Monday Muscle - Do You Believe These Muscle Building Myths?

As a professional strength coach I sometimes get asked some pretty strange questions on training. It’s become pretty clear to me that the general public is misinformed on a lot of issues that relate to muscle building and training for muscle growth.

Whether this poor information gets passed on through bodybuilding magazines, friends, or supplement companies is anyone’s guess. All I know is that these myths about training for muscle gain are harmful to your progress.

I am going to dispel some of the more common myths here. If you currently believe in any of these myths then it’s time to change!

Myth #1: More is better

Use the right amount of exercise

Whether it’s more protein, more creatine, or more workouts, it seems that people have a tendency to take a good thing and overuse it. This is a symptom of our culture of excess, which is especially present in the bodybuilding community where everyone wants to build as much muscle as possible.

Unfortunately life doesn’t work like this. Just because eating 200 grams of protein a day gives you good results doesn’t mean that 500 grams will give you great results. In the case of protein, there is a definite limit to what your body can utilize to build more muscle. If you aren’t on steroids there is no way that you need 500 grams per day.

I hear the same type of thing with creatine. Five grams of creatine everyday will give you good results, but increasing the dose to 15 or more grams per day won’t give you any additional benefit since there is a limit to how much creatine can be stored in your body.

The same goes for your workout schedule. If you’re working out 3 days per week and getting good results, this doesn’t mean that 6 days per week will bring you twice the results. Keep in mind that muscle growth occurs while you are resting. For most people training 6 days per week will not allow for enough recovery time between sessions. This leads to a plateau in strength and muscle gains. 

Myth #2: Supplements are the answer

Solid nutrition leads to solid results

No one ever comes right out and says they believe supplements are the answer, but based on the number of questions I get about which supplement to use I know this is the case for many people.

The fact of the matter is that your training and nutrition programs are going to bring you 95% of your results. That’s a hard pill to swallow for a lot of people (pun intended). Properly executing a solid training and nutrition program will never be as easy or cool as taking the latest miracle supplement, but the results are always better.

If building muscle were really as easy finding the right supplements don’t you think everyone would be huge and muscular already?

Listen, if 95% of your results come from your training and nutrition program, don’t you think you should invest some money in a good one? Here’s an idea, give up your supplements for a month and spend that money on a professional training and nutrition program. This investment will give you a much better return on your money than any supplement, but it will never be as cool or sexy. 

Myth #3: Your genetics are to blame

I get this all the time from the skinny guys. They tell me that it’s impossible for them to gain weight no matter what they do. They tell me how they eat thousands of calories and train hard, yet they don’t gain an ounce. They may as well resign themselves to being skinny because they don’t have the genetics to build muscle.

This is not true! Sure, some people are more genetically gifted in the muscle building area than others, but we all still have the same basic physiology.

When I look at these guys’ training and nutrition programs I can usually spot at least 10 huge mistakes that are holding back their gains. They think it’s genetics, but really it’s the actions they are taking.

These guys need to stop using genetics as an excuse. What they need is an objective observer to put together a training and nutrition program that is suited specifically to their needs.

As one of my trainees once told me, "The better I eat and harder I train, the better my genetics get."

Article source: Anthony Schwartz

Fat Loss Friday - Effective And Natural Weight Loss Tips For Teens

Life may not be easy for teens who are overweight nowadays. You can testify this fact as you may see some of them in your family or friends. Some teens weigh more than normal. They come across various problems such as riding the bus as other children make fun of them and make remarks about them being fat or overweight. Some kids can be really vicious to others and this hurts the self-esteem of those who are being made fun of. This harms their personality and their schoolwork in a negative way. But these kids can lose weight with hard work and struggle. They can lose weight by changing their diet and working out more.

Here are weight loss tips for teens.

Weighing scales

Acceptance and desire to fit in are one of the most important things for teens today and appearance and weight play an important role in this matter. If your teen is fat or just desires to lose little extra pounds, this can be achieved by consuming the right foods and by choosing a good workout plan and being with it forever. Considering weight loss tips for teens is very important to look better.

There are few things on which you may not have control such as genetics and puberty. Both girls and boys gain height and weight during their puberty since are hormones are released which makes the boys to gain muscle and girls to put on fat. Genetics are also a reason in weight gain in teens. Some teens inherit various things from their parents like height and shape of their body. If your parents are fat, then there are chances that you will be fat as well.

While you may not have control on genetics and puberty, but you can definitely control your diet. By consuming right food and avoiding oily and unhealthy foods such as sodas, French fries, chips, sweets, fast foods and other junks, you will avoid the collection of extra fat and calories consumed by your body. You should eat fresh vegetables and fruits in your everyday meals.

Teens should also exercise properly.

Exercise can be a family activity

Sitting on couch playing video games or watching television can increase their weight problem. If you are not physically active, this can affect your health and add fat on your waist line. They should go out and get some physical exercise. Walking is also a good way of working out to lose weight.

Article Source: Jeramey K Smith

http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Effective-And-Natural-Weight-Loss-Tips-For-Teens/342923

Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss - Part 9

9. Is it harder to lose weight as I get older?

Most people round out a little as they get older, as a result of a decreased metabolism and less movement. Menopause can cause women to suddenly gain weight, and both men and women find that they can't eat as much as they did a few years back without gaining a few pounds! This makes it hard to lose weight.

Another reason for difficulty in losing weight as you age is your set point and metabolism. The set point of your weight is predetermined, which means that your body stubbornly clings to a certain amount of weight. For instance, some people's set point dictates that they won't gain an ounce no matter what or how much they eat. Other's set points, on the other hand, is set a little higher, causing them to gain pounds when they catch a whiff of French fries and bacon cheeseburgers.

Physiological forces can prevent weight loss. It's possible to be thinner than when you were in your 20s now because once upon a time you weighed less - but it can be a real struggle staying at that lowest weight. Perhaps that's the secret behind set points: it's still possible to lose weight, but just a little more difficult.

Genetics also have a lot to do with stubborn pounds. Your body shape, weight, and size is affected by your genes, making it hard to lose weight. You see examples all around you, every day, of people looking exactly like their parents or grandparents - for better or for worse. You may have your mom's curves and tendency towards the bulge; your half-sisters have their mother's lean silhouette and long, slim limbs.

Watching what you eat, exercising, and keeping informed of health tips and low-fat recipes are still extremely important in losing weight and keeping it off. Remember to strike a balance between accepting and loving your body the way it is, and striving for health and wellness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Scott_Lewis