Category: Fitness

by: Tom
Here is the latest opinion regarding body building supplements.
When you are looking for top advice about body building supplements, it will be easier said than done separating value-packed advice from ill-advised body building supplements submissions and help so it’s prudent to know ways of moderating the information offered to you.

Fitness First USA
Offers brand-name supplements at low prices. Shop for bodybuilding and weight loss supplements, testosterone gels, HGH, and vitamins.

Here are several guidelines that we think you should use when you are searching for information about body building supplements. You need to realize any recommendation we present to you is only relevant to internet information about body building supplements. Unfortunately we are unable to provide any guidance or tips for conducting research offline.

Summit Supplements – ABB American Body Building Products
Bodybuilding supplement store sells ABB Pure Pro, Carbo Force, Ripped Force, Adrenalin Stack, Lean Protein, Mass Recovery, and Extreme XXL.

An excellent tip to follow when you’re presented with help or advice about a body building supplements web site is to verify the ownership of the website. This may show you who owns the site body building supplements identifications The fastest way to determine who owns the body building supplements site is to find the ‘about’ page.

Any worthwhile website providing information on body building supplements, will always have contact information which will record the site owner’s contact details. The details should let you know some key points concerning the owner’s requisite knowledge. This enables you to make an assessment about the webmaster’s training and understanding, to offer guidance about body building supplements.

About the author:

hugh campbell is the webmaster for http://www.body-buildingsupplements- 1st.info

by: K. Perry
Our system uses a free-form gas called Nitric Oxide as a cell communication tool. This naturally produced substance is created by body enzymes breaking down the amino acid Arginine. When L-Arginine amino acid converts into L-citruline the result is Nitric Oxide.

Nitric Oxide oversees blood circulation, message transmissions between cells as well as individual pain thresholds, to name a few. No2 supplement is a powerful extended-release formula of arginine alpha- ketoglutarate and the ingredients in no2 supplement are easily absorbed. This ensures thorough uptake of no2 supplement ingredients and helps to sustain the no2 supplement benefits for longer.

No2 supplement is used by many athletes looking to increase endurance and strength, and no2 supplement is associated with body building and muscle toning. Various studies undertaken on the no2 supplement give us an idea of the benefits of mri no2. Many sources are available on no2 supplement, and its mri no2 effects.

The no2 supplement has a formulation proven to increase strength dramatically. No2 supplement is one of a new group of mri no2 muscle enhancers and builders referred to as cell-signaling hemodilators.

No2 supplement works through mediation of the signaling-molecule nitric oxide, introducing powerful hemodilation to the system with mri no2. The no2 supplement thus increases strength and endurance. Power output is dramatically increased by no2 supplement and the action of mri no2, as is muscle size and load capacity.

No2 supplement has sustained-release physer3, an advanced technology of no2 supplement, which allows hemodilation to last for hours with no2 supplement, creating a virtually permanent muscle pump. This muscle pump produced by no2 supplement is known as the “perpetual pump”. This is a rock-hard pumped-up effect, achieved while training the body and aided by mri no2. With no2 supplement, your skin feels tighter. Unlike the non-mri no2 exercise-induced pump, which usually fades 30 minutes after a workout, the perpetual pump can endure for quite a few hours with mri no2.

The no2 supplement increases blood flow, making no2 supplement valuable to athletes and body builders, as this means that with no2 supplement an increased supply of nutrients reaches the muscles. The muscles then become harder when stressed by training, which is a benefit of mri no2. No2 supplement also reduces inflammation, thereby lessening the pain factor associated with extreme muscle stress, allowing athletes using no2 supplement to train their bodies harder and for a longer period before tiring.

No2 supplement reportedly aids with muscular healing after intense workouts. No2 supplement naturally boosts system performance, without steroids.

Studies on the effects of no2 supplement on the human body show that no2 supplement sustains levels of nitric oxide in the muscles for a longer period. No2 supplement is capable of delivering its muscle-enhancing benefits continuously, providing mri no2. results.

Benefits of no2 supplement include increasing muscle growth signals, which allow for a faster gain in lean mass. With the aid of no2 supplement, athletes can maintain and enhance their already trained muscles. No2 supplement regulates the body’s natural set point for lean mass and No2 supplement increases the fat burning capacity of the body. The muscle fibre increases of no2 supplement make muscle look and feel rock hard.

The main task of no2 supplement is to ensure that the muscle is functioning properly and at its peak, achieved by mri no2.

No2 Supplement Related Articles
About the Author

Copyright 2024 Health-Focus
Providing Resources on Health and Nutrition

by: Kathy Burns-Millyard

from The Health and Fitness Information Network
http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com

Most of us know that smoking is indeed a habit that can have many serious implications on our health, but there’s a tendency to view the problem lightly. It’s important though, that every smoker be aware of the facts concerning smoking. So here are some eye openers for you…

The World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends and statistical patterns across the globe and has come up with the following statistics:

A good deal of variation exists from one part of the world to another. Many more women smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and the Pacific Region. Eastern Europe itself has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59 percent of adult males smoking.

As with other substances of abuse, such as alcohol and cocaine, the global frequency of tobacco use varies by social class, historical era, and culture. Historically, smoking had been a pastime of the rich. This trend has changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that economically advantaged men in wealthier countries have been smoking less. The more years of education you’ve had, the less likely you are to be a smoker.

Most smokers begin early in life, before they are 25 years old. According to World Health Organization studies, the majority of smokers in affluent countries begin in their teens. A decline in the age of starting smoking has been observed worldwide.

As a wannabe quitter, you’re in excellent company. People all over the world are trying to quit and stay away from cigarettes. There appears to be a correlation between a country’s standard of living, level of education, and income and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more and better-informed people are, the more likely they are to quit smoking.

Current estimates are that over 1 billion people in the world smoke. (In other words, approximately one in three adults on the planet smokes.) The majority of these smokers reside in countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, about 80% live in low and middle income countries. The total number of smokers worldwide is expected to keep increasing.

But are things in the USA any better? Not really, as you can see for yourself in the figures of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
2024
In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2%) and 22.6 million women (20.7%) are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show:

– Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women smoke

– Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and 18.0 percent of women smoke

– Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoke

– Among Asians (only), 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women smoke

– Among American Indians/Alaska Natives (only), 32.0 percent of men and 36.9 percent of women smoke

Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent). It’s highest among persons living below the poverty level (33.3 percent).

And These Figures Spell Death…

One out of every five deaths is caused by tobacco

An average of 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco

Tobacco is blamed for many serious pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases

Tobacco and nicotine are some of the most potent carcinogens and are to blame for a majority of all cancers of the lung, trachea, bronchus, larynx, and esophagus

Tobacco use also produces cancers in the pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix

Impotency is sometimes to blame from addiction to nicotine because of its ability to reduce blood flow

Smoking is an important risk factor for respiratory illnesses, causing 85,000 deaths per year from pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia

Children and adolescents who are active smokers will have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they grow older

Smoking during pregnancy causes about 5-6% of prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries, and it increases the risk of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation

Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year

So, are you ready to try and quit smoking now?

Visit http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com/Quit-Smoking/ to learn how you can finally quit smoking fast, easily, and all naturally!

About the author:
© 2004 Kathy Burns-Millyard and The Health and Fitness Information Network

This article is provided courtesy of http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com- You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

by: Anthony Shelton
When you purchase a Sole treadmill, you are buying quality, tradition and good reputation. The Sole Fitness Company is the maker of the Sole treadmill and they have been in the business of producing top-quality treadmills and exercise machines for over a decade. Sole have built a solid reputation by taking the time to invest in building exercise equipment that stands the test of time.

When you buy an item as big as a treadmill, you want it to last. You at least want to feel as though you got your money s worth out of it. This can only happen if the treadmill is built well, if it is durable, sturdy and can withstand some of the light abuse that it will receive from the kids and the dog, as well as the tough workouts that you plan doing on it. Sole treadmills are built to withstand the every day knocks and bangs that daily life brings about.

Such is the reputation of Sole exercise machines, they are the treadmill of choice in many of the worlds finest hotels. In fact, the Hilton hotels have installed and use only treadmills made by Sole Fitness. Many people do not know this, but Sole Fitness guarantees their treadmill motors for thirty years and their treadmill decks and frames for a complete lifetime. This is phenomenal! It definitely demonstrates that Sole machines and treadmills are built with quality components that last.

Treadmills made by Sole are definitely considered to be top of the line and most models sell for over one thousand dollars. There are a variety of Sole models; fold away treadmills and non-foldable treadmills. One of the best exercise machines that Sole currently have on the market is the Sole F85 Treadmill. This is a fold up treadmill that is truly top of the line in every way.

The F85 comes with all of the regular features like speed control, incline control and heart rate monitor. It also has pre-program workouts, it holds users of up to 400 pounds and even allows you to input your own customized workout routine. If you are serious about fitness this Sole treadmill is the treadmill for you.

About the author:
Visit our website and download our popular FREE ebook “It’s fun to be thin” This book will motivate and inspire you to reach your fitness goals. http://www.a1-treadmills.com

by: Andrew Banderman
For the best diet results, you need a personalized diet that you can stick to.

People diet for lots of reasons, and with lots of aims in mind. No matter what your aims are, the most effective diet to achieve them is a personalized one. A personalized diet which suits you is what you need, whether you want to improve your health, or just lose weight.

Once you’ve decided to make a change for the better in your diet the next step is to seek advice from an expert. There are a myriad of fitness and diet plans to suit you available from your local gym or fitness center. There will usually be someone there you can talk to and discover what the best diet for you is. Alternatively you can take join up to one of the many fitness programs offered by the major fitness companies, there is one to suit every taste!

Everyones body is different and so different diets and fitness programs effect you diffently to the way they will effect others. Some people will lose weight and tone up more quickly on certain diets so its important to ensure the diet that you are on is just right for your body.

Most diet programs are designed for people with no specific health problems. If you find you are changing your prescribed diet to suit a health problem you have it is essential to contact your doctor first for advice. They can advise you on what is best to eat or avoid eating with your illness.

Of course your doctor knows as much as anyone about your health. They are in an excellent position to help you decide on the diet that will be most effective for you. They will also be able to spot any potential problems with a diet you are on, or are considering. For example if you are on medication to prevent blood clots then you shouldn’t eat green vegetables (spinach in particular). Your doctor will spot issues like this and point them out to you.

The major problem with standard diets (including the fad diets we all here about) is that they are just that – standard. They are designed to suit everyone to some degree but they will probably have an average effect on you. These diets are not designed for you – for your body, build, fitness level, health, or potential health problems. A good diet is one you can make your own – a diet you can tailor and personalize to suit yourself.

Another problem is that depending on where you live, some diets might call for you to eat a particular food that is difficult or even impossible to find. They might also require you to eat foods that are out of season or more expensive to buy in your location than others. If this is the case, you should change your diet to include foods that are easier to come by, but that also work in your diet.

Of course there is little point in beginning your diet with great determination only to find a week later you dont have the ability to stick with it. It is important that you ease yourself into your diet when possible. Phase out your old diet while gradually adopting your new personalised diet.
That way you’ll be able to stick with it and get the most out of your new diet.

Avoid a diet that requires you to abruptly change your eating habits, forcing you to stop eating your favourite foods for example. Changes like that will cause temptation and make you cheta on your diet. A diet like this will rarely last long enough to have any meaningful effect on your health or weight.
2024
If your diet has an aim – like losing weight or lowering your blood pressure then you should consider making a progress chart. that way you can look at the chart and see how far you’ve come and how much closer to your goal you are. that kind of encouragement will give you a much needed boost in your confidence, and your resolve to work along the path of your new diet and achieve your goals.

About the author:
Andrew Banderman is the owner and editor of RC Diet — a premier source of information on diet. Free newsletter.
For more diet information and articles, go to:
http://www.rcdiet.com

by: Bob Hett
A treadmill is a great way to get in shape or stay in shape. While many people go to the gym to use their treadmills, it makes sense to have one at home, too. But if you want a top of the line treadmill, you are going to have to pay top of the line prices for it. Like anything else, with treadmills, you get the quality you pay for, so spending money for a good treadmill is an excellent investment if you plan to use it regularly. One great option for finding an affordable treadmill is to consider purchasing a refurbished treadmill.

A refurbished treadmill is a lot different than a used treadmill. A used treadmill is almost always in used shape, which means a major breakdown could happen at any time. With a used treadmill, often you have no idea what you are getting, and treadmill repairs can be very expensive. The motors alone can cost a small fortune.

On the other hand, a refurbished or re-manufactured treadmill has been returned to the manufacturer, taken apart and totally rebuilt. Any older or worn-out parts have been replaced. It has been re-painted and made to look as good as new. The best part about re-manufactured exercise equipment is that it comes with a warranty, which is usually six months for parts and labor. If it doesn t come with a warranty, don t buy it. Any reputable company selling this kind of equipment should offer a warranty of some kind.

For instance, a Precor treadmill can run $4995 for a new one. By searching online at reliable online sites that sell refurbished exercise equipment, there are plenty for sale for between $2550 to $3325. Precor is just one of the brands that makes and distributes quality exercise equipment that is intended for use at fitness centers or for the fitness enthusiast. This is a great way to buy your favorite treadmill at the gym for your own home at a discounted price.

It is nice to know that this type of equipment looks as good as new and is going to provide dependable service while getting it for a sale price. There s nothing better than that for someone who wants to have a treadmill at home to stay in shape on days when you can t or don t want to go out to your local fitness center.

So, when looking for a refurbished treadmill, it makes sense to check that it comes with a warranty, and that it has actually been re-manufactured by the company. Do some comparison shopping, and check online ratings for the best treadmills in this category and reputable places to buy them. You could be running or walking on your own top of the line treadmill in no time.

About the author:
Bob Hett makes it easy to find the treadmill information you are looking for. Get the answers that you are seeking by visiting http://www.treadmillsreview.info

by: Marcus Peterson
Although the jogging fad of the 1970s has long subsided, many people exercise to stay in shape. Many people work out in public gyms, but an increasing number exercise at home, and the home fitness gym market is growing exponentially. With so many options now available, from universal gyms, to free weights, to Weider Crossbow machines, choosing the right home gym can be a challenging process.

It is important to keep in mind several factors when decided which home fitness gym is right for you. Your fitness goals, the amount of money you are willing to spend, the amount of space you have, and the complexity of the equipment are all factors that will need to be considered. Luckily, the answers to these problems often fit together in a way that simplifies the process of choosing the right home gym for you.

First, you need to figure out what your particular goals are. Do you want to lose weight? Are you looking to build strength or increase your endurance? Will more than one person use the home fitness gym? The answer is vital to deciding which type of home gym is best for you. Some home gyms are made specifically for one type of exercise, while others work on all areas of fitness.

The next item to consider is how much money you are willing to spend. Prices range from around $15 for a small set of free weights to over $2000 for a total home fitness center that can be used by two people at once. To an extent, the price reflects the quality of the system, but you also have to factor in what you will use your home fitness gym for. There is no sense in buying a top of the line total fitness home gym if you just want to lose a few pounds.

The amount of available space is also an area of concern. Some home fitness gyms can be compacted and fit in a closet, while others will take up the majority of a room. Once again, the price and primary purpose of the home gym will influence how much room it will need. For example, a pull-up bar can fit in a doorway and is relatively cheap, but it can only be used for one type of exercise.

Finally, some people have said that some of the more expensive and versatile home fitness gyms are too complicated to use and that they prefer something simpler, such as a set of free weights and a weight bench or a stationary bike.

One thing that becomes clear when taking all of these different factors into account is that they affect each other. To meet very simple and specific fitness goals, an inexpensive, simple, small home gym is the best buy. For more complex goals, or for the goals of an entire household, a larger, expensive, complex machine may be needed.

About the author:
Home Gyms Info provides detailed information on cheap, best, used, discount, free weight, and universal home gyms, plus reviews of best home gym products, and more. Home Gyms Info is the sister site of Whey Protein Web.

by: Nicky Pilkington
Large, bulging muscles like those found on the models of body building magazine covers are often what people associate with strength training. Of course, building muscles is part of this type of training program. There are other benefits that even women who don’t want to ‘bulk up’ can appreciate. Stronger muscles can reduce your risk of injury to your back and other parts of your body. Since your metabolism increases when you strength train, you can also maintain a healthy weight. Body building that results in large muscles typically involves long, strenuous workouts. To experience the results just mentioned, you would just need to perform body building exercises for 30 minutes, 3 times a week. What makes the difference in results you experience with strength training exercises is the body building equipment you use.

If you are interested in a moderate workout, you can simply add ankle or wrist weights to your existing low-impact workout. Adding a few extra pounds forces your heart and muscles to work harder. Weight vests are also an option if you are interested in defining your upper body. The key to success with this body building equipment is to make sure you don’t put too much stress on your muscles, which can cause serious injury. Since these types of weights are easily adjustable, you can try out varying weight amounts to find the amount that will give you the best results without undue stress and strain.

A common body building regimen for professional bodybuilders is to focus on one set of muscles each workout. You can choose any order you wish. Since you can work your abdominal muscles on a daily basis, body building equipment that includes a platform for performing abdominal exercises is a good choice. Smith machines is equipment that features stations for performing different exercises. These machines generally feature a bench that you can use to perform bench presses as well as crunches or sit-ups. These machines can cost upwards of $500, but low-end Smith machines such as the Body Solid Powerline that costs less than $500 are perfect for a basic body building program.

For ‘spot’ workouts, bodybuilding exercises that focus on one muscle group, there are numerous types of body building equipment available on the market. Within this market there are numerous kinds of body building equipment for light-to-moderate body building exercises. A good starter piece of equipment that you can purchase anywhere is a chin-up bar. This equipment costs as little as $10 and fits in any doorway of your home. Push ups are perfect for any type of exercise program. Although you can perform pushups without special equipment, purchasing a pair of pushup stands can provide extra support for your wrists. This equipment is also great for traveling. Dip stands may not fit in your suitcase, but you can easily slide them in a corner of a room when they are not in use. Dip stands are used to perform exercises that work the arms and abdominals. If you’re creative you can easily design other upper and lower-body exercises. The equipment listed here is only a percentage of what is available on the market. You can find more detailed information about body building equipment at body-building-equipment.com.

About the author:
http://www.body-building-equipment.comprovides reviews of the most recent developments in equipment and technique you can use to reshape your muscles.

by: Matt Russ
You can make great strides in your sport performance in the weight room. Because strength training can break down a lot of muscle tissue I recommend weight work be done in the foundation or base period. This does not mean you will not continue to build strength throughout the season. Hill running, slow cadence cycling work outs, and resisted swim work outs are all forms of strength training that are specific to disciplines. Weight training should smoothly transition into strength training in your disciplines.

As your season progresses, and your intensity increases, weight work can be detrimental to your more specific work outs and events. Your legs may need up to 72 hours to fully recover from a weight work out. This is a big block of the week to give up performance in other areas. Just like your training plan your strength plan will go through specific phases. Endurance athletes should not use body building plans that are focused on muscle mass gains. This can actually be counter productive for a distance athlete. Each phase will have a specific purpose such as acclimation, hypertrophy, muscular endurance and power. If you are weak on sprints and jumps, you may want to emphasize more power training. If you are weak on climbs, muscular endurance is a good focus. If you are generally weak, or new to strength training, I recommend a slightly longer period with the weights. Shorter distance athletes may want to emphasize more strength work for speed, while longer distance athletes, that are more slow twitch, will not need as much weight work.

Listen to your body and avoid overreaching yourself with the weights. This is especially important in the very beginning of your plan. You may feel the need to push yourself, but you may also not be walking well the next day. This is due to micro trauma in the muscles or small muscle tears. These tears have to heal up before you get stronger, so take it easy. You may also find yourself more tired, and you may need more sleep during the initial acclimation period. Make sure you refuel after a strength work out just like you would any other.

Core strength is crucial to protecting your back during lifting. I recommend using a variety of exercises to strengthen all core muscles every other day. Core strength also will help with your running, biking, and swimming ability. If your muscles are very sore, do not overstretch them. This may re-injure the micro trauma that occurred during training and slow the healing process. Light stretching and recovery work is recommended. I do not use a weight belt. These belts are for power lifter who wants to increase inter-abdominal pressure for max lifts. They may actually make your back weaker. Do not use a belt to exceed your limits. In fact you should be no where near this type of lifting. I like to perform my core strength at the end of my work out. Performing core exercises first may leave them too fatigued to properly support you.

Choosing when to strength train is very important because it affects your other work outs. I usually try to strength train after a rest day early in the week. I make sure I do not have a critical or high stress work out in the next few days following my leg work out. Again, this is why weight work is best performed in the base or foundation period when there are not a lot of break through work outs.

I generally only strength train my legs heavy one time per week. I may do a lighter session at the end of the week. Strength training and endurance training are like oil and water for the most part. They work well when separated, but do not mix. With a heavy foundation load I do not recommend strength training more than twice per week. You may negatively affect your other training, or more likely over reach yourself.

These are general guidelines. I will not recommend specific work outs. I do recommend the core of your routine be compound or multi-joint exercises such as the squat, lunge, dead lift, step up, and leg press. The number one rule of strength training is switch up your routine. Your body will acclimate quickly to the same routine week after week, and growth will be retarded. Switch up your exercises each week. You may want to get with a certified strength trainer to learn advanced training techniques such as drop sets, compound sets, super sets, and other methods. Try to use a pedal width stance on your exercises and mimic the range of motion of running and cycling.

One exercise I will caution you on is the leg extension. Most people use way to much weight on this exercise, which can put a lot of pressure under the knee cap. This may lead to cartilage damage. Leg extensions are a good exercise to warm up with. Use light to moderate weight and lots of reps. You may want to perform this exercise in the top 20 degrees range of motion. This helps strengthen your VMO or innermost quad which plays a key role in patella tracking.

Finally, if you are unfamiliar with weight training and proper form I highly recommend you get with a certified athletic trainer. Exercises such as the squat, dead lift, and even leg press can easily injure you if performed incorrectly. I could write an entire book on how to perform these exercises, but if I am not standing next to you and watching your form, you could still be performing them incorrectly. I see and correct bad form from even experienced clients on a daily basis.

Phase I- Acclimation 4-8 weeks
Purpose: To gradually adjust your body to the stresses of strength training. During this phase you will use light weight and high reps. You may want to start of your first few weeks with very light weight or body weight. Make sure you perform your exercises slowly and controlled.
Reps: 15-25
Weight: Light to Moderate
Exercises: 3-5
Sets: 2-3
Rest between sets: 1-3 minutes generally allows full recovery

Phase II Hypertrophy: 4-6 weeks
Purpose: To recruit maximum amount of fibers and promote muscle growth and absolute strength. Make sure your first set is a light warm up set. You will want to “pyramid” or increase the weight on each set while lowering the reps. A typical rep scheme may look like this 12-10-8-6, or 12-10-8. This phase has a good potential for injury, so be careful and listen to your body. You can take your lifts to muscular failure during this period. I recommend a spotter. Don’t be surprised if the first few weeks leave you very sore.
Reps: 6-12
Weight: Moderate to Heavy
Exercises: 3-6
Sets: 3-4
Rest between sets: 1-3 minutes generally allows full recovery

Phase III Strength Endurance: 6-8 Weeks
Purpose: To train the ability to sustain repeated hard efforts, similar to a steep climb. This phase will raise your lactate threshold and time to exhaustion. You want to use moderate weight and slow controlled motion. You can bring yourself to muscular failure but at a higher rep range. I recommend that you raise your rep range slightly as you progress.
Reps: 15-30
Weight: Moderate
Exercises: 3-5
Sets: 2-4
Rest between sets: 1-3 minutes generally allows full recovery

Phase IV Power: 3-6 weeks
Purpose: Power is force over time, or the ability to move the most resistance in the shortest time period. This is necessary for jumps and short sprints. Again, I recommend a trainer during this period because of the potential for injury, and the creative knowledge needed for power training. You will take each strength exercise and explode upwards. Be careful on the eccentric phase (lowering). Try to picture a spring that is slowly coiled until it is tensioned, then explodes. Go light, especially in the beginning. This does not mean you will not fatigue the muscles. I use a body weight for the first few weeks.
Reps: 8-20
Weight: Light to Moderate
Exercises: 4-6
Sets: 2-3
Rest between sets: 1-3 minutes generally allows full recovery

You have to view strength training as a tool box. You have to decide which tools are right for you based on your body, and your event. I personally am a smaller person, slow twitch, and my goals are usually short events. This means more time in the weight room for me. If you are a marathoner, you will need less strength work and less weight. If you are a large muscled person, who has good short distance speed, yet you are training for an IM event, I would focus less on hypertrophy and more on strength endurance for climbing.

About the Author

Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmichael Training Systems), is an Ultrafit Associate. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information.

by: Michael A. Smith, MD
Supporters of the Atkins Diet claim that a low carbohydrate diet is a safe and effective method for losing weight. This article evaluates the low carbohydrate diet and specifically the claims made about ketosis.

The Low Carb-Ketosis Link

By severely limiting carbohydrates in your diet, the main energy source used by your body, glucose, drops to low levels. In return, insulin levels also drop. With low glucose and low insulin levels, the body turns to alternative sources of energy.

Because of a significant change in your body’s chemistry when on the Atkins Diet, certain metabolic pathways are turned “on” that are normally not “on” or run at very low levels. One such pathway involves the breakdown of fat, called Beta-Oxidation of Fats.

Now, normally fats are broken down to produce energy when your body senses a need. But in the context of a low Carb diet, the normal breakdown pathway of fats is altered and an alternative pathway kicks in. This alternative pathway produces what are called ketone bodies.

Ketosis is the term used to describe when ketone bodies are circulating in your bloodstream. The ketone bodies can be used as alternative sources of energy by, most importantly, your brain.

In case you might be curious, the three ketone bodies produced by this alternative pathway for breaking down fat are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone. These ketone bodies are formed in your liver and then are transported to other tissues, mainly the brain. In your brain, they are converted back to a form that can provide direct energy during times of starvation.

Here is the whole process…

1. Atkins Diet lowers glucose and insulin (the body’s main energy source)
2. Alternative pathways are turned “on” to provide energy
3. One alternative pathway breaks down fat and produces ketone bodies
4. Ketone bodies represent the state called ketosis
5. The brain uses ketone bodies as an alternative source of energy

So, the Atkins Diet (and any low Carb diet) produces a low energy state (low glucose) that causes the breakdown fat using an alternative pathway that leads to the development of ketosis.

So far it sounds pretty good. By limiting Carbs in your diet, you can essentially force your body into breaking down stored fat, the very thing you need to get rid of to lose weight.

But there are problems…

Atkins Diet and Toxicity

Ketone bodies are toxic. Many supporters of low Carb diets claim that ketosis is safe. They state that they are natural byproducts of fat breakdown and even babies have high levels of circulating ketone bodies.

First, they are not natural by-products of fat metabolism. The normal beta-oxidation of fats does produce ketone bodies but these are incorporated into the normal cycle of energy production, called the Krebs cycle. When ketone bodies are circulating in your bloodstream, it signals an abnormal physiologic state, called starvation. They are not incorporated into the normal energy cycle, the Krebs cycle, and spill into the bloodstream.

Just because your body has the ability to transport ketone bodies to certain tissues and then use them for energy, does not make it a normal process. It is an alternative pathway that turns “on” only when your body is faced with depleted levels of the main energy source, glucose.

Secondly, babies are not small adults. A baby’s liver and brain tissue are made up of different chemicals and pathways, specifically geared to handle the high fat diet coming from mother’s milk. These pathways change as a baby grows and starts to eat other foods. Eventually, the normal adult pathways are set up and the infantile chemistry used as evidence to support the safety of ketosis, stop working.

But this is not even related to the fact that ketone bodies are toxic. In medicine, the three ketone bodies mentioned above are classified as toxic acidic chemicals. At high levels, they can cause your blood to become too acidic, a disease state called ketoacidosis.

Granted, this is rare because most of the ketone bodies will be used by the brain as an energy source. Ketoacidosis is usually seen in type 1 diabetics. It is a medical emergency.

So, is ketosis dangerous to your body? Yes and no. Yes, ketosis represents a state of starvation. Losing weight when the body thinks you’re starving is the best way to guarantee weight regain. The weight will come back and come back as fat. No, ketosis will not cause ketoacidosis in non-diabetics. And as long as you have a large storage of fat, your brain will not starve for energy.

The Final Verdict

1. As an alternative physiologic state, ketosis is not dangerous, assuming the levels of ketone bodies do not increase to acidic levels.
2. As a diet plan, ketogenic diets are not recommended because of the state of starvation they create. Your metabolism will eventually slow down setting you up for weight regain in the near the future.
3. Ketogenic diets, like the Atkins Diet, may also be dangerous not because they cause ketosis, but because they promote high protein and fat intake. High protein diets, unless you’re body building, increases urea production and can damage the kidneys. Supporters claim that this just doesn’t happen, reporting that no kidney damage has occurred to the millions of dieters on Atkins Diet or other ketogenic diets.

   However, it is well known that microscopic damage can occur to the kidneys effecting their ability to filter the blood. But clinical signs of this damage may take several years to manifest. Chronic renal insufficiency is a concern for ketogenic dieters, which may cause problems in the years to come.

Conclusion

Atkins Diet and other ketogenic diets (low Carb) can be safe and effective in causing weight loss. However, I recommend keeping ketosis to a minimum and keep your carbohydrate intake above 50 grams a day. Don’t follow the suggestions for reaching an “induction” phase. It’s not necessary to turn “on” the alternative pathways described above and burn fat.

Remember, healthy weight loss is to burn fat and fat only. But it also involves keeping your rate of weight loss around 2-3 pounds/week. The induction phase promoted by the Atkins Diet can result in a rate of weight loss far greater than 2-3 pounds/week. It may sound good to you now, but how does gaining it all back as fat sound? Because that will happen if you lose weight too fast.

For more information on ways to experience healthy weight loss, visit

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To Healthy Living!

Dr. Michael A. Smith
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website
About the Author

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content based weight loss web site dedicated to all dieters fighting to lose weight. Please visit his site at

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