Know Your Muscle Building Exercises – The Chest

Every bodybuilder and weight trainer will have his or her favorite exercises for each body part. That's how it should be – as you progress through the various stages of learning you'll understand what works best for you. It is useful, however, to take stock of your progress every so often and carry out an analysis of where you are and what changes, if any, are needed to move onwards and upwards.

Part of this analysis should include an assessment of the core exercises that make up your bodybuilding training program. In this article we'll look at the chest exercises that have proven their worth to serious bodybuilders for many years. Where appropriate a series of exercises suitable for achieving pre-exhaustion will be presented. All exercises should be performed to failure with one set of six to eight reps.

1. Dumbbell flyes – this exercise provides a useful means of isolating the pectorals and preserving the triceps for the subsequent exercise. The exercise should be performed as follows:

– Hold dumbbells directly overhead.

– Lower them to sides with elbows slightly bent, pulled back and to the side. Lower no further than level with the torso.

– Use the pectorals to pull the weights back up to the starting position.

2. Incline bench press – you can move straight on to this exercise if you have reached an appropriate level of experience. If you perform this exercise as the second part of a pre-exhaust routine you may have to use lighter weights than normally.

– Take a shoulder width grip.

– Lower the bar to the chest with the elbows pointed to the side.

– Return to the starting position.


 

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Winsor Pilates Video on Abs Sculpting

Have you ever seen a Winsor Pilates video or just the television commercial about Calcium Plus? With the catchy jingle "Stand straight, Stand out"? Well, great! That's actually a concrete presentation of Winsor Pilates.

Winsor Pilates having created a booming impact on most of the fitness junkies, continue to show their amazing trend in Pilates exercises. In fact, many Winsor Pilates videos are on the market nowadays for those who are interested to experience the same great feeling with those other Winsor Pilates junkies. Anyways, Winsor Pilates videos can be applicable to everybody, young or elderly, whether physically fit or out of shape.

As I have said, many Winsor Pilates videos are on the market today, and most of those Winsor Pilates videos have their specific focus. For example, one of the Winsor Pilates videos that really challenge most of the amateurs and those who have taken Pilates classes is the Winsor Pilates video on Winsor Pilates Abs Sculpting. This particular Winsor Pilates video is designed and conceptualized to provide a guide to those who wanted to shape and tone their abs. In fact, most of the Winsor Pilates videos' fanatics consider this certain Winsor Pilates video as a very time-efficient Winsor Pilates video. So I guess it really does work.

The Winsor Pilates video is generally designed with the instructions of Mari Winsor, one of the acclaimed Pilates instructors who developed the new, unique trend to Pilates exercises, which is the Winsor Pilates. The Winsor Pilates video on Winsor Pilates Abs Sculpting is actually conducted by Mari Winsor itself, who doesn't waste a minute or a motion in instructing the Winsor Pilates video viewers. With the guidance of Mari Winsor, this Winsor Pilates video is definitely purposeful, well-taught and very body-targeted.

Well, not impossible because Winsor Pilates video on abs sculpting uses archetypal core conditioning workouts that are specially chosen to tone every abdominal muscle. One of the best example movements shown in the Winsor Pilates video on abs sculpting is the Pilates "twists" that is said to work on your obliques.

To better challenge the readers of this article, several supporting information is provided. The Winsor Pilates video on abs sculpting has exercises that should be applicable to every beginner or intermediate if they exercise a bit or are hyper, but not a regular exerciser. Since that particular Winsor Pilates video is for abs sculpting, so it is therefore understandable that the toning emphasis is on the abdominals.

The pleasure of Winsor Pilates video on abs sculpting does not yet end here because this specific Winsor Pilates video has complex and basic exercise. So the Pilates junkies can select complex if they love rococo combinations with lots of variations, or they can choose the basic if they like simple and easy-to-follow brawny routines.

Lastly, the viewers of the Winsor Pilates video on abs sculpting can choose a particular level of impact either low impact to lessen stress on their knees and back, or higher impact if they are searching for moves that include jumps, skips or hops. So I further challenge everyone to better watch out!


 

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Know Your Muscle Building Exercises – The Back

Every bodybuilder and weight trainer will have his or her favorite exercises for each body part. That's how it should be – as you progress through the various stages of learning you'll understand what works best for you. It is useful, however, to take stock of your progress every so often and carry out an analysis of where you are and what changes, if any, are needed to move onwards and upwards.

Part of this analysis should include an assessment of the core exercises that make up your bodybuilding training program. In this article we'll look at the back exercises that have proven their worth to serious bodybuilders for many years. Where appropriate a series of exercises suitable for achieving pre-exhaustion will be presented. All exercises should be performed to failure with one set of six to eight reps.

1. Lat machine pulldowns – this exercise has been chosen because it allows you to isolate the lats and rest the biceps for the compound exercise to follow.

– Take a shoulder width grip.

– Pull arms towards the thighs keeping the arms straight.

– Pause.

– Return the bar slowly to the starting position.

2. Pulldowns – you can move straight on to this exercise if you are sufficiently experienced. Using the same machine, take an under hand grip because this will make better use of biceps strength thus maximizing the effects of the workout.

– Take a shoulder width grip.

– Pull bar to the chest area.

– Pause.

– Return the bar slowly to the starting position.


 

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Joint Supplements Reviews

People of all ages and activity levels suffer from joint pain. Arthritis is the most common culprit, which can strike at any age. Athletes are another group that is particularly susceptible to joint pain and inflammation. Proper nutrition and exercise techniques can help alleviate many of the symptoms of joint pain. The most popular and effective joint supplements typically contain ingredients that can both promote stronger joints and joint repair, as well as help with pain and inflammation. It has been observed that 2/3 individuals are afflicted with joint pain in the US alone. This joint pain ranges from the temporary joint immobility and stiffness to the chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

It has been observed that 2/3 individuals are afflicted with Joint Pain in the US alone. This Joint Pain ranges from the temporary joint immobility and stiffness to the chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Lifestyle, diet, medication and exercise all play an important role in deciding the nature of joint pains that one could become prey to, with advancing age.

What causes Joint Pain

As we age, bodily collagen breaks down, cartilage and bone is subject to wear and tear, cellular regeneration is lowed down in the body, illness and disease, injury and stress all leave their own marks on the overall health and fitness. The pain between joints is mostly due to thinning of the cartilage, which no longer acts as the shock absorber. Inflammation of the joints due to increasing friction and wearing down of cartilage and bone results in joint deformity and Arthritis.

Athletes engaged routinely in high impact sports (rugby, soccer etc.,) and exercise, are also subject to severe joint pains in later years.

Ingredients

While most Joint Supplements contain cartilage building Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which also protect existing cartilage, newer suplements incorporate substances like Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Collagen and Hyaluronic acid (HA).

Some new generation joint supplements contain COX-2 inhibitors, which are a class of drugs that selectively inhibit COX-2, an enzyme involved in the inflammation pathway, while sparing COX-1, thereby reducing gastrointestinal toxicity. COX-2 selective inhibitors are the newest of the NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

How They Work :

Joint Supplements are designed to provide lasting relief when it comes to joint pains and rheumatic arthritis.

To protect cartilage and help rebuild it, physicians recommend Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Collagen, Hyaluronic acid (HA), and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are some of the newer and more promising ingredients being used by people suffering from joint pain.

Joint supplements have been observed to reduce pain and swelling, repair damaged tissue and also increase joint strength in 2-3 months after usage.

Synotrex, with its proprietary blend of patented ingredients, natural COX-2 inhibitors and multiple joint support and anti-inflammatory agents has made it to the top as an effective alternative for most kinds of joint pain. Synotrex is the only product with a 90-Day Guarantee, and the customer support and results were among the best.

This Article is Originally Published here: http://www.vitamin-review.com/joint-pain/joint-supplements.html


 

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Winsor Pilates Review: Pros and Cons

Being a popular fitness program worldwide, Winsor Pilates is not impossible to create another breakthrough in the fitness industry. Winsor Pilates having achieved a great number of unexpected clients, still continue to attract people with its videos and successful Winsor Pilates reviews.

Winsor Pilates reviews, being the focal point of the discussion in this article, mostly contain comments whether positive or negative about the unmatched performances of conditioning and shaping the body fit from head to toe that the Winsor Pilates offered. We cannot deny that in a certain explanation, the presence of pros and cons is always evident.

So with that, some of the Winsor Pilates reviews mostly vary from the most positive to the least negative. And some Winsor Pilates reviews have much positive comments than negative. Well, it just somehow shows how effective the Winsor Pilates works.

Some of the Winsor Pilates reviews contain information and proofs that the Winsor Pilates really works. In most Winsor Pilates reviews, the adjectives like challenging, great, fun, etc. are the most commonly found support for the claim that Winsor Pilates is the best fitness program the industry ever made. Most of those Winsor Pilates reviews indicate that the Winsor Pilates really tones the body and especially good at working the abs. Winsor Pilates clients claimed that when they tried Winsor Pilates their abs became tighter than ever been before.

They also feel toned in the leg area, especially the quads. However, mostly in Winsor Pilates reviews claimed that none of the moves really targets the arms. Comment like Winsor Pilates strengthens the abdominal and back muscles of the body is common in most Winsor Pilates reviews. Others in Winsor Pilates reviews noted that Winsor Pilates is similar to yoga in that paying so much attention to the body kinesics forces the Winsor Pilates takers to let go of stressful thoughts and feelings.

However, those stated above are just among the positive comments made by most Winsor Pilates takers, other comments fall to the negative category. Aside from stating positive manners of Winsor Pilates, many Winsor Pilates reviews as well noted that the Winsor Pilates is very much expensive and the instruction can seem wordy. It does not really support the claim that by doing the Winsor Pilates tapes alone you can totally melt away the pounds and the inches.

Some of the Winsor Pilates reviews stated that Pilates still need to be incorporated into a well-balanced routine, including plenty of aerobic exercise and a healthy diet. But whatever the case may be, it is just natural to know that those Winsor Pilates reviews have positive and negative sides and are just modes of expressions.


 

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Is Your Muscle Building Potential Limited By Your Genes?

It is clear that certain traits are handed down to us by our parents and unfortunately our ablility to grow muscles beyond certain limits is no exception. That doesn't mean to say hard work and carefully planned training won't have a positive effect on your physique – it just means that some people will inherit a greater abundance of the favored physical characteristics than others. Not everyone possesses the physical traits to become a champion, but you can work wonders with the raw material you do possess.

How responsive you will be to physical stimulation can be predicted to a certain extent by examining your somatype or natural body shape. Basically, there are three recognized body types:

1. Endomorphs – these individuals tend to be squat with a round torso, thick neck and short limbs.

2. Mesomorphs – these individuals tend to be musclar with broad shoulders, powerful chest and limbs and little body fat.

3. Ectomorphs – these individuals tend to be slim and are usually tall with little muscle and body fat.

The ideal bodybuilding physique tends more towards the mesomorph with broad shoulders, narrow hips with arms and legs of medium length. Two further inherited features have a role to play in determining muscle building potential, and these are muscle fiber density and neurological efficiency. Fiber density determines the size potential of a muscle while neurological efficiency refers to the relationship between the nervous system and muscles. This is relevant because, in all out effort genetically blessed individuals have the ability to activate up to 50% of the fibers in a given muscle compared to the average person's 30%. This allows greater scope for stimulating growth.

The fact that there is no easy way to measure fiber density or neurological efficiency is actually a blessing because the incentive remains for all of us to train hard and strive for improvement. Only a tiny minority of people have the genetic tools to become champions but the rest of us can go a long way to fulfilling our own personal goals.


 

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Instantly Increase Your Strength On Every Back Exercise

Do you want a quick, simple and instant way to increase the amount of weight you can lift on virtually every back exercise you perform? Sound too good to be true? I speak the truth, my friend, and the reality is that if you aren't utilizing this basic piece of gym equipment you're missing out on some serious muscle size and strength gains. What tool am I talking about?

A pair of lifting straps!

This is such a basic and highly effective piece of equipment yet so many people neglect to use them. For those of you who are unaware, these are basically a set of thick straps made of extremely strong material that are placed around your wrists and then wrapped around the barbell, dumbbell or cable attachment. The purpose of lifting straps is to "eliminate" your grip from the equation by forming a secure connection between your wrist and the weight. If you use these straps properly you can basically hold onto the bar and perform your exercises while expending almost no energy from your forearms.

Why is this so valuable?

Picture this scenario…You're performing a set of deadlifts (arguably the most powerful muscle-building exercise known to man) with the goal of performing 8 reps. You psych yourself up, grip the weight and clear the bar from the ground. The set is going well, but by the time you reach rep number 5, the strain on your grip is so great that you can no longer hold onto the bar. You're forced to stop the set because your forearms reached muscular failure.

What exactly happened here?

Well, you gave yourself an amazing forearm workout! Congratulations! Unfortunately you severely limited the amount of muscle stimulation you could achieve on your back, shoulders, legs, and just about every other muscle in your body that the deadlift targets in the process. This is not a good thing!

Lifting straps completely eliminate this problem by making sure that you reach muscular failure in the major muscle groups that you are intending to target rather than on your forearms and grip. They can be used effectively for almost every back exercise or any other lift where the grip is of concern.

The main argument against lifting straps is the idea that they are a "crutch" and will negatively affect the development of grip strength and forearm size. Let's get real here. What would you prefer, greater muscle mass and strength in your lats and upper back (and just about every other muscle group on your body) or greater ability to crack open a jar of pickles? Take your pick.

The positive effect that lifting straps will have on your overall muscle mass and strength gains will far outweigh any negative effect that they have on your forearms and grip. Besides, you can easily incorporate specific forearm movements into your routine to develop your grip strength and forearm size. If you aren't using lifting straps already, get on it! You can find them at almost any store that sells sports or fitness equipment or you can order them online. They sell for about 10 or 15 bucks and are well worth the price!


 

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Winsor Pilates Basic Principles

If you are looking for some fitness program that will help you flatten your abs, shape and sculpt your body slim from top to bottom, Winsor Pilates basic principles to body conditioning can answer for you.

Before anything else, I would like to state that the Pilates fitness program is first developed by Joseph Pilates who had a lifetime interest in body conditioning in 1920s. His interest in physical fitness rooted from his strong determination to strengthen his body and improve his health after a sickly childhood. From that, Joseph formulated a distinct sequence of movements that worked the mind and muscle in harmony.

Oops, enough for history. Now, let's go to the core message of this article – Winsor Pilates basic principles. Winsor Pilates program focuses mainly on bodyweight which incude exercises which stretch, strengthen , and tone all the muscles of the body, especially those of the core or abdominal and lower back regions.

As such, the Winsor Pilates provide Winsor Pilates basic principles for those who are interested in such area. Among those Winsor Pilates basic principles are: Concentration; Control or Precision; Centering; Stabilizing; Breathing; Alignment; Fluidity; and Integration. Each Winsor Pilates basic principle has its own essential characteristic.

Concentration, as the first Winsor Pilates basic principle, is very important to attain a successful workout. With this Winsor Pilates basic principle, the awareness of the body will be enhanced due to the mind-body connection which results to conscious control of movement. The second Winsor Pilates basic principle, Control or precision, is not about intensity or multiple "reps" but it is more of descent form of snug, emphatic results. Centering, as the third Winsor Pilates basic principle, functions mentally within the body to calm the spirit.

In this Winsor Pilates basic canon, a focus on the torso – abs, pelvic girdle, lower back, gluts – results to the improvement in a strong core and enables the rest of the body to function properly. All action with this Winsor Pilates basic principle performs from the trunk and flows outwards to the extremities. The fourth Winsor Pilates basic convention – Stabilizing – is important because in Winsor Pilates, before you move you have to be still for a safe starting place for kinesics. Breathing on the other hand, as the fifth Winsor Pilates basic principle, must range from deep, coordinated, conscious diaphragmatic procedures of inhales and exhales to initiate mobility and help in the activation of the muscles and to keep you focused.

Furthermore, the sixth Winsor Pilates basic canon which is alignment is very essential because it is the key to good posture. With such Winsor Pilates basic principle, you will be conscious of the position of your neck on the spine and pelvis, right down through the legs and toes. In the seventh Winsor Pilates principle – Fluidity – a smooth, continuous motion rather than jazzy repetitions will create an elegant and graceful look. Lastly, the integration of all those Winsor Pilates basic principles will result to a holistic mind-body workout.

So with those above stated Winsor Pilates basic principles, I am sure that everyone will enjoy their adventure to a stronger and healthier looks.


 

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Increase Your Training Intensity – Training To Failure

You can only build muscle tissue if you can generate progressively stronger muscular contractions, so this calls for an emphasis on finding ways to increase exercise intensity. This should not be confused with exercise duration as maximum training intensity will actually shorten the time needed to achieve maximal muscular growth.

In an earlier article I outlined the ways in which you can intensify your training. Here we'll focus on the role that training to failure has to play in intensifying the training effect.

Anything less than maximum effort will reduce the effectiveness of your muscle building workout. The only way to force an optimal reaction in any muscle is to train it to failure – in other words, no matter how much effort you put in you are simply incapable of completing one more rep of a given exercise.

Too many people seem to finish a set when they reach a certain number of reps, but the body will only show significant change if you ask it to do something extra. Only by passing through the break-over point of momentary muscle failure will you stimulate the muscle to grow.

Anyone starting out on their bodybuilding career should not attempt this method of training as it could lead to serious injury. Spend several months perfecting exercise form and conditioning the body to lift heavier weights before gradually introducing training to failure.


 

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Body Building Tips For Women

All us women want is a nice chest size, low body fat, small waist and a flat stomach. Not too much to ask for really is it? Well not so long as you forget about eating candy, cake and chips. Try these body building tips for women and see how you can improve your body and your overall health.

The first tip is to set yourself some goals. By writing these down, you are increasing your chances of success. Now be realistic. It is completely pointless setting a target that you know you won't reach. Try small but challenging goals as your motivation increases when you successfully reach each one.

When writing these down, you need to be specific. It is not enough to say I want to have a slim stomach. Writing down something like I will lose 2 inches by a specific date is much better. Don't call your new regime a diet as that word has negative connotations for most of us. You are not on a diet, you are on a new healthy eating and exercise program.

You should keep a diary to track your progress. This will show you at a glance how far you have come. Perfect for those days when we are less motivated than we should be. Now you have set your targets, you need to write down the plan for achieving them. Your plan should cover the number and type of sessions you are going to complete per week, the amount and type of foods you will eat etc.

Clear your house of all the foods that are not good for your bodybuilding diet. You can't be tempted if they aren't around. Also prepare your meals in advance so that you don't reach for a takeaway or processed meal because time is running short. You should have five to six small meals a day to help increase your metabolism. You want to include lots of vegetables, good fats and healthy protein. Eating regular meals will help the digestive process so you shouldn't have that sluggish feeling anymore.

You need to do at least 6 cardio workouts a week preferably before breakfast to get the best results. You may have to reorganize your day to fit in this new routine but it is extremely important. Aerobic exercise helps with the growth of muscle as well as burning calories and being good for your health.

Don't worry about becoming very muscular when bodybuilding. This only happens to those men and women who take anabolic steroids otherwise known as synthetic testosterone. Training with weights will help you to tone your muscles and thus prevent wastage. Follow a weight training program as you need to repeat patterns of workouts on specific areas to see results.

The more organized you are the better your chances of success. If you know exactly what you have to do each day, you are going to procrastinate less. You will sleep better and believe it or not, getting sufficient sleep is one of the most important body building tips for women.


 

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