Your Health Issue

Archive for July, 2009

Let’s start with food. There are certain foods that will aid in this process and others that will hinder it. The ones you will want to stay away from are obvious for the most part. Some examples are fast food, trans fats & hydrogenated oils, sugars of any kind unless they are in the form of a fruit, especially high fructose corn syrup, white flour, pork, beef unless it’s at least 90% lean, stay away from as much processed food as possible and also alcohol & soda, yes energy drinks count as soda.

Now on to the good stuff, what you can eat. The best foods are the ones that naturally boost your glutathione levels. Glutathione is the master amino acid and antioxidant. And the foods that boost it are asparagus, broccoli, avocado, spinach, raw egg, garlic and fresh unprocessed meat. Fruits & vegetables should be your main source of carbohydrates. Whole grains are great but make sure they are “real” whole grains. Meaning, stay away from the processed breads and go for grains like steal cut oats, quinoa and brown rice. Get your lean protein from natural or organic chicken breast, check the label and make sure the sodium is around 50mg otherwise it’s been injected and you should proceed with caution. Other protein sources are fish, such as salmon, halibut, sole, herring and tuna, bison meat is naturally leaner than beef, tofu, nuts & seeds, beans & other legumes and whey protein. You need to eat every 2-3 hours even if you’re not hungry. This will speed up your metabolism causing you to burn more fat and keep your calorie intake up which is needed to support new muscle growth.

Do you have questions about the ideal regimen to build your muscles, as opposed to just getting fit and toned? The truth is, most bodybuilders prefer to mix up their routines so that they get the best of both worlds. We have everything you need right on this one website to cover all the major points on bodybuilding.

Bodybuilding vs. Fitness

We welcome both bodybuilders and fitness buffs. Some of you will ask, “What’s the difference?” Bodybuilders focus on intense training that targets specific muscle groups. You’ll find that these workouts give you strength and mass. Fitness is a term that describes general efforts to get your body into shape. It can include a cardio routine, light lifting or training on pulley or plate-loaded machines, or other ways to tone up your muscles.

Most bodybuilders combine the two for an optimal exercise plan. Many of them devote four or five days to workouts, and at each gym session they target a different group of muscles. On the remaining days, it’s wise to let muscles rest and repair themselves. Some people like to devote them to cardio workouts such as an aerobics class, cycling, swimming, or another activity that provides total-body benefits.

We want you to explore our workout plans so that you can choose the routines that fit your goals. There’s plenty of information on the debate between barbells and dumbbells, and we welcome your two cents on the matter. Our take on the issue is that dumbbells will focus on very specific muscular development, while barbells work better for building mass. What do you think?

Here you can learn when to go for more reps and lighter weights, versus fewer reps and heavier weights, and when to back off from training. You can also learn which burns more calories-lifting weights or a cardio class. Hint: Many people are surprised.