Bodybuilding Health

Bodybuilding and nutrition are the key to a healthy life. With an adequate nutrition and physical exercises, you can perk up your life. It is important to understand that you have to combine bodybuilding and good nutrition in order for them to have effect on your body and to improve your life. Bodybuilding and nutrition go hand in hand. A healthy nutrition will provide you with the energy you need to function properly, and you will certainly need energy if you want to start a bodybuilding program. It is well known that physical exercises and bodybuilding will help you maintain a healthy life. Research had shown that bodybuilding will help prevent cardiovascular illnesses by reducing the body fat in you organism and increasing your muscular mass.

In addition, bodybuilding reduces the aging process and it will increase your confidence. Any one can practice bodybuilding from a teen age to a rather older age. You do not have to be a professional bodybuilder in order to feel the effects of these trainings.Bodybuilding will increase your muscular mass, bone strength and combined with the right nutrition it will increase your energy levels. Being a bodybuilder has many advantages but the most important one is a healthier life achieved by reducing fat and cholesterol levels, stress levels, regulating blood pressure, cleansing the internal organs, and preventing illnesses.

Working out will boost your self-esteem increase your moral help you relax more easily and reduce the stress in your life. Bodybuilding will for sure make you feel better and look better therefore drawing attention to you. Looking great the opposite sex will find you more appealing.Overall bodybuilding will help you improve your life from all points of view.

bodybuilding,diet,body building | body building interviews

Women's Bodybuilding

Our society is seeing a revolution in health and wellness. Thanks to smart diet choices and fitness regimes, men and women are enjoying newfound strength and vitality. It's important to note however, that women may need to follow a different exercise routine than their male counterparts.

Women's bodybuilding is very different than men's. The best way to understand these differences is to learn about the complex biology that is unique to women's bodies. To be successful at bodybuilding, a woman should know what exercises, diets and supplements are best suited to her particular needs.

Trainers suggest that if a woman is serious about bodybuilding, she should choose bodybuilding minerals, vitamins and supplements that are formulated especially for women. Formulations for men are not the best choice for a woman who is involved in bodybuilding. Steroids for instance, while dangerous for men, can cause particularly disturbing side effects in women. In the sport of women's bodybuilding, many women are taking steroids and as a result, getting way too much testosterone in they systems. These women are growing more hair than normal on their faces and bodies. Increased aggression and mood swings are other consequences of steroid use. These drugs do little to benefit a woman's bodybuilding efforts, and the side effects will only cause harm in the long run.

Other supplement options for women include creatine. While using creatine will not make you huge, it will help your bodybuilding routine result in a good healthy physique. If considering creatine, choose a formulation made just for women. Men's creatine supplements do not work well with a woman's body and can cause excess water retention. In addition to helping add bulk, creatine can give you the energy to keep up with your bodybuilding routine.

Women's bodybuilding offers many options. You need to find out what's available, and learn which one is best for your health and lifestyle. Try to avoid chemical formulations that will cause harmful side effects. If you are taking up women's bodybuilding it's to stay healthy, so it only makes sense to avoid substances that can be unhealthy. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before starting any intense physical training, and especially before taking women's bodybuilding supplements.

Dorothy Williams is a writer for several web sites, on recreation tips and hobbies and recreation themes.

Simple Tips for Starting Competitive Bodybuilding

As a bodybuilder you should be aiming to enter into the competitive bodybuilding area and show off your body in a bodybuilding fitness competition, especially given the amount of time, effort and money you are putting into your training. Competitive bodybuilding fitness competitions take place all over the world and display some of the finest, athletic bodies on the planet.

Each competition has numerous categories and levels, so even if you are still a novice you can still find a competition that is at your level. However, if you are going to enter you?re going to have to put in a lot of training before hand, so you?ll need lots of self discipline and dedication in terms of actually getting down the gym and training and also your diet.

If you are serious about taking up competitive bodybuilding you should really try to find your self a training partner and coach. As having the guidance and support of an experienced coach and the support from a training partner will definitely help improve your chances of success in the competitive bodybuilding arena. You and your coach need to determine your training programme, your diet and what competitions or events you want to train up to compete in. Also you need to decide whether you are going to be a ?natural? bodybuilder or whether you will use performance enhancing supplements such as steroids. The natural route is best for your body, but there is no reason why you shouldn?t supplement your diet with essential vitamins and nutrients to help optimum growth and repair of your muscles, especially if you have to eliminate some foods from your diet to lose weight.

The next step is to put some time into investigate and find local competitive bodybuilding competitions near to home, as they are a great place to ?dip your toe? in and get started. If you can?t find any locally you might have to travel to further a field to find competitions, so you?ll need to schedule this into your training plans.

Competitive bodybuilding and fitness competitions often vary in terms of the price to enter and the competition rules and regulations, so make sure you do your research carefully. Usually you?ll have a tour or guide the day before or on the morning of the event, so the more prepared you are, the more professional you will appear to the other competitors and judges.

Prior to the event, make sure that you have covered and mastered in training all the poses that you need to be able to do for the competition, and learn how to tense up your muscles for each pose while appearing relaxed. Other things you might want to do or take into consideration are tanning and removing excess hair and anything else that might improve your chances of winning. Ask your coach for advice on this or ask other bodybuilders you have met through your training.

Once you?ve done the competition, critically assess how well you have done, both positives and negatives, if you try and learn from your mistakes you?ll continually increase you chances of winning in future events. See what the other competitors are doing and ask them questions too. You should also try and speak to the judges after the event to get their opinion on how you did and get some tips for your next competition. Listen carefully to all their hints and tips and sooner than you think you?ll be the one winning all the prizes!

Do you want to learn how to pack on massive muscle, melt away fat and get the body of your dreams? If so, get your hands on free bodybuilding tips for beginner bodybuilders by clicking the following link: http://teenbodybuildingtips.info/

Bodybuilding Nutrition - A sound bodybuilding Diet Plan

Beginning a new nutrition program is never easy, especially for beginners. If you are looking to learn how to structure your diet for building muscle and adding mass then follow the following proven principles of proven success.

Bodybuilding nutrition does not have to be a chore as many people think of it. You certainly do not have to starve! A bodybuilding diet plan is very healthy, and includes all of the major food groups, making it a complete nutrition solution that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. A sound nutrition plan has to include all of the essentials for health but muscle growth as well.

Therefore, a bodybuilding diet plan has to be higher in protein and healthy fats than most other diets. It?s also higher in energy potent carbohydrates and uses much different types of foods than most people consume in their normal daily eating habits. Bodybuilding diets do not include most of junk foods and unhealthy treats such as candy full of simple sugars, fried foods, white flour products and alcohol. If you want to follow a healthy lifestyle then you certainly must minimize your consumption of these unhealthy treats.

Here?s a sample bodybuilding diet plan that will work very well for pretty much anyone who is looking to add muscle mass. Depending on your weight and body fat levels, you may need to increase of decrease the amounts of foods consumed.

Meal 1: 6 egg whites, 1 yolk 2 slices low fat cheese, 3oz oatmeal, 1 apple or banana, 1 cup of low fat milk.

Meal 2: 6oz tuna in water, 1 whole wheat bagel, 1 tablespoon low fat mayo, 1 tomato.

Meal 3: 8oz grilled chicken breast, 2 baked potatoes, 2 cups salad, low fat dressing.

Meal 4: 4oz turkey breast, 2 slices whole wheat toast, 2 slices low fat cheese, 1 cup of low fat milk.

Meal 5: 8oz grilled steak, 1.5 cups brown rice, 2 cups salad or steamed vegetables, 2 tablespoons olive oil for dressing.

Meal 6: 6 egg whites, 1 yolk, Half cup oatmeal, 1 cup low fat milk.

You can also include a daily multivitamin supplement to ensure you are getting all of the essential micronutrients needed for proper muscle growth and recovery.

This diet plan will provide you with all essential proteins for muscle building, carbohydrates for ample energy & glycogen replenishment and healthy fats for additional calories. Try to space meals three hours apart and always remembers to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Kostas Marangopoulos is a natural bodybuilder, nutrition consultant, freelance writer and editor-in-chief of http://www.BodybuildingApplied.com, one of the best natural bodybuilding websites on the net. His educational background includes a Master?s degree and he is also a certified personal trainer (CPT) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Kostas? educational and informative bodybuilding articles have been featured on hundreds of leading websites including http://www.NaturalMuscleBuilding.com

The Best Bodybuilding Supplements To Take

Sport nutrition supplements help promote muscle growth in bodybuilders. Nutritional bodybuilding supplements also enhance performance and workout routines that include physical exercises. Weightlifting programs or weight training with free weights or machines will benefit from the addition of body building supplements.

Whether you are body building, weight lifting or working out with body toning exercises, always read and review the nutritional information on supplements before adding them to your workout routine. There are many different kinds of nutritional supplements which can be used for bodybuilding, weightlifting or even the general exercise enthusiast.

Many body building supplements also work well for weightlifting programs and even certain diet programs. On the other hand, you may find some sports supplements and nutritional products work better for the specific style of workout routine you are following.

For body building enthusiasts working towards muscle growth, there are some excellent weight gainer whey protein supplements available to help meet your goal. Because these bodybuilding products help add weight and muscle, they may not be best suited for workout routines designed only to tone muscle.

Body Building Supplements

Building muscle mass while sculpting your body for the perfect look can be a long and difficult process.

You can improve workout results with sports nutrition products like whey protein isolate, nor androstenediol, guggulsterones, amino acids, DHEA and meal replacement bars. Bodybuilders and weightlifters alike reach their goals as well as their limits while depending on quality bodybuilding supplements.

Weightlifting Supplements

Weightlifters are always pushing themselves to the limit or lifting weights to the point of ?failure?. To ?burn? through these sets and increase muscle growth, weightlifters employ nutritional supplements. You can safely combine supplements, such as a whey protein isolate, Nitric Oxide and Testosterone Boosters, whether you are just beginning or wanting to reach your peak performance. Weight training programs at all levels benefit when bodybuilding supplements are used in weightlifting workouts.

Nitric Oxide

Nitric Oxide is a free form gas that is produced in the body and is used by the body to communicate with other cells in the body. To produce this gas, enzymes in the body break down the amino acid Arginine.

Nitric Oxide is a molecule consisting of one atom of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The production of Nitric Oxide occurs when the amino acid L-arginine is converted into L-citruline through an enzyme group known as Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS).

Everyone REQUIRES nitric oxide to carry out key physiological processes within the body. From a bodybuilder's perspective, nitric oxide supplementation may prove useful in increasing growth due to increases in blood flow to certain areas of the body. Further, men suffering from erectile dysfunction may also find supplementing with nitric oxide helpful.

Signs of deficiency include the inability to achieve and sustain erections, physical weakness and extreme fatigue. Most "nitric oxide" supplements contain the amino acid Arginine-alpha-keto-glutarate.

With any amino acid containing product, overdose is a possibility. Dosing with too much arginine can lead to diarrhea, weakness and nausea. Clear dosing guidelines have not been established, so it is best to do what is known as "tolerance mapping". Take a small dosage for one week, note the benefits and the side effects, and increase the dosage until the benefits are maximized and the side effects minimized. Over time the two will converge and you will hit the optimal dose. This process is similar to "receptor mapping" for bodybuilders who use insulin.

Protien Powders

Many protein powders are fortified with amino acids, including arginine. With this in mind, pay particular attention to how much arginine you are ingesting from all supplements taken.

Protein powders are formulated to be the perfect meal in a quick and easy shake. It is easy to take them with you to work or school or anywhere that you need to get your protein or satisfy your hunger in a healthy way.

Need to eat one gram of protein per pound of body weight? Or maybe you are trying to eat six small meals each day? Sounds easier than it really is, huh? Protein powders like the ones listed below may be exactly what you are looking for.

How do you pick a protein out of the hundreds that we have for you to choose from? Basically, you are looking for a powder that has the right amount of protein, carbs, fat and the correct protein type for your goal.

If you are trying to lose fat, you will most likely want a low carb, low calorie protein. The extra protein will help you keep your current muscle mass. If you are trying to gain muscle, you would want a high protein, high calorie powder that is relatively low in sugar and fat. If you are simply trying to find a quick meal replacement, a protein powder with medium carbs and medium calories would most likely be for you.

The three most popular types of protein are whey, casein and soy.

Whey

Out of the many protein sources out there, whey protein is the ultimate. It comes from milk. During the process of turning milk into cheese, whey protein is separated out. Protein can be found in a variety of foods -mainly meats, such as fish, beef, and chicken.

Dairy products as well as eggs, cottage cheese, soy and vegetable protein also contain good amounts of protein.

Nevertheless, none of these sources compares in quality or ease of use like whey protein. Whey protein has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which result in building and retaining muscle tissue.

Whey protein (the highest quality and best form of protein) is incredible stuff. It provides the body with the necessary building blocks to produce amino acids that are used for building muscle tissue. Whoa! Nearly every bodybuilder knows the importance of protein supplementation. Studies have been conducted that compare whey protein to other sources. They have found that whey protein contains the perfect combination of overall amino acid makeup... and in just the right concentrations for optimal performance in the body. Both hormonal and cellular responses seem to be greatly enhanced with supplementation of whey protein, too! Not to mention the benefits whey protein has on the body's immune system according to documented scientific research. Whey protein also plays a role as an antioxidant and helps support a health immune system. Most importantly, consistent whey protein intake coupled with exercise will result in consistent muscle building.

Training athletes often consume 25 grams of whey protein per day. Bodybuilders who want serious gains (and are burning serious calories), generally consume 150 grams per day. Extremely high doses of whey protein is not recommended, as this will cause the body's liver to be overloaded and you won't get the same benefits as with a consistent lower amount taken three to five times per day.

BCAA:

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Amino Acid supplements are an effective and useful blend of essential amino acids for the human body.

Amino acids come from protein rich sources such as meat, fish, dairy products, and vegetables such as legumes, peas, and grains. There are many types of amino acid supplements on the market. Some products claim to have a large quantity of amino acids, but come primarily from a weak protein source (such as milk). Unfortunately, people may have allergies associated with the protein source. Our supplement formula is comprised of the highest quality crystalline protein source.

One and one-half grams of powder three times a day should be sufficient to provide the body with an adequate supply of available amino acids to assist in digesting food and bulking up. There are no side effects with proper supplementation.

Testosterone Boosters:

Raising your testosterone helps you to gain muscle, enhance your mood, support healthy libido, and more! Some prohormones do a great job of raising test levels, but some people prefer not to use them.

Arginine

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. It is a building block of protein that performs a myriad of physiological functions. It is a known precursor of the gas nitric oxide [N02].

Arginine is an amino acid that the body cannot make naturally. Therefore it is important to consume foods that are rich in arginine.1

Arginine is found in high concentrations in nuts and seeds like peanuts and almonds. It can also be found in chocolate and raisins.

Individuals with existing heart or psychiatric conditions should consult with their physician prior to supplementing with Arginine. With any amino acid containing product, overdose is a possibility. Dosing with too much arginine can lead to diarrhea, weakness and nausea. Clear dosing guidelines have not yet been established, so it is best to do what is known as "tolerance mapping" - Take a small dosage for one week, note the benefits and the side effects, and increase the dosage until the benefits are maximized and the side effects minimized. Over time the two will converge and you will hit the optimal dose. This process is similar to "receptor mapping" for bodybuilders who use insulin and steroids.

Many protein powders on the market are fortified with amino acids, including arginine. With this in mind, pay particular attention to how much arginine you are ingesting from sources. If you do not feel comfortable following the above described procedure, it is always best to follow the directions as prescribed on the products label.

Chris DiCicco owns the Supplement Store Flexhealthnutrition.comand has been involved with nutrition for over 20 years. Bodybuilding supplements & weightlifting.

Bodybuilding Supplements: How To Choose The Best Ones For Your Needs

Are you interested in turning your body into a muscle bound machine? If so, you are probably familiar with bodybuilding supplements. After all, these supplements have received a lot of attention over the last few years. But just like anything else that you put into your body, you need to be careful when it comes bodybuilding supplements. Although they can help you to achieve your goals, there are many people who are better off sticking to other ways of success.

So how can you choose the bodybuilding supplements that are best for you? This is a common question that a lot of people struggle with. The fact of the matter is that there are some bodybuilding supplements that may work perfect with your body, but at the same time there are others that may not be as good for you. In order to find the supplements that are best, the first thing that you must do is search through all of the available options at your local health store. When you know what bodybuilding supplements are available for purchase, you will have a much easier time deciding on what to buy.

When comparing bodybuilding supplements, there are several things that you should look at. Most of the pertinent information can be found on the label, and this is a great place to start researching each supplement. The label will tell you what each supplement contains, and will also list out any side effects that may go along with it.

But before your purchase, you will want to head home and check things out further on the internet. There are thousands of pages online that are devoted to bodybuilding supplements. You should search for reviews and detailed information on the ones that you are interested in taking. This way you will have the chance to learn about anything that may sway your decision.

Finally, checking with your doctor before taking a bodybuilding supplement is always a good idea. Even though you do not have to do this, it can help to put your mind to rest. After all, the idea behind bodybuilding supplements is to make you look and feel better. Your doctor will be able to tell you if these goals are attainable by taking the supplements that you are interested in.

Choosing the bodybuilding supplements that are best for you is not always the easiest thing to do. This industry has progressed quite a bit as of late, and for this reason you will have to sift through plenty of options before you find what is best for you. And even then, you may not make a perfect decision. But remember, the more research you do the better chance you have of choosing bodybuilding supplements that will work while also keeping you safe and healthy.

Kevin Hall is a fitness guru. Kevin buys all his Diet Supplements & Fat Burners at the interactive website retailer SupplementstoGo.com.

Bodybuilding - Side Effects of Creatine Supplements

When a person is targeting for bigger body mass, he or she usually intakes bodybuilding supplements aside from having rigorous exercise. These supplements helps in building muscle mass and lose fat. Aside from that, these supplements are also helpful in aiding that person to improve at sports performance.

There is a huge collection of bodybuilding supplements in the market. Each of these supplements works differently to be able to help the person achieve the body mass that he or she wants. One of the most common bodybuilding supplements in the market is called creatine.

Creatine is an organic acid that was proven by several studies to give our muscle cells energy. Aside from giving our cells a burst of energy, creatine is also known to give strength, muscle mass and reduce recovery time for tired muscles. This organic acid is also proven to help the brain as well because of its ability to improve recognition memory, mental fatigue reduction and improve brain function. Because of its popularity, different forms of creatine supplements are now available like creatine monohydrate, creatine anhydrous, creatine citrate, creatine phosphate, creatine malate, creatine tartrate, creatine HMB, creatine ester, creatine titrate, liquid creatine, creatine gum and magnesium creatine.

However, there has been news circulating that creatine cause several side effects on one?s body. One of the side effects being linked to creatine is related to kidney problems. Some people pointed out that long-term use of creatine might cause kidney stones to some users. But, solid evidence against creatine with regard to this ailment has not been provided.

Another side effect being pointed to creatine is renal stress. This condition will be triggered when a person with existing renal or kidney problems drink creatine. A person might also feel bloated but it could be due to the feeling of gaining mass.

The only proven side effect of creatine to the human body is diarrhea. However, this happened because the athletes using creatine took more than the prescribed amount of creatine. Diarrhea was immediately resolved after reducing the dosage.

Generally speaking, there has been no full proof evidence against the long-term use of creatine. Most of the allegations for this product do not have a strong data that the observed side effects are due to creatine. There are people that suspects that side effects happen on case-to-case basis and might vary according to the form of creatine. Only the over dosage of creatine linked with diarrhea has been proven and it is just logical since it is not really advisable to drink more than the prescribed amount of medication.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Each of these supplements works differently to be able to help the person achieve the body mass that he or she wants. One of the most common bodybuilding supplements in the market is called creatine. Because of its popularity, different forms of creatine supplements are now available like creatine monohydrate, creatine anhydrous, creatine citrate, creatine phosphate, creatine malate, creatine tartrate, creatine HMB, creatine ester, creatine titrate, liquid creatine, creatine gum and magnesium creatine.

Bodybuilding Supplements Vs. Anti-aging Supplements

Bodybuilding Supplements

You may be caught asking yourself, do I really need a bodybuilding supplement to reach my bodybuilding goals? No, you don't necessarily need them, but bodybuilding supplements have proved to be useful tools to help you get the job done.

There's plenty of great bodybuilding supplements around that will give you the results that you desire. These bodybuilding supplements work well because they give your body the exact ingredients it needs for building muscle mass. A major factor in building muscle mass is your consumption of calories, if you don't consume enough calories then your body has no bricks to build any muscle with. A bodybuilding supplement is going to give you all the ingredients that your body needs to create muscle.

Along with taking a daily bodybuilding supplement, you should also be incorporating a solid exercise routine and a healthy diet. Especially be careful with your diet! A bad diet can undo the beneficial properties that a bodybuilding supplement will give you. After exercising, make sure you give your body sufficient rest periods. These are the times that your body will be building more muscle.

Bodybuilding supplements can be very easy to take. Some come in pill form, and others you can drink in milkshake form. They all vary in taste, so make sure you pick a supplement that you actually like!

Anti-aging Supplements

Use anti-aging supplements to naturally eliminate the effects of aging by treating the root of aging, unhealthy skin. Anti-aging supplements provide the perfect natural solution for treating skin wrinkles and other fine lines. They will help nourish your skin and give it the proper ingredients it needs to function properly.

Wrinkles and fine lines are commonly caused by dry skin. Anti-aging supplements will help you combat the dehydration of your skin, and thus fight the appearance of wrinkles.

When using your anti-aging supplement, make sure it gets properly absorbed in your skin. Also, take precaution when it comes to ingredients and be sure the supplement is hypoallergenic and non photo toxic. These two things can cause problems instead of solving them.

Anti-aging supplements will also repair your skin and remove things like age spots and damaging chemical toxins. Harmful elements like toxins ultimately detract from the health of your skin and will only help to dry it out. A good anti-aging supplement will also improve the elasticity and dexterity of your skin as well.

Take care when selecting the right anti-aging supplement for you. Look at the ingredients and make sure they contain the right things that help benefit your skin. Check for ingredients Vitamin A, C, E, and Vitamin D. Plus things like ginseng, zinc, proteins, fibers, and other natural ingredients help improve the quality of your skin.

Natalie Aranda writes about health and fitness. There's plenty of great bodybuilding supplements around that will give you the results that you desire. These bodybuilding supplements work well because they give your body the exact ingredients it needs for building muscle mass. A major factor in building muscle mass is your consumption of calories, if you don't consume enough calories then your body has no bricks to build any muscle with.

Equipping The Bowflex Home Gym

The Bowflex fitness machine takes care of most exercise, strength training and overall fitness training. It replaces most of the gym equipment found at the local gyms today and makes it easier to get an almost total workout using only one machine. You can perform a fitness routine on a Bowflex at home just as if you were at the local gym and using all of the gym equipment there.

Still, there are a few pieces of fitness equipment that you may need in your home-based gym to supplement the workout you get from your Bowflex.

Health care professionals almost always say that walking an hour a day, combined with eating a healthy diet, is one of the best things a person can do for cardiovascular or heart health. A treadmill is helps with cardio fitness and compliments a Bowflex fitness machine if walking outside is not an option. Treadmills come in many different styles, but a simple treadmill can be used effectively with your regular Bowflex workouts and fitness routines.

Other Possible Items for Your Home Gym

Upright, stationary bikes are smaller pieces of gym equipment that take up much less room in a workout area than a treadmill. This is a great choice if your space is limited. Upright bikes are often used in place of treadmills for the cardiovascular fitness routines that are needed for a well-balanced workout.

Medicine balls help with endurance and joint integrity that may hinder and stop a full and complete workout on a Bowflex. Medicine balls are not really considered a necessity for the home gym setup, but in the long run they are very useful. They help with arthritis and other signs of aging.

Hand grippers are a handy little piece of gym equipment that works on improving hand strength while toning and building bigger forearms. They can help prevent any accidents on a Bowflex due to a weak grip.

Fitness balls help tone and shape the muscles that help make a body more flexible. Aerobic exercise equipment such as fitness bands and cords also help with flexibility and give the consumer a great alternative to using weights. They can also help intensify the muscle building exercises on the Bowflex.

A balance disc helps with core body development and training with balance. The balance disc can be adjusted by deflating it or giving it more air for a customized work out.

Most of the Bowflex fitness machines do not come with all the proper cardiovascular or fitness workout attachments to get a complete, well-rounded workout and fitness routine. They do cover almost all of the gym equipment that would be used for strength training and circuit training for muscle building and toning of the legs, arms, chest and abdominals.

The Bowflex fitness machine should not be the only piece of exercise equipment in the home, if there is room in the workout area. It lacks the cardiovascular aspect of a total workout that a well-rounded fitness routine needs. At the least, a treadmill or stationary bike should definitely accompany the Bowflex in your home gym.

Robert Henry is a successful Webmaster and publisher of justfitnessgym.com. He provides more fitness exercise articles and information on bowflex equipment that you can research at the above site.

How to Avoid Using Your Home Gym as a Clothes Rack

So heres the situation

You have a home gym, treadmill, elliptical trainer, or some other piece of home fitness equipment. But its sitting in the corner of the room being used as a clothes rack. You havent gotten any use out of it for months, and you might be thinking of selling it off.

Theres a reason why you initially bought this piece of equipment, and I can bet that it wasnt meant to hang your clothes on (there are much cheaper alternatives than that).

It was probably along the lines of toning up or losing weight or getting fit and so on and so forth.

You know its probably a good idea to start exercising again, but you might be thinking:

1. Im too busy with (insert your reasons here), and I just dont have the time right now.

2. Ill do it later.

3. Im not too sure what exercises to do.

4. I just dont have any motivation right now. Maybe in the future when I get fired up Ill start again.

5. Im feeling pretty tired these days with everything going on. Ill get to it once I have some energy.

But what were the reasons that made you buy this machine? How long did you actually use this machine? Why did you stop? And why arent you using it now?

What youll do is examine your reasons why, and give you an actionable guide to get you off your couch, take the clothes off your home gym and start using it the way it was meant to be used (and start achieving your goals!)



Here is a Solution

You need to set some goals, and you need to set a plan to get to those goals. Thats right, just like what all the self help guru preaches, this is what you need to do. The reason why you need to set goals is that then youll have something to work towards.

And Im not talking about some up-in-the-air, vague goals like, I want to look toned, or I want to lose weight.

Im talking about detailed, specific goals. Something along the lines of, I will lose 10 pounds of fat in 60 days.

Also, along with setting goals, you need to write down your reasons why you want to achieve this goal. Losing 10 pounds of fat in 60 days is fine and dandy, but youll be way more motivated to exercise if youre constantly reminded that your wedding is in 60 days!


Heres an acronym that will help you set and attain your fitness goals:

S.M.A.R.T-R (pronounced smarter)

SMART-R stands for:

S-Specific

M-Measurable

A-Action oriented

R-Reasonable

T-Timed

R-Reasons why

Lets go into details of each point:


Specific

The more specific and measurable your goal, the more quickly you will be able to identify, locate, create, and implement the use of the necessary resources for its achievement. -Charles J. Givens

"I want to lose weight" is different from "I want to lose 10lbs of fat and gain muscle mass by doing 3-5 cardio workouts and 3-5 resistance training workouts per week at the gym over the course of the next 3 months."

Your fitness goals should be detailed, clearly defined, and stress exactly what youre going to do and you want to achieve.

For example, instead of setting a goal to lose weight, set a specific goal to lose 3 inches off your waist, lost 5% body fat, or lose 3 pounds of fat.


Measurable

"Make measurable progress in reasonable time." -Jim Rohn

If youre not keeping score, you dont know whether youre winning or losing! And keeping score is all done with numbers. Do you want to lose 3 inches off your waist? Do you want to drop down from 20% to 12% body fat? Do you want to lose 10 pounds?

Whatever goal you choose, make sure that you can measure it. You need to do this so you can see and measure the progress over time. For example, losing 1 pound per week would be a goal that is measurable over time.

Also, the things that you cant measure (happiness, etc.) will come along with achieving your goals.

Action-Oriented

You'll always achieve more through movement than meditation -Gary Halbert

Virtually no goals can be attained unless theres some action taken. If you plan to lose 10 pounds of body fat, you have to figure out the action that you need to take the attain this goal. What resistance training exercises are you going to do? What cardiovascular exercises are you going to do? How often should you do them? In this step its helpful to recruit the assistance of a fitness professional who can provide you with their expertise and advice to help you reach your goal.


Reasonable

"Every noble work is bound to face problems and obstacles. It is important to check your goal and motivation thoroughly. One should be very truthful, honest, and reasonable. One's actions should be good for others, and for oneself as well. Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realized, at least there will be no regret." -Dalai Lama

Now that you might have started to think of some goals, you have to remember to keep them reasonable. Losing 30 pounds in one month is not reasonable! In fact, this could be potentially dangerous to your health and be detrimental in the long term. In this case, you would probably be losing water weight and muscle mass, and in the long run, you would gain all that weight back, and have less muscle mass (its your muscles that burn fatthe more of it you have, the more fat you can burn. But the less you have, youll be burning less body fat).

Keep your goals reasonable or you might find that youll be putting your health at risk, or at the very least, youll be disappointed.


Timed

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." -Napoleon Hill

Set a deadline. Deadlines move us to action.

Theres nothing worst than having a goal, working towards it, but never finishing it! Its almost like a major school project thats assigned to you. Imagine if this project didnt have a deadline, and youre asked to complete it whenever you want.

Do you think youll complete it soon?

Probably not! If theres no deadline, theres no pressure to finish a task.

Its the same with exercise and fitness. If you set a goal to lose 10 pounds of body fat, but you dont set a deadline, youll probably be trying to lose 10 pounds of body fat forever!

Set a deadline for your fitness goal, and try to achieve it. Once the deadline passes and youve reached your goals, set a new one and a new deadline, and strive to achieve that!


Reasons Why

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to; all they need is one reason why they can" -Willis Whitney

This is probably the most important step in the goal setting process. Not only is your reason why the motivation for you to achieve any goals, but its probably the reason that caused you to buy a home gym or home exercise equipment in the first place!

You must define your reasons for wanting to achieve a goal. If you lack clear reasons why for doing so, all the goal setting and planning might just go to waste (if you dont have a reason to do something, why would you do it?)

Spend some time and give some serious thought to this step. The more compelling your reasons are for exercising, the greater your odds will be for meeting your goals.

Every person has a different reason for exercising. Some people just want to lose a few inches off their waist because of an upcoming event (such as a wedding, a high school reunion, a day at the beach to impress members of the opposite sex), but for others, exercising could mean the difference between life and death.

Whatever your reasons why may be, make sure that theyre compelling, and accurately represent your reasons for your desire to achieve your goals.

Some Tips To Keep On Top of Your Fitness Goals

Grab a pen, a few pieces of paper, and prepare to do some writing.


Use this formula to form your goals:

I, _________ (name) WILL __________________________ (specific, reasonable, and measurable goal) by doing _______________________ (action oriented) by ______________ (timed-date).

I will achieve this goal because ___________________________ (insert your reason why)

Signature: _________________ (your name) Todays date: _____________

Write this down and make photocopies if you want to. Now, post your goals everywhere (bathroom mirrors, in your home gym, in front of your toiletanywhere that is highly visible), and read it everyday. The more often you come across seeing your goals in writing, the more likely its going to be in your daily thoughts, and the more likely youre achieve your fitness goals.

Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So, if youve been leaving your home gym equipment to collect dust or to hang your clothes on, start with the single step of writing down your goals by following the methods above. Trust me, you wont regret it.

John Phung is a Certified Personal Training and successful writer for http://www.homegymsonline.info/providing valuable tips and advice about free weight exercise equipment, home gym equipment, cardiovascular training equipment and more.