Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Spartacus Workout Plan!
4 Weeks / 5 Days per Week
Gain strength! Get Ripped! Improve Cardio! Lose Weight!
Week #1
Day #1Size, Strength,& power
Exercise Sets/Distance Reps/Time Rest (min)
Squat 3 15 01:30
Military Press 3 15 01:30
Clap Push-Up 3 15 01:30
Overhead Plate Press 3 15 01:30
Plate Front Raise 3 12 01:30
Single-Leg Dumbbell Calf Raise 3 15 01:30
Stick Crunch 3 20 01:30
Dumbbell Chop 3 10 01:30
Warm up thoroughly before beginning workout. Aim for the number of reps recommended above but without fail make sure to get at least 10 good reps every set. Shoot to get as many explosive (clapping) push-ups as possible each set (perform until failure each set as "15" is just the recommended number).
check out these awe inspiring routines!
Why My Muscles Won’t Grow? Cortisol Stress Hormone Destroy Muscle
Why My Muscles Won’t Grow?
Cortisol Stress Hormone Destroy Muscle Tissues
There are many reasons why your muscles wont grow or why your muscle
growth is retarded. One main culprit for your muscle tissue to in a
catabolic and not in an anabolic state is the stress hormone called
cortisol. This stress hormone, cortisol, is produced by your body when
you are under stressful situations. When you exercise or especially weightlifting body building exercises, you are placing a tremendous stress on your body. This in turn will cause the cortisol hormone in your body to rise to unacceptable level which may destroy your muscle tissues, bone density and causes weight gain especially abdominal fat. Ohhh…that abdominal fat that would not go away.
This hormone hates your muscles and wants you to grow fat. It takes away protein from the muscles. However to be fair to this hormone, the cortisol hormone has its positive functions.
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex and is commonly known as a
stress hormone because the level of cortisol in your body rises sharply
when you are under stress. This hormone plays an important role in your
bodys metabolic function, itit facilitates cardiovascular function, carbohydrate metabolism and controls inflammation. After all, it is a steroid hormone.
As more cortisol is being produced, your muscle tissue breaks down further since the amino acids from your muscle protein is being converted into glucose for energy. This hormone also blocks new muscle tissues from growing because it interferes in protein synthesis in your muscles.
How to lower cortisol level?
Get enough sleep Let your body recuperate from the days stress and let the body rebuild its wears and tears. A lack of sleep will put your body under further stress and thus increasing cortisol levels.
Avoid stress Take up yoga, read a book, take a break from whatever you are doing. Learn meditation and breathing techniques to reduce everyday stress. Take a week or so break from your exercise routine after 6-8 weeks of regular training. As your body learns how to relax, the level of cortisol hormone will fall correspondingly.
Do not over train Over training is a common issue amongst athletes of all types. This is especially so in bodybuilding and weight lifting. You are already damaging your muscles when you lift weights, dont let cortisol hormones rob your muscles of the much needed proteins and preventing muscle repair and growth.
Once your body and mind is free from stress, your cortisol production
will be at a healthy level and you will once again see your muscles
growing, provided that you are doing other things that are conducive to
getting your muscles to grow.Friday, 27 June 2014
Six Pack Abs? Abdominal Exercise Equipment
Six Pack Rage says
convincing infomercials that we see a lot. There are numerous abdominal exercise equipment in the market nowadays like abdominal belts, abs-rockers, abs-lounges and many more.
Some great pieces for your workout include:
The stability ball is a great piece of equipment. In addition to increasing range of motion for crunches and other abdominal exercises, the stability ball also improves your balance and coordination. You can start with the basics such as regular crunches or oblique crunches.
(4) Cables or Resistance Tubes
convincing infomercials that we see a lot. There are numerous abdominal exercise equipment in the market nowadays like abdominal belts, abs-rockers, abs-lounges and many more.
When choosing for the correct equipment you would need to consider some things first. You should not be deceived into buying fancy equipment which you do not really need. You can do some research about abdominal exercise machines and workout equipment before you buy them. The selected equipment must be easy to move and easily detachable.
with the newly purchased machine, consult with a doctor first regarding injuries and medical conditions. Make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for maintaining the machine. All said and done, the bottom line is any piece of exercise equipment is a good choice if one uses it.
So what are the benefits of having an abdominal exercise machine at home? This would allow you to focus on hard on the target. Some abdominal exercise equipment is poorly designed or made from weak, undependable materials; some can even be dangerous to use. Strained or torn abdominal muscles are incredibly painful, and can put you on the shelf for a long time. Buying poorly designed abdominal exercise equipment is a risk you dont have to take.
There are steps to ensure that you are choosing the correct abdominal equipment for you:
(1) Choose the equipment based on how much space you have and how intensely you plan on working out. If you live on a small apartment, you may wish to opt for smaller devices.
(2) Make sure to adjust your abdominal equipment so that you are comfortable throughout your exercise. Lay your towel where you can easily get it to absorb your sweat.
(3) When picking up or using weight, make sure that it is not too heavy or it will injure you and will make you fall.
(4) You can interlock your feet, ankles, or knees in the abdominal equipment you are using. This would give you added support and stability while working out.
(5) Begin by inhaling , tightening your abdomen back toward your spine and then raising your neck and head a few inches off the ground. Exhale as you roll up. Support your head with your hands so you dont strain your neck.
Some great pieces for your workout include:
(1) Stability Ball (Exercise Ball)
The stability ball is a great piece of equipment. In addition to increasing range of motion for crunches and other abdominal exercises, the stability ball also improves your balance and coordination. You can start with the basics such as regular crunches or oblique crunches.
(2) Medicine Ball
The medicine ball is simply a weighted ball. Although some people may think that medicine balls are only for boxers and athletes, medicine balls can really enhance your core workout
( 3) ankle weights
Ankle weights can increase the intensity of reverse crunches and leg raises. When regular leg raises become really easy, you can add ankle weights to increase the muscle work in your abs.
Ankle weights can increase the intensity of reverse crunches and leg raises. When regular leg raises become really easy, you can add ankle weights to increase the muscle work in your abs.
(4) Cables or Resistance Tubes
Here is another way you can add resistance to your abdominal muscles to break through strength. You can perform cable crunches from a low cable tower by lying on the floor and holding the resistance behind your head. Or you can perform cable crunches from a kneeling position.
There are number of equipment in the market that you can use to get yourself six pack abs. Your just have to choose the correct one and the one that suits your needs the best.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
8 Proven Strategies For Maximum Muscle Gains
Six Pack Rage says
There is so much conflicting information out there when it comes to the topic of building muscle, and sometimes it can be very difficult to know where to start. If youre an average beginner looking for some basic guidelines to follow in the gym, the following 8 points will start you off on the right track.
1) Train With Weights and Focus On Compound, Free Weight Movements.
If you want to make solid, noteworthy gains in muscle size and strength, you absolutely must train with free weights and focus on basic, compound exercises. A compound exercise is any lift that stimulates more than one muscle group at a time. Examples of these lifts are the squat, deadlift, bench press, chin up, barbell row, overhead press, dip and lunge. Compound movements allow you to handle the most weight and will stimulate the greatest amount of total muscle fibers.
2) Be Prepared To Train Hard.
One of the biggest factors that separates those who make modest gains from those who make serious gains is their level of training intensity. In order to stimulate your muscle fibers to their utmost potential, you must be willing to take every set you perform in the gym to the point of muscular failure.
Muscular Failure: The point at which no further repetitions can be completed using proper form.
Sub-maximal training intensity will leave you with sub-maximal results, plain and simple.
3) Track Your Progress In The Gym From Week To Week.
Our bodies build muscle because of an adaptive response to the environment. When you go to the gym, you break down your muscle fibers by training with weights. Your body senses this as a potential threat to its survival and will react accordingly by rebuilding the damaged fibers larger and stronger in order to protect against any possible future threat. Therefore, in order to make continual gains in muscle size and strength, you must always focus on progressing in the gym from week to week. This could mean performing 1 or 2 more reps for each exercise or adding more weight to the bar. Keep a detailed training log to track your progress as your strength increases over time.
4) Avoid Overtraining.
Overtraining is your number one enemy when it comes to building muscle size and strength. When most people begin a workout program, they are stuck with the misguided notion that more is better. They naturally assume that the more time they spend in the gym, the better results they will achieve. When it comes to building muscle, nothing could be farther from the truth! If you spend too much time in the gym, you will actually take yourself farther away from your goals rather than closer to them. Remember, your muscles do not grow in the gym; they grow out of the gym, while you are resting and eating. Recovery is absolutely vital to the muscle growth process. If you don’t provide your body with the proper recovery time in between workouts, your muscles will never have a chance to grow.
5) Eat More Frequently.
The main area where most people fail miserably on their muscle-building mission is on the all-too important task of proper nutrition. Training with weights is only half of the equation! You break down your muscle fibers in the gym, but if you don’t provide your body with the proper nutrients at the proper times, the muscle growth process will be next to impossible. You should be eating anywhere from 5-7 meals per day, spaced every 2-3 hours in order to keep your body in an anabolic, muscle-building state at all times. Each meal should consist of high quality protein and complex carbohydrates.
6) Increase Your Protein Intake.
Of the 3 major nutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) protein is without a doubt the most important for those who are looking to gain muscle size and strength. Protein is found in literally every single one of the 30 trillion cells that your body is made up of and its main role is to build and repair body tissues. Without sufficient protein intake, it will be physically impossible for your body to synthesize a significant amount of lean muscle mass. If your body were a house, think of protein as the bricks. A general guideline is to consume 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day from high quality sources such as fish, poultry, eggs, beef, milk, peanut butter and cottage cheese.
5) Eat More Frequently.
The main area where most people fail miserably on their muscle-building mission is on the all-too important task of proper nutrition. Training with weights is only half of the equation! You break down your muscle fibers in the gym, but if you don’t provide your body with the proper nutrients at the proper times, the muscle growth process will be next to impossible. You should be eating anywhere from 5-7 meals per day, spaced every 2-3 hours in order to keep your body in an anabolic, muscle-building state at all times. Each meal should consist of high quality protein and complex carbohydrates.
6) Increase Your Protein Intake.
Of the 3 major nutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) protein is without a doubt the most important for those who are looking to gain muscle size and strength. Protein is found in literally every single one of the 30 trillion cells that your body is made up of and its main role is to build and repair body tissues. Without sufficient protein intake, it will be physically impossible for your body to synthesize a significant amount of lean muscle mass. If your body were a house, think of protein as the bricks. A general guideline is to consume 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day from high quality sources such as fish, poultry, eggs, beef, milk, peanut butter and cottage cheese.
7) Increase Your Water Intake.
If you want a simple, easy and highly effective way to maximize your muscle gains, drinking more water is it. Water plays so many vital roles in the body and its importance cannot be overstated. In fact, your muscles alone are made up of 70% water! Not only will drinking more water cause your muscles to appear fuller and more vascular, but it will also increase your strength as well. Research has shown that merely a 3-4% drop in your body’s water levels can impact muscle contractions by 10-20%! Aim to consume 0.6 ounces for every pound of bodyweight each day for optimal gains.
8) Be Consistent!
Consistency is everything. Those who make the greatest gains in muscular size and strength are the ones who are able to implement the proper techniques on a highly consistent basis. Simply knowing is not enough, you must apply!
Building muscle is a result of the cumulative effect of small steps. Sure, performing 1 extra rep on your bench press will not make a huge difference to your overall results, and neither will consuming a single meal. However, over the long haul, all of those extra reps you perform and all of those small meals you consume will decide your overall success. If you work hard and complete all of your muscle-building tasks in a consistent fashion, all of those individual steps will equate to massive gains in overall size and strength.
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Can you Build Muscle At Home?
We receive alot of question's from our warriors who ask can they build muscle at home, or will they have to join a gym to achieve good results. Because bodybuilders train at gyms, there is a belief that joining one is the only way for muscle gains, but its untrue, in our own case, we have achieved far more benefits from weight training at home (between 50,60 lbs of muscle gained, naturally) than we could have hoped for by joining a gym .
We hate waiting for or sharing machines, as when we lift weights, our minds are set on one goal, which is to generate the greatest possible intensity for each of our weight lifting sets. Someone asking to share a machine with us, or needing to wait in line for weight lifting equipment to become available would be a great distraction for us, reducing our ability to put in a maximum workout effort. This alone was an important enough reason for us to buy equipment for our home, so that we can dictate our own pace with each set and put maximum mental focus to our workouts.
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