Category — Body fat

So we’ve covered pre-workout snacks, now let’s focus on what you consume after your workouts. This step is arguably the most important part of your workout because when you exercise you deplete your body’s glycogen (the carb stored in your muscles and liver). That’s why it’s extremely vital that you replace what you lose so you can get the most out of your hard work.

Through my own personal experience and speaking with several personal trainers, I have come up with this list of the best post-workout meals:

5.  Piece of fish and baked potato — A muscle-building packed combination of quality protein and complex carbohydrates, this meal is a great way to end your workout. Go for salmon or tilapia as these have the highest amounts of protein.

4.  Chicken breast or steak and rice — Another classic meal that will maximize your workout. If you’re buying steak make sure to pick sirloin or a lean cut which are a lot healthier. Don’t forget the whole grain rice either!

3. Protein bar — This is only third on our list because it is a solid and will take a bit longer to absorb than its liquid counterparts. However, it’s still a very effective post-workout meal. In this instance don’t go for “Low carb” bars, instead buy a protein or meal replacement bar that has plenty of calories and carbohydrates to go along with at least 30 grams of protein. I like the MET-RX meal replacement bars.

2. Chocolate milk — This surprisingly effective recovery drink was almost a unanimous pick for all the experts I interviewed. Two cups of this stuff averages about 310-320 calories, 50 grams of carbs, and 16 grams of protein. Of course the liquid consistency will allow it to be absorbed quickly and carried to your depleted muscles.

1. Protein drink with whey — The original and still the best. No other food or drink can compare to the punch this packs when it comes to optimizing your workout. Whey protein is absorbed the fastest by your body and the liquid form will bring it to your muscles that much faster. If it’s a low carb protein add in some berries or a banana to give it a boost. Optimum Nutrition’s Hydro Whey is a good pick!

All of these foods should all be taken within 45 minutes after completion of your workout for best results.

During these tough economic times we’re all trying to find ways to save money. When looking at your fitness regimen you may want to consider your options. If you’re paying a high monthly membership cost at your local gym, you might want to put a “freeze” on your account and look into a home fitness program, which is great for a couple of reasons.

First, they can provide a change of pace from the monotony of going to and from the gym everyday. Secondly, as discussed above, they can save you much needed dinero.

Here’s a list of the most popular fitness programs on the market today:

5. Nordic Track — Their Personal Trainer III machine is still one of the best ones out there and offers the most bang for your buck. Resistance can be increased up to 220 lbs and there are no ‘rods’ or ‘bows.’ There’s a high rate of customer satisfaction and it comes with specific workout program for each day of the week. Price: $599.99

4. Weider — The Pro Fury home gym is advertised as a ‘complete, total body workout’ and it certainly has the specs to back up that claim. It contains 6 pulleys, a removable bench, and the ability to allow two people to workout at the same time. The machine also has a 100 lb Cast Weight Stack and capacity for over 55 different exercises. Price: $799

3. Nautilus — As part of the Bowflex family, Nautilus’ Freedom Trainer compares favorably to their Ultimate Home Gym, but costs a bit less. It contains weighted plates pulled by cables that can increase by increments of 15 lbs. The trainer’s arms also adjust on two separate planes and counterbalance each other making for simple adjustment in vertical planes. Price: $3,520

2. Bowflex — The Bowflex 2 Ultimate Home Gym is one of the most advanced machines available today. It’s a total body workout with over 95 exercises. It contains up to 310 lbs of resistance (upgradeable to 410). I’ve used this a few times and found it be very effective. However, if you’re not used to training with ‘bows’ then it will take some getting used to. Price: $2,499

1. P90X — One of the fastest growing workout programs on the market, P90X is different because it’s not a piece of equipment but a series of 12 DVDs that contain specific workouts designed to blast fat and build lean muscle in 90 days. I can vouch for this because I’m currently in my fifth week and seeing amazing results. It does require you to have a pull up bar and dumbells (or a resistance band). It also comes with a full nutrition guide. Price: $119.85

It’s football season and that means sitting in front of the television for the entire day on Sunday to watch all the games. It also means eating all of that great food that’s not necessarily great for you. But luckily for you, from Monday to Saturday you can train for your big day on Sunday to soften some of the blow.

You don’t have to run wind sprints in 100 degree heat, or go up against 300-lb lineman, you just have to follow a training regimen that maximizes results from a total body workout. If you’re a guy who plays flag football or if you’re just looking to lose body fat and gain some lean muscle, then you could benefit from a football training regimen.

Most of the exercises focus on lifting a low amount of reps through a high amount of sets. This is due to the fact that you want “explosive” muscles because the movements in the game football require that.

Give it a shot and see if you notice some improvements in both your body and your game.

Everybody has their own theories and methods when it comes to supplements. What they use, how much of it, and when is all based on personal experience and research. The key is to find out what works best for you. Because what might help me lose body fat, may not be what helps you.

Dr. Howard LeWine (M.D) from Harvard Medical School wrote an article a few weeks ago in which he outlines how vitamin and protein supplements are not necessarily beneficial and there is little evidence to support those claims. Now, I’m not a doctor and I’m not questioning Dr. LeWine’s credibility because I’m quite sure he can backup any of the arguments he has made. However, there’s something about being a highly conditioned athlete and knowing the limitations and needs of your own body.

For instance, a person looking to lose body fat and gain lean muscle mass needs high amounts of B-vitamins to sustain energy and convert food into energy. As Dr. LeWine says:

During exercise, more than the usual amounts of B vitamins are needed. These include thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid. Enriched cereals and whole-grain carbohydrates combined with some lean meats will satisfy the needs of even the extreme athlete.

The only problem with that is when you’re trying to lose body fat and gain lean muscle you’re not going to rely on cereal and carbohydrates to sustain your energy. You’re going to limit the amount of carbohydrates (especially cereal because most of it is processed anyway) and concentrate on a high protein diet. That’s why supplementing with B-vitamins could be a good idea. The same is true for protein. You’re not going to comsume all of your protein by way of meat and nuts — if you do you’d be putting your health at risk. Instead, you supplement with protein powder and meal replacement shakes.

Don’t get me wrong, Dr. LeWine makes a lot of good points and even credits creatine as to having some value:

Creatine is the one amino acid that may have some athletic benefit. It contributes to rapid energy production and may enhance power or speed bursts that require short periods of anaerobic activity. It does not build muscle or increase endurance, and it can result in water retention. Long-term effects are unknown.

As I have discussed in previous posts, Kre-Alkalyn is the new generation of creatine. It’s a buffered type of creatine that is better absorbed in the body and doesn’t force you to retain water.

It’s true that many supplements are bogus because they don’t have to be approved by the FDA, but there are many good ones out there from reliable companies. So be sure to do your research before picking one. I agree with Dr. LeWine’s overall point that you should get the majority of your nutrition from food and not from supplements. However, there are cases when supplementing is beneficial. Especially cases where an individual is trying to lose weight and gain muscle.

Anybody looking to lose body fat has probably tried or thought about trying a thermogenic. Thermogenics are a supplements used to stimulate the body’s fat burning process. Now, there are many choices out there so picking the right one is crucial. A common ingredient in thermogenics, ephedra, was banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 due to its adverse side effects. Consumers no longer have to worry about it being in their supplements.

When picking a thermogenic opt for the “less is more” theory. That is, the fewer ingredients the better off you’re going to be. GNC’s ThermoBurst is a good product as is Lipo-6. Another one that I’ve had good results with is Instone’s LeanFire and LeanFire Inferno. Both are made with minimal ingredients.

A thermogenic that was recently recommended to me by a friend is Tetrazene Stimulant-Free by BioQuest. It just may be the most natural thermogenic out there as it contains B-6, Biotin, and a propietary blend of Glucomannan, Glutamine, and olive leaf extract. I’ll be sure to give it a full review once I try it.

Remember, thermogenics are supplements so taking them alone probably won’t get you much results. You have to combine it with a healthy diet and exercise.

With so many bottled supplements out there claiming you can get ripped or lean in weeks by just using their product, it’s hard to weed out the useful ones from the duds. However, there is one supplement that’s gaining popularity that can help you in your quest to get jacked. L- Carnitine.

L-Carnitine is an amino acid produced naturally in your body, albeit very sparingly. It helps to oxidize fatty acids (it helps break them down into energy). Beef, nuts, and legumes are all natural sources of L-Carnitine. However, the best way to ensure you’re getting enough is to supplement.

For someone who exercises regularly, eats a balanced diet, and is looking to gain lean muscle mass and burn fat 1.5 – 2 grams of L-Carnitine daily will suffice.

You can find it at most drugstores and healthfood stores.

Everybody wants washboard abs, but how do we get them? It’s like everything when it comes to muscle building; there are hundreds of ways to get ripped and lean. But which ones are the best, not only in terms of results, but for the well being of your body?

Most of us know that getting your abdominals ripped and allowing them show consists mostly of dieting and eating the proper foods. But to have them “pop” you need to focus on the right regimen and exercises.

AskMen.com answers FAQs regarding ab workouts and techniques. You’ll find that when it comes to frequency more is not necessarily better and the amount of repetitions you do depends on your goal. Like most muscles, your abs need to be tricked and shocked so doing the same ab exercise over and over is not going to do much in terms of helping the muscle grow.

A strong abdominal section and core is one of the keys to a healthy, injury free body and physique.

Myatt Murphy and Mike Mejia at MensHealth.com say that the key to making your biceps “pop” is variation in your exercises (see Close-Grip Chinup and Towel Inverted Row. 

Don’t continue to do the same bicep workout each time; mix it up a bit! In order for those veins to show you need to have your body fat under 15%.

The anatomy of your biceps’ fibers are tailor made to bulge out, all you have to do is work them out!