Many weight-loss plans include recommendations for strength training, so you gain valuable muscle mass to help with calorie burning. The two to three resistance-training sessions suggested per week for these plans won t turn you into a body builder, but will help you preserve some tone and function as you slim down. If you re still not interested in adding any…
As strange as it may sound, there is a way of mimicking the effects of anabolic steroids by implementing a few secrets of anabolic nutrition. I call this the MuscleHack Anabolic Nutritional Strategy (MANS). I m not saying that you ll see the same gains as a roidhead, you won t. No natural diet will replicate the effects of anabolic steroids. However, your results…
Contributing Writer How many of you body builders out there enjoy your eggs? Good, as a matter of fact that s great, keep it up and continue to read on because you may very well be on the road to increasing your egg intake and thus increasing your muscle mass. But what about all you muscle heads out there that are neglecting eggs because of the taste or simple…
Ripped abs and bulging biceps are great T-shirt muscles, but they won’t turn any heads when you’re bundled up this fall and winter. Broad shoulders, on the other hand, can stand out from beneath even the chunkiest sweaters and overcoats and arguably do more than any other muscles to bolster your physical presence. Use this simple body-weight program to build…
You CAN gain muscle and lose fat at the same time and I will show you how. Common wisdom is that you have to gain some fat to gain muscle, its the whole bulking and cutting mentality. I’m here to tell you its wrong, at least for most people. Because of many peoples unrealistic expectations about adding muscle they come to the incorrect conclusion that you can’t…
Here s your fix: Follow these 10 principles to pack on as much as a pound of size. Maximize Muscle Building The more protein your body stores—in a process called protein synthesis—the larger your muscles grow. But your body is constantly draining its protein reserves for other uses—making hormones, for instance. The result is less protein available for muscle…
Concentration curl Start by sitting with your knees a little wider than shoulder-width and your feet flat. Hold a dumbbell in your right hand and rest the back of your arm against your inner right thigh. Curl the dumbbell up towards your shoulder; make sure your upper body is motionless. Do 8-12 reps, then switch sides. Triceps extension Sit up straight and grab…
There are several mysteries of the universe that continue to baffle us: the infinite nature of time and space, the popularity of Justin Bieber, and—more relevant to readers like you—whether it s possible to build muscle and lose body fat at the same time . When it comes to getting in shape, most people opt for choosing a singular goal: Either they go on the see-food…
I’ve been writing about diet and fitness since 2001. I’ve written countless articles about how to gain muscle, and countless articles about how to lose fat. But, if there is one question I still get asked more than anything else, it’s definitely this… How do I gain muscle and lose fat at the same time? I must get this question emailed to me at least once per…
Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered significant new evidence in the quest for the elusive goal of gaining muscle and losing fat, an oft-debated problem for those trying to manage their weight, control their calories and balance their protein consumption. Scientists have found that it is possible to achieve both, and quickly, but it isn t easy. For…
This is kind of a complicated answer based on context and outcomes. First, 1) What s your starting point, and where would you like to end up? 2) What constitutes weight in your eyes? Many people confuse weight loss with the more appropriately titled fat loss,when wording questions like this. Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object, which is different…
Those numbers don’t look true to me but it’s to illustrate visually how you’d like to look for perspective. The lower you go in body fat and the higher you go in muscle to coincide with low body fat, the much more difficult your life will be. If you want to be 8% body fat and 200 lbs, it’s exponentially harder than being 12% and 180 lbs. Depending on your body…
Cardio workouts play a crucial part in any fitness program. They help to lower blood pressure, boost your mood, and reduce your risk of heart disease, among plenty of other benefits. But, if your main goal is losing weight, you may be wondering exactly what type of cardio is best and how it works at targeting fat. Maybe you’ve heard that high-intensity interval…
Al Kavadlo, CSCS As a longtime proponent of bodyweight strength training, the most common question I get asked is if it s really possible to build muscle and strength without a gym. My answer is always a resounding Yes! Unfortunately, even this response is often met with skepticism. To many people, getting in shape without joining a gym or even lifting weights…
If you are thinking of losing fat before building muscle, you should take into consideration what’s best for your body type. For people that are overweight, losing fat first is the way to go, while people with a natural slim physique will be better off building muscle first. Losing fat is all about burning calories through exercise and getting the proper nutrition…
The connection between muscle gain and weight loss is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of health and fitness. Adding muscle to your body helps you to lower your body fat percentage in a variety of ways; however, these effects are often indirect and can be confusing. With a little bit of straightforward information, you can connect the dots between…
What Is Muscle + Types of Muscle Everyone has two different types of muscle: type 1 (slow-twitch) fibers and type 2 (fast-twitch) fibers. Slow- twitch fibers control endurance. They re what you use for activities like running long distances and low-impact aerobic workouts like Zumba,says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University…
One of the most curious terms you’ll see pop in any sort of fitness writing is “lean muscle.” It’s a curious term because, as you may know, all muscle is lean muscle. There is no such thing as “fat muscle” or “bulky muscle.” Still, it’s a term that has worked its way into the fitness lexicon because of the imagery it suggests. The expression is used to describe…
