Muscle Building Made Simple

People tend to make muscle building a lot harder than it should be. I can't say I blame them. With a plethora of muscle building magazines, stores full of hard to pronounce supplements, and advertisements promoting the latest fitness fad it's pretty easy to get overwhelmed quickly.

The truth is...the basic concept of muscle building is actually pretty simple. To gain muscle you must do two things:
1. Eat more calories than you expend
2. Break down muscle fibers through physical exertion in order to grow them back bigger (usually through weight-training)

These 2 critical principles are the foundation for any sound muscle building program. Now...here's where things can get tricky. If you don't already know how to eat or weight-train properly then you must to learn how to do them CORRECTLY. To tell you the truth, this is hard part. It takes many hours of research and many, many grueling weeks and months of real live application to master nutrition and weight-training.

The reason that it is so hard is because nutrition and weight-training for muscle growth have many in-depth intricacies, rules and best practices. So rather than try to teach you everything, I will provide you the essential framework for muscle building in a simplified fashion.

Eating Made Simple:
* Determine Your Daily Muscle Building Calorie Intake Level. There are many advanced formulas to do this. A very basic one is to multiply your body weight by 20. (So if you weigh 140lbs eat around 2800 calories a day)
* Eat 5-6 Times a Day. Yes it's possible. Initially it will be hard, but your body will adapt if you are disciplined enough to make yourself eat every 2-3 hrs.
* Eat Well-Balanced Meals. Feed yourself the right way. Just because you are eating more calories does not allow you to eat unhealthy. NO JUNK FOOD. You should eat balanced portions of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and essential fats.
* Consume Plenty Of Protein. Protein is an essential ingredient for muscle building. An old rule of thumb is to consume at least 1g of protein per lb of bodyweight a day (If you weigh 140lbs consume 140g of protein).
* Drink A Lot Of Water. It cannot be overemphasized how important water is. For a very basic calculation drink a minimum of ½ your bodyweight in ounces. (If you are 140lbs drink at least 70 ounces a day) Training Made Simple:
* Develop A Weight-Training Routine. Weight-Training Routines are widely available through books in print and on the internet. A weight-training routine will outline which exercises need to be performed, when they should be performed and how many times they should be performed. Any sound muscle-building weight-training routine will require you to...
* Weight-Train INTENSELY. Place your muscles under stress far above and beyond normal circumstance to promote growth. This means train with maximum effort every repetition of every exercise.
* Lift Heavy Weights. Lift HEAVY weights to achieve maximum muscle fiber break down.
* Progressively Increase. Systematically increase the difficulty of your workouts to continually challenge your muscles. This means increase weight or repetitions performed (or both) for each workout.
* Allow Adequate Time To Rest. Muscles need time to FULLY RECOVER after being subjected to intense stress. Do not work out a single muscle group directly more than twice a week. (Working a muscle group directly only once a week is often the recommended standard)
* Limit The Length Of Your Workouts To 60 Minutes Or Less. Prolonged intense physical exertion beyond one hour can lead to increased muscle loss.
* Workout No More Than 3-4 Days as a Beginner. Over-training is a fundamental error of many beginners. To reiterate your body needs time to FULLY RECOVER from previous weight training sessions.
* Workout All Of Your Muscles. Incorporate weight lifting exercises to stimulate muscle growth throughout your ENTIRE body for maximum overall muscle growth and to keep muscular symmetry.
* Be Safe. Exercises performed with free weights can be very dangerous if not performed properly. If you are inexperienced it is highly recommended to do adequate research on the matter to perform the exercises safely and correctly.

Where To Go From Here: Remember what I have provided is just the essential framework for building muscle in a basic simplified format. If you follow the key points here you WILL gain muscle, however, you still should continue researching to gain a FULL understanding of the principles I have laid out. There are many great guides on the internet that will give you an in-depth, comprehensive review of the basic information I have provided you.

Just remember everything you learn about muscle building going forward should relate back (in some fashion) to the two the simple overarching principles outlined here (Nutrition & Training). Good luck on your muscle building journey!

by: CK Clark

Tooth Whitening, Tooth Treatment: Get that Perfect Smile!

I would say a smile throughout the day keeps doctor away. Undoubtly, laughter is the best medicine as it not only supplies nutrients to the skin but also makes your skin glow. But if the condition of your teeth doesn't allow you to smile confidently, don't worry, just read on to learn how to improve the condition of your teeth.

Thanks to your tight schedule and fast lifestyle, you have yellow teeth which not only affects your confidence but also puts off the other person. But with the help of modern dentistry, your teeth can be bleached. You can have that perfect set all over again. But the sad part, the bleaching affect is temporary. The bleaching or whitening affect depends on the discoloration of your teeth. Obviously there are home remedies for whitening of your teeth like baking soda but then, tooth whitening is a very delicate process(as it involves gums) and should be left to experts only.

The best you can do to your teeth is to eat the right food and brush them properly. Even then if the condition of your teeth doesn't improve, then its time for you to visit your doctor or undertake some tooth whitening program. When i say eat properly i mean, eat a balanced diet to provide essential vitamins and minerals to your teeth which will help teeth and gums to grow strong and healthy. Calcium, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D are most essential minerals and vitamins for your teeth.

Tip: It is also wise to note that eating sweet snacks between meals affect teeth more than eating sweet snacks with meals. It is because the increase flow of saliva during mealtime protect your teeth by washing sugar away. Eat snacks without sugar between meals and snacks with sugar during meals.

With brushing teeth properly i mean, brushing your teeth twice a day. Brush your outer and inner surfaces at 45-degree angle. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and won strokes with toe of the brush. Even brush your tongue to remove food particles and freshen your mouth. DO NOT BRUSH YOUR TEETH AFTER EACH MEAL as it may effect your enamel.

Tip: The amount of time for which our teeth are exposed to sweets affect our teeth more than the number of sweets. So avoid sticky sweets like toffee or hard candies like mints.

by: Ashley Green

Top Ten Tips To Prevent Hair Loss

Though people with an overdose of philosophy say it not what is outside, but inside the skull that counts, people suffering from hair loss wish it is the other way round. People of 'almost' all cultures are obsessed with thickly growing hair.

Ayurveda has identified this obsession a few centuries ago and has given the directions to minimize hair loss and better hair growth in its scheme of beauty care, which is commonly called lavanya sutra or the sutra for lavanyam or beauty.

Though lavanyam is referred to feminine beauty, hair loss tips are beneficial for the tougher sex too.

Here are top ten tips to prevent hair loss and ensure healthy hair growth:

1. Gently massage your scalpel with fingertips after applying a hair oil like coconut oil or sesame oil.

2. Eat Indian gooseberry in any form early in the day. Don't take gooseberry based products later in the night as it can affect your beautiful dental line.

3. Boil fresh or dried and powdered Indian gooseberry (also called amla) in coconut oil. Apply this for nourishing hair growth.

4. Eat all types of vegetables and fruits. This will ensure supply of vitamins and minerals essential for the healthy growth of hair. Vitamins and minerals are good for your health too.

5. Also eat protein rich food items – tuna, lean meat, whole milk are beneficial.

6. While bathing, wash your head with cold water only. It is winter and water is ice-cold, you can make it luke-warm. It is ok to wash your body with cold water.

7. Apply brahmi oil on your scalpel before going to bed. Good for hair growth and brain.

8. Dandruff is a cause of hair loss. Squeeze half a lemon to half a liter of water and rinse your hair and scalpel with this water as a cure to dandruff. Do this no more than three times a week and for up to a month.

9. Rosemary oil is an aromatherapy oil, which can be applied to your hair once in a week to reduce hair fall.

10. Crush a few leaves and flowers of hibiscus (shoe flower) with two or three glasses of water. The water becomes thick with the juice and use this water to wash your hair. Thoroughly cleanses your hair and gives dark bright color to your hair.

Never apply soap or high power shampoo on your head, as it can affect healthy growth of hair.

by: Dev Sri

Acne Treatment - The Real Secret To Quickly Heal Your Acne

Acne is an all too common skin condition, and in some cases the chemicals used to treat it can further damage the skin. Here are some tips that will help you heal your acne:

No scrubbing or rubbing. You can't scrub your acne away. In fact abrasive or frequent washing can lead to dry skin and irritated acne. Your skin will respond best to kind attention. Gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild cleanser and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. If you exercise hard and sweat a lot you may want to wash your face afterwards. Don't pop pimples.

Don't pop or squeeze pimples, as it could lead to inflammation and infection. It could also push the infected materials deep into the skin and create more swelling. Squeezing or popping pimples could lead to permanent scars on the face.

Breathe deeply. It is advisable to breathe deeply when you feel stressed. Doctors have found out that there is a direct link between stress and acne. Studies have shown that there is increased amount of androgen production when a person is under stress. Not only mental but physical stress such as allergies, surgery etc could activate the androgen production. When androgen is activated the sebaceous glands pumps out more oil/sebum leading to acne.

Use honey. Apply a honey mask once a week. Honey is regarded as a disinfectant and also it has medicinal properties believed to heal minor blemishes. It has the properties of destroying the bacteria present in the skin.

Pay kind attention to your skin. Use a mild cleanser no more than twice a day and gently wash and dry your skin. Apply a noncomedogenic (won't clog your pores) sunscreen.

Patience is a virtue. Be patient. Healing takes time. Unfortunately this doesn't happen overnight. Results are generally seen in a few weeks, but may take up to 8 weeks or more. Don't be tempted by over night promises. So give your acne treatment a fighting chance.

Use sunscreen. Many acne medications contain ingredients that can make your skin extra sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet light from tanning booths. Read the label warnings, avoid tanning booths, and always use a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15. Sun exposure can actually irritate acne even if you are not using an acne medication. So don't make sunbathing a part of your lifestyle and always use sunscreen.

More is not better. If you use more acne medication than directed by your doctor you can actually worsen your acne. Many over-the-counter acne treatments contain active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Too much of either of these can cause your skin to become excessively dry or irritated. It can take time for your skin to adapt to new medications. Remember that it may take up to 8 weeks for any acne medication to have a noticeable effect. Use the medication exactly as directed by your doctor and if you don't see an improvement within 8 weeks talk with your dermatologist.

Use only noncomedogenic products. When purchasing cosmetics, sunscreen or other skin care products, make sure the label reads noncomedogenic. These products, as well as those labeled nonacnegenic, won't clog your pores and therefore won't cause or make your acne worse.

Here's the rub. Headbands and hats can aggravate your acne as they rub against your forehead. Try to avoid these things when possible.

Don't touch your face. It's amazing how often we touch our faces during an average day. Our hands have oil on them and of course bacteria too, both of which can make acne worse. So avoid touching your face or leaning your chin on your hand. Be sure that other objects that come in contact with your face like cell phones, telephone receivers, eye glasses, etc are clean.

Wash your face. It is advisable to wash your face at least twice a day with sulfur-based soap. Once when you wake up and again when you go to bed. Do not scrub; just give it a smooth touch. Washing your skin over and over again will create more trouble than help you.

Cut your hair. If you have long hair it is advisable to cut it short. Your hair contains oil and when you move, the dust particles do mix up with your hair and when your hair bangs on your face or neck or forehead or the affected area, the situation could worsen. Also wash your hair on a daily basis.

Eat fruits and vegetables. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Drink lots of water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Water helps in cleaning and hydrating the skin and maintaining overall health. Change your pillowcase. Wash or change your pillowcase every day. Exercise. Exercise moderately as it helps in blood circulation and helps eliminate toxins. Review your environment.

Pollution, airborne grease (such as in a fast food restaurant), irritating clothing - all these can aggravate your acne. It isn't always possible to avoid all the various irritants that may contribute to your acne. You can, however, make educated decisions that may help to minimize their impact. Loosen tight, irritating clothing or find fabrics that breathe better and don't aggravate your acne.

by: Kaushik Mohanty

Effective Ways To Stop Smoking

All of us are aware of the fact that smoking is not good for health. Still we find it very difficult to quit this bad habit. If you are concerned about your health the best thing you could do is to give up smoking. Your health plays an important role in determining the quality of your life; still you will find it pretty hard to say ‘no to smoking’ immediately. If you have to choose between a big promotion and an effective way to stop smoking without a second opinion go for the second option.

It is a fact that nicotine is the most addictive of all substance known and this is what makes almost all stop smoking programs a big failure. You will definitely agree this if you have been addicted to nicotine like me. If you’re going through this article I think you are presently addicted. Even though there are no guarantees there are a number of stop smoking programs, which can be helpful.

Quitting smoking is of course quite difficult but definitely not impossible. If you choose the right stop smoking program and have a positive attitude you will find it easier to quit smoking. Zyban, a drug that was intended as an antidepressant is widely used now a day in most stop smoking programs. It is effective and is capable to restrict your cravings for nicotine. Compared with traditional therapies it has proved to be a great success. I’ve seen studies, which show 30% success rate after a year, among people who used Zyban alone compared to 15% among those who chose nicotine replacement. These percentages can be improved even more by trying a combination of both.

With out the help of stop smoking programs, only about 5% success rates are achieved after a year. The above percentages may be low but they are really high compared to the complete and abrupt withdrawals. When I quit smoking I used the gum because Zyban was not available. Although I failed almost three times I could achieve my goal eventually. Failures are expected but never give up. You can slowly progress and eventually succeed. Willpower and toughness is not all that matters. If you are really planning to quit smoking don’t let the statistics discourage you, instead chose the right stop smoking program.

by: Morgan Hamilton

Healthy Weight Loss - The Truth about Dieting

Very few people realise that nearly 100% of people who lose weight through a diet program put that weight back on even more quickly than before. Read on to discover why our health departments are now saying that even healthy diets should be avoided.

In the first month of a diet the weight you lose is mostly water and muscle weight. As soon as you go off the diet, those are replaced with more fat! In addition, almost no-one can stick to a diet because it is so out of kilter with the person's familiar eating patterns. The very act of dieting both lowers metabolic processing, and increases food cravings. No wonder that three years after going on a diet, over 95% have put that weight back on or are even heavier!

Nevertheless there is no doubt we have a serious weight problem. In Australia the latest National Nutrition Survey showed that we have 45% of women and 65% of men overweight. Over the last 20 years our obesity rate has doubled to 17% of men and 19% of women. According to the National Health & Medical Research Council paper “Acting on Australia’s Weight” our children are 2-3 times more likely to be obese, as their rates have also doubled since the 1980’s.

The costs of overweight are enormous: over $700 million dollars of the public purse, and over $500 million spent attending diet or weight loss clinics. Our hospitals are clogged with people who have diseases which are a consequence of overweight: heart disease, metabolic disorders, diabetes, oedema, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, cancers of the endometrium, biliary system disease and respiratory problems. The cost in loss of life is even worse. Every year in Australia we lose many thousands of people to the effects of overweight. We also lose thousands of young women every year dying from dieting diseases such as anorexia and bulimia.

So not only does dieting not work, it's dangerous, and we can no longer afford to tolerate a culture of dieting. The following are a list of health problems caused by dieting, all of which are thoroughly backed by worldwide consensus research:

1. Diets have been linked with fatal eating disorders, particularly amongst children, and particularly amongst children of mothers who have dieted.

2. Weight loss dieting can cause health problems and can even lead to gall bladder disease and emergency surgery if the decrease is too rapid.

3. Dieting has been linked with lowered libido. Diets can wreck a wonderful sex life and a great relationship!

4. Diets usually cost money, money that could have been spent on lovely new clothes or family treats. If diets worked, this would be a wise investment, but the problem is, the weight loss effects are merely temporary and the damage done by dieting persists!

5. Diets often don’t provide correct nutrition, leading to problems with concentration and memory and also decreased well-being, lowered immune system and more illness.

6. Food deprivation causes food cravings that become so intense that sooner or later everyone busts out of their diet! At this point the myth of willpower is shown to be the awful lie that it truly is.

So why diet? It doesn’t work. It causes problems. And there’s a much better way!

What is this better way? Certainly we now know that healthy weight loss does not involve any special eating regime or exercise regime. Instead the best weight loss programs will ensure that a thorough study is made of how the person behaves and the lifestyle choices they make when they are NOT trying to lose weight. This is the realistic baseline that we're starting from.

Often we find that if the person is fairly active and not overeating too severely, that it is something very small that is nevertheless making a very big difference in weight. It could be that they're eating or drinking something on a regular basis that they had no idea contained so many empty calories. The café latté is a perfect example, as some of these can add up to as much as half one's daily calorie needs! One of these each day could easily add 0.5 kg per week in excess weight. Many people are surprised to learn that it only takes an excess of just 250 calories a day for most people to accumulate an extra 11 kilos of fat every year!

Or it could be that the person has reduced their physical activity level by giving up some sport or activity that they enjoyed and need to give themselves permission, even as adults, to get out there and play and engage with life again. This should not on any account be confused with an exercise regime. This really is about PLAYING and genuine pleasure is the key.

So this is why we should focus on healthy weight loss practices only, and really look at what choices people are making, and why they are making them, before we even begin to construct a plan, not by imposing it on someone, but by working together as a team to build an informed, customised, workable and permanent solution.

Finally, the compulsive and addictive components of weight loss have been so poorly understood that they've been ignored totally, leaving the poor overweight person out of control with cravings. Until now there has not really been a satisfactory answer to cravings, but by using modern deconditioning methods, people can now learn to literally switch off these cravings, quickly and permanently. I hope after reading this article that you would never again consider dieting, and instead look at the real reasons for your weight issues, and real solutions for healthy weight loss! Thank you for reading.

by: Christine Sutherland