Getting A Great Weight Lifting Program 101

Jul 31, 2009 @ 04:49 am by Geraldine Dimarco
by Emmanuel Palmer

Every massive, rock-hard physique out there can owe its thanks to a sound weight lifting program that translates your body’s weight to big muscles and solid strength. What are the things one needs to know what makes effective bodybuilding workouts? These workouts are intense, varied and customized to meet the needs of a specific body type.

High-intensity training works well for people who are aiming to gain significant body mass in a relatively short time. Some might prefer to build up on strength and endurance over a period of two to three months which is also fine. You will probably need a hybrid of the two methods; find the best one suited for your body. What is important is you give each session your all.

Usually when somebody strives to pack on muscles, the first instinct is to work out most days for a few weeks. Doing so is actually detrimental to your body’s physical development. Give sufficient amount of time for your body to rest so that the tears in the muscle tissues are sufficiently mended and become even stronger. Splitting the weight lifting program into muscle groups and assigning them on certain days is an effective strategy used by many professional bodybuilders and trainers.

A three day split workout would look something like this: Monday - chest, arms and abs Wednesday - back, shoulder and abs Saturday - legs If you prefer a five day split workout here is one you can follow: Monday - legs Tuesday - shoulders Wednesday - back and abs Thursday - shoulders and arms Friday - chest and abs Concentrate on getting serious sleep and eating health during the rest of the days.

There are a number of workout regimens you can do and for the most part, you don’t really need to have fancy workout machines to do them. All you need are the basics: several dumbbells of varying weights, cables and a bench. You have these and you can do arm curls (bicep and triceps), dumbbell shrugs, lat pull downs and triceps kickbacks for the muscle groups in the upper body; lunges, calf raises, leg raises and squats for your lower body workout. Crunches are always a reliable abdominal muscles workout but as with the rest of the drills mentioned, modify your program every few weeks so your body remains consistently pushed to higher levels.

As a beginner, always start with the more manageable weight loads. As your body continues to progress, keep increasing the weights so the muscles are consistently strained; thus giving it no choice but to grow faster. For those who want a bodybuilder’s physique, the loads you should be lifting should get you around 7 to 12 repetitions until failure.

Lastly, do not forget to stretch well before starting your exercises and even between sets. Stretching raises your body’s temperature level and makes you more flexible; both of which contribute to favorable physical conditions for training.

Bodybuilding workouts only work if it is done faithfully and properly person who will see his program to the end. Be careful while you exercise; but always give it your very best. For the champion in you, less than the best is not an option anyway.

About the Author:

The Link Between Omega 3 And Skin Care.

Jul 31, 2009 @ 04:49 am by Peter Clark
by Peter Albertonach

Omega 3 fish oil supplements are some of the fastest growing biggest selling supplements on the planet, and for good reason. Science has confirmed over and over that Omega 3 fatty acids found primarily in fish are extremely good for us, and we all ought to be eating more.

But fish is expensive and most of it is contaminated to some degree with toxins like PCBs and mercury, so we don’t eat a lot.

But there is also a link between Omega 3 and skin health. And so many people who take fish oil capsules do so for better skin as well as for better health.

The polyunsaturated fats in fish oil play an important role in reducing inflammation in our bodies and this is very beneficial to the skin.

Theres a range of conditions that can benefit from fish oils supplementation. Studies have shown a lessening of wrinkles after some months of Omega 3 fish oil supplementation, and an improvement in skin firmness.

Fish oil has polyunsaturated fats and these help replenish lost skin fats and loss of natural fats in the skin can be one of the major causes so skin dryness and skin flaking.

Dry skin can be caused by excess wind or sun and this is because the wind or sun dries out the skin fats which are lost to exposure.

And the reduction in skin inflammation can also benefit some specific skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis as well as eczema.

One of the main fats in Omega 3 fish oil supplements in DHA, or Docosahexaenoic Acid. This is the primary polyunsatured fat in Omega 3s that is of benefit to both our bodies and our skin. Others are also beneficial, but DHA is the most important, and its essential to choose fish oil capsule that is high in DHA, not all are.

So it’s clear that we should all be taking fish oil supplements for our skin. But even though Omega 3 and skin care are linked there is doubt that taking Omega 3 supplements is only part of the total skin care equation.

For the best skin care you also need the best skin care products applied topically, in other words on the skin, rather than from inside. If you combine fish oil supplements daily with use of the worlds best skin care products you’ve got a recipe for great skin care.

So it’s clear that Omega 3 and skin care go together. Both are complementary and for great skincare you need to combine Omega 3 supplements with the best skin care products.

My website explains more and tells you where to source the worlds best skin care products as well as Omega 3 supplements.

About the Author:

Why a Dedicated Wheatgrass Juicer Makes Sense

Jul 31, 2009 @ 04:42 am by Paul Marks
by Jane Chalmers

Wheatgrass juicers are different from the commonly found vegetable and fruit juicers. Normal juicers are not very suitable for taking out wheatgrass juice as wheatgrass has tough fibers which are more difficult to process.

Wheatgrass juicers are slower which helps in the generation of less heat and less oxidation of various nutrients. Wheatgrass juicers come in different types, and fall into two types, the manual or electric.

Wheatgrass contains around 70 percent of the green chemical chlorophyll, so the most important part of the juicing process is extracting out of the blades of the grass in an effective manner. As a result, the electric juicers are mostly recommended as they are more effective and require less force to operate.

There are different electric juicers like the Miracle Mj-500, electric auger juicer and various stainless wheatgrass juicers available in the stores. They are available within a price range of 175 to 200 dollars at different stores.

A common choice is the Miracle MJ-500 juicer, which is easy to operate, is self feeding, light weight and has a corrosion proof stainless steel shaft which is long lasting and strong. When operating this machine it is important to preserve motor life by turning it off after ten minutes of use. It does come with a one year warranty.

The electric auger juicer is a relatively new model to the stores and is quickly becoming a best seller. The machine is made of high quality components designed to last a lifetime. This machine also has other functions and can help in making pasta, nut butters, and baby food. All these additional functions make the machine a great bargain at this price. It also gives the consumer an additional choice of having the juice with or without other food types.

Manually operated appliances are also available as an alternative to the electric powered ones. They are easy to use and clean and are less expensive. They have two stainless steel screens and no aluminum parts. The manual version of these stainless steel juicers are very cheap indeed and surprisingly effective. They often come with a pressure control screw which helps with the extraction of juice whilst applying minimal force.

For something a little more industrial if you are planning on doing a lot of juicing, there are commercial models available. One such example is the Miracle Green Pro juicer. Any of these machines are effective in producing wheatgrass juice and are a great investment in your health.

About the Author:

A Startling Fact About How To Get Incredibly Lean Abs That Everyone Will Stare At

Jul 30, 2009 @ 05:44 am by Kara Leeibb
by Kara Leeibb

Most people refer to their abs as if they were one set of muscles. However, the your abs are really a set of four muscle groups. Muscle burns calories 24 hours a day so the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn and the better your abs and the rest of your body will look.

If you are getting negative results so far, here’s some facts why:

* The media always bombards us, that in order to have ripped abs, we need to use a machine that will target the abs

* Increased stress levels therefore decreasing your overall levels of fitness

* Many people think you have to be at the gym to keep fit, that’s not true

When you do full body exercises, you stress multiple muscle groups which causes more muscle growth than just doing abdominal exercises. There are two other methods of doing squats that can help you mix up your workout and give you a bigger muscle building boost as well as focus a little more on the abdominals.

Muscle burns calories 24 hours a day so the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn and the better your abs and the rest of your body will look. The extra muscle you gain will burn more calories which will make your abs look great.

It goes way beyond how to get a six pack and I can show you how to get the best ab workout even if you cant get to a gym or just hate ab workouts. You must remember that with all the ab workouts out there, the most important factors obtaining six pack abs is body fat percentage.

Intense workouts kick-up your metabolic rate and pave the way for rapid fat loss. Experts say incorporating total body cardio exercise in our workouts tends to burn the most calories from body fat.

The truth about a weight loss and fitness, you must have an entire health and fitness program or lifestyle to get the most out of your ab workout. The second part of your complete health and fitness plan is to eat healthy. Everybody is different- different fitness levels, abilities, talents, and goals.

About the Author:

Have You Heard the News About the Energizing, Chocolate Tasting Amazon Berry?

Jul 30, 2009 @ 04:24 am by Jane L. Church
by Americo Tognetti

The acai berry is a small, round, blackish-purple berry that can only be found at the very top of palm trees in the Amazon rain forest of South America. The acai berry carries several surprising health benefits as well, and tastes like a combination of fruit and chocolate. Most people prefer to eat the berry served on top of their granola cereal for breakfast. Some even like to use it when making milk shakes, and some people choose to eat it by itself.

If you are a chocolate lover, then you will definitely be in for a treat when you eat the acai berry. One of these things that this berry will do for your body is to detoxify it because the acai berry is loaded with antioxidants. You will not have to bother with a colon cleanse or any sort of fancy product that will clean out your system. After all, the acai berry works beautifully because the body needs it. This little berry has been found to be safe and natural. When you eat the acai berry, no matter how you do it whether it be in a milkshake, by itself, mixed in with your cereal or when it is combined in a fruit bowl, you will find that you are going to lose those excess pounds that you have been trying to shed forever! We are not only talking about a couple of pounds but a couple of digits. People have claimed to lose up to ten pounds a week as stated in testimonials. This is not difficult to believe since the body is chock full of damaging pollutants and accumulated debris that has come from years of unhealthy eating.

As your body gets rid of its pollutants and toxins, it will be able to operate much more efficiently and get rid of fats much easier. Aside from weight loss, the acai berry attacks free radicals that are within your body. These free radicals are the foundation of deadly diseases such as cancer. Being much like the goji berry, the acai berry has many more antioxidants. There is as much as 30 times more anthocyanins in the acai than there is in a glass of red wine. This is one thing that helps to keep your cholesterol in check.

This amazing berry contains omega 6 as well as omega 9, which can also help lower high cholesterol levels and provide protection against heart disease. Do you want to know of another benefit of this energizing super food is that it has a significant amount of fiber, which can also help to prevent of digestive disorders, cancer and weight gain.

Who wouldn’t want to include the acai berry in their diet? When you look at the acai berry by itself, it is a source of balanced carbohydrates, healthy fats, proteins and essential vitamins and minerals. The benefits are well worthwhile; particularly what it does for your body. You will also get peace of mind when you eat this luscious fruit. The amount of vital nutrients will help to give you mental acuity as well as energy. So, as you can see, the acai berry has not a thing bad about it.

About the Author:

Chiropractic Care is Effective

Jul 30, 2009 @ 04:18 am by Dr. Jason Fowler
by Dr. Jason Fowler

WASHINGTON–A critical mass of recent surveys and studies document the fact that the public, and conventional health care providers and payers, have come to recognize that traditional medicine can not answer all of consumers’ health care needs. In particular, more people are turning to chiropractic services.

A study published in the July 1, 1998 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that chiropractic treatment is appropriate for low-back pain in a considerable number of cases. This study by the Rand Corporation found that 46 percent of a sample of low-back pain patients received appropriate care from doctors of chiropractic - an appropriateness rating similar to that of common medical procedures. Poll results released in January 1998 by Landmark Healthcare, Inc., showed that one in every five adults ages 55 to 64 has used chiropractic care. A December 1997 report from the Federal Agency for Health Policy and Research notes that the chiropractic profession is now the third largest group of doctoral-level providers in the United States (after medical doctors and dentists). That same AHCPR report shows that fully 80 percent of American workers in conventional insurance plans, preferred providers organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service plans now have coverage that pays at least part of the cost of chiropractic care. As the recent AHCPR report states, “In the areas of training, practice and research, chiropractic has emerged from the periphery of the health care system and is playing an increasingly important role in discussions of health care policy.” And, notes a March 1998 article in Business and Health magazine, “Many companies say chiropractic coverage has lowered their medical and workers’ comp costs, while raising overall health and productivity. ‘It’s one of the best benefits possible from a quality, quantity and pricing perspective,’ says George McGregor, president of [a firm that is a third-party administrator].” The article also cites an Oregon study, which found that median work time lost for employees with back injuries who used chiropractic care was only 9 days as compared with 34.5 days for workers who used medical care.

Quick relief of symptoms and sustained effectiveness have long attracted consumers to chiropractic care. In fact, in just one year - 1997 - more than 20 million adults used chiropractic services. The 1994 AHCPR guidelines for low-back pain concluded that spinal manipulation, chiropractic’s primary treatment technique, is one of only three treatments whose effectiveness is substantiated by rigorous research. According to a 1992 RAND Corp. study, patients see a chiropractor primarily for low back pain and neck pain, though many seek chiropractic care for mid-back pain, extremity problems, headaches and other symptoms as well.

Doctors of chiropractic have long understood the cyclic nature of low back pain, and perhaps this is one of the reasons they consistently rate higher than medical doctors in patient satisfaction in this area. In a recent Gallup poll, 90 percent of all people who visited a chiropractor agreed that their care was effective.

Successful outcomes in both effectiveness and patient satisfaction, have paved the way for chiropractors to enter the mainstream of health care services. Some have even begun to collaborate with medical doctors in integrated health care practices. As reported in the May/June 1998 issue of Health magazine, the prestigious Texas Back Institute at one time included only surgeons and other M.D.s. Then, about ten years ago, when TBI’s medical doctors discovered chiropractic’s success with lower back pain, they hired their first chiropractor. Now, according to one administrator quoted in the article, about 50 percent of the Institute’s patients see a chiropractor first when beginning their treatment. Also, the Washington Post recently reported on the success of the 5-year-old company, American WholeHealth, whose clinics incorporate a consumer-driven mix of traditional medical and alternative health care including chiropractic.

Due to years of criticism — and even an illegal boycott by the American Medical Association — chiropractic training was sometimes called into question. However, the fact remains, chiropractors must complete a minimum of 6 and, on average, 7 years of college and post-graduate study to earn their degrees. Their education includes at least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience, and as much — and sometimes more than — course work in anatomy and physiology as most medical doctors. After they receive their degrees from one of the nation’s 17 accredited chiropractic colleges, they have to pass rigorous exams and be licensed by the state before they can open a practice. The practice of chiropractic is licensed in all 50 states, and in 1994 there were approximately 50,000 chiropractors licensed in the United States. This number is expected to double by the year 2010, according to the 1997 AHCPR report.

“These recent surveys and reports finally vindicate the chiropractic profession after years of enduring doubt, questions and criticism about our training and practices,” said Dr. Pedigo. “What the health care and medical communities are just beginning to accept is what our patients have known all along; that our treatment is safe, effective and highly successful at improving their quality of life.

About the Author:

Understanding The Fastest Way To Build Muscle

Jul 30, 2009 @ 04:14 am by Emmanuel Palmer
by Emmanuel Palmer

Ok, you’ve had a pretty easy season but now summer’s right around the block what are you going to do? Don’t shop for big shirts and shorts just yet; maybe you don’t even have to. Get enrolled in a gym and find information on the fastest way to build muscle starting right now.

So now you have a new found zest for fitness-or the rediscovered childhood trauma of being made fun of. Either way, you will get the desired results if you want it bad enough. Before we start, it’s a good idea to understand the basic principle on how bodies build bigger muscle. See, progressive overload is increasing the amount of weight your body carries-it reacts by building stronger tissues which we now recognized as bigger muscles.

Consult with your personal trainer about the drills you will be doing and the weights you should be carrying. As a rule of thumb, the ideal weight load for you is the one that will enable you to continue lifting until the 8th or 12th rep without losing the correct form. A lower weight load is good enough for strength training but in muscle building we are aiming to push your body to stimulate muscle growth so aim to do at least 8 reps per set and 8 sets per target muscle group.

During exercise, you create little tears in your muscle tissue which will eventually be repaired. To help accelerate this process, ensure that you take a lot of protein rich food in your diet. Great sources of protein are chicken, fish, lean meat and sea food-is it just me or does this sound good? The recommended protein intake you need daily can be computed by multiplying your lean mass weight in kilograms (body weight minus fat) by 2.75.

Experts on bodybuilding vary in their opinions on how much fat one should be allowed to take. If you really want to achieve that massive physique, then include fat in your diet. This boosts muscle building hormones found in your body. Keep an eye on your eating though; if you ever take a long hiatus from working out without modifying your eating habits, you will gain weight sans the muscles-read: not a pretty sight. Drink around 10-12 glasses of water a day to fuel your training sessions.

And to save the best for last, one of the best tips to build bigger muscle-sleep. That’s right, sleep. Resting helps in muscle development because this is the time the previously mentioned muscle tears gets fixed and mended. Sleep also stimulates blood flow to the muscle tissues, preparing it for future sessions of more pain induced workouts. If you want to speed up muscle development, get quality sleep.

There you have it- simple pointers on the fastest way to build muscle. A well-balanced diet, sufficient fluid intake and good sleeping habits; it really doesn’t get easier than that. Verify with your physician that you have no medical conditions that will be aggravated with physical training. Once you get a clean bill of health, you have nothing else to do but enjoy. See great results in your body and general well-being when you begin this journey-another lifestyle will not be an option anymore.

About the Author:

Body Building Programs for Beginners

Jul 30, 2009 @ 03:19 am by Ricardo d Argence
by Ricardo d Argence

Are you generally beginning to gain a reputation as a muscular guy that people aspire to look like? Have you packed on at least a good 15-25 pounds of clean, muscular body weight since you began your muscle building program? Have you added at least a couple of inches or more to all of your major muscle groups?

If you didn’t easily answer “yes” to all of the questions I just outlined above, then worrying about the smaller details of your physique is quite simply a waste of time at this point.

Eliminate these types of questions from your mind until after you have a considerable amount of muscle mass and are no longer in your bodybuilding “youth”.

Why is this? It is for the reason that diverting your attention onto such small and insignificant issues will only serve to distract you from the most essential and immediate job at hand. And what is the most vital and urgent job necessary at this time? Let’s develop as much muscle and strength for your body that can feasibly be accomplished!

Although it might be difficult, it is important for you to look past comparisons between your biceps and your triceps and whether your front looks as bold as your back. While additional issues may arise, there is no point in concerning yourself with them until you have sufficiently and significantly thickened up your whole body.

If you’re still a beginner and have been training consistently for less than a year, then stop obsessing over the details. Instead, place all of your focus on the most basic and obvious issues at hand. Get yourself onto a sensible, rational weight training schedule and stick to it religiously.

Keep a record of all of your workouts that you do and try as hard as you can to consistently add as much weight as possible to the bar. Blast through the discomfort zones and difficult compound exercises with passion and intensity.

Go to your kitchen and eat as many as six well balanced meals full of muscle building foods each day for a year.

Take your supplements when necessary, get rest, and drink plenty of water. Another way to say it is: PAY YOUR DUES IN THE BEGINNING!

If you plan to be in this for a long time (and you should be, as there are no temporary fixes to be had here), this will get you on the most efficient path. The best way in which to proceed is usually to begin with the basics and then get more detailed later.

You must bring this mentality into your bodybuilding program. You don’t want to attempt to fine-tune and balance your physique until you have a considerable muscle foundation to work with. You can’t play that awesome guitar solo before you know basic chords, after all.

Building muscle is not rocket-science, but it is a task that requires consistent willpower and determination. And until you’ve been “in the trenches” and have earned yourself an impressive and muscular body. Stop over-analyzing. Get into the gym and train!

About the Author:

Free Weight Loss Plans

Jul 29, 2009 @ 05:51 am by Owen Jones
by Owen Jones

The march to health and fitness is raging and plenty of people are getting in on it. Some people do it in order to have a beautiful body, some people do it because they are embarrassed about their body as it is now, while others do it just to remain fit and healthy. As such, there are thousands of health programs on the Internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centres all over the world. Some are very - so dear that you will lose weight quickly, just because you have to work hard to earn the money to pay for these fitness programs.

You might not need to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness centre and spend much just to slim down and obtain that longed for beautiful body. There are many books available in the bookshops offering diet programs which seem easy and cheap. However, the books are not cheap though. These weight loss programs are gaining immense popularity due to their publicity, testimonials and reviews and you might be confused as to exactly which one to buy. So before you choose which weight loss plan to follow, try reading the following precis of the most popular diet programs out today.

Atkins’ New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins: This weight loss program promotes a high protein diet with a restricted carbohydrate consumption. You can eat loads of vegetables and meat, but must not eat bread, rice or pasta. You are not restricted with your fat intake so it is all right to pour on the (correct) salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, during the diet, some people may find themselves short on fibre and high on fat and cholesterol. Grains and fruits are also strictly restricted.

The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan also recommends following a low carbohydrate diet. It suggests eating mostly meats, vegetables and fruit, dairy and grain products. however, advises against taking in too many carbohydrates. So-called “Reward Meals” can be quite high in fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose: by Dr. Goor. Restricts fat intake. You are given a “fat” budget and you are given free reign on how to use it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood is no problem. You may also eat vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is quite healthy, because it recommends correct amounts of fruits and vegetables and saturated fats. Watch your triglyceride levels though. If they are high, trim down on the carbohydrates and eat more unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Recommends eating a fairly moderate amount of fat and protein but lots of carbohydrates. It was initially created to lower blood pressure. The diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages a high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruit and vegetables and low-fat dairy. However, some dieters consider it advocates too much consumption to create a significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less: by Dr. Ornish. Mostly vegetarian food and strictly low-fat. Warns to watch out for non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet plan is low in calcium and restricts the consumption of healthy foods like seafood and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type: It is unusual because it is based on your blood type. For example, it recommends plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. Furthermore, for the record, there is no proof that blood type affects dietary requirements.

The Pritkin Principle: It focuses on cutting back on the number of calories by eating ‘wet’ foods that make you feel full. It recommends eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy, which it says is OK, although it also limits protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. It is healthy since it allows low amounts of saturated fats and rather large amounts of vegetables and fruits. However, it is low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.

Volumetrics: It recommends consuming fewer calories. It advises about the same foods as Pritkin but limits fatty food and grain foodstuffs like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This program is fairly healthy given the high volume of fruit and vegetables. It also recommends eating fewer calories and saturated fats.

The Zone: It is fairly low on carbohydrates yet fairly high on proteins. It recommends low-fat protein foods such as fish and chicken and vegetables, fruits and grains. It is also a healthy plan but lacking in grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers: High carbohydrates, but moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. It permits the dieter to plan his own meals rather than offering recipes, although there are WW TV dinners in the shops.

About the Author:

Eating Plans and Tips for Beginning Bodybuilders

Jul 29, 2009 @ 05:48 am by Bernard A. Norris
by Chad J. Beck

You can only increase strength, endurance and muscle size by following a consistent training program and a proper nutritional plan. Training programs of pro bodybuilders and athletes are divided into several phases or stages with different performance objectives tied with specific nutritional requirements for each phase. The bulk of muscle development takes place during the off-season phase wherein a bodybuilder eats protein-packed small meals throughout a day.

After this phase, bodybuilders go through several phases that involve changing the amount of carbohydrate-rich foods, lean proteins and supplements that support the training program at each stage. Understanding what is involved in each of these phases can help you create an effective training program that gets the results you need.

Off-season Phase - The main objective in this phase is to develop the muscles to the max. High protein foods and healthy carbohydrates are needed by an athlete to achieve this phase’s objective, according to Luis Burke, author of the book “Practical Sports Nutrition”. Bodybuilders maintain a regular eating schedule, which can be planned around workout sessions for improved results.

Hypertrophy Phase - during this phase, it is common practice to follow a very rigid eating plan that means eating every 2-3 hours - even overnight. The goal here is to eat just enough food to maintain weight and allow the body to increase strength. This is done with careful selection of muscle-building foods and healthy carbs that provide sustainable energy.

Competition Prep phase - The phase’s main objective is to lose weight gradually and burn body fats without burning muscles built up during the previous phases. This phase starts 6 to 16 weeks prior to a competition event. Bodybuilders in competition prep eat a low fat and high protein planned around workout sessions.

Cutting - The cutting phase takes place a couple of weeks or days before a competition. This involves a higher degree of calorie restriction than competition prep to burn fats rapidly. Most bodybuilders depend on supplements for their nutritional needs as they reduce their calorie intake. Circuit training sessions are often done during this phase coupled with an increase in resting time to help the body recover.

After the Competition - It is ideal for an athlete to adjust smoothly to a healthier diet after the competition. This is a crucial phase as many bodybuilders go on an eating spree and gain weight rapidly after following a restricted diet for months. It is important for anyone to ease back to eating normally after a competition for health purposes and to maintain some of the results built up during the other phases.

The changing nutritional needs and diets for each phase are difficult for any bodybuilder to follow properly. What is important is to maintain sound nutritional practices at all times. Consider working with a nutritionist to help you in your career as a bodybuilder.

About the Author:
Next Page »