Hey guys, so I thought I'd take a break and write about the new pre-workout I've been using. For the past 5 months or so I've been using Jack3d which I absolutely love. One thing I learned is that you have to cycle your uses with it because you body will get used to it right away. I started with 1 scoop and ended up using 4 by the end. You really should use it for 3 weeks and take 1 week off.
While trying to switch it up, I've used a few other pre-workouts to see what else there is out there. I started using Dynamite Expand which has a ton of creatine in it. It definitely helped build muscle, but didn't give me the energy or pumps Jack3d did.
My friend told me about MuscleTech Nano Vapor so I gave it a try and I definitely can say it's almost as great as Jack3d. I can't quite say it gives me the supercharged feeling but it definitely helps in pushing out those extra reps. If you're looking to try a new pre-workout, try Jack3d and Nano Vapor!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
To Take Supplements Or Not
So I've had a few people ask why I've fallen off on updating the blog, sorry guys! My semester just ended and I was extremely busy with school and work. But here's my newest update, send me your comments/questions!
As someone who never took supplements before, I highly recommend taking them when using a workout regimen. Depending on what your goal is, there are definitely supplements out there that will help you. I hate how people associate taking supplements with steroids or how people think if you take supplements, you're a huge body builder. Both are untrue and totally false. Yes supplements can help you gain mass but more importantly, they help you recover.
Currently I stack three different supplements when working out. My pre-workout formula is a product called Jack3d made by USP Labs, which has a high concentration of AAKG or Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate. AAKG promotes nitric oxide production which enhances blood flow which allows for more oxygen to reach working muscles. The more oxygen and nutrients that reach working muscles, the more repetitions someone can do. The one thing to be careful with this product is that it is highly concentrated. The serving size is three scoops, however the scoops are super small. You definitely want to test your tolerance before using all three scoops. I started off using just one scoop and I immediately noticed increased strength and stamina. As your body gets more and more used to it, you can gradually increase your dosage.
The second product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Creatine 189. I take one pill before working out and one after. Creatine allows one to perform better because it helps supply energy to muscles while stimulating protein synthesis. Also when an abundance of creatine phosphate is stored in the muscle, the muscle will hold more water in its cells and become what is known as "volumized" or "super-hydrated." The more volumized a muscle is, the more it will promote the synthesis of protein.
The last product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. Using this to make a protein shake after my workout helps in my body recover as well as add nutrients I need to stay in shape. Most protein combinations have a number of amino acids as well as other nutrients that help muscles recover after a workout.
As well as taking supplements, dieting correctly helps an enormous amount in giving your muscles the nutrients they need to grow and recover. Eating fast absorbing carbohydrates after a workout are great. If you're trying to build muscle, eating any sort of pasta after a workout is a great source of carbohydrates. It doesn't even have to be whole grain, although if you're trying to get lean and lose a few pounds, definitely stay away from white pasta, bread, etc.
The biggest tip I can give is definitely find a pre-workout supplement that helps you focus and gives you energy. Some may make you sick in the beginning, but that's because of its make-up, such as NO-Xplode or Super Pump 250 that have a lot of magnesium in them. After a while your body will adjust and you won't be running to the bathroom, but if you're looking to hit the gym right away and not the bathroom, stay away from supplements with a lot of magnesium in them.
Happy workouts everyone!
As someone who never took supplements before, I highly recommend taking them when using a workout regimen. Depending on what your goal is, there are definitely supplements out there that will help you. I hate how people associate taking supplements with steroids or how people think if you take supplements, you're a huge body builder. Both are untrue and totally false. Yes supplements can help you gain mass but more importantly, they help you recover.
Currently I stack three different supplements when working out. My pre-workout formula is a product called Jack3d made by USP Labs, which has a high concentration of AAKG or Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate. AAKG promotes nitric oxide production which enhances blood flow which allows for more oxygen to reach working muscles. The more oxygen and nutrients that reach working muscles, the more repetitions someone can do. The one thing to be careful with this product is that it is highly concentrated. The serving size is three scoops, however the scoops are super small. You definitely want to test your tolerance before using all three scoops. I started off using just one scoop and I immediately noticed increased strength and stamina. As your body gets more and more used to it, you can gradually increase your dosage.
The second product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Creatine 189. I take one pill before working out and one after. Creatine allows one to perform better because it helps supply energy to muscles while stimulating protein synthesis. Also when an abundance of creatine phosphate is stored in the muscle, the muscle will hold more water in its cells and become what is known as "volumized" or "super-hydrated." The more volumized a muscle is, the more it will promote the synthesis of protein.
The last product I use is GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. Using this to make a protein shake after my workout helps in my body recover as well as add nutrients I need to stay in shape. Most protein combinations have a number of amino acids as well as other nutrients that help muscles recover after a workout.
As well as taking supplements, dieting correctly helps an enormous amount in giving your muscles the nutrients they need to grow and recover. Eating fast absorbing carbohydrates after a workout are great. If you're trying to build muscle, eating any sort of pasta after a workout is a great source of carbohydrates. It doesn't even have to be whole grain, although if you're trying to get lean and lose a few pounds, definitely stay away from white pasta, bread, etc.
The biggest tip I can give is definitely find a pre-workout supplement that helps you focus and gives you energy. Some may make you sick in the beginning, but that's because of its make-up, such as NO-Xplode or Super Pump 250 that have a lot of magnesium in them. After a while your body will adjust and you won't be running to the bathroom, but if you're looking to hit the gym right away and not the bathroom, stay away from supplements with a lot of magnesium in them.
Happy workouts everyone!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Motivation
Happy Monday everyone! Monday means a new workout playlist as well as a fresh start! As Spring moves on, more and more people are coming back to the gym after their three month break from their New Year's resolution. Staying motivated at the gym can definitely be hard, but there are definitely many things that can help you stay focused and have fun at the same time. Here are a few things that keep me motivated, especially during those weeks where I rather just sit on the couch and watch tv.
1) MUSIC
Now I know this seems pretty obvious but switching up playlists can really help you stay motivated. For me I have about four or five playlists that I use on a regular basis. They're all very different and have different tempos in them. I suggest having at least three playlists that you can switch up on a weekly or even daily basis. My playlists include house/techno, rap, rock, punk, and even 90's hits. Whatever works for you use, I usually put one of my favorite songs every third or fourth so I get amped when I hear it. Music can really help you focus while lifting or even just running that extra half mile.
2) WORK OUT WITH A FRIEND
A lot of people are self conscious when going to the gym. There's nothing wrong with that. Who wants to go to the gym and be judged when you're trying to better help yourself? No one! One thing that has worked for me when I don't feel like going to the gym is go with a friend. Not only can he/she help motivate you, but its fun. It's nice being able to talk with someone about anything while working out.
3) CREATE YOUR OWN WORKOUT
If you've gone to the gym at all, you've probably seen someone doing some crazy exercise. You then probably think to yourself, what in the world is that person doing? I used to think that to myself until I realized you can be pretty creative with your workout. Changing and adjusting your workout to be fun can still be productive. I've taken some normal exercises and modified them to be more fun and less boring. Here's a great example of something I've done.
Ordinary squats with dumb bells on your shoulders. Pretty boring and not much fun to do. To mix it up, I do my normal squat but after returning to my starting position I raise one leg towards my opposite shoulder. While listening to an upbeat song, this boring exercise turns into a great core and cardio workout.
4) WORKOUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
I have worked out at basically every possible time, from 6 am to even as late as 1 am. My best workouts are when I wake up early and go before I do anything else. I know it's hard to wake up early, especially if you have a long day, but you'll have a more productive workout and see results faster by getting into a routine. Every day I wake up at 6 am and complete my workout by 8:30. For you guys who have to work or go to school very early, this may not work for you, but I'm fortunate enough where I don't have to start my day until 10 am. However just think about if you were to workout everyday at 7 or 8 pm. You've probably either gone to a few classes or worked all day. Working out after going through a day like that is much harder because you have already used up a lot of your mental and physical energy throughout the day. For some people working out at night is easier for them. I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, but take a look at your day and figure out when the best time for you to workout is. Most likely, its going to be in the morning.
5) LOOK AT THE SMALLER PICTURE FIRST
Many people work out to see a change in their body, whether it is just to drop a few pounds or bulk up. At the same time, many people stop going to the gym because they get discouraged when they don't see changes right away. Unless you're going to the gym morning, afternoon, and night and taking every supplement possible, you're not going to see immediate results. When I started working out I could barely bench 75 pounds. In just over five months I can now bench 180 pounds. It didn't happen overnight. One thing that has helped me get to this point was to look at the small things. I was super skinny when I started working out. As my workouts continued, I looked at small things. Obviously my biceps weren't going to grow overnight, but with each workout, doing one more rep or adding 5 more pounds after a week is an improvement. Feel good about yourself when you can do that extra rep! Get pumped up when you add more weight! These are small things that you won't see physically with your body, but over time they will have an affect.
There will be many more blogs to come! If you're interested in my workouts or have questions, please contact me. Follow my blog, updates will be regular!
1) MUSIC
Now I know this seems pretty obvious but switching up playlists can really help you stay motivated. For me I have about four or five playlists that I use on a regular basis. They're all very different and have different tempos in them. I suggest having at least three playlists that you can switch up on a weekly or even daily basis. My playlists include house/techno, rap, rock, punk, and even 90's hits. Whatever works for you use, I usually put one of my favorite songs every third or fourth so I get amped when I hear it. Music can really help you focus while lifting or even just running that extra half mile.
2) WORK OUT WITH A FRIEND
A lot of people are self conscious when going to the gym. There's nothing wrong with that. Who wants to go to the gym and be judged when you're trying to better help yourself? No one! One thing that has worked for me when I don't feel like going to the gym is go with a friend. Not only can he/she help motivate you, but its fun. It's nice being able to talk with someone about anything while working out.
3) CREATE YOUR OWN WORKOUT
If you've gone to the gym at all, you've probably seen someone doing some crazy exercise. You then probably think to yourself, what in the world is that person doing? I used to think that to myself until I realized you can be pretty creative with your workout. Changing and adjusting your workout to be fun can still be productive. I've taken some normal exercises and modified them to be more fun and less boring. Here's a great example of something I've done.
Ordinary squats with dumb bells on your shoulders. Pretty boring and not much fun to do. To mix it up, I do my normal squat but after returning to my starting position I raise one leg towards my opposite shoulder. While listening to an upbeat song, this boring exercise turns into a great core and cardio workout.
4) WORKOUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
I have worked out at basically every possible time, from 6 am to even as late as 1 am. My best workouts are when I wake up early and go before I do anything else. I know it's hard to wake up early, especially if you have a long day, but you'll have a more productive workout and see results faster by getting into a routine. Every day I wake up at 6 am and complete my workout by 8:30. For you guys who have to work or go to school very early, this may not work for you, but I'm fortunate enough where I don't have to start my day until 10 am. However just think about if you were to workout everyday at 7 or 8 pm. You've probably either gone to a few classes or worked all day. Working out after going through a day like that is much harder because you have already used up a lot of your mental and physical energy throughout the day. For some people working out at night is easier for them. I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, but take a look at your day and figure out when the best time for you to workout is. Most likely, its going to be in the morning.
5) LOOK AT THE SMALLER PICTURE FIRST
Many people work out to see a change in their body, whether it is just to drop a few pounds or bulk up. At the same time, many people stop going to the gym because they get discouraged when they don't see changes right away. Unless you're going to the gym morning, afternoon, and night and taking every supplement possible, you're not going to see immediate results. When I started working out I could barely bench 75 pounds. In just over five months I can now bench 180 pounds. It didn't happen overnight. One thing that has helped me get to this point was to look at the small things. I was super skinny when I started working out. As my workouts continued, I looked at small things. Obviously my biceps weren't going to grow overnight, but with each workout, doing one more rep or adding 5 more pounds after a week is an improvement. Feel good about yourself when you can do that extra rep! Get pumped up when you add more weight! These are small things that you won't see physically with your body, but over time they will have an affect.
There will be many more blogs to come! If you're interested in my workouts or have questions, please contact me. Follow my blog, updates will be regular!
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