Cumino Blog

“How important is age?”

In a nutshell, age is extremely important. A child who cannot handle being in kindergarten, or pre-school, will not be able to concentrate in a martial arts class. Before five years of age, any child who can focus in a martial arts class is exceptional.

We have successfully trained a few children who were, or are, four years of age. I don’t want to turn away the next Bruce Lee or Mozart, when he or she comes along, but there are a few factors to consider when a child is very young.

1. Can he or she let go of a parent’s hand and work independently, in a classroom setting? This is very important, unless you can find a martial arts teacher that will teach parent and child, together, in the same classroom.

2. What are your true goals? When a parent has a lot of patience, it is much easier to accomplish realistic goals of focusing in a classroom, improved motor skills, and enhanced athletic abilities. However, instant success and precision performance are not likely. In many cases, young karate students tend to “shine” around seven years of age or older, so why put your child under pressure?

3. How much of a distraction is a young child going to be in a karate class? If your child is used to being the center of attention, this won’t work in a martial arts class. Time is shared with other students, and the objective is to learn everything in the daily lesson plan. This cannot be accomplished if a child is screaming for attention.

Within our Karate studio, in North Providence, we have a no pressure screening process for young children, as a measure, to see if joining our kids Karate classes will be a good relationship for the parents, child, and the Karate studio. This is why we have a free 30-day trial membership, with no obligations on either side.

As a parent, you want your child to get the optimum martial arts experience every time they train. This can only happen if the martial arts school establishes clear guidelines for conduct and if all the children participating are “team players.”

Otherwise, parents do not get their money’s worth and children waste time in a Karate class, while the child who gets the most attention is a discipline problem.

Within a child’s mind, being responsible for his or her actions is a matter of developing awareness, and everything is a new experience. As adults, we know that this knowledge comes with age, but each individual child grows at a different rate. Children are not “little adults,” and we cannot place adult expectations upon them.

If you put children into extremely high-pressure situations, they will not continue to enjoy the activity. Whether it is martial arts, academic school, or little league baseball, it is healthy for parents and children to have goals, but we all have to learn to accept life’s little setbacks without worry.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Sandy sold her $1,500.00 boat she had for over 5 years to Ross who was willing to pay $1,000.00 more than the value of this boat. Sandy was joyous to off load her aged boat for $2,500.00. But, there was a catch. Ross was willing to pay $50 a month for 50 months until paid. Sandy thought she pulled off a good deal. But, was it?

Why Ross wanted to pay only this amount? The answer lies in the Present Value of a Dollar.

You see, a dollar today is worth more than the same dollar, years down the road. The dollar today will have less purchasing power as time passes, especially when it is a long time from now. But, Sandy did not know that, and thought that she was getting a very good deal. Instead she was going to be paid with a declining dollar.

Likewise, your health can be regarded as having a higher value today than in the future. The more you care for your body today, the more it will serve you well tomorrow. Your longevity would be more promising in the future if you do not live carelessly today. I have seen 40 year old bodies looking like 60 year olds, mostly because of abuse.

It is all well and good to exercise and get flexible, eat well, and sleep well, to stay in good health But, that alone may not be enough to melt the fat accumulation you body may be prone to be… For this, you’ll need specialized training and fitness equipment, dumbbells, weight training devices, or decide that you want to be private so you get a home gym etc.

But, would you be cutting yourself short buy accepting declining dollars to maximize your body’s health?

Would you look for the bottom of the line equipment -cheap ones –or the very best built ones that cost a little more? Exercising with a cheap flex machine can bust a strand in the middle of the stretched position and snap back like a rubber and damage your ligament. This may take a long time to heal or never heal and you’ll have to live with a deformity, perhaps for life.

And, as with any other exercise equipment, the nuts that hold the weight together can become loose causing a weight to fall off and smash your toes; a machined part might break off because of a poor weld at a joint on the machine causing you too strain your back or muscle that leaves you crippled for life. And, could you imagine what pain and agony you would have to endure forth rest of your life when these mishaps occur to your body because you thought it was prudent to buy cheap exercise equipment?

If this is your thinking, then you are not taking full advantage of the principles of the Present Value of a Dollar—you are not taking full advantage of the Present Value of your Life.

Your life is worth more today than many years down the road. You must do all your can for your body today to keep it in tip top shape so you’ll enjoy your life more now and continue to do so as times passes.

So, you want quality health. You get that with quality equipment -ergonomically safe light but strong. So, give your body quality attention. Focus on the one and only body you have so you enjoy the best of life.

You have a very good deal today– Present ValueTake it–it is like money in the bank. The future is an imagination of what it could be.

Preserve and protect your body starting now.

The author is an advocate for healthier living through good diet, body fitness and conditioning. He is an avid researcher/teacher into the deep understanding of the human body, both in physical and psychological terms, and to pass this knowledge on to others who can benefit from the knowledge gained. Just visit: http://1stdiabeticsupplysuperstore.com and see some top of the line health giving tools that can be beneficial to your health.

Distribution
This article is approved for distribution by the author, providing that it is hyperlinked back to: http://1stdiabeticsupplysuperstore.com from the distributor/ webmaster’s page.
Trevor Adheen
(c) All Rights reserved

Is your Treadmill having problems?

If you are here because:

*1. You own a treadmill.

*2. You are having problems with your treadmill.

*3. You want to prevent problems before they happen.

Treadmills act like vacumn cleaners and seem to attract dust and dirt.
This being the case, they need regular cleaning. We have found that:

* Most motors overload and burn up because they are either full of dust and dirt
or the deck and belt are worn so much that they cause excessive current draw on the motor.

* Many belts have to be replaced because they have been out of alignment for so long
that they have split or the edges have curled and are rubbing on the covers.

* Many people risk being hurt every year because their treadmill will suddenly jump
from 2 or 3 mph to 8 or 9 mph, or sometimes just stop, all because of dirty speed sensors.

I you are having these problems there is help!
You need the TREADMILL REPORT.
This report is a must for every treadmill owner.
It will help you diagnose and solve most of your problems
as well as prevent future problems.

Included in this report are directions for performing preventive maintenance
on your treadmill and, repair procedures for some of the most common problems.

Please follow these directions for safe and efficient use of your treadmill for you and your family.

The procedures for checking these items are all in the Free Treadmill Report!
http://www.treadmills.cc

Paul Webb- Paul has been in the medical and fitness repair business for almost thirty years. So he has seen many of the problems associated with treadmills and fitness equipment.

Picture this; the snow-white clear skin that you have been proud of since your teen years has suddenly poofed into a wicked witch’s warty face upon reaching the age of 30! “Acne, at my age?” This is often the distressed statement of pockmarked men and women in their 30’s to 40’s afflicted with adult acne.

This problem is surely not the work of a vengeful sorcerer. Acne vulgaris is what this most common skin disorder in the United States is scientifically called. Statistics has it that 15 million people in US alone are afflicted with acne. It is an embarrassing problem among teenagers. But this condition is not only limited to those awkward years. Adult acne is also prevalent, especially among people in the age group of 25 to 40.

Acne is a disease that resulted from the accumulation of sebum, a highbrow term for oil, underneath the skin. When this happens and the desquamation (human’s way of molting) process goes wrong, the pores become clogged. Aggravation will continue and soon infection sets in. A bad bug called Propionibacterium acnes causes this infection. Overproduction of oil and mismanagement of the process of shedding cells equals bunged pores. Clogged pores plus P. acnes, the scoundrel, equals breakout. Those pesky zits are produced just as easy as that.

One of the pushing forces that may cause the occurrence of acne includes the elevation of levels of testosterone among adolescents. No, it’s not Toblerone misspelled. No matter how many anecdotes you’ve heard about chocolate addiction causing zits to dominate your face, there’s really no enough scientific basis to prove this. Testosterone is a chemical produced by the body that increase sebum production and change the keratin of the hair follicles. Testosterone is an androgen. Androgen is a hormone produced in high levels among males. This is the reason behind the worse cases of acne among teenage boys more than girls.

Adult acne is called acne rosacea. It is characterized by the following: unsightly thick, red skin on the nose and cheeks, pus-filled blisters, small red bumps, and small red blood vessels seen on the skin surface. It is more commonly linked to increased levels of stress. Isn’t it interesting how the body reacts to this stimulus? NOT. When exhausted, like Gizmo getting wet, our skin could actually give birth to little monsters! Though they are not as troublesome as gremlins, they could be just as annoying as well. Seriously, pimples can be difficult to deal with, and can cause depression and anxiety in an adult the same way it can in a teen. Pressure from work and family responsibilities is thought to possibly affect the normal balance of our hormones. And hormones messed up means having to put up with bumpy complexion caused by adult acne.

Aside from stress-triggered hormonal imbalance, hot foods alcohol consumption, and smoking are also considered to exacerbate adult acne. This may help you reconsider your food preferences and habits.

Acne lesions are commonly found on the face, but they can also pop out anytime on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs. Adult acne is more persistent than teen acne. It is because adults are consistently exposed to the many factors that cause breakouts. Another hitch of adult acne is permanent scarring. It is an evidence of the inevitable reality that with the coming of age, the skin loses its erstwhile ability to repair itself. As if there’s a need to be reminded of that when your face starts to wrinkle already. Now here’s more to shriek in terror for, especially those in their mid-20’s: adult acne causes PREMATURE AGING. Isn’t that just nerve-wracking?

Enough of the endless yada’s regarding how adult acne could further destroy us. As how master Yoda puts is, educated we must be with the crusade towards clearer AND younger skin. Or at least skin that is just our age we must maintain.

At the first sight of those wicked pimples together with gray hair and wrinkles (talk about aging signs overkill), just like with teenagers, impulse dictates squeezing. But you very well know that squeezing is a big no-no. How old are you? You surely don’t need any more marks of time’s passage.

In severe cases, consulting a dermatologist would best help in dealing with adult acne. The dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic, vitamin A derivative like Isotretinoin or other acne drug available. More women may be afflicted with adult acne than men. Pregnancy is another story if you are prescribed anti-acnes, especially Isotretinoin.

Proper skin care may not guarantee a flawless complexion. But a good skin care regimen may aid in warding off bacteria that worsen adult acne. If you love scrubbing for its squeaky-clean feel, think twice. It can render more damage to your already-blemished skin.

Another hint especially for women: use NON-COMEDOGENIC products. Non-comedogenic basically means anything that does not clog skin pores or cause acne. Do your homework and look for as many non-comedogenic versions of the skin care products you use. It’s worth it, you’ll see.

If stress is linked with adult acne, then, disengaging yourself from stressful activities might work wonders, right? A day away from work or catching up on one of your hobbies won’t hurt.

There’s this bold Jean Kerr reacting on a classical quotation.

“I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?”

It doesn’t mean the depreciation of a pleasing personality. Such reaction only imparts a message of giving value to what boosts your self-esteem. If it’s a clear complexion along with your aging gracefully, so be it. No adult acne should put a shame on your face and get in your way of becoming more confident.

Elliptical machines are all the rage at the moment and they are one of the best ways to exercise at home, but how do they compare if you look at elliptical training vs. stationary bike riding in terms of getting in shape. Of course stationary bikes are a very good way to exercise, they have been around for a long time and are very popular. They are a very simple way to exercise and very familiar to many exercise consumers, after all, most people have owned a bike at some point or time in their life. Based on that it’s easy to see why they are a very easy concept for most people to understand. You just get on the bike and ride the same way that you would ride a normal bike, of course you don’t have to worry about the traffic or the weather. On the contrary you can actually watch TV while you are exercising with your stationary bike. Now that is something that you wouldn’t do if you were riding a real bike!

But when you compare elliptical training vs. stationary bike riding it can be just a question of what exercise machine you are more comfortable with using in order to burn calories, lose weight and improve your health. As you would expect, elliptical machines are of course not so familiar to many people. Although they are great machines for commercial gyms and fitness centers many people wouldn’t necessarily think of having one in their own home. After all they do look a bit strange when the users seem as though they are skiing at the same time as using a stair climber. But when people are used to the concept of them and actually try one out they quickly start to wonder how they ever did without them.

But does it compare when you balance elliptical training vs. stationary bike rides. Well you do get a much more complete and overall body workout from the elliptical machine since it not only works your legs and heart, but also your arms as well. However, bikes can give you a great workout too and a majority of exercising consumers prefers them over cross trainers because they are very straightforward and easy to use.

If you want a really good workout and are thinking of the merits of elliptical training vs. stationary bikes then the elliptical training would give you a much better overall workout. It is one of the most efficient ways of working out that can be used in the privacy and comfort of your own home. You not only get a good cardio vascular workout and strengthen your legs but you also work your arms and have the benefit of it all being very low impact. If you want a good overall workout then elliptical training machines are one of the best fitness and exercise machines that you can buy.

Copyright 2005 Wesley Atkins

In order to make the most of your weight loss program, finding the most effective ways to burn fat will maximize your results and minimize your waistline! Follow these 10 tips for fat burning if you want to lose weight and lead a healthier way of life.

1.) Drink More Water

One of the best weight loss secrets is to ditch the sodas and stick to water! Experts say you should drink approximately eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy. Instead of turning to calorie-laden or sugar-rich drinks, grab a refreshing glass of water. In addition to flushing toxins out of your system, drinking water encourages you to build muscle.

2.) Eat More Meals

A traditional three-meals-a-day plan just will not cut it if you are in the market to burn fat. Your body is not able to metabolize large meals and will quickly turn any excess into fat. Many experts believe you should eat six small meals a day. Be sure you cut back on your food consumption at each meal, or else you will be doubling your intake–and doubling your fat storage!

3.) Work Out with Weights

One great way to maximize the amount of fat you are burning is to add a weight program to your work out routine. Weight training will not only tone your physique, but will strengthen your body and improve your general health. Lifting weights will also burn calories and fat more quickly than traditional exercising, and it will also boost your metabolism.

4.) Choose Protein

Choose protein-laden foods for boosting your metabolism and enabling your body to burn fat rapidly. In addition to burning fat, consuming a protein-enriched diet will help you rebuild muscle after work outs and maintain leanness of that muscle. Wisely choose proteins for your diet. Take great care to pick proteins low in fat so you do not consume extra calories.

5.) Cut Calories Wisely

It may be tempting to drastically cut your calorie intake when starting a healthy lifestyle. Instead, use a step method when cutting your calorie intake to minimize risk. Reducing calories too quickly results in your body rapidly burning all available calories, which will lower your metabolism. Furthermore, you are more likely to maintain your healthy lifestyle through this step method.

6.) Reward Yourself

When it comes to successfully dieting to burn the most fat, be sure to reward yourself. Everyone has temptations and favorite treats–so allow indulgence. You will be less likely to cheat on your new diet if you grant yourself small rewards. If you are a chocolate lover, treat yourself to a small square of chocolate or single chocolate kiss each evening.

7.) Avoid Marathon Work Outs

The biggest mistake people make when looking to burn fat and lose weight is to have one long, extensive work out session. Instead, break up your work out plan into small chunks throughout the day. Take a brisk walk in the morning, enjoy a work out at lunch, and then exercise more in the evening. In addition to staying active all day long, breaking up your work out will better maintain your metabolism.

8.) Mix It Up

Choosing to engage in a variety of quality exercises will keep your interest and best allow you to maintain your goal of burning fat. Instead of doing the same exercises each day–mix it up! Opt to swim laps one day, jog another, and bike the next. Rotating your activities will not only allow you to experience a variety of athletics, it will also allow you to better tone your body.

9.) Skip Happy Hour

For those individuals who want to burn fat quickly, avoid alcohol. Rich in sugars and carbohydrates, alcohol is a calorie-rich substance. These empty calories can add up quickly and take away from necessary nutrients that should be included in your daily diet. Furthermore, alcohol acts as an inhibitor for burning fat, allowing your body to store it more quickly.

10.) Try a Low GI Diet

A low GI diet is an excellent method of burning fat quickly. This diet encourages individuals to consume high amounts of foods with low rankings on the Glycemic Index. These foods are nutritious and will aid your body in burning fats and calories at a quicker pace. This diet includes many of your favorite fruits, vegetable, meats, dairy, and grain products.

“Bodybuilding Sins” That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 3 by Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS and Steve Hefferon, CMT Welcome to article number 2 in our series “Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts”. In this article we are going to talk about how bodybuilders tend to create massive muscle imbalances and what you can do to not be one of them. If you missed the first article, you can read it by clicking on the link below. Here’s a breakdown of the articles to look for: 1. Article #1 – Choosing The WRONG Exercises 2. Article #2 – Training Variations for Pain Relief and Maximum Results 3. Article #3 – Targeted Stretching 4. Article #4 – Targeted Exercises 5. Article #5 – Rest, Recovery, and Injury Prevention Article #3 – Targeted Stretching Stretching can be great, but it can also make existing injuries worse or even bring about new ones! The key to making stretching work for you is knowing which stretches you need to be working on… and just because a muscle feels tight, that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be stretched. For example, many people stretch the hamstrings because they feel tight and they think the hamstrings are limiting their flexibility… the fact is, most of the time the hamstrings are “tight” because they are constantly being pulled / lengthened due to muscle imbalances that tip the pelvis forward. As you can, when the pelvis tips forward the hamstrings get pulled upward and are constantly held in a stretched position… And this is why millions of people can stretch their hamstrings every freakin day and never make any improvement in their flexibility…. Are you one of those people? If you are, you need to stop stretching your hamstrings and find out exactly which muscles you need to be targeting by reading the rest of this article… Not only does this forward tipping of the pelvis (which is caused by muscle imbalances) keep the hamstrings tight and make it very difficult to make improvements in the muscles flexibility, but it also leads to the following: • increased stress / wear and tear from the ankles all the way up the spine For example, the forward tipping of the pelvis places uneven pressure on the ankle, knee and hip joints and also many of the vertebrae in the spine. • weakens the hamstrings, inhibits normal functioning and increases the likelihood of hamstring pulls When the hamstrings are constantly being strained because of the muscle imbalances, the muscle is weak, not able to function as it normally would, prone to injury and without correcting the muscle imbalance recover can take up to 9 months to a year, or longer! • creates excess curvature in the lower and middle spine This tipping of the pelvis places excessive amounts of abnormal stress on the muscles, vertebrae and discs in the lower and mid spine and this sets you up for potential injuries to the muscles of the lower and middle back… Plus, it also causes the discs between your vertebrae to wear down and deteriorate much faster than they normally would and this sets you up for degenerative, bulging, protruding and herniated discs along with numerous other spinal conditions like arthritis, spinal stenosis, and the oh so popular sciatica!

This hamstring example is just one of many… muscle imbalances are responsible for nearly every ache, pain, injury and condition out there! Here are a few more examples of injuries / conditions that are caused by muscle imbalances and can easily be prevented and/or eliminated with targeted stretches and exercises: • upper back and neck pain • shoulder injuries (rotator cuff) • elbow and wrist pain (carpal tunnel, tennis/golfer/baseball elbow, etc) • knee pain (runners knee, chondromalacia, ligament tears, etc) • hip pain (IT band syndrome, bursitis, etc) • ankle pain (Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, etc) All of these conditions are caused by muscle imbalances and will NOT go away unless you work towards correcting the imbalances… and the only way to know for sure which imbalances are causing your pain or injury is to do a series of physical assessments like the ones covered in our “Lose the Back Pain Video” which is designed for anyone suffering from back pain or sciatica. What the heck is a targeted stretch? This is a question we are asked often and here’s the definition we give it: Targeted Stretch – a stretch or stretching exercise that is chosen, based on physical assessments, to target a specific muscle or muscle group to increase the flexibility and range of motion in that area and bring the bones and or joints back towards the normal position. When you compare a targeted stretch to general stretches like the ones found in Yoga, Pilates and the corny ones your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist gives you, it’s no surprise they give little or no pain relief and almost always fail to get rid of the problem. Conclusion Remember, the key to eliminating injuries and preventing future ones is to identify what areas you need to target. In the next article we’ll be discussing in detail, how to address various injuries like back, hip, knee, and shoulder pain with targeted exercises. In the meantime, be sure to read thru all of our detailed Back Pain Articles and if you have questions, please post them in our Discussion Forum. —————

As the number one fitness machines available, treadmills are very popular at fitness locations and as home exercise equipment. Most consumers like to read treadmill reviews before they make a purchase in order to get the best value for their money. You may see many brands and models of treadmills advertised on television, but the advertisement may not be entirely accurate. Everything works well on TV, but often doesn’t perform in the same way when you have it at home. The same is true of treadmills, which is why reading treadmill reviews is important.

The best treadmill reviews are consumer reviews. Treadmills have many attractive features and the more expensive the model, the more features you can expect it to have. Through the treadmill reviews written by consumers that have used the machines you gain valuable information as to whether or not these features actually work. For example, if you are a first-time treadmill user, who would you want to pay thousands of dollars for a machine that you may tire of in a few months? Home treadmill reviews give you the names of the best treadmills in a particular price range and will tell you which ones are best for beginners.

According to the latest home treadmill reviews, the Healthrider Treadmills are the most popular because of their innovative features. The same company also manufactures Nordic Track, Reebok, and Weslo, as well as other popular brands. The HealthRider treadmill reviews will show you that this is a reasonably priced piece of fitness equipment and that it also carries a quality warranty on the motor. However, these treadmill reviews also go into details about specific models telling you which ones to avoid. For example, according to home treadmill reviews, the Healthrider S500X! is not a good buy because of the small motor.

With consumer reviews, treadmills have to live up to their reputation. If you buy a treadmill that doesn’t work properly and you don’t receive good service from the manufacturer, you will certainly want to write a review warning others to avoid this model. Consumers are not the only ones who read these reviews as companies regularly review them to see where they can make improvements to the products. Posting treadmill reviews online is one way to get a manufacture’s attention, especially if all your other efforts have failed.

Treadmill reviews are good places to find some independent treadmill information.

Want a method that guarantees you’ll be able to instantly add weight to all lifts in your weight lifting routines?

Learn how to warm up correctly.

I don’t mean just warming up before you begin your weight lifting routines, but warming up correctly all the way to your heavy sets.

In my opinion, most people do not warm up correctly before beginning their heavy sets in their weight lifting routines.

This could have a significant and negative impact on their ability to lift maximum weight and overload the muscles sufficiently.

If you don’t achieve proper overload, there will be no new muscle fiber stimulation and no new muscle growth.

Not only will a proper warm-up lessen your chances of becoming injured, it will increase your strength the very first day you put this principle into practice.

Every single time you put your hands on those weights, it should be to either get stronger or more muscular. Not just for the act of bringing a weight up from a rack and to your chest.

Lifting weights do not have a direct impact on fat burning. It does have an indirect effect.

After all, the more lean muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn.

Weight training is anaerobic, not aerobic; so don’t try to perform an aerobic workout by lifting weights. So, how does this relate to warming up correctly?

Simple.

Most people spend way too much time and energy warming up in their weight lifting routines to the point when it’s time to perform their heavy sets, they’re too wiped out from their warm-ups.

This has defeated the purpose of weight training. Lighter weights lifted, less muscle stimulation.

This means less muscle growth as a result.

Take the bench press for example. Just the other day, I witnessed someone do the following in their bench routine.

This person started with the bar, which in most gyms is 45 pounds. They busted out a quick, easy set of 10 reps. They then put on 45-pound plates (135 pounds) and did another set of 10.

Then they went up to 155 pounds and did another 10 reps. Here’s where they’re starting to go wrong. They’re beginning to use way too much energy on these warm-ups.

They then did another set with 175 pounds for 10 more reps, then 200 for a set of 8 reps. So far, 5 sets and this person hasn’t even started their “heavy and intense” sets yet! They’ve wasted time, energy, and intensity all before it really even counted.

On the 6th set, they noticed they were starting to tire quickly and could only handle 210 for 5 reps. So this is where they stop the bench press portion of their workout figuring that since they are fatigued, they have worked the muscles sufficiently.

After talking briefly with this person, I realized they had been at this weight and unable to break past this plateau for months. They just assumed it’s where they were meant to be, that they couldn’t get any stronger.

If the only way a muscle will grow is through increased overload (weight) why expend so much needed energy on the warm-up sets in your weight lifting routines?

You need to save it for the productive sets, the last one or two of the set where the weight being used is the most you can handle for four to six repetitions.

I explained to him that in order to keep gaining muscle and strength, he would have to lower the number of warm up sets and instead, focus on improving his last few.

There you have a quick and easy way to increase the amount of weight you lift on your bench press. Lower the number of reps you do and you’ll immediately be able to increase the amount of weight you lift.

Copyright 2005 Ash Trivedi

I’m filled with disbelief when asked why people do bodybuilding it’s as incredulous as asking why get an education. The answer to both is to improve oneself. Perhaps people’s perception of a bodybuilder applies only to those guys who compete in the national level contests or are shown on the covers of the muscle magazines. Bodybuilding isn’t limited to them; it includes the recreational gym rat who just wants to look good in his Speedo’s in the local pool and not be mistaken for a pencil-necked geek.

Besides the obvious health benefits, bodybuilding is the closest thing available to the Fountain of Youth. There are also benefits that can’t be measured: self-confidence, self-discipline, and the esteem of others, since we are often judged initially on our looks. In short, the benefits, both tangible and intangible, far outweigh what minor incontinences there may be of going to the gym and getting hot, sweaty, and sore.

The world of bodybuilding can be a complicated one, especially for a beginner. What to eat? What type of exercise? Which routine? How many reps? How many sets? Etc. There is also conflicting information and various methods. First and foremost let’s not kid ourselves. Bodybuilding is about re-sculpturing you body to any degree that you desire and is going to take a lot of determination and hard work nothing in life is easy. The rest is common sense.

A few things to remember when you do take up bodybuilding;

First and foremost, safety must take priority stay within your limits Having a six pack DOES NOT require special equipment, only the proper dietary knowledge. Know exact rep and set ranges for maximum muscle growth. Longer training sessions actually diminish results. The MOST EFFECTIVE exercises for each muscle group — common “shaping movements” actually DETRACT FROM MUSCLE SIZE! Performing exercises in a specific order is crucial to success. Improve NATURALLY (through training and good diet) boost hormone levels naturally. High reps do NOTHING to promote definition. Manipulate sets accordingly for sustained growth. Varying grips are necessary for complete muscular development. Aerobics is an effective fat burner and helps to counteract the anaerobic lifting side. Performing a large number of exercises for a particular muscle group is a complete time waster and actually restricts growth. The proper amount of meals per day to maximize muscle growth AND fat loss is crucial. The calorie manipulation approach can help to control body fat levels. Volume based programs (large sets, many exercises, etc) are a waste of time. Each muscle group requires LESS exercise to produce MORE muscle! Water in conjunction with food produces fuller, larger muscles (70% of our body is water).

Diet is important, take in only substances which aid in improvement

Remember every exercise you do affects more than one body part, so structure your routine accordingly. Each muscle group needs time to recover and grow.