooth skin.
A mesomorph will find it easy to build mass, but they will have to include different exercises in their program for the muscles to develop symmetrically. The mesomorph responds well to training and their sessions need to remain short. Their training sessions should include a combination of heavy weights and a variety of toning exercises to develop a more balanced appearance. Features of the mesomorph include a long torso, hard muscle structure, strength, and a large chest. Mesomorphs are the best body types suited for bodybuilding and it shows with the physiques of many of the all-time greats.
The last body type that we are going to discuss is the ectomorph. Ectomorphs have lean bodies with little muscle development. This body type is characterized by a light build, and these type of people may even find it hard to gain weigh due to being so thin. Because ectomorphs find it hard to gain weight, they should spend more time focusing on strength than trying to lose weight. Examples of common ectomorphic body types are swimmers, marathon runners, fashion models, and basketball players. These people are considered lucky to some, but are referred to as “pencil-necks” by others.
Out of the three different body types, you should now have a general idea of what body type you are. Remember, most people are a combination of the three which can make it even more difficult when selecting a workout program. I will discuss in more detail the different nutrition and training programs for these body types in one of my future articles. Until then, you need to determine, into the closest percentage, what combination of body types you are. It will make the process so much easier. Until next time, later!
*http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/g/Ectomorph.htm
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectomorph
*http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=mesomorph
*http://bodybuildingpro.com/bodytypeinformation.html
*http://www.femalemuscle.com/fitness/bodytypes.html
MY SITE: http://www.mightybody.com
Comments Off