<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424</id><updated>2011-12-14T19:07:35.454-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Build Muscle Mass</title><subtitle type='html'>Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step by step diet and workout program by personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>96</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-1057288018213546187</id><published>2008-09-24T11:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-24T11:25:53.436-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Muscle Building Supplement Video You Need To See</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="left"&gt;Out of all the supplements on the market, I still only recommend 3 to my training clients:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Protein, creatine, and glutamine.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The thing is, while I was with the kids, shopping in Walmart, I came across one very inexpensive whey protein supplement that also had the other 2 supplements I recommend.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, 1 shake, all 3 recommended supplements!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's a video I made on it...&lt;/div&gt;&lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;&lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;&lt;center&gt;&lt;object height="344" width="425"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1-R3TtI0x2Y&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1-R3TtI0x2Y&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/center&gt;&lt;center&gt; &lt;/center&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;I think it's well worth trying it to see if it helps you with your muscle gains. For $14.00 or so per container, you can't go wrong!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;I've also seen Body Fortress At Target, not just Walmart.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-1057288018213546187?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/1057288018213546187/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=1057288018213546187' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1057288018213546187'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1057288018213546187'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/muscle-building-supplement-video-you.html' title='A Muscle Building Supplement Video You Need To See'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-1829034801354337566</id><published>2008-09-22T09:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-24T07:38:29.243-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Muscle Building Resources - Build Muscle Faster</title><content type='html'>&lt;strong&gt;The Best Supplement Sites To Order Direct:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dpsnutrition.net/"&gt;http://www.dpsnutrition.net/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.affordablesupplements.com/"&gt;http://www.affordablesupplements.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/index.html"&gt;http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.worldclassnutrition.com/"&gt;http://www.worldclassnutrition.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.islandsupplements.com/"&gt;http://www.islandsupplements.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.massnutrition.com/"&gt;http://www.massnutrition.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.a1supplements.com/"&gt;http://www.a1supplements.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.illpumpyouup.com/"&gt;http://www.illpumpyouup.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.sportssupplements.com/"&gt;http://www.sportssupplements.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.supplementcentral.com/"&gt;http://www.supplementcentral.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.supplementdirect.com/"&gt;http://www.supplementdirect.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://xsportsnutrition.com/"&gt;http://xsportsnutrition.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.supplementstogo.com/"&gt;http://www.supplementstogo.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Best Exercise Demos&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html"&gt;http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm"&gt;http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/ex/all_exercises.asp"&gt;http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/ex/all_exercises.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://bodyforlife.com/exercise/animations.asp"&gt;http://bodyforlife.com/exercise/animations.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.global-fitness.com/strength/s_musclemap.php"&gt;http://www.global-fitness.com/strength/s_musclemap.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html"&gt;http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Best Nutrition Calculators&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/nutrient.htm"&gt;http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/nutrient.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thecaloriecounter.com/"&gt;http://www.thecaloriecounter.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.caloriesperhour.com/"&gt;http://www.caloriesperhour.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/"&gt;http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.acaloriecounter.com/"&gt;http://www.acaloriecounter.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://mycaloriecounter.com/"&gt;http://mycaloriecounter.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;object height="344" width="425"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gyxsW3N_Az0&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gyxsW3N_Az0&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-1829034801354337566?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/1829034801354337566/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=1829034801354337566' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1829034801354337566'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1829034801354337566'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/best-muscle-building-resources-build.html' title='The Best Muscle Building Resources - Build Muscle Faster'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-6428714572417034361</id><published>2008-09-16T07:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-16T07:42:01.374-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How Women Can Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>Many women are self conscious about the way their bodies look.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They may do all they can to diet and lose weight. Yet most of them don't realize that when they lose weight they are likely also losing muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This can slow down their metabolism and make it harder for them to keep the weight off. Engaging in various exercises to build muscle can be very helpful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many women rely heavily upon the bathroom scale to tell them if they are in good enough shape or not.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you are working to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle&lt;/a&gt; it so going to weigh more than fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Therefore you may be burning fat and gaining muscle. However, that scale is going to have a higher number show up on it which causes many women to panic.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When a woman engages in exercises to build muscle she is able to tone up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This means she is going to look fit and trim. No one is going to be guessing how much she weighs.&lt;br /&gt;Many women also look years younger when they are working to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They feel better than they have in a very long time and that gives them a new confidence. In many instances it spills over into every aspect of their life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Women need to realize that they are able to build muscle differently than men.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Therefore it is unrealistic to expect to get the same results as they do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Follow a plan to build muscle that is designed specifically for women. This is going to provide the best benefits.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus on resistance training. Repetitions are more important than the amount of weight you are using to perform them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your exercise plan to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle &lt;/a&gt;needs to cover three important aspects - a core work out, weight training exercises, and cardio exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This combination is going to help you get the results you are after.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure your workouts are very intense. That is going to help you with being able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't forget to incorporate a very well balanced diet as well. Eliminate as many processed foods as you can in order to keep your body healthy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Avoid fad diets as well as they can hinder your efforts to successfully build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, you may end up eating more than you did before in order to provide your body with the essentials it needs for you to be able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Women need to be very safe when they engage in programs to build muscle though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you aren't lifting more than your body can reasonably accommodate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't skip warm up sessions or cool downs either as they help your body to get ready for the work out and to relax afterwards.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is more terrific information out there about how women can build muscle than ever before.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The process isn't just for men and so you should take the time to find out all you can.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This can be the solution for you to get the body you want without constantly dieting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can help you break free from hiding certain parts of your body due to not being happy with how they look.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article by fitness expert Shawn Lebrun discusses how women can build muscle and lose fat in less time so they become leaner and more toned.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discover the muscle building and fat loss program that's been used by over 40,000 men and women to build muscle and lose fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-6428714572417034361?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/6428714572417034361/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=6428714572417034361' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/6428714572417034361'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/6428714572417034361'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/how-women-can-build-muscle.html' title='How Women Can Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-1388881457302575150</id><published>2008-09-16T07:39:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-16T07:40:27.200-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Nutrition For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>Proper &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building nutrition &lt;/a&gt;is essential for you to do it correctly. This is one area you need to really focus on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can be difficult to change your eating habits if you don't have very good ones in place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have to be willing to do so though if you want the best possible results from your muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Educating yourself about proper muscle building nutrition will help you to understand why it is so important.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body is going to rely upon three essentials for muscle building - carbohydrates, proteins, and fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Carbohydrates are used by the body as energy. When you are weight training you need to increase your intake of carbs significantly. You want to consume healthy carbs though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Avoid processed foods as those types of carbs aren't going to benefit you with muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These carbs are also going to help your body to heal after workouts. As a result you will see the rewards of your muscle building efforts sooner.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You should eat small meals all day long when you are muscle building. By doing so you will signal for your body to release insulin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a result your body will use the carbs to build your muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you don't supply your body with enough carbs for the muscles to grow then the development of them will take much longer than it should.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also need to consume lots of protein for your muscle building efforts to pay off. Consume more lean meats and skinless chicken.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since resistance training is so essential for muscle building you have to give it something to work with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can do plenty of resistance training without muscle building if your body doesn't have enough protein in it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The experts claim that you need to consume 2 grams of protein daily for each pound that your body weighs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Certain types of fat are necessary for your body to perform muscle building activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to consume foods with Omega -3 fatty acids such as wild salmon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to make sure you consume the right types of fat for muscle building though. Too many people aren't paying attention to what that consists of.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remove bad fats such as butter and junk food from your diet. Replace it with nuts and flax seed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are also plenty of supplements such as fish oil that you can use. For cooking you can use olive oil.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are supplement bars and powers that can offer you some additional carbs, protein, and fat if you aren't getting enough from your diet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, you need to select these items very carefully so that you are doing what is best for muscle building activities to occur.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Giving your body what it needs in order for &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building &lt;/a&gt;to take place starts with proper nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do everything you can to make sure you are doing well in this department.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find it too difficult to do on your own ask a trainer or a dietician to assist you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They can help you plan great tasting meals that are going to allow your body to succeed with your muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn some of the best nutrition tips for building muscle with this proven muscle building diet plan from fitness expert Shawn Lebrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's the muscle building and fat loss program that's been used by over 40,000 people to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-1388881457302575150?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/1388881457302575150/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=1388881457302575150' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1388881457302575150'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1388881457302575150'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/nutrition-for-building-muscle.html' title='Nutrition For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-7501730135095717162</id><published>2008-09-16T07:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-16T07:39:12.459-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Starting A Muscle Building Program</title><content type='html'>Starting a &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building program &lt;/a&gt;can be very helpful to your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not only will you burn more fat but you will look great. It is important that you have a plan of action on place though before you start.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Identify what you wish to accomplish from the program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some people just want to tone up because they have loose skin in areas of the body. Others want to get stronger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are also those that wish to engage in a muscle building program so they can bulk up and even compete.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are plenty of different exercises out there you can choose from when you start a muscle building program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take the time to explore many of them so you can find those you like. You will be more likely to stick to the program if you are enjoying what you take part in.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is vital that you understand the right way to do each of those exercises. You can injure yourself if you do them incorrectly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also will be wasting your time if you do them wrong as they aren't going to help with the muscle building process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take your current physical strength and condition into consideration.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people make the mistake to trying to do more than they can when it comes to muscle building activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to start where your body is comfortable and move forward from there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus on being able to increase repetitions with weight lifting instead of moving on to heavier weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you reach a goal of repetitions then you want to add more weight to what you are working with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Give your body time to rest as well because that is when they muscle building process will actually take place. You should only be lifting every other day for optimal results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lifting every single day is only going to increase your risk of becoming injured.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You do want to work out each day but alternate days with cardio exercises which will help you with burning fat as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You definitely need to pay close attention to your diet when you start a &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body is going need more energy so you will need to increase the calories you consume.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will also need more protein so a healthy diet plan is essential. Your muscle building efforts will be hindered if you don't pay close attention to this aspect of it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle building is an overall process that requires many things to be in place. You need proper nutrition in order for your body to be able to work well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eating right will help you to build muscle quickly. You also need to get enough rest so that your body can repair from the workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pay attention to signals your body gives you that you may be pushing too hard.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instead of just jumping in with a muscle building program take your time to do it correctly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Find out the information you need so you can be confident your effort are going to result in muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Get all of your questions answered before you start so that you are on the right track. Be realistic about your goals and your expectations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is going to take dedication and hard work for muscle building to occur. However, you will be very proud of yourself with the results that come from it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're looking to start a muscle building program, this article from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun will show you the best way to build muscle and lose fat&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discover the muscle building and fat loss program that's been used by over 40,000 men and women to build muscle. Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-7501730135095717162?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/7501730135095717162/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=7501730135095717162' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7501730135095717162'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7501730135095717162'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/starting-muscle-building-program.html' title='Starting A Muscle Building Program'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-3011651441168847191</id><published>2008-09-16T07:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-16T07:38:02.336-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Muscle Building For Beginners</title><content type='html'>The idea of &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building&lt;/a&gt; because of the results can cause people to rush right into it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet beginners need to be very aware of what will be taking place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people go about muscle building in the wrong way. As a result they end up quitting soon after they start.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Others end up getting hurt because they don't have the right information. There is also that group of individuals that work hard but don't see results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is because they aren't performing muscle building exercises correctly or they don't have other elements covered as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are interested in muscle building you need to understand the fundamentals of it. There is more to it then lifting as much weight as you can as often as you can.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, that type of mentally isn't going to get you the muscle building results you are interested in.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The foods you consume while you are doing such exercises is very important.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is a good idea to get this aspect of muscle building into motion before you begin any of the exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Understand what types of foods you should eat and what you shouldn't.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body is going to need more protein, good carbs, and good fats. You will also need to consume more calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Planning healthy meals in advance will help you stay on track with this aspect of your muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also need to make sure your body get sufficient rest. This means both when you are sleeping and between workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to start muscle building with a solid plan of action. Where are you at right now and where do you want to be?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Identifying your goals and then making a realistic plan to get there is important. It will help you to select the right exercises for muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to have exercises for warming up before each work out session and for cooling down afterwards.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you have good information before you start any muscle building plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may want to get an expert to assist you with your efforts. Many gyms have personal trainers that you can benefit from.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since you will have to decide where you are going to work out and when that is important. If you want to do it at home on your own make sure you have the right equipment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you plan to go to a gym then take your time to find one that offers what you need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not all gym memberships are the same. Many of the excellent ones do have muscle building programs and trainers though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is a great way to make sure you are getting off to a great start. Learning things the right way from the start will help you to be very successful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle building for beginners can be very exciting. Now that you have the right information for getting started you can go for it. Be realistic about what is going to take place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle building can be hard work but it can also be very rewarding.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take good care of your body in the process and you will find you are able to benefit from your muscle building activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn the right way to build muscle with this proven &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building plan&lt;/a&gt; for beginners or experienced lifters&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun discusses some basic muscle building tips for beginners as well as more experienced lifters.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discover the muscle building and fat loss program that's been used by over 40,000 men and women to build muscle and lose fat.&lt;br /&gt;Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-3011651441168847191?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/3011651441168847191/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=3011651441168847191' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/3011651441168847191'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/3011651441168847191'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/muscle-building-for-beginners.html' title='Muscle Building For Beginners'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-4346833668985576304</id><published>2008-09-16T07:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-16T07:36:42.734-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Build Muscle Rapidly</title><content type='html'>You aren't going to be able to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle&lt;/a&gt; overnight, but when you go about it the right way you can start to see results very rapidly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This can definitely encourage you to continue with your efforts. Too many people make excuses for not getting involved in such a program though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They may assume that they aren't meant to have a better looking body. Others really want one, but they don't want to have to work for it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Find out what exercises are a good match for your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can do your own independent research or you can get some one qualified to help you. Personal trainers are very helpful because they know all about how to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, they also are able to take your own desires and your physical characteristics into consideration.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That allows them to devise a personal training program for you to follow in order to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Making significant improvements to your diet is very important. Even if you eat a well balanced diet right now you will need to make changes for you to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will need to increase your intake of protein. You will also need to exchange bad carbs and fats for those that are good for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It takes plenty of calories, vitamins, and nutrients in order your body to be able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus on finding the right balance in your diet so that you can give your body what it needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you aren't paying attention to this element of the process then you will slow down your ability to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A personal trainer can also help you to develop the right diet plan for you as you work to build muscle. As you make progress keep in mind that your diet plan may need to be adjusted.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Avoid using a variety of products out there that claim they will help you to build muscle mass rapidly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are some very good supplements out there but you need to take the time to find them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't waste your time or your money on any of them just because of the approach they take with their marketing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They known there are plenty of people out there wishing to build muscle mass rapidly. Therefore they incorporate an advertising strategy to appeal to such emotions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to work out smart too as working out longer isn't better for you. Since the exercises to build muscle are intense you need to keep your sessions short.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Spending hours at the gym is going to make you exhausted.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, it isn't going to help you &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle mass &lt;/a&gt;faster. You also need to take a day off between such workouts so that your body can heal. That is when your muscles will experience their growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is going to take effort and hard work to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't assume that there is an easy want to do it without dedicating yourself to a quality work out plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, if you really want the rewards then you are going to do all you can to make it happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With the right tips, guidelines, and tools you can build muscle mass you are happy with in a reasonable amount of time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This fitness article from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun gives you some simple tips you can use to build muscle rapidly and get better results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discover the muscle building and fat loss program that's been used by over 40,000 men and women to build muscle and lose fat.&lt;br /&gt;Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-4346833668985576304?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/4346833668985576304/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=4346833668985576304' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4346833668985576304'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4346833668985576304'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/how-to-build-muscle-rapidly.html' title='How To Build Muscle Rapidly'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-489162765431060450</id><published>2008-09-15T07:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:38:24.983-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Instantly Add More Weight To All Your Lifts... And Build More Muscle As A Result!</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Right below, I'm going to share one of my most powerful training secrets with you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;It's one that I share with my personal training clients and it's allowed them to&lt;em&gt; instantly&lt;/em&gt; increase their strength AND add more weight to all of their lifts. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;And as a result, they've been able to build more muscle in a lot less time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;I want to show you how to warm up &lt;em&gt;correctly&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;By learning how to warm up on the weights correctly, you'll have an easy way to &lt;span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"&gt;instantly&lt;span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; add more weight to all of your lifts. And when you add more weight to your lifts, you add more lean muscle mass to your body. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In my opinion, most people do NOT know how to warm up correctly before starting their weight training. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;What I mean is, most people spend way too much time and energy warming up. They do warm up reps and sets to the point that when it's time to do their heavy sets, they're wiped out.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;And as a result, they lift less weight on their heavy sets. By lifting less weight, &lt;strong&gt;there's NO new muscle growth.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;So it's absolutely vital that you don't warm up with too many sets and too many reps before attempting your heavy sets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Take the bench press for example.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Just the other day, I watched someone in the gym do this: This person started with the bar, which in most gyms is 45 pounds.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;He busted out a quick, easy set of 10 reps. Then he put on 45-pound plates and did another set of 10 reps. Then he went up to 155 pounds and did another 10 reps. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Here's where he's starting to go wrong.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;He's beginning to use too much energy on these warm-ups. But it didn't stop there. He did another set with 175 pounds for 10 more reps, then 200 for a set of 8 reps. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;So far, 5 sets and this person hasn't even started his "heavy" sets yet!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;He's wasted time, energy, and intensity all before it even counted.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;On the 6th set, he started to tire quickly and could only handle 210 for 5 reps. So this is where he stopped the bench press portion of his workout, figuring that since he was tired, he had worked the muscles sufficiently.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;But the truth is, he made absolutely NO progress during this entire time, because he didn't lift more weight than he usually does. So he didn't overload the muscles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;And if you don't overload the muscles, you will not gain more. Your body doesn't have to add muscle, it can already handle the weight you're using with the muscle you have. That's why you need to lift more weight over time...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;So your body is forced to add muscle mass to handle the additional weight! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Let me say it again, because it's the most important thing you'll read on building muscle:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;If the only way a muscle will grow is through increased overload (weight) why use so much energy on warm-up sets? You need to save it for the productive sets, the last one or two sets where the weight being used is the most you can handle for four to six repetitions. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Now I'll show you how I added over 20 pound to a client's bench press, &lt;b&gt;THE FIRST DAY I WORKED WITH HIM!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;After this person warmed up on the bike for 5 minutes, I met him at the bench press. I had him place 135 pounds on the bar and perform ten smooth, easy reps.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;After resting for a couple minutes, we placed just 20 pounds more on and he did an easy set of eight reps. Then we bumped it up to 175 pounds and he did six reps.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;He was starting to work harder, but he wasn't tiring because he was starting to decrease the number of reps he was doing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;This is very important. &lt;/b&gt;As you go heavier, &lt;b&gt;decrease the warm up reps.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;After a couple minutes rest, we placed 200 pounds on the bar and he only did three reps. Then we went to 210, his previous best, and I had him only do two reps. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;"Gasp", I hear you going. Why only two reps? I thought you were going to help him lift more? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Well, after resting a couple minutes, we placed 230 pounds on the bar and he proceeded to get six good, strict reps. Last week he was only able to push up 210 for four reps. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In one week, by reducing his warm-up reps and sets, he &lt;b&gt;added 20 pounds and two reps.&lt;/b&gt; Not a bad week's work? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;This is why you don't want to overdo your light warm-up sets. They're just that, to warm up, not to fatigue. As we place additional weight on the bar, decrease the number of reps you do so that you're not tiring out too much on your warm-ups. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Warming-up correctly means you should get your muscles used to handling heavier weights while progressing through your sets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;This means doing just enough reps on a warm-up set without tiring yourself to the point where you have no juice left to finish your heavier sets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;If staggered correctly, you'll have reserved more strength and energy for those last heavy sets and you should notice an increase &lt;b&gt;THE FIRST DAY YOU PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;This is just one technique you'll find in my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training and nutrition guide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;There are literally hundreds more just like this that will help you get more results in a lot less time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In the last 8 years, over 43,982 real people... just like you...have been achieving real results with Simple Steps.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;"Here's PROOF That My Advice Will Help You Build Muscle Mass, Lose Unwanted Body Fat, And Get You In The Best Shape Of Your Life... Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/build-more-muscle.html"&gt;&lt;span style="color:blue;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Click Here To Learn How To Build More Muscle In Less Time...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-489162765431060450?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/489162765431060450/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=489162765431060450' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/489162765431060450'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/489162765431060450'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/how-to-instantly-add-more-weight-to-all_15.html' title='&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#CC0000&quot;&gt;&lt;size=+2&gt;How To Instantly Add More Weight To All Your Lifts... And Build More Muscle As A Result!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-6524006378814027765</id><published>2008-09-15T07:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:37:27.638-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Should You Add Supplements To Your Muscle Building Plan?</title><content type='html'>Eating right is going to help you maximize your &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building &lt;/a&gt;efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It isn't always easy though to devise a plan that has everything your body is going to need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is why so many people turn to supplements. Many of them are high quality products that can offer you what you lack.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, you need to choose supplements for muscle building very carefully. Some of them aren't going to help you at all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is essential that your muscle building plan includes plenty of water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body is going to use plenty of it for weight lifting and strength training activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You don't want to become dehydrated. It is believed that you will use up to 6% more water when you are muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Therefore you need to increase what you consume by two or three glasses each day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There aren't any muscle building supplements out there to get around this so make sure you make it a priority.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to look for muscle building supplements that offer the essentials.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can be tempting to for those that advertise all the additional benefits but if they don't have the basics covered as well those extra elements really aren't going to benefit you anyway.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Look for those that offer essential vitamins and minerals in them. Your body will need them in order to for muscle building to take place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting enough fatty acids can be difficult when you are &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building &lt;/a&gt;so look for supplements that offer them. Many also have antioxidants in them as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is beneficial as it will help to remove toxins from your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a result you will be healthier and that means your body can allocate more nutrients to the muscle building process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is going to help you gain your muscle mass faster and that will keep you motivated to continue working on it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are supplements out there that are considered to be meal replacements. You can rely on them when you need to in order to get the nutrition that you need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some people take them in addition to their normal meals because they simply aren't able to consume all the calories their body needs during muscle building activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will have to figure out how to use them to benefit your body the most.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Protein supplements work the same way. If your not able to reasonably consume the amount of protein you need with food you have to get it some how.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is a great way to make sure your body gets everything it needs for muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Meal replacements and protein supplements also come in handy when you just don't have the time to eat the foods you need in order to maximize your muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pay attention to how your own body is reacting to supplements you take for muscle building. If a particular product isn't working for you then stop taking it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You should be feeling great when you use them and see results of your muscle building activities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you feel sluggish or worn down then it can be a sign that you need to change what supplements you use.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to be healthy and build muscle the right way with this proven muscle building workout program from fitness expert Shawn Lebrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-6524006378814027765?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/6524006378814027765/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=6524006378814027765' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/6524006378814027765'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/6524006378814027765'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/should-you-add-supplements-to-your.html' title='Should You Add Supplements To Your Muscle Building Plan?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-1832995281995735719</id><published>2008-09-15T07:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:35:27.891-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Right Way To Build More Muscle Mass</title><content type='html'>If you want to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle &lt;/a&gt;it is possible, but you need to do it the right way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Assuming you have all the facts can result in delays in getting the muscle mass you seek.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Get into a regular routine of when you are going to work to build muscle and stick with it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ideally, you should be doing so every other day. Keep track of your progress so you can see where you are making achievements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Set goals for yourself based on where you are right now. Pay attention to how many reps you are doing right now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next week you want to be able to increase that number. The following week you want to be able to do the same. Pay attention to your body as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When it gives you signals that you are ready to add more weight to what you are working with do so.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Increases to your number of reps as well as how much you lift need to be in small increments though. Remember that you don't have to keep up with anyone else.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is a common problem when a person is working to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are consistent with your efforts you will be able to continue moving forward. The only person you should be comparing your level of fitness with is yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your diet is an essential key to being able to build muscle mass the right way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you overlook this your body may not have the right combination of vitamins and nutrients it needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a result you could be come frustrated with your attempts to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For example your body will use more water so dehydration is possible. You must make sure you are drinking more water each day then you were in the past.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It isn't as easy as you might think to be able to adjust your diet to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have decent eating habits already then it will be easier. If you have to make significant changes it can be difficult.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also need to be able to determine how many extra calories you need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Making sure you get enough protein, good carbs, and good fat is important as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may need to make many adjustments to your diet plan as you continue your efforts to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you eat is going to be just as important as what you eat though. Do you know that when you wake up your body is hungry?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you don't feed it then it can take what it needs from the muscle you already have. That is going to hinder the efforts you have been working towards.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is a good idea to have six small meals each day. If you aren't able to do so then have some quality supplements you can take.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Never skip meals, especially breakfast when you are working to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't put off your desire to build muscle any longer. However, you do want to make sure you have the right information before you start.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That way you can feel confident your hard work and efforts are going to get you significant results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you aren't sure what course of action to take it will make you feel better to know there are plenty of reliable resources out there to turn to.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article by fitness expert Shawn Lebrun shows you the right way to build muscle so you get more results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and workout to gain 15 pounds of muscle in 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-1832995281995735719?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/1832995281995735719/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=1832995281995735719' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1832995281995735719'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/1832995281995735719'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/right-way-to-build-more-muscle-mass.html' title='The Right Way To Build More Muscle Mass'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-5357656746719914510</id><published>2008-09-15T07:30:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:32:55.991-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Build Muscle To Burn Fat</title><content type='html'>In order to get a lean and toned looking body you need to do two things - &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle &lt;/a&gt;and burn fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The two aspects go hand and hand so they are important to understand. As your body burns the calories you consume you have energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you consume more calories than you consume your body stores them as fat. When you burn more calories than you consume that fat will go away.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By engaging in various types of exercises you will burn those calories you take in and more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle is heavier than fat so you will burn more calories when you work out and when you rest as your muscle mass increases.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This means it will become easier for you as you gain muscle to be able to keep your body healthy and looking great.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are a variety of exercises you need to take part in so you can build muscle. Resistance training is very important to this goal.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It won't matter as much how much weight you are working with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people focus on that aspect but as long as you are pushing to do as many reps as you can you will make progress.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your workout plan should incorporate a variety of exercises designed to help you build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What you want to accomplish and how you want to sculpt your body need to be taken into consideration as you devise your course of action.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want your workout to be intense too so you can burn fat and build muscle in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rest is very important when it comes to the concept of being able to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle &lt;/a&gt;and to burn fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You only want to work your muscle groups every other day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you engage in other forms of exercise on those off times. You want to have some cardio exercises to keep your heart healthy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting enough sleep is also very important when it comes to being able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In most instances you will find you sleep better when you are working out and eating well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What you eat is very important when you want to build muscle and to burn fat. If you give your body the proper fuel then it can work well for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you consume foods full of bad carbs and bad fats though you will slow down your results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Work hard to eat what is going to allow you to build muscle. You will be surprised at how important this is to helping you successfully burn fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It isn't always easy to be able to build muscle and burn fat but you can do it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Set goals for yourself and a realistic plan to achieve it. Make sure you have the right information about what you need to do to accomplish your goals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Engage in a variety of exercises that are known to help with the process of being able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eat right and get enough rest and you will be ready to tackle even your toughest workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article by personal trainer Shawn Lebrun shows you why you want to build muscle in order to burn off more unwanted body fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 20 pounds of muscle mass in 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and training program from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-5357656746719914510?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/5357656746719914510/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=5357656746719914510' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5357656746719914510'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5357656746719914510'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/build-muscle-to-burn-fat.html' title='Build Muscle To Burn Fat'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-3178323001272394792</id><published>2008-09-15T07:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:30:52.613-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Some Common Muscle Building Exercises To Try Out</title><content type='html'>There are many different &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building exercises &lt;/a&gt;out there to try.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of them are more common than others so you may have already heard about them. It is a good idea to find out what is out there to choose from though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That way you can select those you are able to do into your exercise plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to have a variety of muscle building exercises that you try in order to gain the most mass from your efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Squats are the perfect muscle building exercise for you to get muscle mass in your legs. Take your time to do each one correctly and all the way through.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to work on repetitions more than on the amount of weigh you are using.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you can do more and more reps you can increase the amount of weight you use. Make sure your feet are wider than your shoulders in order to help you balance the weight properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Straight leg dead lifts will also help you with muscle building in the legs. Such exercising will work your hamstrings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you are flexing your hamstrings as you are lifting in order gain the most benefits from this type of muscle building exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also want to bend your hips so that you avoid any type of strain on your back during the routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dead lifts are often returned to as simply weight lifting. This type of muscle building exercise is very common. It is going to help you build muscles in many areas of your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is a good idea to do this type of &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;muscle building&lt;/a&gt; exercise with a spotter. That way someone is there to assist you if you need it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Work on your reps and continue to increase the weight as you are able to.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also want to have a spotter when you use the bench press for muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your overall form during this type of exercise is going to determine what type of results you get from it. Your body needs to remain in place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus on keeping your bottom firmly on the bench as you lift. If you are raising it up then you are hindering your muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you are using your chest muscles to help you with the lift as well instead of just your arms.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Paying attention to safety is very important when you engage in muscle building exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you understand the right way to perform them. If you aren't sure ask someone to show you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are working out on your own then you can look in a book or you can watch a video online.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you want to push your body to do the best it can dont require it to do more than it should.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want your muscle building exercises to be beneficial to you and that won't happen if you don't take care of your body properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you become more comfortable with these common muscle building exercises you can move on to those that are more advanced.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to diet and train to gain 15 to 20 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-3178323001272394792?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/3178323001272394792/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=3178323001272394792' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/3178323001272394792'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/3178323001272394792'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/some-common-muscle-building-exercises.html' title='Some Common Muscle Building Exercises To Try Out'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-4813521818229007425</id><published>2008-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-15T07:29:00.110-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Build Muscle To Be Healthy</title><content type='html'>There are many reasons to &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/"&gt;build muscle &lt;/a&gt;and one of them is to look healthier.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A common complaint by people is that they have loose skin on their bodies. While they may not be overweight, they need to tone up those areas of their body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you build muscle in these areas your body will also burn more fat. That means you can worry less about gaining more weight as time goes on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you build muscle you will also look years younger than you really are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since our society puts such an emphasis on physical appearance this is one area that we can all benefit from. It can help boost our self confidence as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people don't want to engage in various activities because their body looks light Jell-O instead of something firm and tight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you build muscle you rev up your metabolism so that can be a thing of the past.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you continue to build muscle you can offset some types of medical concerns.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your circulation improves so your heart doesn't have to work as hard. You are also less likely to be overweight which can lower your risk of heart disease.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is common for a person to start to naturally lose their muscle mass as they get older.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, if you continue to strive to build muscle you can prevent that from taking place. As a result your overall health will benefit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Strong muscles will also help your body to recover from injuries.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can help to protect your bones so if you should fall you are less like to break them. It also helps with a person's balance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is especially important to remember as you get older as well. Remaining flexible is also possible when you build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That allows you to have a full range of movement with your body at any age. As you get older this is going to allow you to remain more independent.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your mental health is also improved when you build muscle. As a result you will be able to sleep better.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will also be able to reduce your stress levels. Both of these are important for you to be able to be at your very best.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can significantly improve your mood and to put things in your life into perspective.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you can see the quest to build muscle doesn't just have to be in order to be stronger or to compete. It can help you live a happy and healthy lifestyle in a variety of ways.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is never too late to start making changes to your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want to build muscle then get a plan of action in motion.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you balance your exercises to build muscle with those that help your heart get stronger. That way you are taking care of your entire body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being able to build muscle to look healthier is very possible. By identifying your goals and coming up with a plan of action to accomplish it you can be on the right track.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is important to understand that you need to incorporate both a variety of exercises and a healthy diet plan to build muscle and to look your very best.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Personal trainer and fitness expert Shawn Lebrun shows you why you want to build muscle for your health and wellness.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to diet and train to gain 15 to 20 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step muscle building program from fitness expert Shawn Lebrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-4813521818229007425?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/4813521818229007425/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=4813521818229007425' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4813521818229007425'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4813521818229007425'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/build-muscle-to-be-healthy.html' title='Build Muscle To Be Healthy'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-948698092660373277</id><published>2008-09-05T08:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-05T08:38:52.497-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Prevent Muscle Building Injuries</title><content type='html'>The excitement of muscle building is understandable but you definitely need to realize injuries can occur.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Doing all you can to prevent them is essential because you don't want to have to stop working out because of them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being well informed about the overall process for muscle building is a great place to start learning how you can prevent those injuries from occurring.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you should be pushing yourself to lift more and to do more reps, know when enough is enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You certainly don't want to overdo it because that can prevent you from being able to work out for several days while you recover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't try to keep up with anyone else because each person has a different capacity for muscle building strategies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you always have a spotter around when you are exercising.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even if you have done certain exercises many times there is still a risk involved. When you try out new exercises make sure you do them properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many injuries occur when a person thinks they are doing it right but they really aren't. Don't assume you know the right to complete something, make sure that you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you aren't sure then ask for someone to show you or watch some type of video before you try it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take the time to stretch your muscles before and after each work out session. This will help you to stay flexible and to get the muscles warmed up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Statistics show those individuals that don't routinely do this end up with more injuries than those that do so.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It may only be pulled, sore, or inflamed muscles but those all can be painful. At the same time they can slow down your growth from muscle building efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is important to stay hydrated because you will likely sweat a great deal when you engage in muscle building exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consuming plenty of water all day long is important. You also want to consume it immediately after you finish your work out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some people think that sports drinks can take the place of water but they really don't so don't rely solely upon them for hydration.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pay attention to the signs your body gives you that something isn't right. If you don't you can end up with an injury. You may have a slight inflammation or pulled muscle that you can feel when you are lifting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When that occurs take it easy for a few days in that particular muscle region.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you continue with your routine though and ignore those early warning signs you will regret it later.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even when you do pay attention to such tips to prevent injuries they may occur from time to time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seek medical attention if necessary to determine the extent of the damage has taken place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sometimes that damage may be internal so don't just assume you are fine since you don't have any physical signs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also need to let your body completely heal from such injuries before your efforts for muscle building resume.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun has proven tips to help you prevent muscle building injuries so you can build more muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-948698092660373277?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/948698092660373277/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=948698092660373277' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/948698092660373277'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/948698092660373277'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/how-to-prevent-muscle-building-injuries.html' title='How To Prevent Muscle Building Injuries'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-7084737140301086334</id><published>2008-09-05T08:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-05T08:37:44.631-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Tips To Help You Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>The process of being able to build muscle isn't always an easy one but one you certainly can accomplish.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can be frustrating at times when you aren't seeing the results fast enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, you should follow some very important tips in order to help you stay motivated and on track.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is very important that you only work out a group of muscles every other day. Otherwise they won't have time to heal which is when they grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will also need to pay close attention to the foods you consume while you build muscle. Your body will likely need more calories overall.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to increase your amount of protein so that your muscles can grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the same time you want to eat plenty of berries and drink water to flush toxins from your body.&lt;br /&gt;You should be eating many small meals throughout the day so you will always have plenty of energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you aren't eating right then most of your efforts to build muscle will be in vain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body isn't going to be able to produce the results you want if it doesn't have what it needs to work with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find you aren't able to consume enough of what you need with your diet then find out if there is a quality supplement out there you can benefit from.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will likely find you hit a plateau with your exercises to build muscle every four to six weeks. To avoid this you need to make sure you mix things up often.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It will help your body stay challenged.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the same time it will prevent you from getting bored with the same old routine all the time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pay attention to the results you get from certain types of exercises as well. This is important because different bodies are going to respond differently.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What is working well for your friend may not work the same for you. Instead of being discouraged by this information though use it to your advantage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Find those exercises to build muscle that seem to get results for your own body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You definitely need to make sure you go about doing each of the exercises properly. If you work out at the gym there will likely be someone that can teach you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are doing the exercises at home you should watch a DVD or video clips found online.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is a good idea to always have a spotter in place when you work out. Pairing up with someone will also help to keep each of you motivated in your efforts to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Following such tips will help you to be successful in your efforts to build muscle. You are going to need to invest plenty of time and effort into the process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With that in mind you certainly want to make sure you are doing everything correctly. That will ensure you get terrific results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It will also help to reduce the risk of any type of injury occurring.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This muscle building article from personal trainer Shawn LeBrun has proven tips to help you build muscle in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-7084737140301086334?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/7084737140301086334/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=7084737140301086334' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7084737140301086334'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7084737140301086334'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/tips-to-help-you-build-muscle.html' title='Tips To Help You Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-5120222561839590315</id><published>2008-09-05T08:35:00.002-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-05T08:36:46.547-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Finding A Muscle Building Trainer</title><content type='html'>Many people look for a muscle building trainer to help them get the most of out their work out sessions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With so much conflicting information out there about what to do this may be the best solution.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A qualified muscle building trainer can assess your strengths and weaknesses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They can then develop a program that consists of the right exercises for you to achieve your goals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They should also serve as someone that can motivate you when you are ready to give up. They can push you to do those few extra reps each session as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you have the right trainer you will find that muscle building exercises are actual fun.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can also be confident you are doing each one of them the right way. Too many injuries occur when people don't realize they are doing certain lifting exercises incorrectly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They can also injure themselves when they are using weights too heavy for their strength level.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is important to realize that not all muscle building trainers are the same though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They will have different credentials and different styles of teaching.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They will have different personalities and even different ways in which they look at the overall process of muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You definitely want to work with someone you are comfortable around.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't assume that just because someone has big muscles though that they are the right person to train you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ask if you can observe a class or two that a particular trainer offers. This way you can see from an outsider's perspective what the routine is like.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can also see how the trainer is able to accommodate the various needs of those in training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can find listings for muscle building trainers online, in magazines, and even at your local gym. Take a look around to see what your options are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions as well. If the muscle building trainer isn't willing to answer your questions then they may not be the right person for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Find out how they got interested in this type of work. Find out how long they have been teaching people. You should even ask them to give you an idea of what you can expect from them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The cost for a muscle building trainer is going to vary so you need to look that detail as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of them charge by a monthly fee or each session. Others have you sign a contract and pay for several months at one time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may not be able to get your money back if you end the program before that contact is up so make sure you find out all the details of it before you sign anything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take your time to find the muscle building trainer that is right for you. They should be very passionate about what they do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They should also be able to exhibit safe practices for all of the exercises you perform.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you aren't completely satisfied with your muscle building trainer then find yourself another one. This is a better alternative than just giving up on your efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun shows you what to look for in a muscle building trainer that will help you reach your goals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program from personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun. &lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-5120222561839590315?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/5120222561839590315/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=5120222561839590315' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5120222561839590315'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5120222561839590315'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/finding-muscle-building-trainer.html' title='Finding A Muscle Building Trainer'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-9201499142359036675</id><published>2008-09-05T08:35:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-05T08:35:46.375-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Build Muscle At Any Age</title><content type='html'>Regardless of how young or old you are the ability to build muscle is there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How you go about it though can vary based on your age. The results you are interested in can also affect the types of exercises you take part in to get there as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many benefits for your overall body when you build muscle. Many medical professionals encourage it due to the benefits it offers for your heart.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most of us think of young men and even some young women working to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet there are programs for those 50 years and older as well. They work to keep their arms, legs, back, and shoulders strong and healthy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Generally, the older a person is the more they will rely upon increased reps in order to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They won't be increasing the amount of weight they work with as much as younger individuals will.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may notice as the years go by that your amount of muscle mass has diminished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That doesn't mean you can't get it back though. Some elderly people are in the best shape of their lives due to engaging in a program that helps to build muscle. They now have the time to dedicate to it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They also understand how important it is for them to remain healthy at any age.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Studies show that when you continue to build muscle your metabolism doesn't slow as you age either. This means you will be less likely to put on additional pounds as you age.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since being overweight can lead to an array of health concerns this is definitely something you want to take into consideration.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since we live in a culture where weight tends to be a huge epidemic making some positive changes can be more beneficial than you realize.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a person gets older they are also more susceptible to breaking bones. That is due to their range of flexibility not being what it once was.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you engage in exercises to build muscle though you will continue to have plenty of flexibility.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a result you will be less likely to suffer serious injuries should you fall or be involved in another type of accident.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting sufficient exercise and keeping your body healthy is important at every age. Young individuals need to learn that lifting weights isn't just to develop huge muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, everyone does need to strive to build muscle for their overall health. There are plenty of exercises to take part in regardless of your fitness level or your current strength.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Regardless of how old you are right now, the ability to build muscle is there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take a good assessment of your current fitness level. Then make a plan to incorporate small but effective changes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In no time at all you will see the difference in your overall fitness level. You may even find it fun to build muscle when you join a class or workout with a friend.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This muscle building and fat loss article from personal trainer and bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun will show you how to build muscle and lose fat at any age.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to build muscle at any age. Gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and training program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-9201499142359036675?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/9201499142359036675/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=9201499142359036675' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/9201499142359036675'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/9201499142359036675'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/build-muscle-at-any-age.html' title='Build Muscle At Any Age'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-8824838781947148911</id><published>2008-09-05T07:46:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-05T08:34:47.663-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Why Women Should Build Muscle!</title><content type='html'>Some women are afraid to engage in exercises that allow them to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They have the misconception that doing so will give them a manly figure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, that doesn't have to be the case. Exercises that allow you to build muscle will make you look leaner and healthier than ever.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since muscle weighs more than fat you will also find that your metabolism is revved up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That means you will burn more calories than you did before. If you are attempting to lose weight such efforts will certainly be beneficial to you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many personal trainers are encouraging women to build muscle as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even if they have successfully lost weight they may not be happy about how their body looks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Areas of loose skin such as on the arms, legs, and stomach can make a woman feel unattractive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Exercises to build muscle though can help to firm up those areas so a woman does feel good about how she looks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For most women, using small amounts of weights can be very effective. You don't have to lift large amounts in order for resistance training to be effective.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to start out where you are a comfortable and then work from there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will start to feel that you have more strength as well as firming up not long after you incorporate such a regular exercise routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Women need to realize that they won't build muscle like men do. This has to do with the fact that men have so much more testosterone in their bodies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Women bodybuilders have to take a variety of steroids to be able to really build those huge muscle masses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is important for a woman to take her current body type into consideration when it comes to how to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you already have a muscular build then you will find it is easier for you to continue to define it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those women that have a round body with excess fat will need to work on losing fat at the same time in order to see results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those women with a very slender build may not see the results of their efforts to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, they will notice they continue to get stronger which will benefit their body as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For many women, endurance is something they struggle with from the start of their efforts to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure you use lighter weights than you can handle to start out with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus more on the number of reps you are able to accomplish with them than the overall weight of what you are lifting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Women can definitely benefit from exercises that allow you to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take the time to learn the various exercises that are a good match for our current fitness level. You also need to make sure you perform each one correctly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Failure to do so can result in disappointing results. It can also result in injuring yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As your level of fitness increases you can move on to more difficult exercises designed to help you build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This muscle building and fat loss article from personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun can be used by both men and women to build muscle in just 9 weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 to 20 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-8824838781947148911?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/8824838781947148911/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=8824838781947148911' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/8824838781947148911'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/8824838781947148911'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/why-women-should-build-muscle.html' title='Why Women Should Build Muscle!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-5383695131934880720</id><published>2008-09-04T16:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-04T16:25:22.094-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Muscle Building Myths To Avoid</title><content type='html'>There are some common muscle building myths out there that seem to never go away.As a result some people believe them and it can hinder the benefits they get from their efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being able to separate the truth from the myths about muscle building will help ensure you devise a plan of action that is going to get you terrific results. Some individuals assume that cutting back on calories is essential when you are engaging in muscle building practices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, the opposite is true as you need to consume more calories. You definitely need to make sure you consume the right foods though. Plenty of protein will help you get the energy you need. Your body also needs plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You should try to eat a combination of such foods every 3 hours. Perhaps the biggest myth about muscle building is that you have to lift weights every day. You only want to do so every other day so that your muscles can rest. It is during that resting and repairing stage that you will see the size and definition of your muscles improving.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So by lifting every single day you prevent your body from being able to produce those results. Some individuals believe that you don't need to incorporate any other type of exercise into your routine when you are muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, in order for your body to be as healthy as possible you need to include aerobic exercises to help your health and your circulation. In fact, if you do this on the days when you don't lift weights you will have a very well balanced workout routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is a myth that muscle building will cause a person to become less flexible than they are right now. This is a concern for many athletes as they don't want to lose their ability to perform well in a variety of sports. There is no truth to this though and many football coaches encourage their players to lift several times a week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One myth you definitely don't want to pay attention to is that you have to lift large amounts of weight in order for muscle building to be effective. This particular myth can result in a person injuring themselves because they attempt to lift more than they reasonably should.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to focus on lifting what you can and then increasing your endurance from there. Don't compare what you can lift to anyone else but do motivate yourself to keep on making progress. Many people also feel that if you aren't feeling the pain then you aren't going to make the gain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you should feel the results of your muscle building efforts you shouldn't be in pain day after day because of it. Pay very close attention to what your body is telling you. That way you aren't going to do unnecessary damage to your body. It is important to research the information you find about muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That way you will know for sure if it is credible or not. When you don't take the time to do so you may be investing your time and money in methods that don't work. You can also increase your chance of getting hurt during our muscle building routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are plenty of reputable magazines, websites, and trainers out there that can help you discover the right ways to go about effective muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article from personal trainer Shawn Lebrun talks about some of the most common muscle building myths that may be preventing you from building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-5383695131934880720?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/5383695131934880720/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=5383695131934880720' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5383695131934880720'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5383695131934880720'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/muscle-building-myths-to-avoid.html' title='Muscle Building Myths To Avoid'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-400479549165531284</id><published>2008-09-04T16:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-04T16:23:45.878-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Muscle Building Basics</title><content type='html'>Initially muscle building can seem complicated and even intimidating to the average person. We have all seen professional body builders and the results of their hard work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet most people aren't interested in getting those types of results. Instead they want to be stronger and have a leaner looking body. You can accomplish that if you understand the basics of muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think about what you wish to accomplish and what it is going to take for it to happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to learn the dietary needs for muscle building as well as the various types of exercises that will get your results. Work different sets of muscles on different days of the week too. You want to have at least one day of rest for each muscle group before you work it again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Continue to increase the amount of weigh you are using in your workouts as you feel you can. Push the number of repetitions as well so you can see significant changes with your muscle building exercises. You may find you can fit more with certain muscle groups than others.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't worry about that as you will improve as you get healthier and stronger in those muscle areas. In order to prevent injuries you need to learn the right way to do your muscle building exercises. If you don't have a friend or a trainer to show you then turn to other resources.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many books have illustrations that show you how to position your body. You can also watch videos on the internet for step by step instructions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Each of your workout sessions should be short but very intense. You want to really work your body as you do the exercises. Make sure you are working on specific target groups of muscles at different times during your work out session.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You don't want to spend too much time working on just one specific area of the body. That way everything will be proportional and in balance. Make sure you always perform warm up and cool down exercises as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you may be excited to jump right in with muscle building exercises that isn't going to benefit your body at all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Get into the habit of eating 4-6 small meals each day when you are muscle building. That way your body has all the protein, vitamins, and nutrients it needs to accommodate such efforts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Watch what you eat and drink as well to get the most from your efforts. You want to eat plenty of lean meats for the protein. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also a priority.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eliminate high amounts of carbs, caffeine, and sugar from your diet. It may be difficult to make such changes at first but after a few days you will be used to it. Effective muscle building procedures can work for both men and women. Find those exercises you enjoy doing so you will be motivated to continue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you start to see the results of your efforts you will definitely want to continue with them. Pay attention to safety as well as your own body so that you can get the most from your muscle building efforts no matter what goals you have set for yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn all the proven basics of muscle building with this powerful program from natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun.&lt;br /&gt;Shawn LeBrun is a personal trainer, natural bodybuilder, and author of the best-selling muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.For a proven guide to build muscle, check out Simple Steps...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-400479549165531284?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/400479549165531284/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=400479549165531284' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/400479549165531284'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/400479549165531284'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/muscle-building-basics.html' title='Muscle Building Basics'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-4978255287176686523</id><published>2008-09-04T16:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-04T16:20:35.153-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Tips For Your Muscle Building Routines</title><content type='html'>One of the best things you can do in your efforts to build muscle is to get into a routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people put off exercising due to many other things they have going on in their day. However, when you make it a top priority you will find that you do have time for it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will also find it becomes something you look forward to. Many people discover when they work out early in the day they can be sure to fit it in.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you put it off until evening there is a good chance you won't get around to it. Anyone can make excuses not to exercise when they don't like what they are doing. That is why you need to find the right exercises out there to help you build muscle. Find those that you really enjoy doing so you will look forward to the activity rather than dread it. Make sure you have a good variety of exercises as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you do the same ones over and over again you may find they stop being effective after a while. Your exercise routine needs to include exercises that are going to push your body to the limit. You need to realize though that the intensity of the work out is more important than the length of time you spend on it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You only want to work certain of muscles every other day. Therefore you need to be able to identify what types of exercises to build muscle work for each area.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pay attention to how you feel after you complete your work out sessions as well. You should feel like you have accomplished something when you are done. Try to push yourself a bit further each time. For example if you are doing 10 reps right now then try to be doing 15 of a certain exercise by the end of the month.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try to increase the amount you lift as you get stronger as well. Such efforts will help you to build muscle at a faster rate. It will also prevent you from losing muscle mass once you have gained it. Should you get out of the routine it can be hard to get back into it again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Taking a couple of days off when you need to is fine but keep your goal to build muscle a priority. If you do get injured then take the time off you need to fully recover though. You don't want to risk further injury by rushing back into your exercise routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are having trouble developing a good exercise routine to build muscle get some help. There are plenty of gym memberships that come with access to a personal trainer. They can help you to develop a program that is right for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They will take your physical strength, overall fitness level, and types of exercise you like to do into consideration.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This can be the perfect way to ensure you are on the right track when you start a routine to build muscle. Discover the most powerful workout routines to build muscle from natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Step-by-step diet and muscle building routine Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-4978255287176686523?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/4978255287176686523/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=4978255287176686523' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4978255287176686523'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4978255287176686523'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/tips-for-your-muscle-building-routines.html' title='Tips For Your Muscle Building Routines'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-8774721097716146297</id><published>2008-09-04T16:16:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-04T16:18:40.326-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Use Muscle Building Supplements</title><content type='html'>Many individuals turn to supplements for muscle building. They can be a good idea if you know what you are using.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You definitely want to use those made from all natural ingredients. That way you won't suffer from negative side effects. While they use of steroids is still common you do need to know there can be serious side effects. In addition the use of steroids can be very expensive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many online sites as well as health food stores that offer natural supplements. Many of them are designed specifically to benefit the muscle building process. In order to get the most benefit you need to find those that are right for your needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For example fish oil supplements are very common for muscle building. That is because they help to reduce inflammation in the joints. The costs of muscle building supplements are going to significantly vary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't automatically assume that a very expensive one is going to give you the best results though.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take the time to compare the ingredients as you may discover some moderately priced supplements have the same things in them. Many magazines promote certain types of muscle building supplements but you can be sure those will be expensive to help cover their advertising costs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will find that these various muscle building supplements fall into different categories. Some of them are supplements to help your body get the vitamins and minerals it needs. Sometimes a person just isn't getting everything from the foods they consume so the addition of something like this can be useful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Meal replacement powers, shakes, and protein bars can be useful but only if you remember they are merely supplements. You shouldn't be relying upon them in place of eating healthy meals on a regular basis. Some people find consuming a protein bar though right before a vigorous workout is very helpful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Others like the supplement drinks that are to be consumed immediately after the work out is over. There are muscle building supplements that work well for helping a person to gain weight as well. Look for those that are low in sugar but high in protein for the very best results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to be careful about mixing more than one muscle building supplement with another. You may end up rendering the overall effects of them not worth much at all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of them do work well together though but make sure you research that information before you try it. Take the time to find out all you can about a muscle building supplement before you buy it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Read independent reviews online from real people that have used it as well. This is one of the best ways to get reliable information that isn't connected to someone endorsing the product. Take the time to read labels so you are fully aware of the ingredients it contains.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also want to look for those muscle building supplements that offer a money back guarantee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This way if you don't get desired results you can return it for a refund.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to build 15 to 20 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and workout program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-8774721097716146297?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/8774721097716146297/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=8774721097716146297' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/8774721097716146297'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/8774721097716146297'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/how-to-use-muscle-building-supplements_04.html' title='How To Use Muscle Building Supplements'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-4546685573778575106</id><published>2008-09-04T16:13:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-04T16:16:08.957-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Foods To Eat To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>In order for your body to successfully build muscle you need to provide it with additional energy. This energy source is the food that you consume.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those individuals very serious about being able to build muscle follow specific guidelines so that they get the most from their workouts. Eating right also helps your body to heal after you have completed a work out. As a result you will get more defined muscles in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will discover you need to intake more calories when you try to build muscle than before. Yet your body will be able to get what it needs from those additional calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Therefore you don't have to worry about them leading to additional weight gain. You may be surprised to learn how much food a person eats as they work to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't deprive your body of what it needs or your hard work and efforts won't generate the results you really want to see. You will definitely need to increase your consumption of protein. There are quite a few different foods out there that will provide you with it. Eggs are an excellent source of protein.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most of the nutrition though is found in the yolk so the way you consume the eggs will make a difference. There are quite a few supplement drinks weight lifters make that include raw eggs for this reason.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consuming more fish and skinless chicken will also provide you with more protein to build muscle. Wild salmon contains large amounts of protein and Omega-3 so if you like it consume it at least once a week. It is important to note that salmon that isn't wild won't offer you the same nutritional values.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fresh berries are a great snack to help you refrain from being hungry between meals. They can also offset cravings for foods you shouldn't consume such as sugar and chocolate. These berries also are full of antioxidants which flush toxins from your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is a great way to help your body remain healthy overall. Make sure you eat your greens if you want to build muscle the right way. Broccoli, spinach, and lettuce will all help you from muscle loss. Fresh fruits including apples also have antioxidants in them that make your body healthier and allows you to build muscle faster.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is important to watch what you drink as well when you build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people don't realize what all is in the drinks they consume. It can add up to plenty of sugar and plenty of caffeine over the course of the day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eliminate such drinks and replace them with plain water. This will help you flush toxins from your body as well as to stay hydrated. A person sweats more when they are working out so make sure you replace those fluids. If you get tired of plain water you can also consume green tea. It has plenty of antioxidants in it as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are trying to lose weight at the same time then this particular drink can help you to accomplish it. Make sure you drink plenty to help with the proper digestion of foods too as you work to build muscle. If you find it confusing to eat the right combination of foods as you build muscle you can get help.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are personal trainers and dieticians with the skills necessary to help you plan menus and even to shop. They can assist you with finding the foods that are right for your body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will need to learn what certain ingredients are too so you can read the labels. Being able to identify specifically what is found in certain types of foods will help you to consume the right foods as you build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to eat and train to gain 15 pounds of muscle in just 9 weeks. Step-by-step diet and muscle building program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-4546685573778575106?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/4546685573778575106/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=4546685573778575106' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4546685573778575106'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/4546685573778575106'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/09/best-foods-to-eat-to-build-muscle.html' title='The Best Foods To Eat To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-296508963485394651</id><published>2008-08-26T09:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-08-26T09:39:37.337-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Dieting To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>DIETING TO BUILD MUSCLE&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Successfully choosing a diet to help you accomplish gaining muscles, and weight, is extremely vital to reaching your goals. Your body must intake the correct and necessary substances that it needs to supply you with muscle. Having the strength to work out and take care of what your appearance looks like, is nothing without having the will power to turn down the wrong foods, and regularly choose to consume the “good” foods. These of course include your vegetables, fruits, and other healthy substances.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; It is obvious to anyone who wants to be, or is very healthy, that you must have a strict, solid, diet full of nutrition, which will help you to gain body muscle and, better yet, keep it. Your diet will not only help you to build body muscle, but it also plays a very important role in how quickly you achieve this and how good it looks (and feels!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These types of diets, specifically for muscle, are not the same thing as your average diet. Many consider dieting as trying to lose weight to gain a healthier lifestyle. While you will still lead a healthy lifestyle, you are not trying to lose your weight, only your fat. Consuming a significant amount of proteins is important for your diet, as well as some other factors.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As your body weight rises, so must the calorie and protein intake of your diet. Plan your diet according to your body weight. This means that someone of around 160 pounds could take in as little as 280-300 grams in protein, and over 3,000 calories per day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, this is spanned across several meals per day, at often times more than five. This is because some choose to replace meals with protein shakes, which can be used before and after work out sessions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whole fruits such as bananas and apples can help out a lot in your muscle building diet. Unprocessed foods like eggs, egg whites, and toast can be ideal for all of your meals, making breakfast an important meal to make.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because your new diet will need some attention, you may find that you like these meals better than frozen dinners or quick fix meals. Use this as motivation to keep up the good work, because this diet is vital.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your muscle building diet will go hand in hand with working out. Going to the gym, and having a balanced diet, will help you to effectively achieve muscle gain quickly and healthily. Keep in mind that just like anything else, your diet will need variety.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Meats such as pork, chicken, and salmon can be used along with applesauce or oatmeal muffins. You can use unprocessed foods to throw together a masterpiece of a meal, even if it is just a simple tuna salad. The healthier food choices you agree upon, the better you will you feel about your gym time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sticking to your muscle building diet needs to be a priority to anyone who wants to expand their physiques appearance. The diet will complement the work out sessions nicely, and your body will surely appreciate the entire good intake. The key in your diet is to gain more muscle, but not more fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;More for information on dieting to build muscle, check out my muscle building and fat loss program Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded here:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html"&gt;Muscle Building Program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-296508963485394651?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/296508963485394651/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=296508963485394651' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/296508963485394651'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/296508963485394651'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/08/dieting-to-build-muscle.html' title='Dieting To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-5900366765013312917</id><published>2008-08-26T09:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-08-26T09:37:41.798-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Muscle Building Nutrition</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;NUTRITIONAL TIPS TO BUILD MUSCLE&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The body needs nutrition just like anyone else’s. However, it is key to get the right kind of nutrition for it, the proper muscle building nutrition. As you go on about your exercising, it will mean virtually nothing if you’re not maintaining your body in the correct way. By eating the right things, and having good nutritional choices, you’re making the best use of this time exercising. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;            The types of foods you eat, and what they contain in them is very important to your muscle building. Any food you eat will contain carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Muscle will make you heavier, but fat is not something you should desire. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Try to eat less fatty foods, about 20% total. The more protein you consume, the better your workouts will go. The general standard is 20-40-40. This means that you should consume about 20 percent of fat, and 40 percent of carbohydrates and protein to ensure that you are maintaining your nutritional standards. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;            Carbohydrates come from food that is very good for you, including vegetables, oatmeal, and potatoes. This should not be confused with the carbohydrates you can get from sugary treats or unhealthy, fattening foods and desserts. When it comes to which fatty foods to avoid, you should have no problem steering clear. If it is not something you think you should eat, then you probably should not be eating it. Loading up on your protein and health foods should give you a good idea of what not to eat.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;            Muscle building nutrition does not solely involve the foods that you eat. How you eat those foods is also very important. Consume regular meals per day, up to four on average. This means that instead of eating bits of foods all day, or even large quantities of foods all day, you should be keeping a balanced nutrition. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There is a way to accomplish your physical goals, as well as decreasing your fat, and that is by staying on top of what you eat. By staying healthy and eating regularly, you can keep up your muscle building nutrition in an excellent way. Always eat breakfast, and make sure to consume healthy fruits and vegetables with each meal that you consume. Remember not to cut fat out of your diet, just avoid any unhealthy fats such as foods containing vegetable oils or corn oils. Drink lots of water, not drinks with caffeine. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Caffeinated drinks not only contain sugars that are bad for you, but they also contain a lot of calories which will make you time at the gym feel pointless. Keeping water by you to hydrate with, or of course, the healthy green tea, is always a great idea.  Finally, unprocessed foods are more nutritional than processed foods. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unprocessed foods include meats, vegetables, and fruits, whereas processed foods include things such as canned meat, frozen dinners, or pizza. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Building your body muscle, while maintaining your nutritional, balanced, diet is a very important thing. It is necessary to always eat right while trying to build an attractive physique. No matter how much time you spend at your gym, the “fuel” you put into your “tank” is always going to be the key to what makes you run right. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more information on muscle building nutrition, check out the Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded program, that contains muscle building nutrition tips to build muscle and lose fat.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-5900366765013312917?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/5900366765013312917/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=5900366765013312917' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5900366765013312917'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5900366765013312917'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/08/muscle-building-nutrition.html' title='Muscle Building Nutrition'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-2632174460183259421</id><published>2008-02-21T10:54:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-08-12T12:06:30.593-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How To INSTANTLY Increase Your Strength And Add More Weight To Your Lifts!</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Are you TIRED of working out for hours each week... for little to NO results?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Would you like to gain 15 to 20 pounds of muscle in the next 9 weeks,  so you look better, feel better about yourself, and turn more heads?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you said yes, &lt;b&gt;then you NEED to learn how to warm up correctly.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;By learning how to warm up on the weights correctly, you'll have an easy way to &lt;span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"&gt;instantly&lt;span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; add more weight to all of your lifts. And when you add more weight to your lifts, you add more lean muscle mass to your body. &lt;p&gt;In my opinion, most people do NOT know how to warm up correctly before starting their weight training. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What I mean is, most people spend way too much time and energy warming up. They do warm up reps and sets to the point that when it's time to do their heavy sets, they're wiped out.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And as a result, they lift less weight on their heavy sets. By lifting less weight, &lt;strong&gt;there's NO new muscle growth.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So it's absolutely vital that you don't warm up with too many sets and too many reps before attempting your heavy sets.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Take the bench press for example.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Just the other day, I watched someone in the gym do this: This person started with the bar, which in most gyms is 45 pounds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He busted out a quick, easy set of 10 reps. Then he put on 45-pound plates and did another set of 10 reps. Then he went up to 155 pounds and did another 10 reps. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here's where he's starting to go wrong.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He's beginning to use too much energy on these warm-ups. But it didn't stop there. He did another set with 175 pounds for 10 more reps, then 200 for a set of 8 reps. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;So far, 5 sets and this person hasn't even started his "heavy" sets yet!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He's wasted time, energy, and intensity all before it even counted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the 6th set, he started to tire quickly and could only handle 210 for 5 reps. So this is where he stopped the bench press portion of his workout, figuring that since he was tired, he had worked the muscles sufficiently.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But the truth is, he made absolutely NO progress during this entire time, because he didn't lift more weight than he usually does. So he didn't overload the muscles.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And if you don't overload the muscles, you will not gain more. Your body doesn't have to add muscle, it can already handle the weight you're using with the muscle you have. That's why you need to lift more weight over time...&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So your body is forced to add muscle mass to handle the additional weight! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Let me say it again, because it's the most important thing you'll read on building muscle:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the only way a muscle will grow is through increased overload (weight) why use so much energy on warm-up sets? You need to save it for the productive sets, the last one or two sets where the weight being used is the most you can handle for four to six repetitions. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now I'll show you how I added over 20 pound to a client's bench press, &lt;b&gt;THE FIRST DAY I WORKED WITH HIM!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After this person warmed up on the bike for 5 minutes, I met him at the bench press. I had him place 135 pounds on the bar and perform ten smooth, easy reps.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After resting for a couple minutes, we placed just 20 pounds more on and he did an easy set of eight reps. Then we bumped it up to 175 pounds and he did six reps.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He was starting to work harder, but he wasn't tiring because he was starting to decrease the number of reps he was doing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;This is very important. &lt;/b&gt;As you go heavier, &lt;b&gt;decrease the warm up reps.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After a couple minutes rest, we placed 200 pounds on the bar and he only did three reps. Then we went to 210, his previous best, and I had him only do two reps. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"Gasp", I hear you going. Why only two reps? I thought you were going to help him lift more? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Well, after resting a couple minutes, we placed 230 pounds on the bar and he proceeded to get six good, strict reps. Last week he was only able to push up 210 for four reps. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In one week, by reducing his warm-up reps and sets, he &lt;b&gt;added 20 pounds and two reps.&lt;/b&gt; Not a bad week's work? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is why you don't want to overdo your light warm-up sets. They're just that, to warm up, not to fatigue. As we place additional weight on the bar, decrease the number of reps you do so that you're not tiring out too much on your warm-ups. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Warming-up correctly means you should get your muscles used to handling heavier weights while progressing through your sets.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This means doing just enough reps on a warm-up set without tiring yourself to the point where you have no juice left to finish your heavier sets.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If staggered correctly, you'll have reserved more strength and energy for those last heavy sets and you should notice an increase &lt;b&gt;THE FIRST DAY YOU PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is just one technique you'll find in my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training and nutrition guide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There are literally hundreds more just like this that will help you get more results in a lot less time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the last 8 years, over 43,982 real people... just like you...have been achieving real results with Simple Steps.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"Here's PROOF That My Advice Will Help You Build Muscle Mass, Lose Unwanted Body Fat, And Get You In The Best Shape Of Your Life... Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;font-size:100%;color:#000000;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/build-more-muscle.html"&gt;&lt;span style="color:blue;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Next Page: Before And After Pics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-2632174460183259421?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/2632174460183259421/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=2632174460183259421' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/2632174460183259421'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/2632174460183259421'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/02/how-to-instantly-increase-your-strength.html' title='&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#CC0000&quot;&gt;&lt;size=+2&gt;How To INSTANTLY Increase Your Strength And Add More Weight To Your Lifts!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-7653786168868270535</id><published>2008-01-31T07:54:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-01-31T07:59:52.881-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Build More Muscle In Less Time</title><content type='html'>In order to make muscle gains in the gym, you need to understand what causes a muscle to grow and become stronger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is one and only one reason a muscle has for getting bigger and stronger. Progressively increased overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The only reason a muscle will get bigger and become stronger is by increasing the amount of overload, or "work" on that muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A muscle responds to stress (weight training) by adapting and growing to handle the future stress that will be placed upon it. Continue to train a muscle with the same weight and you will get the same results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to progressively "force" the muscle into growing stronger or it will not. So in order to increase overload, you need to increase resistance. In order to increase resistance, you need to increase the amount of weight, or work, you are doing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lower repetitions of an exercise will allow you to increase the overload to that muscle instantaneously. This forces the stimulation of new muscle fibers that will be recruited to handle the additional stresses that will be placed upon the muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The repetition range for optimal muscle fiber stimulation will be between four and six repetitions for just about every heavy set of an exercise you do. &lt;a name="BM15"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Now, contradictory to myths I've heard, this low repetition range will not increase the likelihood of injury.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If anything, it will reduce the chance of injury because your muscles are becoming accustomed to handling additional forces not normally subjected upon them, therefore strengthening them. The less reps you do, the less chance of injury.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The less times you get in your car to drive, the less likelihood of having a car accident. Low reps will not cause you to "bulk" up unwantedly. Low reps will strengthen and "tone" your muscles quicker than higher reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lighter weights and higher reps will basically keep you from making optimal gains. It is easier to train more intensely if you are focusing on only four to six repetitions instead of ten to fifteen. If you can do ten repetitions of an exercise, the weight is too light to achieve overload If you are new to an exercise and are just learning how to do an exercise, ten repetitions are fine. When you become more experienced, start lowering your reps and increasing your weights. How do you know what weight to use?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The first week or two of your routine will be more or less a trial and error period. You will quickly learn which weight you should be using.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you can do more than six repetitions on your heavy sets for an exercise, the weight is too light.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you cannot do at least four, the weight is too heavy. That is how you tell. It is extremely important to keep a written log or chart of what weights you are using.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This will cut out a lot of guesswork. When you are doing more than six repetitions with ease, time to move the weight, or "work" up to the next level.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Depending on which exercise you are doing, this could range from one pound on the single dumbbell arm &lt;a name="BM16"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;curls to five pounds on the bench press.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is where the progressive overload occurs. Remember, in order for a muscle to respond by growing, it needs to be forced.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is where efficiency also comes into play. Four to six reps, if performed with extreme intensity, will be more effective than ten reps of lighter weight and less intensity. That is efficiency.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The amount of heavy, intense sets per exercise will either be one set or two sets, depending on the order of the exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information on building the most muscle in the least amount of time....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.build-muscle-now.com/"&gt;http://www.build-muscle-now.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-7653786168868270535?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/7653786168868270535/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=7653786168868270535' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7653786168868270535'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7653786168868270535'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2008/01/how-to-build-more-muscle-in-less-time.html' title='How To Build More Muscle In Less Time'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-7197681477071435864</id><published>2007-08-13T12:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-14T10:00:53.797-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Fastest Way To Build Muscle... Guaranteed!</title><content type='html'>&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Want to know the fastest way to build muscle?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All you have to do is learn a &lt;strong&gt;few simple, proven secrets&lt;/strong&gt; that will allow you to gain more muscle and get amazing results... &lt;em&gt;faster than you ever thought possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It works like magic but almost nobody knows about it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'll ask yourself, how can something &lt;strong&gt;so simple be so powerful... and so secret -&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's the way the supplement companies like it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, a couple years ago, this amazing secret literally changed my life when I put it to use. It allowed me to gain 18 pounds of muscle mass and get down to 5% body fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Here's an example that illustrates this incredible secret...&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If your car doesn't start one snowy, cold morning, would you care to take the whole engine apart yourself to try and solve the problem?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Probably not.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'd bring it to the nearest garage... to a mechanic that knows how to pinpoint the problem. That way, you don't have to spend so much time and aggravation to diagnose and repair the problem yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That illustrates this incredibly profound yet simple principle of one of the quickest ways to build muscle mass naturally:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Copy what others already know!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are people that already have more specific knowledge, learned or acquired, than we do in certain areas in life. So why not take advantage of what they know and what they've done.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can learn from other successful people and can have anything you want in life by copying them. You can role model others so that you don't have to learn through trial and error.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want to learn about investing and making money in stocks, what would you rather do?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You could spend $100,000, go to a four-year business school, and then study as an intern for weeks on Wall Street. That will guarantee you learn about stocks but doesn't guarantee you'll make money.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or, you could speed up the process by picking up a book by Warren Buffet or Peter Lynch that pinpoints specific strategies on investing and making money in stocks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Total time spent: maybe a week. Total price: 10-20 bucks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Say you want to gain more muscle than you've ever had. Find others that have already done it and start doing some or all of the things they're doing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bottom line... if you're unhappy about your physique in any way, you can change it right now by figuring out what you want and then finding someone who has already done it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You simply copy what others have done to get similar results. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The fastest way to build muscle naturally is to learn from and model after others that have achieved what you want to achieve as well. Don't step blindly into a gym and start playing around with some weights or start trying every machine you can find.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Save a whole lot of time and skip the trial and error. Cut to the chase and copy what other people have done to transform their own bodies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And right here on this webpage, you'll discover the exact same powerful weight training and nutrition secrets I used to &lt;strong&gt;pack on 18 pounds of lean, rock-hard muscle and drop my body fat down to a ripped 5% in just 63 days...&lt;/strong&gt; with NO expensive supplements or dangerous steroids.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/muscle.html"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/muscle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether you want to compete... or simply look better, feel better, and turn more heads...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;give me just 2 hours and 45 minutes TOTAL a week&lt;/strong&gt; and I'll show you, step by step, exactly how to gain more muscle and confidence, lose unwanted fat, and get a lean, muscular body you can feel good about and be proud of -- guaranteed!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/muscle.html" target="_blank"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/muscle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-7197681477071435864?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/7197681477071435864/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=7197681477071435864' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7197681477071435864'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/7197681477071435864'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2007/08/fastest-way-to-build-muscle-guaranteed.html' title='The Fastest Way To Build Muscle... Guaranteed!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-5589508361495703725</id><published>2007-08-10T11:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-10T11:57:48.933-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Only Supplements That Work To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>As I begin training for my upcoming natural bodybuilding show, my main focus is to stick with the basics. To do what works.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why so few people get the results they truly want, they get away from doing the basic stuff that works. They're always in search for the "next best" training program or supplement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So as I begin my goal of gaining 20 pounds of lean muscle and getting down to 5% body fat again in the next 9 to 12 weeks, I'll be following the training principles in my Simple Steps to Get Huge and Shredded program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And as far as supplements go, I'll be using the very few that I know work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most don't, a few do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My main objective will be getting enough protein, either through whey protein shakes or meal replacement powders.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'll be eating 3 whole food meals, and then using 3 shakes for convenience and extra protein.&lt;br /&gt;If you're looking to gain muscle, shed some fat, or both, I'd suggest you also focus on getting enough protein from either whey shakes or meal replacements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then creatine and glutamine are the next supplements I'll use to gain strength and muscle size, increase power and energy, prevent overtraining, and increase growth hormone production.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those 2 amino acids are probably the 2 most powerful supplements on the market. And also the most underrated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, everyone's looking for the next best thing and they forget about what's already proven to work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After protein, creatine, and glutamine, I'll be using a multi vitamin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have it, my supplement plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nothing fancy, but it works and it's powerful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're looking to gain muscle, drop some fat, or both, I'd suggest you stop looking for the magic pill. It takes nothing fancy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just the correct approach to training and eating.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To train right, follow the principles I specifically lay out in my Simple Steps program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For the proper supplements, I've set up a new page on my site that shows the only 9 supplements I've ever recommended to any of my clients, or have used personally...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/build-muscle-supplements.html"&gt;http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/build-muscle-supplements.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-5589508361495703725?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/5589508361495703725/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=5589508361495703725' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5589508361495703725'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/5589508361495703725'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2007/08/only-supplements-that-work-to-build.html' title='The Only Supplements That Work To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116422649776223851</id><published>2006-11-22T12:07:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-03-20T15:56:39.083-07:00</updated><title type='text'>2 Ways To Increase Strength And Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;If you're looking to build muscle, I'm going to give you 2 things you can do that will allow you to instantly increase the strength on all of your lifts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Why would you care to increase your strength on your lifts?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One word: Progress.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'll only build lean muscle if you progressively lift more weight over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's this progressive overload that forces the muscles to grow to handle the increased overload. The stronger you get, usually, the more lean muscle you'll build, providing you support it with good nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So here are 2 things you can do right now to instantly increase the weights on all of your lifts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Warm up correctly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By attempting to lift heavy without warming up first, you will not be able to use your heaviest weights possible. And if you do not lift heavier weight over time, your body has no reason to build more muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Much like a pro baseball pitcher needs to toss lightly before throwing real hard, you want to warm up with light reps and sets before attempting to lift your heaviest weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But don't warm up too much, to the point you're fatiguing the muscles before you get to the heavy sets. Only warm up to the point where you feel ready to handle your heaviest weight for your sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This could vary from 2 sets of 6 to 8 reps on smaller muscle groups like bis and tris.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or it could be as many as 4 sets of staggered reps (10, 8, 6, 3) for larger muscle groups and more demanding exercises like squats or bench press.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, the key to warming up is to do just enough reps with a light enough weight so that you get the muscles ready without making them tired. Tired muscles do not lift much weight. And if you do not lift much weight, you will not build much muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Warming up correctly is one of the best ways to increase your strength on your last heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Rest enough in between sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On average, you want to rest a minute or two in between your warm up sets and 2 to 3 minutes or more between your heavy sets. If you do not rest enough in between your heavy sets, your muscles will still be tired from your last set and will not be able to handle the most weight possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, less weight means less overload, which in turn will mean less muscle growth as a result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So before starting your next heavy set, make sure you feel as strong as you did for your first set. Again, this could be anywhere from 2 to 3 minutes of rest between your heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This rest in between heavy sets is a great time to walk around and think about how great your next set is going to be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or you can use the time to grab a drink of water or stretch out a little bit. The key is to make sure you've rested enough so you feel ready and able to handle the heaviest weights possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have 2 ways to instantly increase the strength on all lifts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Warm up correctly before beginning your heavy sets and rest enough in between them.&lt;br /&gt;Increasing the amount of weight you lift, over time, is the only way you're going to be able to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, discover how to build muscle and lose fat in the least amount of time. Personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun shows you how to get the maximum amount of muscle and definition possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116422649776223851?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116422649776223851/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116422649776223851' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116422649776223851'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116422649776223851'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/2-ways-to-increase-strength-and-build.html' title='2 Ways To Increase Strength And Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116404398457549930</id><published>2006-11-20T09:32:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-20T09:33:05.673-08:00</updated><title type='text'>My Equation For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Hey, we all want a lean, muscular physique that we can show off, don't we?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;We must because one of the goals I hear most from my clients is... "I want to build more muscle and lose more fat"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In other words, they want to tone up. Toning is no more than building muscle while at the same time, losing fat. Both of them come together to form a lean, tight, muscular physique.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you focus on just building muscle mass, then you'll get bigger but not leaner. If you focus just on losing fat, you won't have that muscle tone that so many people want to get.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So you have to approach both processes (muscle building and fat loss) separately and not try to do just one or the other.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But many people I talk with really have no idea how to do it -- correctly. They think that lifting light weights for high reps will help them tone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wrong.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're unsure how to go about toning to get that lean, muscular body you want, here's my simple "toning" equation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can use it to build more muscle and lose more fat in a lot less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A Loss in Body Fat + A Gain in Lean Muscle = Toning&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Both sides of the equation need to be worked on, simulataneously, for any real results to be achieved.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let's cover each side...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Losing Body Fat&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;This is primarily achieved by:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3-4 INTENSE Cardio Sessions of 20-30 minutes per week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5-6 small, well-balanced meals (each consisting of 50% protein, 40% carbs, 10% fats).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Drink AT LEAST 1 gallon of water a day. You will also FEEL better!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Reduce daily caloric intake by 150-200 calories until you see/feel the results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let's cover the next part of the toning equation:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Building Muscle Mass&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is done by...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3-4 INTENSE Weight-training sessions per week.&lt;br /&gt;Strive to progressively increase resistance each week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep your rep range lower on heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perform just a few heavy sets per exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep workout under 1 hour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep protein intake high. Protein (amino acids) builds muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Shoot for 1.5 to 2 grams per pound of bodyweight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consume a high protein/high carb meal or shake right after training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, in order to tone up properly, you must work on both losing fat and building muscle at the same time. If you do just one or the other, the results will not be what you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So it's important to focus on losing fat and building muscle, together.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And that's done with an approach to:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Proper weight training to build muscle&lt;br /&gt;2. Proper nutrition to build muscle and lose fat&lt;br /&gt;3. Proper cardio to lose fat&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think of a combination lock. In order to open the lock, you must get the three numbers exactly right.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even if you're off by just one, you do not get what you want. Well, the same is true in building muscle, losing fat, and toning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You must get your weight training, cardio, and nutrition just right or you will not get what you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, you want to work on both sides equally. If you just focus on dropping fat, you're going to look frail and thin, without any muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you just focus on gaining mass, it could cause you to look bloated and bigger than you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gaining muscle and losing fat can be achieved at the same time. I know, I personally did it for my bodybuilding show and I see it with clients all the time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For a step-by-step "how to" guide for building muscle and losing fat, my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program is one of the most popular programs online.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well over 25,656 men and women worldwide have used my training and nutrition program to build muscle, lose fat, and get in shape, faster than they ever thought possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Check it out yourself...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116404398457549930?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116404398457549930/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116404398457549930' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116404398457549930'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116404398457549930'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/my-equation-for-building-muscle.html' title='My Equation For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116404352676393385</id><published>2006-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-20T09:25:26.836-08:00</updated><title type='text'>To Build Muscle, Get Smart!</title><content type='html'>If you want to build more muscle mass, you first have to get smart!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you learn better, you can do better. When you do better, you get better results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But there comes a point where if you start to read up and try too many different things, you'll get away from the basic principles of muscle building.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why it's dangerous for young kids to pick up a muscle mag written by the pros. The workout routines contained in those magazines ARE NOT written for people just beginning or even people considered advanced.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The workout routines written in most muscle mags you see on the stands were written by pro bodybuilders with above average genetics.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because of their advanced genetics, they can handle more weight training.  Not only that, they also use performance enhancing substances that allow them to train more and recover quicker.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because they can recover quicker, they are able to build muscle mass at a much faster pace than you and I. And this faster recovery helps them to prevent overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you and I overtrained, the chance of building muscle would be much smaller.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So there's a fine line between becoming educated and becoming over educated. You want a working, common sense knowledge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more you try and study and learn about building muscle, the less chance you have to actually take action and put that knowledge to use.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn what causes muscle to grow and fat to burn off the body. You don't care about advanced workout theory or new designer supplements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want basic, applicable knowledge of what must be done to lose fat and gain muscle. The easier something is to understand, the more likely it will be applied and used.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And since most people fail to see results in their routines because they've been misinformed and misled about what it takes, you need to focus more on common sense when it comes to building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most people build muscle the same way (same process must be used). Most people burn fat the same way (same processes must be used)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So learn from others, either through books, websites, articles, or personal conversation, what has worked for them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be careful who you listen to though, everyone has an opinion on what they feel works. Before listening, make sure that what they're doing:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Works - don't take fat loss tips from those overweight or muscle building tips from those with no muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Is safe - skip the drugs or latest and greatest supplement or workout routine in order to try to build muscle. They are not needed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Sounds right. If it sounds like common sense, great, but if you're scratching your head, walk away.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Make sure it comes from someone qualified to give advice. Have they done fitness contests or are they certified trainers. Listening to the wrong people can get you hurt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So spend this 30 day period becoming informed and educated about the basics of muscle building. Visit a bookstore and pick up some books on basic weight training, or aerobics, or fat burning, or nutrition and read through and learn some stuff you can apply.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Skip right over anything that sounds "advanced, too good to be true, too confusing, or anything else that's not basic, common sense.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Achieving a great body and fitness levels really comes down to just focusing on a few common sense areas, including diet and exercise! So before looking for the advanced muscle-building tips, make sure you've learned the basics.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you learn just one new thing about cardio, weight training, or nutrition each week for a year, that's 52 new things you'd learn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gaining muscle and losing fat is a process, one that involves education, experience, time, and action.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start to learn better so that you can start to do better.  It’s not what you know that counts. It’s not what you do that counts. It’s what you know AND do that produces results!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discover a simple, powerful program that guarantees you'll build muscle and lose fat in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" is the same, step by step diet and training program I developed and used to gain 18 pounds of muscle and get down to 5% body fat in just 9 weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can find more about this muscle building program here...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116404352676393385?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116404352676393385/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116404352676393385' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116404352676393385'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116404352676393385'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/to-build-muscle-get-smart.html' title='To Build Muscle, Get Smart!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116348315518348004</id><published>2006-11-13T21:41:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-13T21:47:59.483-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Free Weights Are Best For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Free weights are the fastest and easiest way for building muscle in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Free weights consist of barbells, dumbbells and weight plates. They're called free weights because they have no cables, pins or pulleys.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Available as normal weights or Olympic weights, be advised that Olympic weights are generally much more costly. The Olympic bar is also thicker at the ends to accommodate the larger hole present in Olympic weight plates.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Barbells come in all shapes and sizes. They consist of a bar that is usually 4’ to 7’ in length and can weigh from 20 to 45 pounds.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Olympic bar that you find in most gyms is 45 pounds. This is the one you find on the squat rack and bench press. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, if you use this bar and add a 45-pound plate to each side, you're bench pressing 135 pounds.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Varying weights are attached to the ends of the bar. The weights are attached using collars or sleeves. You can find barbells in a fixed collar design.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This prevents the weights from sliding off the end of the bar, but they are limiting as the weights cannot be removed. With adjustable collars you can add and remove weights to suit your own purposes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The longer 7’ bar that is generally referred to as an Olympic bar can hold 500 to 1500 pounds. As mentioned, these are usually more costly. There are also other Olympic specialty bars available that are designed for specific purposes such as biceps and triceps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The weight plates that fit the ends of the bar come in standard increments of:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2 1/2 pounds&lt;br /&gt;5 pounds&lt;br /&gt;10 pounds&lt;br /&gt;25 pounds&lt;br /&gt;50 pounds&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you stick with cast iron weights you are pretty much guaranteed that the weights will remain constant over time as opposed to those that are plastic encased or other metals that could warp over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If planning to go with the home gym, sticking with standard weights is probably best for you. One of the advantages is that you can find standard weights available as a package that will include your bars, weights and collars. Most standard weight packages also come with dumbbells.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You will also need to have a weight bench. There are varying types of benches. You can find adjustable types that you can set for different inclines. This is a good buy because by adjusting the incline or decline, you can create a number of different exercises to work out different muscle groups.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are lacking the money to join a gym, you can set yourself up with everything you need, just by getting some dumbbells, barbells, and a bench. Total cost can be less than $200.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or, if it's more convenient to work out at home, it's simple to set up an effective gym right in your basement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Free weights are also effective than machines when it comes to building muscle and increasing your strengh. That's because you have to do all the work and balance all the weight yourself when using free weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With machines, much of the work is being done for you. You just have to lift it up and down. As a result, you use less intensity and less overload than with free weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Less overload and intensity means less muscle building possibilities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So don't worry if you can't make it to a gym or if you don't have the money to get certain machines for your home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When it comes to building muscle, nothing beats a good set of free weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to set up your weight training, cardio, and nutrition to get the most muscle and definition possible. Check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" gives you everything you need in order to gain the most muscle possible, in the least amount of time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm talking about a step by step workout and nutrition plan, that includes all of the exercises, reps, sets, when to train, how much to train, and more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also cover when to eat, what to eat, how often, how much, and more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116348315518348004?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116348315518348004/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116348315518348004' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116348315518348004'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116348315518348004'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/free-weights-are-best-for-building.html' title='Free Weights Are Best For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116327273895557090</id><published>2006-11-11T11:13:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-11T11:18:58.956-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Losing Fat By Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Most people think of cardio when it comes to losing fat, not building muscle. That's because running, biking, or any other form of intense aerobic exercise helps to burn calories, as well as raise the body's metabolism. And this in turn burns fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But there are new studies that show weight training to be better at raising your resting metabolic rate, which is the rate at which you burn calories at rest. This may mean that the best way to burn off unwanted fat is by building muscle. Because the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There's one requirement for weight training to be effective at raising the metabolism. The weight lifting must be very intense to produce a drastic increase in resting metabolic rate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lifting light weights or exercising for too short a time can diminish the results. You need to do 3 to 4 sets per exercise and do an average of 6 to 8 reps for each.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This ensures that each major muscle group is trained intensely. In the studies, it was shown that the test subjects resting metabolism was still elevated, on average 21%, even 24 hours after the workout.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It appears weight training can release growth hormone and norepinephrine that assist in the fat burning process. Also, removing the lactic acid that's built up through heavy weight training also requires calorie expenditure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, the muscle building process of repairing damaged muscle tissue caused by weight lifting can also burn more calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Building muscle itself will increase resting metabolic rate, since muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the more lean muscle mass you build, the higher your resting metabolism. That's why building muscle through weight training is also a way to lose unwanted body fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The best way to lose fat is to combine cardio with weight training, to create a synergistic effect in which both work together to burn calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you're currently trying to lose some fat, try to focus on building muscle as well, through weight training, so you can raise your metabolism and burn more calories at rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, the holidays are fast approaching. Thanksgiving and Christmas are times to spend with family, friends, and loved ones.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And lots of food.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn how to set up your daily eating to still enjoy the foods you love, and yet stay lean and muscular throughout the holidays&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/30-days-ebook.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/30-days-ebook.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My "30 Days To More Muscle And Less Fat" system will show you how to set up your eating, and your surroundings, so that you can still enjoy the foods you like, while actually gaining lean muscle and shedding fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Holidays do NOT have to be a time in which you pack on the pounds. You can still stay fit and trim.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Get a head start towards reaching your new year goals...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/30-days-ebook.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/30-days-ebook.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116327273895557090?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116327273895557090/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116327273895557090' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116327273895557090'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116327273895557090'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/losing-fat-by-building-muscle.html' title='Losing Fat By Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116327218916244751</id><published>2006-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-11T11:09:49.183-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How Overtraining Kills Your Chances Of Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;It's unfortunate that some people feel, when it comes to weight training, that more is better for building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, this isn't always the case.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, too much lifting can stop your progress. If you lift too much, you run the risk of overtraining. Overtraining simply means doing too much physical exercise and not allowing your body to recover. And this can kill your chances of building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most beginners and many intermediate trainees get the workout part right, and sometimes even the diet and supplements. But sadly, they usually fail miserably on the recovery part of their programs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscles grow at rest, not while you're in the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many new lifters destroy themselves in the gym and then fail to allow their muscles to recover fully before training them again. This overtraining will cause you to stop gaining muscle and could even cause you to lose the muscle you already have!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Simply put, overtraining is a state your body enters into when the workload you subject it to is greater than the body’s ability to recover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can come from training too often and/or with too much intensity. Couple this with not enough rest to fully recuperate and rebuild and you have overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Overtraining can result in lowered testosterone levels as well as a lower ratio of testosterone to cortisol, which can leave your body in a state of zero-growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many signs of overtraining, so be aware of them and see if you have any of them. While a few of them might not necessarily mean you're overtraining, they may mean that you're on the verge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Persistent soreness and stiffness in the muscles and joints is one sign. Fatigue, sluggishness, and a lack of energy during your workouts is another big sign.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A loss of muscle size and fullness can mean you're overtraining. Low sex drive and constant irritability are other symptoms.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have any of these and you're currently working out more than 5 days a week, you need to cut back immediately, before you get worse.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The sad thing about overtraining is that many people think that the cure for overtraining is they just have to work harder to make gains.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unfortunately, this aggravates their problems and end up losing even more size.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the most important thing you can do to rebound from overtraining is to take some time off from the gym. Take as long as your body needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In extreme cases of overtraining, it could take months, if not years, to heal properly. But for most people, taking a week off from lifting will be enough. When you get back to the gym after this time off, you'll notice your energy levels are back to normal, as well as your strength and endurance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may want to consider cycling your intensity levels from now on. Phases might include cycles of high, medium, or low intensity or variations in weights, sets and reps, or workout durations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Typically, a few weeks of high-intensity training would be followed up with several weeks of low-intensity training to prevent overtraining. The body simply cannot produce a maximum output over a lengthy period of time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can also reduce the poundages of your weights and your intensity if you don't want to risk overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep your workouts under 45 minutes by reducing some of the reps and sets you do. All you need to do is 2 exercises for each muscle group, 3 total heavy sets for 8 to 10 reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You also want to schedule at least 2 rest days into your program each week. This will help prevent overtraining from occuring and will also help you to recover from workouts, just in case you're on the verge of overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, it's important to remember that not getting enough rest can stop muscle building dead in its tracks. So you'll want to make sure you're resting enough, just like you ensure you work out and eat right.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These are just some of the things you can do if you feel that you're overtraining. It helps to take a step back and look at your situation from a different perspective. No, don't try to fix things by working even harder in the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instead, take a smarter approach and take the time off to rest. Then, set up your routine to prevent overtraining from happening again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope this article helped shed some light on training just enough to build muscle, no more than that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're looking for a proven mass-building program that will help you gain more muscle faster, check out my "7 Things You Must Do To Gain Weight, Add Muscle, And Increase Strength"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.how-to-gain-weight.net"&gt;http://www.how-to-gain-weight.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's been used by many of my skinny clients to gain weight fast, some have actually packed on 20 plus pounds of mass in just a few short weeks. It's a proven, step by step diet &amp;amp; training program to help you gain weight...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.how-to-gain-weight.net"&gt;http://www.how-to-gain-weight.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116327218916244751?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116327218916244751/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116327218916244751' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116327218916244751'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116327218916244751'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/how-overtraining-kills-your-chances-of.html' title='How Overtraining Kills Your Chances Of Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116322023102244145</id><published>2006-11-10T20:40:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-10T20:43:51.026-08:00</updated><title type='text'>5 Tools To Help You Gain Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Gaining muscle is all about lifting heavy weight. The stronger you get, the more muscle you gain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the key is, to focus on increasing your strength in your workouts. When you get stronger, over time, you'll also gain more muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And in order to get stronger, you must train and eat correctly. But even then, your body could use a little extra, to help supplement this training and eating.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So here are 5 simple, proven things you can use in your workouts that will help you increase your strength and gain more muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. A Belt: Belts are probably the most used weight lifting accessory. Belts help increase your strength by providing back and ab support during exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The tighter the belt, the greater the ab pressure against the spine. This helps keep the spine and your entire torso tight, maximizing your strength and safety.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The belt can be used to increase your strength on deadlifts, squats, and overhead presses. Belts allow you to use more weight safely, therefore increasing muscle stimulation and growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Gloves: Getting blisters or calluses on your hands can prevent you from gripping the weights. They also can help prevent grip slippage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They help you get a better grip on almost all exercises that require pulling or curling movements. A better, stronger grip means a stronger lift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Wraps: Wraps are used to help support the knees. They are best used on maximal lifts and should not be used as a crutch.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most powerlifters use wraps on the knees when squatting and deadlifting. They provide knee support, so you can use more weight in the squat. The key with wraps is to use them for only a few sets and a few reps, since they can stop circulation if used for too long.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Straps: When you start using heavy weights on your lifts, it's possible your grip strength will give out before the muscle you're training gives out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you have weak grip strength, it can limit how much weight you lift on lat pulldowns, deadlifts,&lt;br /&gt;and shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Straps can help you gain muscle mass because they allow your arms to act as hooks to lift the weight. Straps prevent grip failure from coming into play before reaching muscle failure on the muscle you're training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can use cotton straps, nylon straps, and even straps with hooks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Chalk: Like gloves and wraps, chalk is meant to give you that little edge. It helps you grip the weights better, preventing grip slippage or failure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many times, just by using chalk, you can get 4 to 5 extra reps on an exercise. You can use chalk for your bench press, deadlift, squat, curls, and shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have 5 effective tools for increasing your strength and gaining more muscle mass. Any time you can give yourself an edge and allow yourself the chance to lift more weight, you will also gain muscle mass as a result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can find all of these products on my supplement page...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just click on any of the links and it will send you to the one site I trust most for buying supplements and accessories like the ones I mentioned above.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On that site, you'll find straps, belts, gloves, wraps, and of course, supplements.&lt;br /&gt;Pick up any or all of the tools I mentioned above and you'll soon be taking your muscle gains to a whole new level...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116322023102244145?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116322023102244145/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116322023102244145' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116322023102244145'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116322023102244145'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/5-tools-to-help-you-gain-muscle.html' title='5 Tools To Help You Gain Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116322000730311214</id><published>2006-11-10T20:36:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-10T20:40:07.410-08:00</updated><title type='text'>More Rest Means More Muscle Gains</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;If you want to gain more muscle, it's important you get enough rest. I've found it's necessary to take a week off to rest after 8 to 10 weeks of heavy, intense training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Weight lifting can be intense and stressful to your body. In order for your body to respond with muscle gains, you have to first recover from those workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After all, you grow when you're resting, not when you're training in the gym. Too many people think they have to work out as hard as possible, as often as possible, in order to make gains. But those that have large, muscular physiques have learned that the key to success is heavy, intense training, followed by adequate rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By taking a week off after every few months, you allow your body the chance to completely recover from the heavy demands you placed on it. This time is a recovery time, in which muscle growth will be the main goal. So you want to make sure you get proper nutrition, including keeping your protein intake high.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This rest period is every bit as important for muscle gains as is your training. Without this rest, you're going to overtrain and all your muscle gains will stall.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the biggest problems I see with young people is that they think the more they do, the better results they get. They don't buy into the law of diminishing returns, which states that you'll keep making gains, up to a point, unless you do certain things. And these things are recovery, rest, and nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many people can't stand to be out of the gym for a week, fearing that they'll lose what they've gained. The opposite is actually what happens. After a week off, you'll come back bigger and stronger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'll also be more focused and psychologically rested. You'll be ready to hit the weights again with newfound energy and intensity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you're feeling tired, worn out, sluggish, or just plain sore, take some time off and recover. If you're at a plateau, a week off is usually all that's needed to break out of that plateau.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The way to keep making gains is to learn how to listen to your body. Know when it needs rest and time off. If you don't allow your body to recover, you can't keep making muscle gains. If you don't eat enough and sleep enough, your gains will suffer as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, understand the importance of rest and start taking a week off after each 8 to 10 weeks of training. I guarantee, once you start doing that, your muscle gains will happen a lot faster. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;That's one of the key factors in my Simple Steps To Get Huge and Shredded training program...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;I wrote the program with one thing in mind: Making sure that rest was a big factor, so that muscle gains would not be compromised. So not only is there adequate rest between workouts and muscle groups, but there's one little secret in the program, that deals with rest, that will help you make more gains than anything else you do.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;For more info on this powerful nutrition and workout training program for gaining muscle...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116322000730311214?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116322000730311214/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116322000730311214' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116322000730311214'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116322000730311214'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/more-rest-means-more-muscle-gains.html' title='More Rest Means More Muscle Gains'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116313668351238496</id><published>2006-11-09T21:29:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-09T21:31:23.513-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Key To Building Bigger Bicep Muscles</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;If you're looking to build bigger bicep muscles, this article will show you some simple, proven steps you can take.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most peoples' goals when it comes to training bicep muscles is to increase the size while maintaining proper proportion. Increasing the muscle size of the biceps is from training with heavy weights. You can't increase the bicep muscles if you don't force them to grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Strive to always add weight or reps to your bicep exercises, without sacrificing form. You still want to train safely.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These additional reps will equate to more muscle growth. So will the increase in poundages. If you can continuously do both, your arms are going to soon pop out of the sleeves of your shirts!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since there are many different parts that make up the biceps muscles, you want to train each effectively using a balanced approach.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Three exercises for the biceps are sufficient to increase muscle growth and strength.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the best exercises for building bigger biceps is the standing alternate dumbbell curl. These allow you to use maximum overload and intensity on the biceps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When doing these, you want to use good, safe form, but don't be too strict. Allow yourself to sway a little, so you can get some momentum when lifting the weights upward.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're too strict, you're going to limit the amount of weight you can lift, so the overload will be less.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another exercise that's useful for building bigger biceps is the standing barbell curl. Much like the alternate dumbbell curls, these offer the most overload and intensity for the biceps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The last exercise for the biceps is hammer curls. These actually work both the biceps and the forearms.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With all your bicep exercises, work your arms once a week, using 3 sets of 6 to 10 reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start out light for a warm up and then progressively keep adding weight so you reach muscle failure at 6 to 8 reps on your heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to strive to stimulate muscle growth, by increasing strength. The more weight your biceps can lift, the more muscle you'll build as a result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can use either barbells, dumbbells, or cables when training to build the biceps muscles. They all target the muscles a little differently.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since the bicep muscles are not a large muscle group, it's easy to overtrain them. So make sure you do just what's necessary for muscle stimulation. Then you need to let them rest and recover in order to gain muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Training the biceps too often or doing too many exercises will slow down your results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you're after building bigger biceps muscles, use these techniques in your training and you'll soon start seeing more muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, if you'd like to gain 15 to 20 pounds of muscle mass in just 9 short weeks, here's how you do it...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/msn.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/msn.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's a proven, step by step diet &amp;amp; training guide. Learn how to eat and work out to gain more muscle in less time...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/msn.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/msn.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116313668351238496?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116313668351238496/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116313668351238496' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116313668351238496'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116313668351238496'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/key-to-building-bigger-bicep-muscles.html' title='The Key To Building Bigger Bicep Muscles'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116313650496631240</id><published>2006-11-09T21:25:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-12-13T18:59:58.090-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Only Way To Gain Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In order to gain any amount of muscle or strength, you must subject that muscle to overload. To continue making gains, you must continue to increase the amount of overload you place on each muscle group over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This progressive increase in resistance is the only way to gain muscle mass. The greater the amount of resistance you place on a muscle, the larger that muscle will become, provided you get the proper nutrients needed for muscle growth to occur.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Progression of this resistance is what causes muscle gains to keep happening. If you keep lifting the same amount of weight, your muscles have no reason to get any bigger. They can already handle that weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are 3 ways to increase the amount of resistance you place on a muscle:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Do more reps with the same amount of weight each time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Do the same number of reps but use more weight&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Use the same number of reps and same amount of weight, but shorten the rest periods in between sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The most common ways to add progressive resistance to build muscle is with the first 2... using more weight and/or doing more reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the easiest ways to increase the amount of weight you lift is to decrease the number of reps you do. You keep increasing the weight until you use a heavy enough weight so that you reach muscle failure between 4 and 8 reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you increase the weight each set while performing the same number of reps, you want to go easy for the first few sets, they are just warmups. Only your last 2 heavy sets, the ones with max poundages, are the ones that build muscle. All other sets just help you get ready for these heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, overloading a muscle group is the only way to gain muscle, increase its size, and tone. So, for your heavy sets, you want to reach the point of failure with low reps and heavy weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more weight you use and the harder you work, the greater the muscle gains. This method is very intense, so you want to ensure proper rest and nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Overload will help you gain muscle indefinitely, as long as the environment for constant muscle growth is met. Again, it takes intense training, proper nutrition, and plenty of rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If one of these conditions is not met, you will not gain the muscle mass you could.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now that you know what causes muscle gains to occur, you should be well prepared the next time you enter the gym to workout. You'll know that merely lifting weights is not good enough. You have to keep getting better and stronger, by increasing the amount of weight you lift or the number of reps you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But be aware, this process takes time. Be committed to slow, constant growth and you'll soon be making more gains than you ever thought possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, if you're looking for a proven, muscle building program you can use to pack on muscle mass, fast, check out my Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's helped over 25,433 men and women worldwide to pack on more muscle and shed more body fat in a lot less time...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116313650496631240?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116313650496631240/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116313650496631240' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116313650496631240'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116313650496631240'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/only-way-to-gain-muscle.html' title='The Only Way To Gain Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116304751242416562</id><published>2006-11-08T20:44:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-08T20:45:12.426-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Secret To Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;One word has the power to change your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That word is persistence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Persistence is the key to being a winner. In everything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've had some of my best days right after having some of my worst. And if I had quit and given up, I would have been left with the taste of disappointment, not the sweet taste of success.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Persistence is how you're going to change your body for the "best".&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Besides, you know that it takes good nutrition and exercise to get the body you want. So what holds so many people back from getting the body of their dreams?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stick-to-it-eveness, that's what.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Right here, right now, I want you to resolve to pay the price you need to pay in order to get what it is you want to get. Set it in stone... resolve to never, ever quit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's my little analogy for you, it may help you to "keep on keeping on" when you just don't feel like heading to the gym after work or going out for that run you know you should do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think of your success (whatever success means to you) as being something that's lurking around the corner.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can't see it, but it's there. It's waiting for you to make it around that corner. If you make it, success will unveil itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And if you don't make it, you either didn't want it bad enough, or you didn't try hard enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's those people that literally throw themselves around that corner that will end up with all they want in life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope you're one of those people.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know, I know...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The T.V. is showing your favorite show tonight. Your friends want you to head out to the bars with them tonight. They're all ordering out for pizza today for lunch, you gotta eat with them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I recently learned a huge secret that almost all successful people share with one another.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's this: Develop the ability to delay short-term satisfaction for long term satisfaction.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, isn't that what separates a child from an adult. Children want it NOW or they throw a fit. Adults know it takes time and commitment to get what they want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, if I can pass on one simple key to success to you, it's this:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn to delay satisfaction NOW for even more satisfaction later. Delay the trip to the bars. Delay the all-you-can-eat buffet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Delay the movie with your friends tonight if you haven't made it to the gym yet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you really, really want to change your body for the better, you'll resolve to pay the price and you will not even entertain the thought of quitting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Like flipping a switch, you decide right then and there, to do something about it and never look back.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you flip the switch, you've made a choice to no longer settle for anything less than what you want. You WILL do what you need to do to change your situation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, the true power to gain muscle mass and lose fat is your ability to consistently take action each and every day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Successful people are not necessarily those that make the right decisions all of the time. But they do make decisions and better yet, act upon them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thomas Jefferson once wrote "I'm a firm believer in luck, and I've found the harder I work, the luckier I get."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, the same is true in building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you take some form of action each day and go after your muscle building goals? You'll find that the more you act on things, the more good things happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Accept my challenge: Do one or more things every day for the next 30 days that will move you closer to the goal to gain muscle mass fast.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Believe it or not, there are many, many people out there who are TIRED of being skinny. In fact, you may be one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know it may sound hard to believe, that some people are actually trying to gain weight and muscle, but it's true. Those that are skinny, often times want to gain weight just as much as those who are overweight, want to lose it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's what led me to develop my mass-building system...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/gain-weight.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/gain-weight.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was getting so many emails from people that were finally fed up with being skinny and scrawny, they wanted to learn the truth about packing on mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I sat down and listed out the 7 things I did after a bodybuilding show in which I was able to gain 20 pounds of mass in 8 weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can use these same secrets to bulk up, add strength, and gain muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're tired of being skinny, you need to learn the 7 things you must do to gain muscle and strength...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/gain-weight.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/gain-weight.html&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116304751242416562?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116304751242416562/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116304751242416562' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304751242416562'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304751242416562'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/secret-to-building-muscle.html' title='The Secret To Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116304735969498949</id><published>2006-11-08T20:41:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-08T20:42:39.696-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Get Leaner, Faster</title><content type='html'>Although I feel the best approach to losing fat is a long-term one, there are some simple things you can do to drop fat quickly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You primarily do it by increasing the amount, duration, and/or intensity of your cardio sessions while slowly decreasing your calorie intake.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you try and shed fat too fast, whatever you did to lose it will not be permanent and you'll more than likely gain the weight back, once you become less focused and restrictive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The best way to lose any amount of fat quickly is to focus on creating more of a calorie deficit in which your body is forced to burn more fat for energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of you may have seen "The Biggest Loser" reality show on TV. Well, lo and behold, what the trainers have them doing is a combination of what I mentioned above... they're dropping their calorie intake while increasing their cardio output.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No magic pill or fad diets, just focused, hard work on what truly matters.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, losing fat faster is primarily achieved by slowly cutting your calorie intake and slowly increasing your cardio input. Notice how I put "slowly" in front of both.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you start reducing calories too quick, you'll force your body into "starvation mode" in which it starts holding onto stored fat instead of burning it for energy. And if you start doing too much cardio too soon, you'll run the risk of overtraining or getting injured.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What about weight training?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, the weight training remains a constant in this equation. It has little to do with losing fat. Sure, weight training helps to increase lean muscle tissue. And the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you'll burn, even at rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But I'm talking about quicker results, the kind you can see in just a few short weeks. And weight training does not play a huge role in that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, you may want to lessen the weight training the next few weeks and instead focus more on the cardio, which will have more of an impact on the fat burning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bottom line, to lose any amount of fat fast, you have to burn more calories than you consume.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The best way to do this is by dropping your daily calorie intake while increasing your daily cardio output.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The first week, start getting rid of extras that you may eat, like dressings, oils, butter, sugars, syrups, and desserts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then the next week, reduce your calories again by 150-200 calories. This slow, methodical drop in calories will not trigger "starvation mode" in which your body will start holding onto fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, you'll want to start upping the amount and/or intensity of your cardio. If you're doing 2 or 3 sessions of cardio a week, add another session. If you're already doing 4 or 5, then increase your intensity more so than your time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The combo of slowly dropping your daily calories while also increasing the intensity and amount of your cardio will get you in a fat-burning stage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then, continue on with this approach and soon you'll be staring in the mirror at a leaner, more muscular you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For a step-by-step proven plan for gaining lean muscle while dropping ugly fat, there's no more successful program on the market than my Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded plan...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It contains simple strategies and proven techniques for getting results, fast. And the best part, it's been proven to work by over 24,000 people in the past 6 years.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;More muscle. Less fat. All in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.hmtl"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.hmtl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116304735969498949?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116304735969498949/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116304735969498949' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304735969498949'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304735969498949'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/how-to-get-leaner-faster.html' title='How To Get Leaner, Faster'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116304722692989136</id><published>2006-11-08T20:35:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-08T20:40:26.943-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Blast Through Any Plateau</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;I'm going to show you a simple, fool-proof way to blast through any training plateau.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In all, there are only 7 simple secrets to breaking through any plateau, as well as preventing one from ever happening again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For the sakes of this email, to keep it short and sweet, I'm going to go over the top 4.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let's roll...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Steps to avoid over training and hitting a plateau.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Keep workouts short and sweet. Your weight training should be just that, training with weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stop mixing cardio with it. Workouts do not need to be long to be effective, in fact, if they're too long, they're counter- productive. The goal of weight training is to go into the gym and stimulate muscle growth, not to annihilate the muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By stimulating them with progressive overload, you're forcing them to respond and adapt to this progressive overload. Anything more is futile over training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Do not turn your weight training workouts into endurance events. Do not try to "burn fat" while weight training because you will NOT achieve it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do not make your workouts longer thinking that more time equals more results. Keep your weight training brief and focused. Complete your workout in less than 45 minutes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This short time period will ensure you don't over do it. It will ensure intensity as well. It's much easier to focus for 30-45 minutes than it is an hour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The growth-assisting hormones secreted in your body actually peak after about 30 minutes of weight training and then begin to decline rapidly. So keep it quick and intense.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So that means no total body workout. Choose one or two muscle groups, train them well, and leave under 45 minutes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Get adequate rest before working the same muscle group again. Heavy and intense weight training produces microscopic fiber damage to the muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's this damage and rebuilding which causes a muscle to get bigger and stronger. Without proper rest between workouts of the same muscle group, you will not recover sufficiently to handle placing more overload on that muscle group.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, if your muscles cannot handle the overload, results are diminished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You should wait at least five to seven days between working the same muscle group. If you train biceps on Monday, wait until the following Monday to ensure they are rested enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Training them prior may create an over training environment. Remember that they'll get worked while performing other exercises, so they actually are not fully resting all week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to start "listening" to how your body feels. Learn to gauge your recovery time and start training more on how you feel rather than on a schedule set in stone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For example, if you train your biceps Monday and then come next Monday, for whatever reason, they're still aching sore, give them another day's rest. Do you truly feel you will be able to lift with maximum overload and intensity with overly sore biceps?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You're lifting for progress, not just for the act of lifting some weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If a muscle group is still very sore, there is still some fiber damage creating that soreness that needs to heal. Training with sore muscles is like trying to shovel your way out of a hole. You get nowhere. Taking an extra day off to rest will ensure the next day's workout produce results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If increasing muscle strength and size is a goal, you need to create an environment where they are able to perform at their maximum, not when they are sore.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Take a week break after two months of training. After every two months of intense, solid training, take an entire week off from weight training and cardio. Two months of constant training likely will take a toll on your muscles' ability to recover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You must allow them to recover by having them take a break. Do not allow the alleged psychological barrier of taking a week off stand in your way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may be thinking you will lose ground by taking time off, but nothing can be further from the truth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These are a few tips you can use to avoid hitting a plateau.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But what are some of the signs of current overtraining?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First of all, if you're not looking forward to getting into the gym any more, that may be a sign. If you're sluggish and tired more often than usual, that's also a sign.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're struggling to lift weights that are not normally a struggle, then that's a sign of possible over training. If you're getting sick more than you normally do, you're over training because your immune system is not as strong as it should be. These are just a few of the signs that you may be over training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you feel you've hit a plateau and are over training, immediately take a week off. You may just need some rest. Use this time to heal and continue to eat properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One way not to overcome a plateau is by trying to work through it. You cannot make something better by doing what it was that caused it in the first place!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, there you have it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, I'm re-releasing my monthly printed newsletter...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;http:&gt;If you found the above tips helpful, imagine what 12 pages of them, each and every month, will do for your results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" target="_blank" href="http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/monthly-tips.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/monthly-tips.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In fact, you can get the same exact info that I give my high-paying personal training clients, but for a fraction of what they pay.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Better yet, you can get them sent to the comfort of your own home, so you don't have to meet me anywhere (and buy me coffee ;-)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Check it out, there's even 2 free issues right about halfway down the page here... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" target="_blank" href="http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/monthly-tips.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;http://shawnlebrunfitness.com/monthly-tips.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;http:&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116304722692989136?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116304722692989136/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116304722692989136' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304722692989136'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116304722692989136'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/how-to-blast-through-any-plateau.html' title='How To Blast Through Any Plateau'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116244207413326867</id><published>2006-11-01T20:25:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-01T20:34:34.136-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How Many Reps And Sets To Build Muscle?</title><content type='html'>One of the questions I get asked the most while training others is how many reps and sets of an exercise are needed to gain the most muscle mass and strength possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, let's tackle that question head on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Reps&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The desired rep range for both men and women for just about all exercises is four to six reps for your last, heavy sets. That doesn't include warm-ups or acclimation sets, just your last sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There's one and only one reason a muscle has for getting bigger and stronger....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;....Progressively increased overload.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to progressively "force" the muscle into growing and getting stronger or it will not. In other words, you need to always be stressing it into growing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In order to increase overload, you need to increase resistance. In order to increase resistance, you need to increase the amount of weight, or work, you're doing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lower reps will allow you to increase the overload to that muscle instantly. This forces the stimulation of new muscle fibers that will be recruited to handle the additional stresses placed upon the muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The rep range for optimal muscle fiber stimulation will be between four and six repetitions for just about every heavy set of an exercise you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, low reps will not cause women to "bulk" up. Low reps will strengthen and "tone" your muscles quicker than higher reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lighter weights and higher reps will basically keep you from making optimal gains. If you can do ten reps of an exercise, the weight is too light to achieve max overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How do you know what weight to use?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you can do more than six reps on your heavy sets, the weight is too light. If you can't do at least four, the weight is too heavy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the low down on reps is 4 to 6 for all heavy sets. Warm up sets can be 8 to 10 reps, but to get the muscle stimulating benefit of weight training, you must use lower reps to create enough of an overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sets&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The amount of heavy, intense sets per exercise will be between one and three sets, depending on the order of the exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you're warmed up, the number of all-out, intense sets will be three at the most, and on some exercises, just one or two sets is all that's needed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's the overload that causes the muscle to grow, not the amount of sets you do. There's no "law" that says if you double the amount of sets you perform, you also double the results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The key is to stimulate, not annihilate, the muscle into responding and growing. You do this with two, very intense sets of four to six reps. This will efficiently stimulate the muscles more than doing more sets with more reps at a lighter weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you were doing bicep curls, you'd do your warm-ups and then two heavy, intense sets of four to six repetitions. This exercise is now done. You've effectively overloaded the bicep muscles and will then proceed to the next exercise, if there is one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you can see, it's all about quality over quantity when it comes to producing results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is so much better to do one or two heavy sets at maximum intensity than 3 or more at an easier level.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;More is not better....better is better.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you'd like to have a proven, step-by-step blueprint for packing on more muscle mass in less time than you ever thought possible, here's how...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'll learn how to eat and work out to gain 15, even 20 pounds of lean muscle mass in just 9 weeks time. It's a complete, diet &amp; training guide....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html"&gt;http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bodybuilder-secrets.com/building-muscle2.hmtl"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116244207413326867?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116244207413326867/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116244207413326867' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116244207413326867'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116244207413326867'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/how-many-reps-and-sets-to-build-muscle.html' title='How Many Reps And Sets To Build Muscle?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116244097625549336</id><published>2006-11-01T20:08:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-01T20:16:16.286-08:00</updated><title type='text'>To Build More Muscle, Lift More Weight!</title><content type='html'>If you're looking to build more muscle mass, then you have to start lifting more weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's one of the biggest problems I see as a fitness expert each day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many people want to build more muscle, but they don't try to progress up in the amount of weight they lift. If that's the case, continually gaining lean muscle and strength is prohibited.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I often speak with women who are fearful of lifting more weight because they don't want to build large muscle.&lt;br /&gt;I explain to them that it’s impossible for women to gain as much muscle as men because they lack the abundant amount of the sex hormone testosterone that creates this growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since women do not produce enough testosterone, the likelihood of building large muscles is virtually impossible.&lt;br /&gt;Women that you see on TV or in magazines with large, man-like muscles, either use muscle-enhancing substances (steroids) or they naturally produce more testosterone than most women.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is very difficult for women to build bulky muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You must strive to continuously increase the weights you lift over time. Muscle will only grow if it's forced, or coerced, into growing. You force it by lifting progressively heavier weight over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle growth is simply a result of placing demand on your body. When you lift a weight that's heavier than you are used to, your body will start to add muscle to handle the extra stress (weight) you're placing on it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you continually lift heavier weights over time, your body will continue to adapt to the additional demand being placed on it, by building more muscle mass tissue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you lifted the same amounts of weight over time, the body would become used to that weight and new muscle growth would not need to happen. There's no reason to add more muscle because the muscle you currently have can handle the demand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you start lifting more weight, then your body needs new muscle to handle this additional demand, creating new lean muscle tissue to handle this demand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Any new and additional muscle growth you achieve will have a direct impact on the number of calories you burn. So, for long term success in weight loss and fitness, continue to lift progressively heavier weights as you continue on in your program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How do you know how much weight to lift?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're just starting a lifting program, keep it light and easy to learn proper form. As you progress, start to increase the weights you lift but decrease the amount of times (reps) that you lift the weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Something happens when you do this. If you lessen the amount of times you have to lift something, shouldn't the amount of weight you can lift increase?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Suppose if you had to lift 100 pounds 10 times. You manage it and it’s not that difficult. Now, say you only have to lift it 6 times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you managed to do it 10 times at 100 pounds, shouldn‘t you be able to increase the weight if you only have to do it 6 times now?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, as you progress into your weight training workout, begin to lessen the amount of reps and instead increase the weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Increase the weight to 150 pounds and lift it 6 times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more weight you lift, the more muscle you need to adapt to the additional weight. The more your body needs to adapt to more resistance, the more muscle growth will occur.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more lean muscle you have, the more calories burned and the more weight loss... see how weight lifting/resistance training has a direct impact on fat loss and weight management?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Six repetitions are a great number for you to shoot for. A repetition is one movement. A set of movements is called a set. If you were to do a set of 10 repetitions, you would have to move the weight 10 times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start a particular weight lifting exercise (bench press, bicep curls) with a nice, easy set of 10 reps. The next set do eight, and the last two sets, do 6 reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Follow this for all exercises. When you can do more than six reps for a given weight, you simply add more weight and continue to shoot for six reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you continue up in weight over time, that’s proof that you are getting stronger and are adding more lean muscle to your body. This, in turn, is a future investment in burning off more calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So to build more muscle, you need to lift more weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you'd like a step-by-step guide for building more muscle mass in less time, check out my Simple Steps to Get Huge And Shredded training program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com/building-muscle.html"&gt;http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com/building-muscle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116244097625549336?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116244097625549336/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116244097625549336' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116244097625549336'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116244097625549336'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/11/to-build-more-muscle-lift-more-weight.html' title='To Build More Muscle, Lift More Weight!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116226832382751620</id><published>2006-10-30T20:14:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-10-30T20:18:43.840-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Throw Your Workout Program Out The Window</title><content type='html'>Got your workout routine in front of you?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Good. Now throw it out the window.  Well, maybe not literally, but here's what I mean.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's not THAT important to follow a workout program too strictly. It's more important to go on how you feel instead.  Learning to gauge your body and its recovery time is one of the fastest ways to prevent overtraining and to boost your strength and muscle gains.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By adhering too strictly to a workout routine, you don't take into consideration the day-to-day demands that are placed on your body. And that can lead to drastic overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find yourself more tired than usual, chances are, you haven't recovered from your last workout. You need to track how you feel, day to day, before stepping back into the gym. If you workout when you're too tired or too sore, you're not going to use max intensity or be able to lift max weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You're better off resting another day. Any time you train without max intensity or weight, you're wasting time and energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to try and give yourself 2 full days of rest each week to ensure recovery, but some weeks, you may need more. Again, go on how you feel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the best ways to keep making gains and avoid overtraining is to train only when you're 100%. I know one school of thought is "no pain, no gain", but that's just B.S.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ask yourself these questions:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Are you feeling more tired and sluggish, in or out of the gym?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you find yourself not looking forward to your workouts now?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Are you more sore than usual?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Are the weights you're lifting not going up? Are they staying about the same?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you answered "Yes" to 2 or more of these, chances are, you're on the verge of overtraining or could be overtraining now. And always remember, if you're overtraining, you're not going to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is why it's important to train when you feel best, not just because your routine tells you it's time to be in the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been going with this "train as you go" philosophy for the past couple of years and I've made more strength and muscle gains than I have in the past 10 previous years combined.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some weeks, I only train twice per week, other times I train 3 or 4 times per week. But the point is, I train only when I feel absolutely at my best. When I feel I can go in there and have a tremendous workout and lift max weight with max intensity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stop following your workout routine and start following your body. You're working out to feel good, not to feel sore and tired all the time. You're also working out for results... mainly to build muscle, lose fat, gain strength and energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to learn that gaining muscle is not an exact art. It's simply overloading the muscles, feeding them properly, and then allowing them to rest, recover, and grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If any of those 3 important areas are compromised, results will be limited.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think of it this way: Say you want a nice tan, so you look good at your friends' wedding.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, you make appointments at the salon to tan on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, say that you burn badly on Monday, for whatever reason. Maybe you're so fair skinned that even just 10 minutes in the booth was too much.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Are you going to go tanning again on Wednesday, when you're still burned, even though you have an appointment? Of course not. That would further burn and damager your skin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'd wait until you're fully healed before going back in the booth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, the same thing should be done when weight training. You need to be fully healed before weight lifting again or else you're just going to cause more harm than good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, make sure you start going on how you feel, and not just a set schedule. If you are training too much, too often, building muscle mass will be nearly impossible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is just one of the things we'll be covering this Tuesday, the 29th, on my "How To Gain Maximum Muscle In Minimum Time" call...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-call.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-call.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're interested in learning how to build the most muscle possible in the least amount of time, you'll want to join me on this call...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-call.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-call.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116226832382751620?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116226832382751620/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116226832382751620' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116226832382751620'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116226832382751620'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/10/throw-your-workout-program-out-window.html' title='Throw Your Workout Program Out The Window'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-116226786459184217</id><published>2006-10-30T19:58:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-10-30T20:11:04.610-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Does Sun Tanning Help To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>In a word... no!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting a sun tan will NOT help you build muscle mass.But the process of getting a tan is similar to one of gaining muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why I use the "sun tanning" analogy when explaining to clients why it's important not to overtrain.&lt;br /&gt;Here's what I mean...          &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're looking to build lean muscle, I want you to first work on getting a tan. (Although that may be tough for us living here in the frigid northeast!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can see it now, people are going to line up at their local tanning salon, telling the clerk they need to start building some muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, let me save you from stares of confusion from the salon owners. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Truth&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The cause and effect relationship between the sun and tanning illustrates a point I want to make about working out too much.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I must get 3 or 4 emails each day from people wanting to know why they're not building muscle as fast as they'd like to. They tell me they're working each muscle group as often as possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, the thing is, there's no law that says if you double your lifting time, you double your results. Usually, if you double the amount of time you lift, you actually lessen your results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's because weight lifting is closer to the "Less is More" theory than the "More Is Better" one.  So I want to show you how getting a tan explains why you do not want to train a muscle group more than once a week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;** Side Note**&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I spend a lot of time in my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" program explaining the concept of too much training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's that important. You need to know exactly how often to train. Too much or too little will produce negative results. So in my "Simple Steps" program, I show clients exactly how much training is required to get the desired benefits.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more on that program....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;** End Side Note**&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting a sun tan is a cause and effect relationship. The sun is the cause and the tan is the effect. In other words, the sun is the stimulus and the tan is the result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you get a tan, what is actually happening is your melanocytes are producing melanin pigment in reaction to ultraviolet light in sunlight. Ultraviolet light stimulates melanin production.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The pigment has the effect of absorbing the UV radiation in sunlight, so it protects the cells from UV damage. You have to expose yourself to UV for a short period of time to activate the melanocytes. By repeating this process over 5 to 7 days pigment builds up in your cells to a level that is protective.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What If I Get Too Much Sun?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What happens when you get too much sun?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's right, you get a burn, something you do not want to happen. Too much of the stimulus leads to a negative result. So the key is to find the right amount of sun for the desired effect. Too little sun results in no tan and too much sun results in a burn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Does This Relate To Building Muscle?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle growth happens by overloading a muscle with heavy weight and then allowing it to rest and recuperate.  In this case, the lifting of heavy weight is the stimulus and, if the environment is properly set up, the result is lean muscle growth. The proper "environment" for muscle growth is rest and proper nutrition (high protein, moderate carbs, plenty of water).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you train a muscle group (biceps, triceps, etc) more than once each week, it doesn't get a chance to recover. And as a result, it will not grow or become stronger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's like going back out in the sun for too long. Overexposure to the sun leads to a burn. Overexposure to lifting leads to overtraining. When overtraining occurs, muscle and strength gains come to a screeching halt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So to maximize muscle growth, you need to train each muscle group only once a week. Too much weight training (stimulus) will produce negative results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you don't allow your muscles to rest, recover, and get ready for the next workout, you're doing the same thing as if you went back out into the sun for too long. Too much of a stimulus can produce negative results. Just the same as too little of something.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There's a fine line you have to walk when it comes to both tanning and training to build muscle. More of each will not produce the best results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It takes experience and tracking your results to learn how long and how often to train in order to get the best results possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want to speed up your results by skipping the learning curve, check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program I mentioned above:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's a step-by-step, "what-to-do and exactly how-to-do-it" system that's literally a roadmap... a blueprint... a muscle-building formula you can use as a shortcut.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you want to start building muscle a lot faster, check out "Simple Steps".  Oh yeah, and start working on your tan ;-)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-116226786459184217?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/116226786459184217/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=116226786459184217' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116226786459184217'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/116226786459184217'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/10/does-sun-tanning-help-to-build-muscle.html' title='Does Sun Tanning Help To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114745576513794030</id><published>2006-05-12T10:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-12T10:42:45.156-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Supplements For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>I get asked, time and time again, which supplements people should be taking to help them build muscle and lose fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After speaking with them, I realize often times that all the supplements in the world wouldn’t help this person because they're under the assumption that just by taking supplements, they'll totally transform their bodies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Supplements are exactly that. They're supposed to supplement your well-balanced diet and your hard work in the gym. They are not a substitute for them. In fact, if you do not train correctly or eat a well-balanced diet, supplements are a total waste of money.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Supplements must be used correctly to be effective. You cannot be haphazard in your approach to taking them, missing days here and there or cutting down the amount taken to make it last longer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Supplements must be taken on your off days from training just as well as when you are working out. It is on your off days that your body is recovering from strenuous workouts and needs the proper nutrition to support muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is a place for supplements in just about everyone’s muscle building routines. The correct supplements will assist you if you are unable to take in the nutrients that are required by your body that you normally get from ingesting whole food sources.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Using the correct supplement will give you an edge in your weight loss and muscle building efforts. I say correct because there are literally more supplements on the market that do not work than those that do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many supplements being sold that guarantee the world to you and produce no results, except a lighter wallet. Just be careful what you read and who you talk to. Everyone seems to be an expert in supplements, often times recommending a product that they believed caused them to gain strength and size when in fact it wasn’t the supplement at all that caused this.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, supplements are not magic. They are not truly needed to gain muscle, shed fat, and get into great shape. However, the right ones can help you get there and stay in better shape if taken correctly. I have benefited from a few specific supplements that we will talk about. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stick with reputable, well-known brands that have been around for a while. The scum companies usually get chased out by consumers, reputable competing companies, or sometimes by the FDA (AB belts for example).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Twinlab, AST Sports Science, Nature’s Best, Met-Rx, Sportpharma, Lee Labrada, EAS, Balance, NOW Foods, Syntrax, and Optimum Nutrition are just a few of the brand that have been around for a while and do not have overwhelmingly bad publicity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remember that there is no magic pill, no cure-all supplement. They are beneficial if you use them often, not once a week. They will produce results if taken consistently over time. Most are not instantaneous (except energy enhancers, which work in about an hour).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Meal Replacements&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the ONE supplement that holds value for anyone looking to build muscle, lose body fat, and lead a healthier, fit lifestyle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Often times, because of a busy schedule, it may be difficult to eat the correct way and the right types of food. Meal replacements provide a perfect, compact meal in a packet that is high in protein, low in fat (some have no fat) are low in carbohydrates, and contain a wide array of vitamins and minerals. They're low in sugar and cholesterol.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They are very nutrient dense and can be mixed easily and conveniently.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also like AST Sports Science Ny-Tro Pro-40, which is delicious in the Strawberry flavor. Met-Rx is the granddaddy of all meal replacements. It’s been around for 10 years. If something did not have any value to a consumer, it would not be around for 10 year. Met-Rx and AST Ny-Tro Pro-40 are a bit more expensive than Natures’ Best Perfect Rx. They are about $3.00 per packet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Protein&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Protein is the major nutrient responsible for muscle growth and repair. Weight-training athletes require more protein than a sedentary person does. Studies with both strength and endurance athletes have indicted that exercise increased the need for protein and amino acids.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your body is in a constant flux of protein turnover 24 hours a day. Whether you train or not, your body demands a constant supply of protein to fuel virtually all metabolic processes required for proper health. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Add weight training to the equation and the demand for quality protein in the body soars. It's no secret that protein builds muscle; no other nutrient can do this. Proper protein consumption should be the number one nutritional concern (other than water) for the bodybuilder, endurance athlete, weekend warrior, or anyone looking to sustain or grow lean muscle tissue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As far as the type of protein supplement you should take, whey protein is the most biologically valuable protein source available,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This means that more of it is utilized by the body than, say, egg protein or soy protein. This also means more is used for muscle growth and immune system enhancement. Milk protein, egg protein, and soy protein are other sources or protein available on the market. Try adding a protein shake or two a day and watch your results on strength and muscle tissue development start to increase.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I enjoy AST Sports Science VyoPro, VyoPro 2 (also called VP2), Nature’s Best Whey Protein and their Isopure Protein, and Met-Rx Protein Plus or Whey Protein. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A word of caution, do not go for the biggest bucket of protein at the cheapest price. You get what you pay for. You will probably get a very low-grade protein source that offers little to no biological value because of the way it has been processed. An average price for a quality whey protein is about 20-25 dollars for a two-pound jug.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are paying 20 dollars for 10 pounds, you are getting a very cheap, probably worthless product.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Creatine&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without a doubt, this one works to build muscle and increase strength. You would be hard pressed to find any health food store or drug store that doesn’t carry creatine. This is a must-use supplement for gaining strength, muscle size, and endurance. Virtually every athlete in every sport today uses creatine for these advantages.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Creatine is a compound that is naturally made in our bodies to supply energy to muscles. We just make very little of it and get very little from whole foods. It is used in the body to produce ATP. Creatine will increase muscle fiber size, strength and overall power. It does this primarily by shuttling water into the muscle cells, forcing the body to hold water intramuscularly (within the muscle), not directly under the skin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So contrary to myth, it will not bloat you. The size you gain is from water being held in the muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Considering muscle is over 70% water, this is a good thing. The first time I ever tried creatine, I took more than the recommended dosage, which really isn’t that much. I gained over 20 pounds of body weight and my bench press went up over 30 pounds in a couple weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This was accomplished by taking 20-30 grams a day (loading phase) for the first week and then taking 15 grams after that (maintenance phase).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Creatine works and is a very safe supplement. I would include it as a very inexpensive, very effective tool in my arsenal to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Glutamine&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Glutamine is probably the most underrated and little known muscle-building supplement. It also may be one of the most important.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Intense weight training has an impact on our recovery process and immune system. Glutamine can combat this. It is used by the body to help recover after weight training. Research has shown a link between stress and your body’s need for glutamine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, the founder of Met-Rx, the popular meal replacement, is a physician that gave his patients glutamine to speed up their recovery time in the hospital. The secret ingredient in Met-Rx that produces such great results is glutamine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid in muscle tissue. It comprises 61 % of the amino acid pool in skeletal muscle. Glutamine literally drives muscle-building nitrogen into the muscle cell where it is synthesized for tissue growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Glutamine concentrations fall markedly after training and remain low until complete recovery. What this means is the very rigors of weight training "leaks" nitrogen-carrying glutamine from muscle tissue. This fall in glutamine is catabolic to muscle tissue, meaning it breaks muscle tissue down.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Supplementing with glutamine spares free glutamine in muscle tissue, counter acts the fall in muscle protein syntheses, and improves nitrogen balance. A bit scientific, I know, but very important to keep nitrogen retention levels high after training. You train with weight to build muscle. The more intensely you train and the heavier the overload becomes, the greater the muscle growth response will be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Glutamine is a key factor in muscle growth and controlling the whole body glutamine gradients is critical in maintaining and building muscle tissue. The higher the muscle glutamine levels you can maintain, the less chance you have of falling into muscle tissue breakdown.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have used glutamine from AST Sports Science, Met-Rx, and Nature's Best. It is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Just mix it into juice, milk, or water three to four times a day and you will start to "feel" the difference within a week or two. You will not be as sick as often and your recovery time will greatly improve!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These were just a few of the muscle building supplements that I feel are valuable. If you're on a tight budget, stick with one of the above. If you have a little more to spend, then the more of the supplements above that you use, the better off you may be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can find more about muscle building supplements in my Simple Steps To Get Huge and Shredded training program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As well as on my website, where I show you which supplements are proven to help you build muscle, shed fat, and get results fast!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114745576513794030?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114745576513794030/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114745576513794030' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114745576513794030'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114745576513794030'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/05/supplements-for-building-muscle.html' title='Supplements For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114711567874014852</id><published>2006-05-08T12:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-08T12:14:38.766-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Keep Track Of Your Muscle Building Progress</title><content type='html'>When working out to build muscle or lose fat, you need to see if what you are doing is working or not.  If it isnt, you need to stop, regroup, figure what you're doing wrong, and start heading in the right direction again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So in order to make progress, you have to measure your results. You can look in the mirror and see if you're achieving the muscle gains or fat loss you want. You can tell by the way your clothes fit or by what your friends say. You can judge by the scale, although this is not the greatest way to measure success.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After starting a weight-training program, you'll soon start gaining muscle mass. This muscle weighs more than fat, so the scale may not show a difference in weight, in fact, it may say you have gained weight. So it's misleading.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You may have lost body fat, but the scale doesnt distinguish this. The way to properly measure your progress is through body fat testing. This is a very accurate method to test the percentage of fat mass and muscle mass that you have.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Obviously, if the goal is to lose body fat, you need to see if what you are doing is working. Its good to test body fat at least every 30-60 days. You need to know where you currently are before you know where you are going.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So having your body fat tested is just one way to keep track of your progress.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another is to always, always, always keep a written journal or log for your workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're at all serious about building muscle and increasing strength--this is a must.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It’s the only way you can keep track of your lifts and know when its time to go up in weight.&lt;br /&gt;Just use a small pocket notebook and write all your lifts and weights used in it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let’s say you didn’t use a notebook and decided to go by memory. Say that you had a great bench day and ended up going up 5 pounds in weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But you fail to write it down and think, "I’ll remember that I went up."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, a week goes by and you’ve totally forgotten the weight you used last bench day, so bench time comes around again and you’re scratching your head, wondering what it is you last did for weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chances are, you’re going to put on your old weight, not the new weight (that you added 5 pounds to). When that happens, you went backwards and have lost the progress you made.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Building muscle only happens from progressively increasing the amount of weight you lift, over time. Muscle mass has to be forced to grow, it doesn't happen without increased overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Believe me, forgetting your weights happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And when you fail to increase the amount of weight you lift, on any exercises, your results will suffer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have 30 or so exercises to keep track of, it’s easy to forget one or two of your weights.&lt;br /&gt;And if you forget a weight and do the same weight again when you should have went up, you just wasted your time and energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You just did something you were already capable of doing and have missed the chance to increase the overload you were using (and in turn, the muscle and strength that would have come with the new overload).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please use a journal for your workouts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These are just a few of the ways to keep track of your muscle building and fat loss progress.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;--Shawn LeBrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shred.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shred.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114711567874014852?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114711567874014852/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114711567874014852' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114711567874014852'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114711567874014852'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/05/keep-track-of-your-muscle-building.html' title='Keep Track Of Your Muscle Building Progress'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114477671401955354</id><published>2006-04-11T10:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-04-11T10:31:54.040-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Overtraining will stop your muscle growth</title><content type='html'>As a trainer, trying to tell people not to overtrain is one of my biggest struggles.  Overtraining can happen quickly and easily and is often a hard rut to get out of.  And it's also the biggest reason why most people do not gain the muscle mass they truly desire.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You really have to listen to your body and go on how it feels.  Your brain can actually work against in some instances because we are always led to believe that "more is better" in our society and that often times just isn't the case.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Especially in weight training, where "more" will almost always lead to overtraining.  If you feel you're plateauing or even getting weaker on your lifts instead of stronger, that's a sign (one of the most prevalent) of overtraining.  Also, nagging injuries, trouble sleeping, yawning during workouts, being constantly tired and run down are other sure-fire signs of over doing it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everyone responds differently to weight training, some people can lift 7 days a week and not overtrain.  Others overtrain if they lift more than 3 times a week.  It's very individualistic.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The key is to find the right balance for you.  If you train too often, muscles do not get a chance to recuperate and will not grow or become stronger. With that said, you can definitely go back to the weights you were lifting before overtraining, but you really do want to learn how to set up your routine to avoid future chances of overtraining. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I will show you how you can learn how to build muscle, without overtraining, in a minute.  After all, you gain muscle from after the workout. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You actually do not grow in the gym, you grow when resting.  Now, in my experience, 2 types of people can respond well to more frequent training, such as training each muscle group twice:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Steroid users. That's because all of these steroids and drugs have one thing in common---they allow the user to recover faster.  Because they can recover from previous workouts faster, the likelihood ofovertraining is diminished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. New weight trainers, people just beginning---that's because they have not been training long enough to start to see the effects of overtraining.  But even as a beginner starts to train more and more often, he/she will start to see their results go down.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more a beginner trains, the more he/she starts to get into the possibilities of overtraining.  But just starting out, they can literally train all the time and still see results, because their bodies can handle it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Other than that, my best results and the results of all of my clients show that training each muscle group once a week is best because you allow for optimum recovery that way.  I can tell you from personal experience that it's not the amount of time you spend in the gym that matters, it's HOW you spend that time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, the average gain of most of my "Simple Stepsto Get Huge and Shredded" program users is about 20pounds of muscle mass in about 9 weeks time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And this program tells you more about the "why" behind setting up your workout the right way, to avoid overtraining.  I basically took what I did to build lean muscle mass for a bodybuilding show and put it into a step-by-step plan for others to follow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By following "Simple Steps", you're by-passing the learning curve and doing exactly what works to build muscle and increase strength, saving you a ton of time and aggravation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cover which exercises to do, how much to do them, how many reps, sets, which supplements to take, how to do your cardio, how to burn fat, how to avoid overtraining...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How to increase your strength THE FIRST DAY, I cover nutrition, what to eat, when to eat, I cover all the best exercises, how to gain muscle...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And that's just a tiny piece.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The reason I mention this program is because it explains exactly what it takes to build muscle and then it shows you HOW to build muscle.  It virtually eliminates overtraining by showing you how you must set up your weight training and cardio routine to maximize muscle growth and minimize the chances of overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It also shows you how you must train and eat in order to keep the mass gains that you get while following this program.  In order to keep muscle gains, you must continue to train heavy and intense.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You must also eat right in order to support muscle growth.  Specifically, high protein, moderate carbs, and low fats.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Simple Steps" shows you exactly how to eat in order to keep muscle gains.  I've been fortunate to get some really great feedback from users of this program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can learn more about this muscle-building and fat-loss program here...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114477671401955354?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114477671401955354/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114477671401955354' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114477671401955354'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114477671401955354'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/04/overtraining-will-stop-your-muscle.html' title='Overtraining will stop your muscle growth'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114426900146549574</id><published>2006-04-05T13:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-04-05T13:30:01.486-07:00</updated><title type='text'>We ALL have days of self doubt!</title><content type='html'>I think its normal to have days of self doubt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you didn't have them, I'd question your desire and will to go after what you want to achieve in your life. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When I started my online business 5 years ago, just about every day of mine was filled with self doubt. But it also came from family and relationships, people around me that truly didn't feel it was possible to make a good living online. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But I failed to listen to those who detracted from what I wanted and I stayed on course and persistently worked at building an online business.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5 years ago, I would be lucky to make $50.00 a week from my online business.  This year, we're on track for over six figures and I was just featured in the "Secrets to Their Success" website.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't mention any of this to brag, but to prove that being persistent and keeping your eye on what you're looking to achieve can help harness self doubt.Because self doubt can be paralyzing if you allow it and I think that's why so many people fail to realize their dreams.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What makes people special is the ability to bounce back from days of self doubt and get back on track, going after those things that matter to you (family, fitness, community, etc)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, on those days of self doubt, realize that it gets better.  Focus on what you have accomplished and what you still want to accomplish.  Then get back on track and refuse to settle for anything less.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As much as I preach fitness and taking care of your physical self, I truly do believe its just as important as taking care of the "emotional" self.  Because constantly giving to others like family, friends, and community can be very draining.  I liken it to a bank account.  If you keep giving money out to everyone else, soon you're left with nothing for yourself. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I think its important during the course of the week to find time for yourself and those things you personally like to do, like your workouts,  reading, playing an instrument, painting, etc.  That way, you can fill yourself back up and be ready to give to others without feeling so wiped.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bottom line... don't let days of self doubt take away from what you've accomplished and what you still want to accomplish.  If you keep moving ahead, being persistent, good things will happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The world has a weird way of keeping score. Not all days suck. Not all days are great.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But as long as the good outnumber the day by a pretty large margin, I'd say you're doing well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Shawn&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114426900146549574?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114426900146549574/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114426900146549574' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114426900146549574'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114426900146549574'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/04/we-all-have-days-of-self-doubt.html' title='We ALL have days of self doubt!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114417485031194610</id><published>2006-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-04-04T11:21:22.986-07:00</updated><title type='text'>You can definitely gain muscle and lose fat at the same time</title><content type='html'>You CAN definitely gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. But you really have to be "right on" when it comes to your nutrition and your training. And I would attack both at once--gaining muscle while losing fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Why needlessly separate the two when you can work on them at the same time. In fact, the bodybuilding pros in the old days used to do these 2 separate phases of bulking and cutting. Not any more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With today's nutritional advances, almost all bodybuilders (amateur or pro) stay lean AND muscular year round.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's going to be based on your calorie intake and nutritional approach. It's a must that you figure out your calories because if your drastically over or under your daily needs, you're going to have trouble gaining muscle while losing fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The formula in my Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded program will show you how to find your daily caloric needs based upon your individual info. Use that number as a guide, try to hit it or come close to it each and every day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This "balance" of calories will make sure you're taking in enough to build muscle but not so many extra calories so that you gain fat. You have to find that "balance" and the worksheet in the program will do that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, make sure you're training with the principles of the program, meaning lower reps, heavy weight, lower number of sets, training each muscle group once a week. This will ensure you're adding lean muscle mass even while you are shedding fat from your "precision calorie intake"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lastly, if you want to shed fat while gaining muscle, you have to make sure your cardio sessions are short and INTENSE. 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times each week is all you need to get the fat off, but each session needs to be intense for it to be productive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By approaching the process of building muscle and losing fat on a3-pronged level, you need to:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Find your calories needed each day and make sure you're not going greatly under or over.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Keep weight training heavy so that muscle is stimulated to grow. If you do not force muscle to grow by lifting heavy and intense, it will not grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Keep cardio short and intense. Long cardio sessions are not productive at burning fat and preserving lean muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And you absolutely want to consume a protein/carb drink after each workout. The best times to take ANY protein drink or protein supplements are as follows .&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've listed them in order of importance, so based upon your affordability, start at the top of the list and work down.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. **Most important time---right after a workout. Your muscles are like a sponge and need instant nutrition for muscle recovery and growth. So you want to take a carb/protein mixture.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I use whey protein and Gatorade, or whey protein and juice. The reason you want a carb/protein mixture is because the carbs help replenish muscle glycogen stores lost during exercise and the protein of course helps with muscle tissue repair and growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Right before bed.You're about ready to sleep for 6 to 8 hours, meaning that's 6 to 8 hours without protein or any nutrition for that matter. Could you imagine going throughout the day when awake not eating 6 to 8 hours? So right before bed is important.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's where a meal replacement works well. Since most meal replacements are made with a mix of milk, whey, and egg proteins, each having a different digestion rate, by using a meal replacement, you get the benefits of slower digested proteins during sleep. So definitely a meal replacement, or any protein for that matter, is beneficial before bed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Right upon waking. Same thing, you've just gone 6 to 8 hours without proper nutrition, so your body needs some quick. Meal replacements or a protein shake with milk works well here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Half hour before a workout. This sets up an "anabolic window" before and after your workout so that you provide your muscles with adequate nutrition so that the effects of weight training(weight training breaks down muscle--called catabolic) are not as severe.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is another instance where you want to mix your protein with a carb source like juice or a sports drink. Before and after workouts are the only 2 times its important to use a carb/protein mix, other times can be protein/milk or protein/water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These are the best times for protein. Protein supplements may be better than whole food in these times only because its digested quicker.If you can afford 4 servings, you'll really notice the difference.But definitely I'd do one right after a workout and right before bed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Follow these tips above, and the ones in my muscle-building and fat-loss program....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shred2.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shred2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And you'll soon be gaining more muscle and losing more fat than you ever thought possible!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114417485031194610?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114417485031194610/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114417485031194610' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114417485031194610'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114417485031194610'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/04/you-can-definitely-gain-muscle-and.html' title='You can definitely gain muscle and lose fat at the same time'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114410828716196769</id><published>2006-04-03T16:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-04-03T16:51:27.176-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Cardio and building muscle</title><content type='html'>Short intense cardio sessions lasting no longer than 15 to 20 minutes is the BEST way to prevent muscle loss from happening by doing cardio.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most people do cardio wrong, they do it for too long and too slow (not intense) The shorter the sessions and the more intense, the less likely you will cause muscle breakdown.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The main purpose of doing cardio is not the calories you burn during cardio, but the calories you burn after cardio.  Short, intense sessions of cardio will raise your metabolism, which in turn will cause your body to burn more calories throughout the day.  To show you proof, look at sprinters, who do short bursts of running.  They are lean but very muscular.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, look at long distance runners like marathoners, they are skinny, lanky, and have little muscle.  The difference is in how much cardio they do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is an article I wrote about how to set up yourcardio for best results:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/sample.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/sample.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When doing your fat loss phase, cardio is extremely important, since that's one of the ways to burn calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However, in a muscle mass building phase, cardio is still important but not as much as it was with the fat loss stage.  In fact, too much cardio during a muscle gaining stage can hinder muscle growth, since you're expending calories that were needed for muscle growth and instead, using them for cardio.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In a muscle building stage, the way you ensure continuous muscle growth without gaining fat is to be quite precise with your nutrition.  Adding calories a little at a time, based on current results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That way, you don't take in so many extra calories that they go towards body fat storage.  Remember the old days of bodybuilders doing  separate"bulking and cutting phases" It wouldn't be uncommon to see a bodybuilder go from200 pounds to 280 in a matter of weeks, all based upon a serious increase in calories.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We don't want that.  We want to stay lean as well as add muscle and that's primarily done by a proper approach to nutrition.  So in a mass building stage, cardio now takes a back seat to weight training and nutrition.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114410828716196769?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114410828716196769/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114410828716196769' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114410828716196769'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114410828716196769'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/04/cardio-and-building-muscle.html' title='Cardio and building muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114377978361506216</id><published>2006-03-30T20:26:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-03-30T20:46:25.056-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Do you need soreness to build muscle</title><content type='html'>One of the emails I get a lot of is from people asking me why they're not sore as much from using my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Soreness is not an indicator of a successful workout.  Soreness just means that your muscle tissue is still inflammed and has not recovered yet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The people that train to achieve soreness are not doing any good for their muscles, they are actually creating an overtraining situation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Overload and overload only is the way to tell if your workout was successful. This simply means going up in the amount of weight you lift over time.  For instance, if you begin the program benching 200 and slowly go up over time to 210, then 215, then 225.  That's a sign of success.  Now, with that said, it is common to have some soreness after intense, heavy lifting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But over time, the soreness from workouts should goaway since your body is getting used to the intense workouts.  If you continue to be very sore, you could be overdoing it and possibly overtraining since your body is telling you its not recovered yet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, DO NOT worry about being sore. All soreness means is that you have some microscopic fiber damage and inflammation that needs healing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Soreness does not have anything to do with what causes muscle and strength gains --- progressive overload. Overload (lifting more weight over time) is the stimulus to building muscle and gaining strength.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more weight you force your muscles to lift, the more your muscles have to adapt by getting bigger and stronger. Soreness doesn't come into the overload equation. But too much soreness can prevent muscle and strength gains.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're too sore to lift heavily, that means less weight lifted and means less muscle stimulation. As a result, less muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, don't fall for what you see the guys in the gym doing... a ton of reps and sets just to get sore. They're sadly mistaken about what it takes to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They think that by lifting until sore, that will magically make their muscles grow. Makes no sense.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If soreness was all it took to build muscle, then you could punch yourself on the arm until you were black and blue. I guarantee you'll be sore the next day but I also guarantee that won't grow muscle there ;-)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bottom line -- lift for overload (most weight you can handle) and don't focus on soreness. Sure, some days you WILL be sore, that cannot be prevented, but don't make it a factor. And if you are really sore the next day, take a couple of Advil to reduce the soreness and inflammation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Believe it or not, taking 2 Advil (ibuprofen) after training will drop your soreness by 90%. After all, lifting weights damages muscle tissue, causing it to become irritated and inflammed.The main job of Advil is to reduce inflammation, so it makes perfect sense why ibuprofen can be helpful after lifting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'd go with ibuprofen (advil) and not tylenol (acetominophen) Advil works better for reducing inflammation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So please don't make the mistake I see so many people make: they train for too long, just so they can get sore. They think this helps with building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And it doesn't. Train heavy, train intense, and then go home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Shawn LeBrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114377978361506216?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114377978361506216/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114377978361506216' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114377978361506216'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114377978361506216'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/03/do-you-need-soreness-to-build-muscle.html' title='Do you need soreness to build muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114340675330771155</id><published>2006-03-26T12:47:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-03-26T12:59:13.326-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Building Muscle Can Be Easy (Once you know the secrets)</title><content type='html'>Years ago, I would spend hours in the gym each week, busting my ass until I was completely wiped out... and I had little to show for it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was overweight, not real muscular, and definitely not the "bodybuilder type".&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And it wasn't until I set out to learn the secrets that I had any measureable success.&lt;br /&gt;And you want to know what I discovered soon after?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's that building muscle is actually quite simple, once you learn and USE the secrets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I knew that there had to be a "better way" to build muscle and lose fat. I just had to discover it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After all, I had seen so many people in natural muscle mags and onstage at natural bodybuilding shows in amazing shape. So I knew that they were doing something right.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And the thing is, I knew that if they could do it, so could I. So that started my journey into discovering why so many people were getting results, when I wasn't getting squat!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I studied all natural athletes and bodybuilders. Anyone I could find that had the lean, muscular physique that I had and wanted. And I came to realize that most of them were doing the same things in their diets and workout routines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I copied what I could and soon started seeing incredible results. In the first few weeks alone, I had gotten better results than years previous.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I knew I was on to something.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fast forward nine weeks and I stepped onstage at a natural bodybuilding contest in Somerset Masachussetts.  It was my first ever natural bodybuilding show.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And just nine weeks before that, I was disgusted with myself that I never was getting anywhere.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So what's this rambling about?  It's this:  It doesn't matter where you are right now. It really doesn't.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What matters is where you want to be. Once you know that, you can devise a plan to get you there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Like I said earlier, gaining muscle and losing fat is easy, once you know the secrets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can skip the trial and error I went through and use the secrets I learned.&lt;br /&gt;That way, there's no guesswork, no lost time or money, and you get results a heck of a lot faster.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If that's something that interests you, go to this page here....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/overture.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And read that important message. It could just change your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;--Shawn&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114340675330771155?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114340675330771155/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114340675330771155' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114340675330771155'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114340675330771155'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/03/building-muscle-can-be-easy-once-you.html' title='Building Muscle Can Be Easy (Once you know the secrets)'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114332306239375423</id><published>2006-03-25T13:29:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-03-25T13:44:22.423-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Here's Why Your Current Routine Isn't Producing Muscle Gains</title><content type='html'>You know, I'm sick and tired of hearing people say that you can't build muscle and lose fat at the same time. That's plain bull***t!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The truth is, you can do both at the same time if you follow an intelligent training and nutritional plan. My clients and I are walking, talking examples.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But so many people have such a hard time doing both. It's not their fault, they've just been taught the wrong way. And the truth is, the little-known nutrition and training secrets you'll learn in my program are ones that most people just don't know.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And that leads them to wrongly say you can't build muscle and lose fat at the same time.&lt;br /&gt;Look, losing fat and building muscle isn't rocket science. It's just like following a recipe. Add too much of one thing (sets, reps) or not enough of another (rest, protein) the end result is NOT going to be what you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Where many people make their first mistake is with their weight training. Now, you already know that heavy weight training is how you build muscle. But what you may NOT know is, you don't need to train for hours a day, seven days a week like they lead you to believe in the magazines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The truth is, too much exercise is counter-productive! If you work out too often, you don't give your muscles enough time to recuperate and grow from the workout.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not only that, in the quest to lose fat, some people start to train lighter and use higher reps. And this is the first step in completely...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Murdering The Muscle Building Process!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle growth is stimulated by overload from weight training. Training with lighter weights will NOT increase your fat loss, it will simply reduce the stimulus for your muscles to grow. Less stimulus means less growth. So DO NOT train with more reps and less weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why it's important my program shows you the proven rep and set range that stimulates strength and muscle development.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not only that, your cardio must be done in a proper way. (And it's not what you think!) Most people do their cardio wrong and that's why they lose muscle AND fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Doing cardio too often (frequency) or for too long (duration) leaves little recovery between workouts. This can lead to a lack of muscle growth and little change in body fat. Unfortunately many people fall into the mind set of "more is better" and because of it, kill their results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lose Fat Without Losing Muscle!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There's a correct way to structure cardio into your workouts so that you increase your metabolism and burn body fat faster -- without any compromise on muscle or strength gains.&lt;br /&gt;The main factors to consider when doing cardio are the time of day, the intensity, and the length of your sessions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Each one plays an important role in effectively burning body fat, but not at the sacrifice of losing lean muscle tissue. Do any of these wrong and it's a surefire way to stop all muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For example, did you know that doing cardio first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, is a sure way to LOSE muscle mass... and not fat!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't worry, I'll show you the proven-effective way to set up your cardio to help you get AND stay lean!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want to learn it now, go to&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com"&gt;http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And most importantly, your body needs the proper amount of rest, the right amount of calories, and the right types of food to build muscle after training. This proportion of nutrients plays an absolutely critical role in the process of building muscle and losing fat at the same time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The primary nutrient responsible for building muscle is protein. You need to make sure that you're supplying yourself with quality protein frequently throughout the day. This will give your body the exact muscle building nutrients you need to pack on muscle with a controlled total calorie amount to help you burn fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why the most important secret is learning how to eat enough calories to build more muscle, but not so many calories that you gain body fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't worry, my program shows you when to eat, what to eat, and how much to eat in order to keep losing fat, while gaining lean muscle. (I also have a formula in my program to help you establish appropriate nutrient totals for your body weight.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you can see, building muscle and losing fat are different processes, so you can do both at the same time -- but ONLY if you approach it the right way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trick, of course... is finding the right combination, knowing exactly how to set up your weight training, cardio, and nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because if you make even the smallest mistakes, you will NOT be able to build muscle while shedding fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do You Make These MistakesWhen Trying To Build Muscle?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let me clear up some myths for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First, I can tell you from personal experience that you're not going to learn the truth about building muscle from some late-nite infomercial selling the latest workout gadget.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nor will you learn the truth from some slick, air-brushed "before-and-after" supplement ad. I know damn well the big supplement and magazine companies don't want you to discover these secrets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's true. Supplement companies would lose millions of dollars if you knew that training and proper eating were the keys to gaining muscle and losing fat. And not supplements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You know, it amazes me how many people I see throw away hundreds of dollars on supplements each month. But they neglect to learn how to train correctly. Building muscle comes from training, not supplements!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, I rarely take any supplements other than protein, creatine, and glutamine. Instead, I focus more on my training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Why is that? Because that's how muscle mass gets built! I've learned, through my past mistakes, that you CANNOT make gains without the proper training method.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These Are Insider Secrets The SupplementCompanies Don't Want You To Know&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Supplements are just that... they supplement your training. They don't take the place of it.&lt;br /&gt;(By the way, if you invest in my program, I show you exactly what supplements are proven to work. I also show you how and when to take them to get the best possible results.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But that's not all. You definitely will NOT get the muscle mass you want by copying some "pro" guy's workout routine if he got big by taking thousand of dollars worth of steroids. That's an insane waste of time and energy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After all, you and I both know they don't get that big from just training and taking supplements.&lt;br /&gt;The routines you see in the muscle mags are written by bodybuilders with steroid-built physiques. And since they use drugs, they DO NOT train like us. The steroids let them train for hours a day and still see results. You and I cannot do that or we'd overtrain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Believe me, I fell for all of these in the past and burned a ton of time and money.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you can see, you need trusted advice from someone who has been where you are. Someone who understands your frustration with not making gains and knows what it honestly takes for us natural guys to pack on muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So avoid the mistakes and confusion by following the same training recipe I created and perfected after years of trial and error... a powerful formula for building more muscle and losing more fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's called Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded. It's a step by step muscle building program that's proven to help you build muscle fast.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can read more about it here...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com"&gt;http://www.Bodybuilder-Secrets.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114332306239375423?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114332306239375423/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114332306239375423' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114332306239375423'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114332306239375423'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/03/heres-why-your-current-routine-isnt.html' title='Here&apos;s Why Your Current Routine Isn&apos;t Producing Muscle Gains'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-114227560539608607</id><published>2006-03-13T10:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-03-13T10:46:45.420-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Check Out My New Muscle Building &amp; Fat Loss Forum</title><content type='html'>I get many, many emails from people who are looking to learn more about building muscle and losing fat.  It's tough to wade through the hype and the B.S. out there when it comes to learning the truth about losing fat and gaining muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I decided to start my brand new muscle building and fat loss discussion board...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/forum"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/forum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here, you'll be able to ask questions about losing fat, building muscle, weight training, cardio, nutrition, and supplements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And you'll be able to get answers to your questions -- fast. I have a few select people I've asked to help me with answering questions on the forum, when I get too busy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, I'll be dropping by often to make posts and to also answer questions you may have.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you want to ask a question that pertains to building muscle, losing fat, or just plain getting in great shape, check out my new muscle building and fat loss discussion forum here...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/forum"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/forum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;--Shawn Lebrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com"&gt;www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-114227560539608607?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/114227560539608607/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=114227560539608607' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114227560539608607'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/114227560539608607'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/03/check-out-my-new-muscle-building-fat.html' title='Check Out My New Muscle Building &amp; Fat Loss Forum'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113745994903927074</id><published>2006-01-16T16:41:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-01-16T17:05:49.053-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Effectively Building Tricep Muscles</title><content type='html'>The key to building the tricep muscles is not turning the workout into a marathon. Efficiency and productivity are the keys to building tricep muscles. Actually, those are the keys to building any muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well-built triceps are essential to upper body strength. Not only that, there's something pretty awesome about a powerful, well-defined pair of triceps busting out of the sleeves of your shirt.  Strong tricep muscles are important to building chest mass, since the triceps play such a big part in all chest work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to continually make gains in tricep size and power if you're going to handle the heavier weights that are required for chest training.  That's also true for shoulder work. Without strong tricep muscles, you'll have trouble training shoulders with maximum weight and intensity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When building the tricep muscles,  you only need 2 or 3 exercises to get results. You want to pick exercises that not only help you build muscle in that area, but ones that do not put any undue stress on the joints of the elbows.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the best exercises for building the tricep muscles is the tricep pushdowns using a cambered bar on the cable machine.  Stick with 2 or 3 warm up sets,  followed by 2 or 3 heavy sets of tricep pushdowns.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another great exercise for building the tris are lying tricep extensions with an EZ curl bar. The key to these are to lower the bar a little behind your head, not directly to the forehead. Bringing the bar down to the forehead puts too much stress and strain on the elbows.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Close-grip bench presses are probably my third choice for building the muscles of the triceps. In fact, even if you stuck with these 3 mass builders, your triceps would be ahead of most peoples.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can also use 1-arm pushdowns on the cable machine as well as 1-arm tricep extensions using a dumbbell and lowering it behind the head.  Tricep kickbacks are probably my last choice for building triceps. They don't allow you to use a lot of weight, so the overload capabilities are limited.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Master these tricep exercises and try to use more weight and intensity when doing them. I can assure you, if you do that, you'll start building your tricep muscles faster than anything else you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want to learn how to use the best number of reps and sets for building your tricep muscles, check out my muscle building program "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It will show you how to build all of your muscles in a lot less time. Check it out and you'll never train any of your muscle groups the same again;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113745994903927074?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113745994903927074/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113745994903927074' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113745994903927074'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113745994903927074'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/01/effectively-building-tricep-muscles.html' title='Effectively Building Tricep Muscles'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113700843961428615</id><published>2006-01-11T11:32:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-01-11T11:40:39.630-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Can You Build Muscle While Training At Home?</title><content type='html'>One question I'm asked a lot is whether or not my programs can be used to build muscle at home.  And without a doubt, the answer is yes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Working out at home can be very effective for building muscle, increasing strength, and losing fat. The truth is, you don't need some fancy gym or high-powered machine to see results. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know of many championship physiques that were built at home, with nothing more than a set of dumbbells and a utility bench.  The key to training at home effectively is, well, actually working out.  I know people who have good intentions of lifting at home, but are then easily distracted by the kids, by the need to cook dinner, or by their favorite TV show. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're serious about building muscle and getting the body you've always wanted, you can't let anything stand in your way.  That's why it's important to establish a set time to work out.  Make it an appointment that you must keep.  Don't let anything come between you and this time. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try to set up your home gym away from all distractions.   Me, I have a completely separate finished room in the basement to train in.  It's away from all the noise and distractions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next, all you need to build muscle at home is a good set of dumbbells, in which you can keep adding weights to. Also, a straight barbell would come in handy, so you can do bicep curls, shoulder presses, and back rows.  You also want additional free weights you can keep adding to it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And finally, a good utility bench that you can do presses and other exercises on. Total set up should cost no more than $200, which is less than the cost of a 6-month membership at most gyms.  So, not only is the cost minimal, the amount of space you need to store it all is minimal too.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The biggest factors in weight training to build muscle at home are:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Making sure you do it when you're supposed to. Set a time each night and stick to it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. You need to have enough weights so you can keep adding resistance to what you have. Since you build muscle and gain strength by lifting more weight over time, you must be able to keep adding weight to your equipment. If you can, you're all set to train at home.  If not, run down to your local Walmart or other department store and head right to the sporting goods section. Everything you need to build a lean, muscular physique can be had right there, for under $200.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3.  Even if you're main goal is to build muscle, I'm sure you don't want to add fat. So you'll have to do cardio. For your cardio, you can either walk or run outdoors. If you have a treadmill, bike, or other cardio equipment at home, you have everything you need to train effectively.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So don't delay working out and getting in shape, just because you can't make it to a gym right now. Bring the gym home to you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're just starting to work out and you'd like a step-by-step "blueprint" for setting up your weight training to build muscle, check out my newest training program "Muscle Building 101: A Beginners Guide To Weight Lifting And Bodybuilding"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginner-guide.html" target="_blank"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginner-guide.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This guide will show you, step by step, how to set up your weight training, cardio, and nutrition routine to see results fast. It's set up for the beginner or for someone that hasn't been training in a while.Skip the learning curve and cut out the trial and error with this muscle building guide:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginner-guide.html" target="_blank"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginner-guide.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113700843961428615?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113700843961428615/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113700843961428615' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113700843961428615'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113700843961428615'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/01/can-you-build-muscle-while-training-at.html' title='Can You Build Muscle While Training At Home?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113640730861622338</id><published>2006-01-04T12:16:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-01-04T12:41:48.630-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Machines Are Still Okay For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>If you've read my past blog entries or articles, you'll know I'm a big fan of using free weights when working out to build muscle.  But the thing is, even if you only have access to machines, you can still pack on some muscle size.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just because you don't have access to free weights doesn't mean you should give up on your muscle building goals. After all, to a point, resistance is resistance, no matter if it's from machines or free weights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to lift progressively heavier weight, over time, if you're going to build muscle. And this can still be done using machines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some times, the gym is nuts with a ton of people and you can't get near the free weights and all that's left to use is the machines.  Instead of giving up and going home, start cranking out your exercises on the machines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One reason machines are not as good for building muscle as are free weights is because the machines isolate the muscle too much. When a muscle is isolated, it will not be able to lift as much weight, so the overload is reduced. Less overload to the muscles means less muscle growth as a result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And machines really isolate the muscle groups, therefore reducing overload to the muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One benefit of using machines over free weights is that machines allow you to just focus on lifting the weight. With dumbbells, you have to struggle and use a lot of energy just to get them in position and ready to lift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A machine you can just start the lift. You can lock yourself in position and focus all your strength and energy on moving that weight. This will allow you to overload the muscles, since you're able to use more energy on the lifting portion and not trying to get the weights up and ready.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another benefit of machines is you don't need a spotter. You can hit the point of muscle failure and lift as heavy as possible, without worrying about your safety.  The machines have built-in safety mechanisms in place, so you're less likely to injure yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With free weights, it's just you and the weights, so if you get into trouble, you have to dump the weights yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One technique for building muscle on machines is using burn sets. A burn set is when you lift a certain muscle group to failure and then, without resting, get a lighter weight and start doing more reps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's called a burn set because your muscles will literally burn with lactic acid build up. They're not something you want to do all the time for building muscle, since you can overtrain if you do too many burn sets. But once in a while, they're helpful for shocking the muscles into more muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One other benefit of machines over free weights for building muscle is that of rehab and coming off an injury. Machines offer direct, localized overload to the muscles, without having to worry about stress surges against the muscle. You can go as slow as you need, with as light weight you need, to slowly build back the muscle that was injured.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, the next time you hear someone say that machines are not useful for gaining muscle, take it with a grain of salt.  All overload can help build muscle and machines are just another form of overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Include them in your muscle building workout from time to time and you're less likely to get bored any time soon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have any questions about what machines to use or how to set up your workout to use the best exercises, reps, and sets for building muscle, check out my newest program "Muscle Building 101: A Beginners Guide to Weight Lifting and Bodybuilding:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginners-guide-to-building-muscle-mass.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginners-guide-to-building-muscle-mass.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It will cut out the normal learning curve and will help you get right to the basics of building muscle and increasing your strength.  If you're new at lifting or just want to get back to the basics of building muscle, you can find more about it here:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginners-guide-to-building-muscle-mass.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/beginners-guide-to-building-muscle-mass.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113640730861622338?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113640730861622338/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113640730861622338' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113640730861622338'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113640730861622338'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/01/machines-are-still-okay-for-building.html' title='Machines Are Still Okay For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113621518090691311</id><published>2006-01-02T06:39:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-01-02T07:19:40.926-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Compound Exercises For Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>Some exercises offer more stimulus for building muscle than others.  Compound exercises are some of the best ones to use if you want to build more muscle in less time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Compound movements use many muscle groups at the same time, which is why they are called compound.  They are a combination of 2 or more exercises all rolled into one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, one compound exercise can work up to 10 muscle groups at once.  And the great thing about them is, they allow you to train just about all of your muscle groups in a very short time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, you could do just 3 compound movements in your workout and complete all of your muscle groups in about 15 minutes. So if you're short for time but you still want to build muscle, you may want to start using these exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because compound movements are very intense and offer a lot of overload to the muscles, they are very effective at building muscle.  And by working several muscle groups at the same time, your body will use more stored calories as fuel, so you'll burn more fat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Compound movements pull your muscles together to accomplish a lift together, so they strengthen individual muscles and the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are some of the forgotten compound exercises you can use to build more muscle in less time at the gym.  Remember to start light and get the feel for the exercise before deciding to use more weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Power Clean and Press:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This exercise works the shoulders, triceps, chest, back, abs, and legs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What you do is, place a barbell on the floor in front of you, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, bend and grab the bar with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder width.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure your back is straight and shoulders are not arched forward. With your arms straight and head facing forward, slowly stand only using your leg muscles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your arms and back needs to be straight as the bar passes your knees and comes to rest against the front of your thighs.  Then, swing the bar upward, bending at the elbows. until the bar is directly in front of your chest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With your back straight, use your arms and shoulders to press the weight over your head, like you're doing a standing shoulder press.  Then, using your ab muscles to keep your lower back tight, slowly lower the weight back to your shoulders, then down to your thighs, and finally to the floor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Power Clean and Press is very effective for athletes wanting to increase their explosiveness.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Super Squat::&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This works the legs, butt, lower back, biceps, shoulders, triceps, chest, abs, and calves.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stand up straight with a dumbbell in each hand, feet about shoulder width apart. Palms should be facing your legs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keeping your back straight,  squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.  Slowly return to the starting position.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Once you're back to standing up straight, curl both dumbbells towards your shoulders, so your palms are facing your shoulders.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then, turn your palms outward so they face away from you and then press both weights overhead. Slowly lower to your shoulders and turn your wrists so your palms face you again.&lt;br /&gt;Then curl the weights back to your side in the starting position.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Power Lunges&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Works the legs, butt, calves, shoulders, back, biceps, and forearms.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your side. Keep feet about shoulder width apart, back straight, and face forward.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take a step foward with your left foot until your leg forms a 90- degree angle and upper thigh is parallel to the floor.  Then reverse the motion by pushing off with your left foot, until your back in the standing position.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next, bend your elbows slightly and raise your arms out to the side, doing a side lateral raise. Raise them until they are parallel to the floor, palms facing down.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Slowly lower them back down and repeat the lunge again, this time using the right leg.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have 3 compound movements you can use to build muscle mass in less time, so if you think you don't have time to hit the gym, guess again!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more proven exercises, strategies, and techniques for building muscle mass in less time, check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It will show you how I trained and ate in order to shed a ton of body fat and gain 18 pounds of rock hard muscle mass at the same time....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113621518090691311?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113621518090691311/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113621518090691311' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113621518090691311'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113621518090691311'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2006/01/compound-exercises-for-building-muscle.html' title='Compound Exercises For Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113604769543266239</id><published>2005-12-31T08:30:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-31T08:50:35.116-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Muscle building nutrition</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Nutrition is probably THE most important part of building muscle. In fact, I'm willing to go a step further and say that you will NOT build muscle without the proper nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You could have the best bodybuilding workout in the world but if you don’t have good nutrition, you're not going to get anywhere. The same applies to weight loss. You could run all the time but if you are eating junk food you aren’t really going to lose the weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For building muscle the number one thing to keep in mind is you need protein. Protein is the building block of muscle. A lot of people will argue about how much protein you need but a good rule of thumb is one and a half to 2 grams of protein for every pound you weigh.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, say you have an individual who weighs 160 pounds he needs 240 to 320 grams of protein every day. Personally, I'd recommend between one and two times your body weight. Also, it is important to eat healthy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To build muscle, there are a couple of important times you need to eat. You should eat immediately after you lift. It’s important to get protein immediately after lifting. Preferably you need whey protein, which you can get from a supplement and just mix with juice, milk, or water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the things that have helped me gain a lot of muscle the past few years is taking a pre-workout and post-workout shake.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I take a scoop of whey, mix it in 12 ounces of juice or Gatorade, and add some creatine and/or glutamine. I sip one before and after working out and it's helped me gain about 30 pounds of muscle the past 2 years.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you lift weights your body is going to be using a lot of glucose, so in order to refill that and repair the muscle you need carbs right after training. I'd recommend that you get that from fruit juice, like grape juice, or from a sports drink, like Gatorade.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you lift weights, you're using up all your glucose and you need to replace that so it can repair and build your muscle tissue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Certain types of fat are definitely good and other types of fat aren’t going to help you at all.&lt;br /&gt;There is saturated fat and polyunsaturated fat and you want to keep the saturated fat low. If you're having a meal that has over 5 grams of saturated fat and you are eating that all the time that is probably going to be too much.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can get good fat from peanuts, peanut butter, flaxseed or lean meat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Everybody needs to be getting a multi-vitamin. I would also suggest as I said earlier a 100% whey protein and for a lot of people creatine is a great supplement and also a multi-mineral and flaxseed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For breakfast, some of the foods I have are egg whites, orange juice, bananas, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, bagels, and meal replacements.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't eat all of these, I pick and choose depending on my mood, but I like to vary it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For lunch, I have tuna, chicken, fish, lean red meats, brown rice, and a ton of green veggies like brocolli, green beans, and asparagus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For dinner I usually have tuna, other fish, steak, hamburg, chicken, turkey, or another lean meat. I also have either brown rice or a potato. And more veggies. You almost can't eat enough veggies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In between meals, I'll usually have a meal replacement shake or whey protein shake. To build muscle, you need to be eating every 3 to 4 hours.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For supplements, I currently take a multi-vitamin, fish oils or CLA, whey protein, creatine, and glutamine. I only use supplements that have been proven to help build muscle, lose fat, or increase strength. The rest I stay away from and save my money.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's basically how you set up your nutrition to build muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the best books I've read for muscle building nutrition is Will Brink's book:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle Building Nutrition:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It shows you how to build serious lean muscle in record time with a proven muscle building nutrition plan and discover exactly which bodybuilding supplements work and which are no more than pure marketing hype.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113604769543266239?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113604769543266239/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113604769543266239' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113604769543266239'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113604769543266239'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/muscle-building-nutrition.html' title='Muscle building nutrition'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113578983927378988</id><published>2005-12-28T08:59:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-28T13:47:39.956-08:00</updated><title type='text'>6 Tips To Increase Your Muscle Mass</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since this blog is mainly about building muscle, I wanted to give you 5 proven tips that will help you build more muscle in less time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I've used all of these each and every time I get ready to compete, so I know they'll work for you as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. HAVE A PLAN&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I'm sure you've heard the saying "failing to plan is planning to fail".  And that's true and it's also where most people I talk to go wrong.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Most people fail at building muscle and losing fat because they fail to write out how they will attain the goals that they set for themselves.  It's important to first realize what it is you want to achieve and then start learning how to do it. There are numerous books on how to train and eat to build muscle. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pick one that you understand and start to develop a plan on how you're going to train and diet for the next 12 weeks. Then get acting on those plans.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many people sift through plan after plan, looking to find the "right one".  The truth is, if you just start doing something, you'll see your muscle gains increase. Stop procrastinating by overanalyzing things.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. KEEP A WRITTEN JOURNAL&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;By keeping a journal, you guarantee that you make progress. By not keeping a journal, you'll always be guessing what you ate, how many calories you ate, what muscles you trained, what weight you used, and more.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Going on memory alone is a sure-fire way to slow down your muscle gains. The journal contains your training and nutrition info and it cannot lie to you unless you write down the information incorrectly! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If last week you did 100lbs for 8 reps on bicep curls, then  this week you either need to do 9 reps or up the weight by 5 pounds. I know it sounds too simple, but if you do this long enough, you'll attain whatever goals you set for yourself.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. USE BIG MOVEMENTS WHEN TRAINING&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Concentrate on doing basic, compound movements like squats, deadlifts, bench press, shoulder press, and barbell curls. Single joint movements are great at isolating a specific muscle group, but they're not as productive at stimulating the muscles.  Compound movements will increase the overload to the muscles, forcing them to work harder to move the weight.  This is how you build muscle, by lifting heavier weight and using more intensity, over time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. GET ENOUGH REST BETWEEN SETS&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The amount of time that you rest between sets is dependent upon the intensity at which you lift. If you're doing higher reps (10-12) then your rest periods will be shorter (30-45 seconds).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you're doing low reps with more weight, (4-6 reps) then you'll need longer periods of rest (2-5minutes) between each set. The lighter the weight, the faster your body will bounce back for the next set. The heavier the weight, the longer it takes to recover the energy for another bout of the same movement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you're still winded from your previous set, you won't be able to use as much weight or as much intensity, so your results will be negatively affected.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you're not building the muscle you want, you may not be getting enough rest between sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. WARM UP BEFORE LIFTING&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Start every training session with 5 minutes of cardio. By doing light, easy cardio before you train, you'll be able to increase your core temperature and thus be less likely to get injured while training.&lt;br /&gt;This is more effective for warming up than stretching. Never stretch a cold muscle!  It's the quickest way to pull a muscle and get injured.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I guarantee you'll feel stronger and more energetic if you warm up with cardio for 5 minutes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;6. PROPER POST WORKOUT NUTRITION&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The most common muscle building mistake people make is not eating after they train. This meal should contain a mixture of high glycemic carbs like glucose as well as protein. In fact, your post workout meal should be at least 20 % of  your daily protein needs.  The best source of protein for the post workout meal is whey. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;My post workout shake consists of 10 grams of Glutamine, 5 grams of creatine, and 12 oz of grape juice.   On most days, I take another of these shakes about an hour before working out.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Start using pre and post workout shakes and you'll start to build more muscle in less time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These 6 muscle building techniques are ones that I use constantly. Start to incorporate them into your training routine and you'll start to build muscle and lose fat faster than you ever thought possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These are just some of the tips I talk about in my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you're looking to build muscle, lose fat, and get your best body ever this year, check it out. Make 2006 the year you get the body you've always wanted and Simple Steps will help you do it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113578983927378988?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113578983927378988/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113578983927378988' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113578983927378988'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113578983927378988'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/6-tips-to-increase-your-muscle-mass.html' title='6 Tips To Increase Your Muscle Mass'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113562687241521616</id><published>2005-12-26T11:46:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-26T11:56:10.683-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Working Out To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're not getting optimal results from your current muscle building routine, I'm positive that the problem and answer lies in one of three areas: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1.Your current weight-training program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2.Your current cardio/aerobic routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3.Your current eating habits.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You need to look at each of these three areas and see if what you are currently doing is in line with what I am going to be discussing. People often ask me which of the above three areas is the most important one to focus on. I say all three are the most important for building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Focus 100% on each area to get great results because that is probably why you are not getting the results you want right now, one area (or more) is not getting the attention it deserves. If what you are doing RIGHT NOW is not getting you the muscle gains you want, does it make sense to do it differently?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is how to structure your weight training routine to build muscle effectively:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Before engaging in any form of weight training, warm-up on a cardio machine for 5 minutes prior to hitting the weights.&lt;br /&gt;You do not want to start cold. You will not be as strong or as energetic. Warm-up for 5 minutes and then begin your weight training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start your first exercise with a very light, easy set of ten repetitions. Never warm-up to the point of failure or exhaustion. You will be expending much needed energy if you do, energy that will be needed for the last heavy sets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If done correctly and with enough intensity, you should never need to do more than two heavy sets in your muscle building routine. If you can do three or more heavy sets, the first two were either not heavy enough or not intense enough.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During a workout, the first exercise that you do for a muscle group should contain two heavy sets, but as you go on in the workout, if you have been using extreme intensity and a heavy enough weight, the need to do 2 heavy sets diminish and 1 heavy set will work the muscle towards failure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For either men or women, you must stay with low reps in order to gain any lean muscle. A muscle will only grow and get stronger if it is forced to do so. This is our way of forcing it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As we lower the amount of times we have to lift a weight, we should in turn be able to increase the amount of weight lifted. More reps at a lighter weight will not do it. If you can lift ten repetitions on your heavy sets, then they are not heavy; the weight is too light to create overload and muscle fiber stimulation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make sure your workouts are under 45 minutes. Keep them closer to 30 minutes. This is important for several reasons. First, it is easier to focus intensely for 30-45 minutes than it is an hour or more. Harness that power of focus. Also, hormones that assist the muscle building process peak around 30-45 minutes, so take advantage of this "muscle-building" (anabolic) window. If you go too long, the hormones begin to drastically drop off and the release of muscle destroying (catabolic) hormones increases.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rest at least 1 minute in between your lighter sets and at least 2 minutes between your heavy sets. Many people mistakenly believe that if they speed up their weight training workout by not stopping in between sets, they will increase the likelihood of fat-burning. What you are really doing is increasing the likelihood of never getting stronger or more muscular.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you do not rest between sets, your cellular energy levels have not been replenished enough to handle the weight that is about to come. If you are not as strong or stronger on your next set, you have in fact, negated any potential overload and have wasted your set. You must feel strong enough after one set before you try doing another.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Think of a set as a certain high point. If you do not hit that same point, or better yet, go above that point on your next set, you have not gained anything for doing it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Train only one or two muscle groups per workout. It is extremely hard to focus when you are training more than two muscle groups. It is extremely hard to train intensely when doing more than two muscle groups. When you train more than two, the muscles towards the end of your workout are getting cheated because the most energy is being spent on the first muscles. Once again, harnessing the power of focus and intensity is easier accomplished when training just one or two muscle groups.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Train each muscle group only once in a five to seven day period. Never think that training a certain muscle more than once a week will lead to better results when it comes to building muscle. The opposite is true, the more you train a muscle group, the more tired and fatigued it becomes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take a full seven days in between training a specific muscle group. If you train your chest and back on Monday, you do not want to train them again until the following Monday. The muscles need time to recover and recuperate before they are able to handle any additional overload.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What most people do not realize is that you actually build muscle when you are resting out of the gym, not when you are weight training. Weight training just stimulates the muscle and creates a situation where your muscle needs to adapt and get stronger. Your muscles do not actually grow or get bigger until you are resting out of the gym and feeding them proper nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These are the basics of structuring your weight-training workouts in order to build the most muscle possible . Each and every principle outlined above has a distinct and important job when it comes to building muscle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's almost 2006!  Make this the year you build more muscle, lose more fat, and get the body you've always wanted. Check out my new programs to see how I can help:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113562687241521616?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113562687241521616/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113562687241521616' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113562687241521616'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113562687241521616'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/working-out-to-build-muscle.html' title='Working Out To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113553748484762167</id><published>2005-12-25T11:01:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-25T20:06:31.786-08:00</updated><title type='text'>7 Tips For Building More Muscle</title><content type='html'>If you're looking to build more muscle mass, these 7 techniques are proven to help you pack on lean muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Eat More Calories&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In order to gain muscle, you need to stay in a state of energy excess. Make sure you get at least a gram or two of protein for every pound of bodyweight and at least three to four grams of carbs. Eat quality fats like those found in flax, olive oil, and fish oils, and peanut butter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And if you want to build muscle even faster, you should reduce your cardio, as this will only increase your calorie requirements. It's tough to gain muscle mass when doing a lot of cardio, so keep it at 2 sessions or less a week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Stick With Basic Movements&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stick with the proven basic movements like bench press, squat, deadlift, barbell curls, military presses, and other compound movements. These exercises offer more intensity and overload&lt;br /&gt;to the muscles, resulting in more muscle stimulation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Train heavy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have to train heavy to stimulate muscle growth. You have to train hard with high intensity. Put on enough poundage where you can only crank out 6-10 reps per set at full intensity. This heavier overload is what causes muscles to be forced to grow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you lifted the same weight over time, your muscles would have no reason to get bigger or stronger. Muscles have to be forced to get bigger and that's done by lifting more weight over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Get Enough Rest&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Probably the most overlooked aspect of bodybuilding is rest. Training in the gym tears down your muscles. Sleep is when your body rebuilds the damaged muscles. Without enough sleep, you'll never achieve proper muscle growth. You'll want at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you're feeling tired and sluggish in the gym, you may not be getting enough rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Don't Overtrain&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Overtraining will stop all of your progress dead in its tracks. It can set you back months, even years. In terms of bodyparts, stick to training each bodypart only once a week. Like sleep, you need to make sure you give your muscles plenty of rest between each training session.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For each bodypart, you should stick to twelve total sets. Again, pick a couple of basic movements, about three or four for each bodypart, and do three to four sets for each exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep your training sessions less than 60 minutes per session. Anything more, and you'll run the risk of overtraining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Stay Intense&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You should never rest for more than two minutes between sets. In 90-120 seconds, you have just enough time to catch your breath and hit that next set with maximum intensity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This fast pace will help you stay focused and intense. You'll still have your pump and you'll be ready to tackle your next set.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have to have a mindset of intensity while training as well. Keep telling yourself that you're going to have a great workout and all of your lifts will be good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Be Consistent&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consistency means training when you're supposed to, not making excuses to skip your session.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;More than any other sport, bodybuilding requires a serious level of commitment and dedication if you're really serious about building muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While you need to be consistent when it comes to training you should also consider adding to variety to your routine when it becomes stagnant. This will keep things fresh and interesting to you, and you're more likely to keep hitting the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mix up the order of your exercises or change your muscle groupings. If you've trained chest with biceps for 8 weeks, start training chest and triceps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The human body is highly adaptive. Keep it guessing. This is another way to keep the intensity up as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you follow these 7 proven strategies in your training, you'll start building more muscle a lot faster than you ever thought possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And if you'd like more powerful tips for building muscle and losing fat in the shortest amount of time, check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113553748484762167?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113553748484762167/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113553748484762167' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113553748484762167'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113553748484762167'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/7-tips-for-building-more-muscle.html' title='7 Tips For Building More Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113535328278553337</id><published>2005-12-23T07:46:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-23T07:54:42.803-08:00</updated><title type='text'>So How Exactly Do You Build Muscle?</title><content type='html'>The key to building muscle and getting more muscle growth is overload, which we will talk more about in just a moment. So do not feel like you have to switch things around all the time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I actually made my best strength and weight gains when I did the same 3 chest exercises, the same 3 bicep exercises, 3 tricep exercises, and the same 3 shoulder exercises.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What must change is the amount of overload that’s being used.  I swear everyone and their cousins have an opinion on how many reps and sets you should do.  The last time I checked, that cousin was fat and not muscular, so be careful who you listen to.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I’ve been weight training since the age of 16. I started in high school to get ready for football season. I have hundreds of old Flex magazines and muscle building books sitting in milk crates with an inch of dust on them.  So believe me, I’ve tried as many different muscle building programs, rep schemes, sets, exercises, and supplements as the rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What I write here is saving you 15 years and hundreds of dollars.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Muscle growth occurs from lifting heavy.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you’re waiting for me to follow up on that statement, it isn’t coming. That’s as hard and as easy as it gets. Lifting heavier weight for lower reps over time will add more muscle and strength than anything else you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The only "If" I’m going to throw in there is "if" you eat supportively and healthy. You can’t implement these training tips I give you and then go out and eat Ring Dings and Doritos and then curse the ground I walk on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But let me assure you, the changes you make here will blow you away if you give them your all and stick to them long enough to work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, I’m going to simplify this for you because, well, its pretty simple stuff. Don’t make things harder than they have to be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here it goes...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;To keep building muscle, you must keep lifting bigger weights.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In order to cause muscle growth and strength increase to occur, you must force your body to adapt to heavier demands (more weight).  If you continued to lift the same old weight over time and time again, your body has no need to create new muscle growth and strength.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It can already handle what it’s doing with what you have.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, to get bigger and stronger, you must force your body to do so, it doesn’t happen by itself.&lt;br /&gt;For example, when you stop lifting for a month or more (like I’m sure we all have done for one reason or another) what happens?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You got it;  you get smaller and less muscular.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It’s because we haven’t been "forcing" our body to adapt and get bigger/stronger.&lt;br /&gt;When you go through a "layoff" where you stop lifting weights, your muscles do not have to handle any additional workload and stress caused by lifting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So your muscles get smaller as a result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To keep muscle size going up and to keep strength increasing, you absolutely must keep stressing and overloading those muscles. You MUST lift progressively heavier weights over time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But what is an instant way you can lift more weight, without having to wait weeks or months.&lt;br /&gt;Well, let me give you a hint.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you can lift 100 pounds 10 times, shouldn’t you be able to lift more weight, say 150 pounds, if you only have to do it 5 times. By cutting the reps in half, you immediately raise the amount of weight you lift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sounds simple, but this is one of the most effective steps you can ever take in your muscle building and strength routine. The days of lifting 3 sets of 10 reps are over--at least they should be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you begin to lower your reps and begin to lift more weight, good things happen (more muscle and strength). More weight= more overload = more muscle. Plain and simple.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Put all your effort and intensity into those exercises that allow you to lift the most weight each and every time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don’t fall for the "shaping exercises" lie.  You CAN’T shape a muscle. It’s been done for you at birth.  You can only make it larger or smaller. If you want to "shape" it, then begin using the best exercises that allow you to lift the most weight possible each and every time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This will "shape" your muscles the best way possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The more weight lifted means the more overload to the muscle. The more overload to the muscle, the more muscle growth is stimulated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, if you want to build more muscle, you need to lift more weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New For 2006:  Check out my newest programs that will help you build muscle, lose fat, and get your best body ever this new year:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113535328278553337?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113535328278553337/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113535328278553337' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113535328278553337'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113535328278553337'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/so-how-exactly-do-you-build-muscle.html' title='So How Exactly Do You Build Muscle?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113486199081587237</id><published>2005-12-17T13:34:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-17T15:26:30.880-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Basics Of Building Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I'm going to go over the basics of building muscle in the next few blog entries.  If you're looking to build muscle from your time spent in the gym, it's important you keep reading.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;There are as many varied opinions on what "plan" one should follow to build muscle as there are people who have those opinions. On one thing they do agree, however. You must have a regimen. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You can begin by defining your objective. Why are you interested in building muscle? What do you hope to accomplish? What is your ultimate goal?  To look better, feel better, get noticed more?  All of those?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If this sounds like "Goal Setting 101," guess what? It is! You need to clearly define your "why" before you can move on to "how."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Building muscle is all about commitment and belief. There is an abundance of information about how to begin and conduct your journey, but without a burning desire to achieve, you're doomed to inevitable failure. First things first.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-Before you even think about your exercise routine...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-Before you begin researching a nutritional program...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-Before you shop for supplements...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Ask yourself the following questions:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Do I believe this is possible for me?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Am I willing to focus, commit and do whatever it takes?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you answered "yes" to these two questions, the seed has been planted and you're ready to begin building muscle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;While the details and sequential recommendations for building muscle vary, there are some basic questions that apply to the process no matter what program you choose to follow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* How do I build muscle?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* How do I strengthen muscle?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* Am I healthy enough to begin a muscle building routine?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* What should I eat?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* How often should I eat?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* Should I eat at different intervals throughout the day?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* Is there a specific diet for building muscle?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* How many calories should I eat?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;* Should I take supplements?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In the forthcoming blog entries,  I'll give you an overview that will help you set up your muscle and body building lifestyle. It is indeed a lifestyle and you must be prepared for the rigors of change, not only to your body, but mentally as well.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Lifting too much weight (especially for people with high blood pressure) or doing too many repetitions can be extremely harmful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So, step one is choosing and defining your muscle building goals. Soon, we'll get into the nitty gritty of building muscle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you don't want to wait, check out my step-by-step blueprint for building muscle:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113486199081587237?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113486199081587237/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113486199081587237' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113486199081587237'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113486199081587237'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/basics-of-building-muscle.html' title='The Basics Of Building Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113459142923421387</id><published>2005-12-14T12:10:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-14T12:17:09.273-08:00</updated><title type='text'>How To Build Muscle And Lose Fat in 2006</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So, do you want to build more muscle and lose more fat this year and develop a lean, toned physique? One that makes you feel better about yourself?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, if getting a "new and improved" body is one of those goals, I want to help.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think one of the main reasons people don't achieve their muscle building and fat loss goals is because they're confused about what they really need to do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I've found that it helps to take a step back and look at each part of fitness as "pieces to a puzzle". What I mean is, instead of becoming overwhelmed and confused about all you have to do, break it down into bite-sized chunks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And there are 3 main "chunks" to look at if you want to build muscle and lose fat.&lt;br /&gt;If I had to give just 3 areas to focus on in 2006 that will help you achieve more results in less time, here they are:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Your nutrition&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's first because it's most important. We gain and lose weight based upon what we eat, so it needs to be the first thing you consider.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Basically, you want to be eating a small, well-balanced meal every 3 to 4 hours. That comes out to around 6 small meals a day you want to be consuming. Breaking meals down like this is one of the most important things you can do to increase your metabolism.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try and make each meal contain a lean protein source, (chicken, fish, lean red meat) a starchy complex carb (whole grains, brown rice) and a vegetable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you can't find the time to make all these meals from regular food, meal replacements can be a valuable option. These shakes have come a long, long way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most now taste good and have a great nutritional profile. They're pretty cost-effective as well. I usually use a couple of them a day, in between my whole food meals that I eat. Meal replacements can be a very useful tool if used correctly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, as you can see, nothing extravagant here. In order to build more muscle and lose more fat, start eating better.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Your weight training&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is one area that I see so many people doing wrong. They head into the gym without a plan of attack. Failing to plan, planning to fail.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Either that or they're armed with the wrong information that they grabbed from the pages of a muscle and fitness mag. Train like the pros and you'll be killing your results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In all simplicity, building muscle comes from lifting heavy weight. It's that simple. It doesn't come from variety, body positioning, or doing a ton of reps with light weight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To build muscle, you must force it to grow. And you do this by lifting more weight over time. So if you're using a lot of reps, sets, and exercises thinking that more is better, you're missing the boat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*** Side Note***&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information about how you must set up your weight training to gain the most muscle possible, I still consider my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" program to be one of the most powerful muscle-building systems developed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It literally forces you to concentrate on those things that lead to muscle gains. It's a step-by-step diet and workout guide that produces more results in 9 weeks than most people will achieve in years.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm proud to say that over 15,000 have invested in the program and have "bought" into my philosophy on training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's more info on "Simple Steps"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Your cardio&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Like a lot of things in life, "short and sweet" fits the bill here. You don't need to run for hours or walk for days to lose fat. All it takes is conditioning your metabolism to burn at a faster rate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And intense cardio raises your metabolic rate so that it becomes more efficient. You start burning more calories at rest. You burn very few calories during the time of performing cardio.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The benefits of cardio come long after you're done your session.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, to eliminate fat, you want to raise your resting heart rate and metabolism so that its working for you around the clock. Even while you're sleeping.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep your cardio sessions brief yet intense. 15 to 20 minutes tops. This "quality over quantity" approach will yield a lot more results.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In closing, it's important that you separate each of the phases of fitness. When you're trying to lose fat, focus just on doing that. Do cardio to the best of your ability.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you're attempting to build muscle, work on that the best you can. Try and become stronger and more intense in your weight training routine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Separating all phases of your "attack" will help you focus on each one more and help to clarify exactly what needs to be done with each. This way, you don't become so overwhelmed with everything you need to do. Instead, you can just concentrate on one area at a time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have 3 simple but powerful things you can do this year to build muscle, lose fat, and make it your most productive year in the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If changing your body is one of your main goals this year, I want you to take action to go get it.  And like I mentioned earlier, if you need help along the way, I think you'll find one of the programs to be extremely valuable to you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/programs.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Best of luck in 2006 and I wish you all the best in health and life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Shawn &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113459142923421387?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113459142923421387/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113459142923421387' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113459142923421387'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113459142923421387'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/how-to-build-muscle-and-lose-fat-in.html' title='How To Build Muscle And Lose Fat in 2006'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113441193482512893</id><published>2005-12-12T10:23:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-12T10:27:36.206-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A Sample of A Muscle Building Diet</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I get a lot of emails from people wanting to know what they should eat to build muscle. And that's a good question, because a quality muscle building diet is often the most neglected part of muscle building training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Building muscle requires the right nutrition and the right diet. Make no mistake, it's an essential part of weight lifting and if you want to build muscle, you have to get it done.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't know what to eat? Don't know how much to eat? Try these sample menus to get you started. The following body building menus are meant to help you design your own muscle building diet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sample 2,500 calorie per day menu A&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Breakfast&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;½ cup bran flakes&lt;br /&gt;1 cup 1% milk&lt;br /&gt;1 medium peach&lt;br /&gt;1 whole wheat toast&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp peanut butter&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mid morning meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;½ cup strawberries&lt;br /&gt;½ cup low fat yogurt&lt;br /&gt;1 scoop (2oz) vanilla protein powder&lt;br /&gt;1 cup 1% milk&lt;br /&gt;½ cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lunch&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Peach Chicken and Rice&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2 oz skinless chicken breast&lt;br /&gt;½ can sliced peaches&lt;br /&gt;½ tsp of cornstarch&lt;br /&gt;½ tsp peeled and grated ginger&lt;br /&gt;1/4 tsp salt&lt;br /&gt;1/4 cup water chestnuts&lt;br /&gt;½ cup rice (uncooked)&lt;br /&gt;½ cup snow peas&lt;br /&gt;½ tsp extra virgin olive oil&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mid afternoon meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3/4 cup 1% cottage cheese&lt;br /&gt;½ can (4oz) can peaches- sliced&lt;br /&gt;1 English muffin&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp peanut butter&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Post workout meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Power Drink&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 scoop protein powder (2oz)&lt;br /&gt;1 cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;1 medium banana&lt;br /&gt;1 cup 1% milk&lt;br /&gt;½ tbsp honey&lt;br /&gt;Dinner&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chicken Teriyaki&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4 oz skinless chicken breasts&lt;br /&gt;1/3 cup low sodium teriyaki sauce&lt;br /&gt;1/3 cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;1 tsp cornstarch&lt;br /&gt;1/3 tsp ginger&lt;br /&gt;½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil&lt;br /&gt;1 ½ cup small broccoli florets&lt;br /&gt;1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts&lt;br /&gt;1/4 cup rice (cooked)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cooking Instructions&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Peach Chicken and Rice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cook rice according to package directions. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning to brown evenly, until tender, usually 8-12 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Meanwhile, drain peaches reserving juice. If necessary, add water to the juices to equal 1/4 cup. Stir in cornstarch, ginger, and salt. Add to the skillet and cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 10 minutes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cook and stir in the peaches and water chestnuts and heat through. On a plate, arrange the rice, snow peas, and chicken. Spoon sauce over the chicken and serve.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Power Drink&lt;br /&gt;Mix all ingredients in blender.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chicken Teriyaki&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cut chicken breasts into 1 1/4" pieces; set aside. In a small mixing bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, orange juice, cornstarch, and ginger; set aside. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Add the chicken pieces and stir fry until they are lightly browned, about 3-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl, leaving the drippings in the skillet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Reduce the heat to moderate. Add broccoli to the skillet and stir fry for 3-5 minutes. Stir the teriyaki mixture and pour it into the skillet with the broccoli. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it is thickened and bubbly, about 2-4 minutes. Add water chestnuts and the cooked chicken. Continue cooking until heated through, serve over cooked rice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sample 3,500 calorie per day menu A&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Breakfast&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 sliced peach&lt;br /&gt;1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt&lt;br /&gt;1 scoop (2 oz) vanilla protein powder&lt;br /&gt;½ cup blueberries&lt;br /&gt;½ whole wheat bagel&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp light cream cheese&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mid morning meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 cup strawberries&lt;br /&gt;1 cup low fat yogurt&lt;br /&gt;1 scoop (2oz) vanilla protein powder&lt;br /&gt;1 cup 1% milk&lt;br /&gt;1 cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lunch&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tuna Sandwich&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;½ cup tuna&lt;br /&gt;2 whole wheat slices of bread&lt;br /&gt;1/4 cup diced celery&lt;br /&gt;2 tbsp light mayonnaise&lt;br /&gt;1/4 cup brown rice&lt;br /&gt;1 tsp light mayonnaise&lt;br /&gt;2 romaine lettuce leaves&lt;br /&gt;1 cup cucumber&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp chopped parsley&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp chopped chives&lt;br /&gt;1 cube soup base&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mid afternoon meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 whole wheat bagel&lt;br /&gt;1 tbsp peanut butter&lt;br /&gt;1 cup cottage cheese&lt;br /&gt;½ cup strawberries&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Post workout meal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Power Drink&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1 scoop protein powder (2oz)&lt;br /&gt;1 cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;1 medium banana&lt;br /&gt;1 cup 1% milk&lt;br /&gt;½ tbsp honey&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dinner&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chicken Teriyaki&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4 oz skinless chicken breasts&lt;br /&gt;1/3 cup low sodium teriyaki sauce&lt;br /&gt;1/3 cup orange juice&lt;br /&gt;1 tsp cornstarch&lt;br /&gt;1/3 tsp ginger&lt;br /&gt;½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil&lt;br /&gt;1 ½ cup small broccoli florets&lt;br /&gt;1 can (8oz) sliced water chestnuts&lt;br /&gt;½ cup rice (cooked)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cooking Instructions&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tuna Sandwich&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cook brown rice according to label instructions but add a cube of soup base to taste once the rice and water start to boil.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Meanwhile, mix tuna, celery, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. Mix well until creamy. Add chives and parsley. Spread on whole wheat bread. Add lettuce. Serve with cucumber and rice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chicken Teriyaki&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cut chicken breasts into 1 1/4" pieces; set aside. In a small mixing bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, orange juice, cornstarch, and ginger; set aside. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Add the chicken pieces and stir fry until they are lightly browned, about 3-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl, leaving the drippings in the skillet. Reduce the heat to moderate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Add broccoli to the skillet and stir fry for 3-5 minutes. Stir the teriyaki mixture and pour it into the skillet with the broccoli.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it is thickened and bubbly, about 2-4 minutes. Add water chestnuts and the cooked chicken. Continue cooking until heated through, serve over cooked rice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have a sample muscle building diet you can use to ensure you're getting the calories you need each day to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A powerful muscle building diet is just one of the things you'll learn in "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded".&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113441193482512893?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113441193482512893/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113441193482512893' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113441193482512893'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113441193482512893'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/sample-of-muscle-building-diet.html' title='A Sample of A Muscle Building Diet'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113416343399855970</id><published>2005-12-09T13:18:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-09T13:23:54.013-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Here's my muscle building equation</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Okay, we all want a lean, muscular physique, right?   We must because one of the goals I hear most from my clients is...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;"I want to build muscle, lose fat, and tone up."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But many people I talk with really have no idea how to do it -- correctly.  They think that lifting light weights for high reps will help them tone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Wrong.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're unsure how to go about toning to get that lean, muscular body you want, here's my simple muscle building and toning equation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------------------------------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The Muscle Building And Toning Equation:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------------------------------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Losing Body Fat + Building Muscle = Toning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Both sides of the equation need to be worked on, simulataneously, for any real results to be achieved. Let's cover each side... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Losing fat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;This is primarily achieved by:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** 3-4 INTENSE Cardio Sessions of 20-30 minutes per week. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** 5-6 small, well-balanced meals (each consisting of 50% protein, 40% carbs, 10% fats). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Drink AT LEAST 1 gallon of water a day. You will also FEEL better! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Reduce daily caloric intake by 150-200 calories until you see/feel the results.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;For a more in-depth look at how to shed body fat fast, check out"Fat Loss 4 Idiots"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://lebrunfit.4idiots.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://lebrunfit.4idiots.hop.clickbank.net&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It's claimed to be an "idiot-proof" program and from all the feedback I've seen, it really does work.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Let's cover the next part of the muscle building and toning equation:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Building muscle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; -----------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;This is done by...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** 3-4 INTENSE Weight-training sessions per week. Strive to progressively increase resistance each week. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Keep your rep range lower on heavy sets. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Perform just a few heavy sets per exercise. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Keep workout under 1 hour. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Keep protein intake high. Protein (amino acids) builds muscle. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Shoot for 1.5 to 2 grams per pound of bodyweight.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;** Consume a high protein/high carb meal or shake right after training.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;For a step-by-step "how to" guide for building muscle, I can honestly say that my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program is the best online.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In fact, it was recently referred to as "The Most Trusted Program Online" in a popular bodybuilding message board.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Here's more on "Simple Steps"...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In closing, in order to tone up properly, you must work on both losing fat and gaining muscle... at the same time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;And that's done with an approach to:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;1. Proper weight training&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;2. Proper nutrition&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;3. Proper cardio&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Think of a combination lock. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In order to open the lock, you must get the three numbers exactly right. Even if you're off by just one, you do not get what you want.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Well, the same is true in toning.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You must get weight training, cardio, and nutrition just right or you will not get what you want.&lt;br /&gt;Again, you want to work on both sides equally. If you just focus on dropping fat, you're going to look frail and thin, without any muscle mass.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you just focus on gaining mass, it could cause you to look bloated and bigger than you want.&lt;br /&gt;Gaining muscle and losing fat can be achieved at the same time. I know, I personally did it for my bodybuilding show and I see it with clients all the time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113416343399855970?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113416343399855970/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113416343399855970' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113416343399855970'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113416343399855970'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/heres-my-muscle-building-equation.html' title='Here&apos;s my muscle building equation'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113410183099441290</id><published>2005-12-08T20:13:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-12-08T20:17:41.060-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Why Less Is More When Trying To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;One of the biggest myths I deal with as a personal trainer is that many people still believe it takes hours in the gym to build muscle and get a lean, muscular physique.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not true. In fact, the best results I've seen, both with my own training as well as clients, come from spending no more than 3 to 4 hours a week in the gym. And that's the time spent weight training and doing cardio each week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I spend no more than 3 hours a week weight training and my online clients spend the same amount. And we achieve great results. So if you're currently spending more than 3 hours a week weight training, you may be seriously limiting your gains by overtraining. You see, when trying to build muscle, its not the amount of time spent that matters. It's how you spend that time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Muscle growth occurs from stimulating the muscle with heavy weight (overload) then allowing the muscle to rest and recover. Proper rest and nutrition during this time is vital. By working out too much and too often, you don't allow your muscles the needed rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And this is the time in which the muscle repairs itself from the effects of intense training. And if a muscle does not recover, it does not grow or get stronger. So it's important you spend no more time than necessary for muscle stimulation to occur. I've used this analogy a lot before with clients, but let's do it again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Suppose you want to get a tan. There's a certain amount of sun you need. Too little sun and you will not get a tan. But too much sun and you'll get a burn and not the nice dark tan you wanted.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And what happens if you get a burn but keep going out in the sun anyways, still trying to get a tan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Right!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can seriously get injured with 3rd degree burns. You don't increase your chances of getting a tan. Too much sun in this case does not bring about the desired result.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So if you're after more muscle growth and you're already lifting a lot, the last thing you want to do is spend even more time in the gym.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The main goal of all the human body's systems is to keep the body in equilibrium, or balance. By lifting too much too often, you throw off this balance mechanism and as a result, your body will actually start working against you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So you have to find that balance that works for you.With your weight training, too much lifting will prevent your muscles from recovering and they will not get bigger. Too little and they will not grow either.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, you have to find that balance that works for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You can use the "3 hour a week" time limit as a guideline, but learn to "listen" to your body. If you're weight lifting 3 hours a week but you feel drained, tired, sore, or sluggish, that may be too much time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Others can work out longer and still get results. Everyone's different so the time spent in the gym will vary. You have to do what's right for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So start making better use of your time spent in the gym. Shoot for quality over quantity and you'll build more muscle in less time spent.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113410183099441290?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113410183099441290/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113410183099441290' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113410183099441290'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113410183099441290'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/12/why-less-is-more-when-trying-to-build.html' title='Why Less Is More When Trying To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113310295076048461</id><published>2005-11-27T06:44:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-27T06:49:10.776-08:00</updated><title type='text'>If you want to build muscle, don't overtrain!</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're looking to build muscle mass, it's important that you don't overtrain.  Overtraining is the quickest way to hit a plateau and stop all muscle growth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you read this article, your days of hitting plateaus are over.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In fact, most people I talk to overtrain. And overtraining is the quickest way to slow down or stop your progress. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Your workouts should be very demanding. They should be intense and very focused. With this intensity comes the need to rest to allow your muscles to fully recuperate. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Muscle growth is achieved by progressively overloading the muscles... forcing them to adapt by building new muscle to handle future demands.  If you don't allow your muscles to fully recuperate, they won't be able to handle any new demands placed upon them. They'll start getting weaker from less rest. That's how plateaus happen. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;We're going to take necessary steps to combat this problem. We do this by training smarter, not just harder.  Proper rest and recovery from working out is so important, it literally is the deciding factor behind building muscle and not building muscle. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Follow these 5 steps and you'll never hit a plateau again. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;1. Keep workouts short and intense. Workouts do not need to be long to be effective, in fact, if they're too long, they're counter-productive.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The goal of weight training is to go into the gym and stimulate muscle growth, not to annihilate the muscles. Anything more that what's needed is overtraining. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;2. Keep a lower rep range. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Keeping your rep range low will ensure maximum overload and increased intensity. Four to six reps get the job done efficiently and more effectively than higher reps with lower weight. Remember, overload (weight) builds muscle, not reps. Low reps ensures more overload. It's also easier to intensely focus on four to six reps than it is for ten.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;3. Keep a lower number of sets. Remember that weight training is no marathon. You only need a couple heavy sets of an exercise to stimulate muscle growth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you feel you didn't work a muscle sufficiently after your two heavy sets, I question the amount of weight or your intensity on those sets. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You should feel as though you probably couldn't do another set as effectively as your last one. Remember, its not the quantity of sets that matter if you want to build muscle, it's the quality. More isn't better when it comes to weight training, better is better.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;4. Rest enough between your sets. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Rest at least a minute between your warm-up sets and at least two minutes between your heavy sets. You need to recuperate enough to handle the demand the next set is going to place upon your muscles. You cannot expend max energy on an exercise if you're still tired from the last set. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You will not be able to lift as much weight or do as many reps if you're not rested enough. There isn't a set amount of time to rest, just feel rested enough so that you can meet or exceed the efforts of your previous set. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;5. Get adequate rest before working the same muscle group again. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Heavy and intense weight training produces microscopic fiber damage to the muscles. It's this damage and rebuilding which causes a muscle to get bigger and stronger. In other words, you can only build muscle if you let this process takes its natural course.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Without proper rest between workouts of the same muscle group, you will not recover sufficiently to handle placing more overload on that muscle group. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You should wait at least five to seven days between working the same muscle group. If you train biceps on Monday, wait until the following Monday to ensure they are rested enough. Training them prior may create an over training environment. Remember that they will get worked while performing other exercises, so they actually are not fully resting all week. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;These are 5 simple steps you can use to avoid hitting a plateau. But what if you feel that you are, in fact, over training and have hit a plateau? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;What are some of the signs of over training? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;First of all, if you're not looking forward to getting into the gym any more, that's a sign. If you're sluggish and tired more than usual, that's also a sign. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're struggling to lift weights that are not normally a struggle, then that's a sign of overtraining. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you feel you've hit a plateau and are overtraining, immediately take a week off. You may just need some rest. Use this time to heal and continue to eat properly. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Also, make sure your protein level is high.  This is the time your muscles need the building blocks to work with. This rest and proper nutrition will be very anabolic (muscle building) to your body. It may be all you need to bust through that plateau.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;These are a few things you can do to avoid over training and hitting a plateau. Stick with lower reps, shorter workouts, plenty of rest between heavy sets, and keep your protein intake high. These are surefire ways to help you build muscle and avoid overtraining.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;All the best in health and life,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Shawn Lebrun&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113310295076048461?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113310295076048461/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113310295076048461' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113310295076048461'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113310295076048461'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/if-you-want-to-build-muscle-dont.html' title='If you want to build muscle, don&apos;t overtrain!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113294945853166319</id><published>2005-11-25T12:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-25T13:08:25.256-08:00</updated><title type='text'>To Build More Muscle, Get Smart!</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you want to build more muscle mass, you first have to work at getting smarter!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you learn better, you can start to do better. When you start to do better, you get better results. But there comes a point where if you start to read up and try too many different things, you'll get away from the basics of muscle building and fat loss.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's why it's dangerous for young kids to pick up a muscle mag written by the pros. The workout routines contained in those magazines ARE NOT written for people just beginning or even people considered advanced.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The workout routines written in most muscle mags you see on the book stands were written by pro bodybuilders that have above average genetics (so they can handle more weight training) and also they use performance enhancing substances that should only be used under a doctor's supervision.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So there's a fine line between becoming educated and becoming over educated. You want a working, common sense knowledge. Learn what causes muscle to grow and fat to burn off the body. You don't care about advanced workout theory or new designer supplements.You want basic, applicable knowledge of what must be done to lose fat and build muscle. The easier something is to understand, the more likely it will be applied and used.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And since most people fail to see results in their routines because they've been misinformed and misled about what it takes, you need to focus more on common sense. Most people build muscle the same way (same process must be used). Most people burn fat the same way (same processes must be used)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So learn from others, either through books, websites, articles, or personal conversation, what has worked for them. Be careful who you listen to though, everyone has an opinion on what they feel works. Before listening, make sure that what they're doing:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Works - don't take fat-burning tips from those overweight or muscle building tips from those with no muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Is safe - skip the drugs or latest and greatest supplement or workout routine&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Sounds right. If it sounds like common sense, great, but if you're scratching your head, walk away.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Make sure it comes from someone qualified to give advice. Have they done fitness contests or are they certified trainers. Listening to the wrong people can get you hurt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Spend some time becoming informed and educated about the basics of muscle building. Visit a bookstore and pick up some books on basic weight training, or aerobics, or fat burning, or nutrition and read through and learn some stuff you can apply.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Skip right over anything that sounds "advanced, too good to be true, too confusing, or anything else that's not basic, common sense. Achieving a great physique and fitness levels really comes down to just focusing on a few common sense areas (diet and exercise!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So before looking for the advanced stuff, make sure you've learned the basics. If you resolve to learn just one new thing about cardio, weight training, or nutrition each week for a year, that's 52 new things you'd learn. Imagine how much extra muscle you could build by doing this!Becoming fit is a process, one that involves education, experience, time, and action.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start to learn better so that you can start to do better.It’s not what you know that counts. It’s not what you do that counts. It’s what you know AND do that helps you build more muscle!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want a simple, powerful program that guarantees you'll build muscle and lose fat in less time, check out "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113294945853166319?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113294945853166319/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113294945853166319' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113294945853166319'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113294945853166319'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/to-build-more-muscle-get-smart.html' title='To Build More Muscle, Get Smart!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113254590721816490</id><published>2005-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-20T20:05:07.233-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Which Is Better For Building Muscle: Machines Or Free Weights?</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Want to know the Million Dollar question I get asked probably more than any other?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Which is better for building muscle: Machines or Free Weights?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Well, first of all, overloading the muscle with heavy weight -- whatever the type of equipment you use -- is what promotes muscle growth. Any exercise that limits overload is not a good choice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;However, in most cases, it's much more effective, and more efficient, to overload the muscle with dumbbells and barbells. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Most machines are very inefficient and not nearly as effective at muscle stimulation as free weight compound exercises.  That's because they limit the amount of overload you can achieve. Less overload... less muscle fiber recruitment and less muscle growth as a result.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Sticking with basic free weight exercises enables you to handle maximum overload and use natural biomechanics as you perform the movements. Machines restrict your natural movements, again, making them less effective for building muscle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Now, if I had to use a machine for resistance training, it'd probably be Hammer Strength machines. Hammer Strength is a company that recognizes that humans do not lift weights in a perfectly straight line. The range of motion of Hammer Strength equipment generally follows the natural arc of our own force curve. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;And the thing is, you can probably lift more weight on Hammer Strength equipment than a free weight barbell. And it makes sense why. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The machines help you out by balancing and stabilizing the majority of the weight for you. This makes it easier to lift more weight. But it's not an advantage. Muscle fiber recruitment will always be less than if a free weight were used. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Even though the absolute poundage is greater on a machine, the actual overload on the muscle is greater with free weights because you're responsible for balancing and stabilizing all the weight yourself. This, along with an increased range of motion, is why free weights are better for more muscle fiber recruitment and maximum stimulation. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Bottom line, good old-fashioned free weights are the number one selection for building muscle!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're looking to pack on more muscle massand get a lean, tight physique, use my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" program. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you want to shed some stubborn fat and lose your love handles in time for the beach season,use Tom Venuto's "Burn the Fat" program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Either way, start taking action now if you want a body you feel good about on the beach:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/best-programs.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/best-programs.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113254590721816490?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113254590721816490/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113254590721816490' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113254590721816490'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113254590721816490'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/which-is-better-for-building-muscle.html' title='Which Is Better For Building Muscle: Machines Or Free Weights?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113234492319574155</id><published>2005-11-18T12:12:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-18T12:32:10.646-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Fastest Way To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So, you want quads the size of tree trunks or biceps that bust out of the sleeves of your shirt?&lt;br /&gt;Well, I'm going to share with you the fastest way to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But first, let me ask, are you taking a step forward, each and every day, going after what you want to achieve? Or are you a member of the "I want it now but don't want to work for it" club, simply sitting back waiting for things to come to you?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's no secret that life rewards action. If you sit back and wait for things to come to you, I hope you have a lot of time to wait. The true power to reach your bodybuilding goals is your ability to consistently take action each and every day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That, my friend, is the fastest way to build muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, can you imagine how much closer to your muscle building goals you'd be if you simply resolved to do ONE thing each and every day that would bring you closer to that goal. Good things would start adding up quickly, and like the snowball that keeps getting bigger while rolling down the snowy hill, you too would find your muscles getting bigger. Successful people are not necessarily those that make the right decisions all of the time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But they do make decisions and better yet, act upon them. If what they do doesn't work the first time, they simply try something else until they get their desired result. What amazes me is the number of people I see and talk to that are not happy with their current physique or muscularity, yet they keep doing the same things over and over again, expecting different results!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thomas Jefferson once wrote "I'm a firm believer in luck, and I've found the harder I work, the luckier I get." Well, the same is true in bodybuilding. How hard do you work for the things you seek?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you take some form of action each day and go after them? Do you get in the car and drive to the gym in the snow when you could just grab some cocoa and sit in and watch a movie? Do you slam a protein shake when you're done your muscle-blasting workout or do you just wait a few hours for dinner?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you do an intense cardio session when it would be far easier to sit on the couch? The great thing about taking action each and every day towards a specific bodybuilding goal is, sooner or later, the momentum you build is overwhelming and you find yourself closer to your goal than ever expected.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was once said that "Good things come to those who wait, but it's the leftovers from those who hustle." I would like to challenge you for two weeks. Each and every day for two straight weeks, do something, anything, that brings you closer to whatever fitness goal you may have.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether you want to build muscle mass, lose stubborn body fat, or increase your strength and energy, you need to take some form of action every single day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether you are beginning an exercise program or consider yourself advanced, sit down, go over what you are looking to achieve, and then plot out specific steps you need to take to accomplish these goals. Then get acting on them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You'll find that the more you act on things, the more good things happen. The great thing about taking action towards a specific goal each and every day is that the Law of Momentum will start to take hold. Meaning, a body in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by some outside force.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The flip side, of course, is a body at rest tends to remain at rest unless acted upon by some outside force. Accept the challenge, do one or more things every day for the next two weeks that will move you closer to a specific goal you have and see how the Law of Momentum starts to take effect in your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether you realize it or not...you have chosen to be where you are. Success is easy - if you work hard, consistently follow your plan, stay committed and determined, and don't give up until you have what you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you need a little help to get going, I'll show you, step by step, how to build muscle and lose fat in less time. Visit &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113234492319574155?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113234492319574155/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113234492319574155' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113234492319574155'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113234492319574155'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/fastest-way-to-build-muscle.html' title='The Fastest Way To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113228793092542483</id><published>2005-11-17T20:19:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-17T20:25:30.946-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Time To Take Supplements To Build Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you want to learn how to take your supplements to build muscle mass a lot faster, this article will show you how.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Out of the hundreds of emails I get each week, more than half are from people who are interested in knowing which supplements to take or what the best way is to take the supplements they're currently using. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So this article will show you when to take some of the top supplements and how to get the most out of them. Creatine, glutamine, and protein are 3 of the top supplements for gaining lean muscle and strength. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But what are the best times to take these proven supplements in order to build muscle? Here's what I've found personally works best for me as well as tracking clients progress using these 3 supplements (which, by the way, are about the only 3 I recommend to clients, other than protein/meal replacements, EFA's and a good multi-vitamin). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;There's a lot of conflicting research that shows creatine and glutamine may compete directly with one another for cell transport and absorption. That's because both creatine and glutamine use the same transport method (sodium) to be absorbed by the body, so there's a chance that one will get absorbed more than the other. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Even though there are different theories as to whether this is true or not, here's my thought: By-pass the entire problem by just splitting up the timing a little bit. Here are the best times to take these 3 proven supplements in order to build muscle: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Creatine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Best taken 1/2 hour or so BEFORE a workout and again RIGHT after a workout. What I do is take a creatine/juice/protein drink about a half hour before a workout and than another shake right after. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;This "bracketing" technique helps set up an anabolic (muscle-building) state for your muscles and helps prevent muscle breakdown from a workout (catabolism). Other than these 2 opportune times, you can add another creatine serving or two any time throughout the day. I usually recommend 25 to 30 grams of creatine on a loading phase and 10-20 grams a day on a maintenance phase. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Glutamine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; --------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Definitely take glutamine right before bed. This is where the overwhelming research shows the value of glutamine raising Growth Hormone levels significantly by taking 5 grams before bed.  Increasing your levels of growth hormones will help you build muscle, if you train and eat correctly. Also, another great time is upon waking, when your muscles have been without significant nutrition for up to 6-8 hours. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Another good time for glutamine is about a half hour or hour after working out. This helps in the recovery/recuperation process from demanding workouts. So, creatine definitely before and after your workout and glutamine right before bed and right upon waking.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; ------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Protein&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; ------- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The best times to take ANY protein drink or protein supplements are as follows. I've listed them in order of importance, so based upon your affordability, start at the top of the list and work down. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;1. Most important time---right after a workout. Your muscles are like a sponge and need instant nutrition for muscle recovery and growth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;2. Right before bed. You're about to sleep for 6 to 8 hours. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;That's a long time without protein. Could you imagine going throughout your day (when awake) not eating 6 to 8 hours? Right before bed is important. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;3. Right upon waking. Same thing, you've just gone 6 to 8 hours without proper nutrition. Your body needs protein quick. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;4. Half hour before a workout. This sets up the "anabolic window" before your workout and provides your muscles with adequate nutrition so that the effects of weight training (weight training breaks down muscle--called catabolic) are not as severe. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;These are the best times for protein to help build muscle mass. It can be regular whole food or protein supplements, again, based on your affordability. Protein supplements may be better than whole food in these times because its digested quicker. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But start at the top and work down. If you can afford 4 servings, you'll really notice the difference in muscle gains and fat loss. I hope this article helped shed some light on when to take the 3 most important supplements for gaining mass and strength:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; Protein, creatine, and glutamine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;To learn more about which muscle building supplements are best to build muscle and increase strength, check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" workout program: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/getshredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113228793092542483?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113228793092542483/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113228793092542483' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113228793092542483'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113228793092542483'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/best-time-to-take-supplements-to-build.html' title='The Best Time To Take Supplements To Build Muscle'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113165834092001645</id><published>2005-11-10T13:29:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-10T13:34:07.383-08:00</updated><title type='text'>To Build Muscle, Get A Tan!</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're looking to build lean muscle, I want you to firstwork on getting a tan. (Although that may be tough for usliving here in the frigid northeast!)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I can see it now, people are going to be lined up at their local tanning salon, telling the clerk they need to startbuilding some muscle. Well, let me save you from stares of confusion from the salon owners.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You're not going to build muscle from sun tanning. But the cause and effect relationship between the sun andtanning perfectly illustrates a point I want to make about working out too much.I must get 3 or 4 emails each day from people wanting to know why they're not building muscle as fast as they'd like. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;They tell me that they're working each muscle group as often as possible. Well, the thing is, there's no law in weight lifting that says if you double your time, you double your results. Usually, if you double the amount of time you lift, you actually lessen your results.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It's because weight lifting is closer to the "Less is More" theory than the "The More The Better" one. So I want to show you how getting a tan actually answers why you do not want to weight train a muscle group more than once each week. Getting a sun tan is a cause and effect relationship.The sun is the cause and the tan is the effect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In other words, the sun is the stimulus and the tan is the result. When you get a tan, what is actually happening is that your melanocytes are producing melanin pigment in reaction to ultraviolet light in sunlight. Ultraviolet light stimulates melanin production. The pigment has the effect of absorbing the UV radiation in sunlight, so it protects the cells from UV damage. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You have to expose yourself to UV for a short period of time to activate the melanocytes. By repeating this process over 5 to 7 days pigment builds up in your cells to a level that is protective. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But what happens when you get too much sun? That's right, you get a sun burn, something you do not want to happen.Too much of the stimulus leads to a negative result.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So the key is to find the right amount of sun for the desired effect.Too little sun results in no tan and too much sun results in a sun burn. So, how does this relate to building muscle?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Muscle growth happens by overloading a muscle with heavy weight and then allowing it to rest and recuperate. In this case, the lifting of heavy weight is the stimulus and, if the environment is properly set up, the result is lean muscle growth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The proper "environment" for muscle growth is rest and proper nutrition (high protein, moderate carbs, plenty of water). If you train a muscle group (biceps, triceps, etc) more than once each week, it does not get a chance to recuperate and will not grow or become stronger.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It's like going back out in the sun too much. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Overexposure to the sun leads to a burn.Overexposure to lifting leads to overtraining. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;When overtraining occurs, muscle growth and strength gains come to a screeching halt.So to maximize muscle growth and keep that "anabolic window of opportunity" intact, you definitely want to train a muscle group once each week.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Too much weight training (stimulus) will produce negative results.If you do not allow your muscles to rest, recover, and get ready for the next workout, you're doing the same thing as if you went back out into the sun too much.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Too much of something can produce negative results as much as too little of something.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So if you want to start building more muscle, start working on your tan ;-)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;My top pick of resources to help you build muscle, lose fat, and increase strength:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-building-tips.html" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/muscle-building-tips.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113165834092001645?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113165834092001645/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113165834092001645' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113165834092001645'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113165834092001645'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/to-build-muscle-get-tan.html' title='To Build Muscle, Get A Tan!'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113104558830290699</id><published>2005-11-03T11:17:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-03T11:20:08.253-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Do You Need A Routine Makeover?</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The truth is, you're either doing what you need to do in order to gain muscle, lose fat, and get in shape....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or you're not.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So how do you know if you're on the right track to getting the physique you want?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, you can do what I did years ago. I spent a ton of time, money, and energy in the gym with trial and error. I kept doing what seemed to work and dropped the rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the years went by, I developed a system that really sped up my results.Now, I teach that system to thousands of people a year. You can find it in my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/simple-steps-get-huge-and-shredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But instead of going through all the frustration and aggravation of trial and error, you can have me go over your current routine with a fine tooth comb.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And I'll change what needs to be changed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For a very short time, I'm doing routine "overhauls" again for a limited number of clients.&lt;br /&gt;So if you want to learn if you're doing exactly what you need to do in order to get in the best shape of your life, check out...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/workout-review.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/workout-review.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm only accepting 10 clients right now. This will fill up fast, so you'll want to act now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After I go over your current weight training, cardio, and nutrition routine, I'll tell you what you need to change. When you change it, you'll gain more muscle and lose more fat in less time.&lt;br /&gt;For more info on getting a routine makeover, go to....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/workout-review.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/workout-review.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113104558830290699?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113104558830290699/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113104558830290699' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113104558830290699'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113104558830290699'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/do-you-need-routine-makeover.html' title='Do You Need A Routine Makeover?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113104543656888067</id><published>2005-11-03T11:14:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-03T11:17:16.590-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Supplements To Use</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Continuing on with my "best of the best" series of emails, today I'll tackle the best supplements to use.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If I had a dollar for every supplement question I was asked, I'd be a millionaire.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But supplements are just that---they're supposed to go with your good training and nutrition, not take the place of it. No supplement takes the place of good hard work in the gym-- none.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;With that said, there are some supplements that I feel are definitely worth taking.  They will help you get the most from your weight training and nutrition. Again, they won't take the place of them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;But they will maximize results.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;By the way, more a more in-depth look at the supplements I recommend to personal training clients, check out my page here...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/supplements.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So here is my short list of the best supplements to use.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-----------------&lt;br /&gt;Protein powders&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-----------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Protein builds muscle. The harder you train, the more protein your body needs to repair, rebuild, and nourish muscle tissue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Protein is supplement #1 if you want to ensure muscle gains.The best protein sources are egg, milk, and whey.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;---------&lt;br /&gt;Creatine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;---------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Creatine is a tested and proven strength and muscle-building supplement.&lt;br /&gt;Nothing else I've tried gives you the quick and noticeable gains as creatine does.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Creatine increases creatine phosphate storage in muscle tissue and attracts more water into each muscle cell, resulting in cell volumizing (swells up bigger). The bigger your muscle cells, the bigger your muscles!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;----------------------------&lt;br /&gt;Meal replacement powders&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;----------------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I'll repeat the necessities of gaining muscle --- eat often and train heavy.&lt;br /&gt;In fact, it's best to be eating every 3 hours or right around there.Meal replacements make eating every 3 hours a snap.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Not only that, it makes eating healthy a snap.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Meal replacements allow you to get the nutrient benefits of whole food meals without the simple sugars and fats you'd normally get.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Meal replacements are a no-brainer---use them often for gaining muscle and losing fat.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;------------&lt;br /&gt;Glutamine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It helps shuttle muscle-building nitrogen into muscle cells where it is used for muscle growth.&lt;br /&gt;Glutamine also plays a major role in elevating growth hormone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Studies have shown that a 2-gram oral dose of glutamine elevated circulating growth hormone levels by over 400%.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Keeping a high level of circulating growth hormone helps keep the body in an anabolic, muscle building state more often. Another huge benefit of glutamine supplementation is the positive effects it has on the immune system. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;When your body requires L-glutamine to fight off infections or viruses, it will get it from muscle tissue, resulting in potential muscle loss.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;When you supplement with glutamine, it can help protect the glutamine stores within the muscle tissue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------------&lt;br /&gt;Protein Bars&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;These are great for when you're on the go and cannot make a whole food meal and cannot get a regular meal replacement.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Keep a bunch of high quality meal replacement/protein bars with you somewhere at all times.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;This way, if you can't make a meal, you can rip open a bar and get your much needed calorie boost.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Honestly, if you are going to shell out your hard earned money for supplements, you're best off choosing a couple from the list above.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I've put them in my order of importance, but they are all pretty important.&lt;br /&gt;These are the cream of the crop, the ones that will bring you the best results possible.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;==================Recommend Reading==================&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;To get the lowdown on supplements, look no further than Will Brink.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I like to call Will the Supplement Guru because he's spent more time, money, and effort than anyone else I know researching supplements.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;And it shows.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;His 2 books, Muscle Building Nutrition And Diet Supplements Revealed are some of the most well-written, in-depth books I've come across.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Here's more on each of them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Diet Supplements Revealed: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.aboutsupplements.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.aboutsupplements.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Muscle Building Nutrition: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://buildmuscle.blogspot.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113104543656888067?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113104543656888067/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113104543656888067' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113104543656888067'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113104543656888067'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/11/best-supplements-to-use.html' title='The Best Supplements To Use'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113035593960256673</id><published>2005-10-26T12:41:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-10-27T08:36:33.716-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Exercises To Do</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;==================&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The Best Exercises To Do&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;==================&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Today, we'll pick up in my "best of best" series with the best exercises to do in your workout.&lt;br /&gt;Still to come in future emails will be the best supplements to use, the best days to train, the best equipment to use, the best cardio exercises, and more.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Now, results in the gym come from how well you spend your time in there, not the amount of time you spend. Any more than 2 to 3 hours of weight/resistance training a week may be counterproductive.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The best results I've witnessed while in the personal training field come from 3 sessions a week with weights, less than an hour each session.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Most people like the Monday, Wednesday, Friday approach to weight training. This leaves Tuesday and Thursday for cardio, which should be done separately from weight training.&lt;br /&gt;Keep your routine simple, follow the suggested exercises (most are simple, well-known basic exercises) and I guarantee you'll see more results. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Chest &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Flat bench press with bar&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Flat bench press with dumbbells&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Incline bench press with bar &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Incline bench press with dumbbells &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Weighted Dips &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Back &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Dumbbell one arm row &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Cable lat pulldowns to front &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Seated back row on machine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Deadlifts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Bent over back rows w/ bar &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Lower back extension &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Chin-ups (Pull-ups) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;S&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;hrugs for Traps (Dumbbells or barbell) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Shoulders&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Seated military press with bar &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Seated dumbbell shoulder presses &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Dumbbell side lateral raises &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Bent-over dumbbell raises &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Front dumbbell raises &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Upright rows (also works traps)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Legs &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Squats &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Leg press &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Hack Squats&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Leg curls &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Leg extension&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Stiff-leg deadlifts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Lunges with bar or dumbbells &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Calf-raises/presses&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Biceps &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;----------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Standing Alternate dumbbell curls &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Standing Straight bar curls &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Standing Cable curls &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Hammer curls (forearms and biceps) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Ez curl bar curls&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Triceps &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;----------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Lying Triceps extension (Skullcrushers) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Close-grip bench press &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Cable triceps pushdowns &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Dumbbell kickbacks &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Weighted dips&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Abdominals &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-----------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Lying crunches &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Leg raises &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Cable crunches &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Stability ball crunches &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Crunches on incline bench &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;That is my list of "best of the best" exercises to perform.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you'd like a step-by-step program to follow, that incorporates all of these and more, check out my "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" program...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/get-huge-and-shredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/get-huge-and-shredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It will show you exactly what you need to do with your weight training, cardio, and nutrition in order to get the best results in the least amount of time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;For more info...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/get-huge-and-shredded.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/get-huge-and-shredded.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Tomorrow, we'll go over the best supplements to help you gain muscle and shed fat.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--Shawn Lebrun&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113035593960256673?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113035593960256673/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113035593960256673' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113035593960256673'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113035593960256673'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/10/best-exercises-to-do.html' title='The Best Exercises To Do'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-113026598245903169</id><published>2005-10-25T11:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-10-25T11:46:40.773-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Best Foods To Eat</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;==================================&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The Best Foods To Eat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;==================================&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;If you're serious about getting in the best shape of your life, you'll want to read the series of emails I'll be sending out over the next few weeks.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In each, I'll be revealing my "best of the best" tips and techniques to help you gain muscle and lose fat in less time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I'll be covering the best foods to eat to build muscle and shed fat, the best exercises to do, the best supplements to take, the best workouts to do, and more.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Simply put... I'll be giving you the best way to get results. Over the course of these emails, you'll learn, step by step, exactly what you need to do, with your weight training and nutrition, in order to get the body you want... a lot faster.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In this email, I'll talk about the best foods to eat to gain muscle and melt off stubborn fat.&lt;br /&gt;Primarily, you want to make these foods the basis of your diet from now on:Fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, fish, meat, dairy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Here are some of the foods you want to include in your daily diet:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;---------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;protein sources&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;---------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;fish (tuna, salmon, haddock, halibut, cod, perch, orange roughy), turkey, chicken, lean red meats (top round, flank steak, lean ground beef), dairy products (low-fat/non-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, low-fat/non-fat yogurt), eggs, soybeans, nuts, legumes, lean ham, lean pork, liver, shellfish, scallops, lamb, tofu, protein supplements (whey, egg, milk, soy protein supplements) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;carbohydrate sources&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--------------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;brown rice, whole grain breads &amp;amp; cereals, oatmeal, potatoes, yams, vegetables (carrots, broccoli, green beans, corn,), legumes (chick peas, lima, kidney, and soybeans), cream-of-wheat &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-----------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;fat sources &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;-----------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;olive oil, peanuts, coconut oil, peanut butter, almonds, safflower oil, sunflower oil, walnuts, flax seed oil, borage oil, avocadoes, fish oils (salmon), CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So what's missing?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;A lot of refined, processed foods!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Foods that are primarily sugar or refined grains cause your blood sugar to fluctuate too much during the day, wreaking havoc on your insulin levels.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;This in itself will cripple fat release, which we will see more in depth shortly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So have healthy foods on hand ALL THE TIME! You MUST set up your immediate environment to help you, not hinder you. Because when you get really hungry, you’re going to throw all reasoning out the window.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So setting up your environment is going to mean heading to the grocery store to get good, healthy foods that are on this list.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Recommended Reading/Resources For Nutrition Information:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;1. Muscle Building Nutrition by Will Brink &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In Muscle Building Nutrition, you'll learn all you need to know about eating to build lean muscle fast. It's extremely easy to understand and takes you step by step through what would otherwise be the daunting task of putting together your own personal "lean muscle building diet" - you'll be shown how to do it in the exact same way that professional athletes do.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The second half of Muscle Building Nutrition offers a comprehensive guide to bodybuilding supplements. Simply put you'll learn which work (suprisingly few of them I may add) and which are nothing more than pure hype. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.musclebuildingnutrition.com/cgi/at.cgi?a=239719&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;2. Nutrition Generator by Ryan Lee&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;A powerful nutrition program that creates healthy, nutritionally balanced meals with 26 essential nutrients using YOUR favorite foods!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1221566"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1221566&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;With the simple click of a button, you can chose your goals and then your meal plan requirements are created automatically based on YOUR NEEDS. It's so simple and effective!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1221566"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1221566&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;You can find all of my "best of the best" emails on my blog...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://buildmuscle.blogspot.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;http://buildmuscle.blogspot.com/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;So if you miss one in the series, you can read it later.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Tomorrow, we'll go over the best supplements to help you gain muscle and shed fat.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;--Shawn Lebrun&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-113026598245903169?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/113026598245903169/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=113026598245903169' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113026598245903169'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/113026598245903169'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/10/best-foods-to-eat.html' title='The Best Foods To Eat'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-112959187565244253</id><published>2005-10-17T16:16:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T09:26:14.740-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Why Do You Fail?</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;I often wonder why some people succeed in their attempts to get the body they want... while many others fail.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What makes the difference?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After all, we're all human. We're all cut from the same cloth? Do some people have more of an advantage than others?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, I've been doing this fitness thing for quite a while now and I can assure you this, I know why some succeed while others fail. And if you want to learn the secret to everlasting fitness success, just keep reading.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, I must admit, I'm a big fan of the UFC, also known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For those of you who don't know what the UFC is, it's professional mixed martial arts where men go into a ring to basically see who the better fighter is. It's incredibly exciting and very strategic.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And as I was watching an interview with one of the best, up-and-coming fighters, named Rich Franklin, something Rich said really stuck with me. And it's the number one reason why people either succeed or fail... in everything they do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rich said that in order to be the best fighter in the UFC, he refuses to quit. Refuses to give up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sure this never-say-die attitude runs through all that Rich does. Fighting. Training. Weight lifting. Sparring.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, the UFC fighters are some of the most well-rounded, well conditioned athletes I've ever come across. So when Rich says that his "never quit" attitude is what made him champion, I believe it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I want you to stop for a moment and really ask yourself if you have this attitude. To never quit, no matter what the circumstances.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you don't lose the weight you want, do you keep doing cardio and eating clean, each and every day, until you do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or if you haven't hit the bench press weight you want yet... do you throw in the towel or do you keep training, striving to reach it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have a "never-quit" attitude, you're a winner. You will succeed in everything you set out to do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you quit at the first sign of trouble, I really feel sorry for you. Life is going to be filled with more downs than ups.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the good news is, anyone can establish a "never quit" attitude. And you really have to believe it, not just pay lip service.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have to believe, that even on the toughest days, when everything just seems to go bad, that if you keep moving forward, you will succeed. That if you refuse to quit, you will get what you want.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maybe not today, but soon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you don't have what it is you want, you need to adopt this mindset. It will do more for you than anything else imagineable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One person I know of that can attest to this power of "never quitting" is Jon Perez, a firefighter from Ohio.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jon adopted this attitude and managed to change his body and his life. He even created an incredibly powerful program documenting his change...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://lebrunfit.fromskinny.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;http://lebrunfit.fromskinny.hop.clickbank.net&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jon tried everything in his attempt to pack on some muscle. He was sick and tired of being skinny and he decided to change it. He refused to quit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And because of it, Jon was able to transform his body and his life into something he was proud of.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And believe me, if Jon can do it, so you can you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more info on Jon, check out...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://lebrunfit.fromskinny.hop.clickbank.net"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;http://lebrunfit.fromskinny.hop.clickbank.net&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-112959187565244253?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/112959187565244253/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=112959187565244253' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/112959187565244253'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/112959187565244253'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/10/why-do-you-fail.html' title='Why Do You Fail?'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-112567377705059769</id><published>2005-09-02T08:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-09-02T08:09:37.053-07:00</updated><title type='text'>10 Ways To Lose Fat Without Trying</title><content type='html'>By Nick Nilsson&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fat loss doesn't have to be painful. Try these simple tips and you'll see just how easy it can be.                 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Eat smaller more frequent meals - not only is your metabolism boosted every time you eat something, your body can more efficiently process smaller meals. Instead of having 3 large meals in a day, try to break them up into 5 or 6 smaller meals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Drink more water - regular water intake helps to flush away waste products in the body. Get at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses per day. An easy way to do this is to keep a water bottle handy and drink from it frequently.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Be inefficient - do you need to go to the kitchen to get a couple of things? Break it up into two trips even if you can do it in one. Being inefficient like this can easily double your activity level, burning calories without even trying.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Eat more protein - sources of protein include foods such as chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lean red meats, etc. Your body burns more calories processing protein than either carbohydrates or fats. Protein also helps to support your muscle tissue, which burns calories all day long!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator - any time you can add in a little more physical activity, do it. This doesn't mean you need to slog up 20 flights of stairs. Even a flight or two done regularly will add up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Don't let yourself get hungry - when you get hungry you will have a much greater tendency to overeat when you do finally get something to eat. As well, because your body is starting to go into starvation mode, it will be much more likely to hold onto whatever you give it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Order small portions at restaurants - it's tough to order small french fries when "supersizing" your order is such a great "value." Take note, however, your real savings will occur in the calories that don't end up on your backside.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Eat more fiber - fiber is very filling. By eating more fiber you will find yourself full sooner. This feeling of fullness will last a long time as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Wait 20 minutes between servings - your brain takes at least 20 minutes to register that you're full. By waiting that long, you'll give your brain a chance to realize that you don't really need any more food.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. Cheat on your diet - one thing I always make my clients promise is that they will cheat on their diet. The only thing I ask that they do is to cheat ONLY when they have planned to cheat. By planning when you are going to eat the foods you crave, you take back control of your eating habits.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This way you no longer "give in" to your cravings. You "reward yourself" for sticking to proper nutritional habits. Do this once or twice a week and you will feel far more in control of your eating.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In conclusion, if you follow even a few of these 10 easy tips in the long term, you will certainly notice a difference in your overall weight and health.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-----------------&lt;br /&gt;This article was taken from a new program called "Metabolic Surge - Rapid Fat Loss."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;l=400"&gt;http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;amp;l=400&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's named for its ability to push your metabolism far beyond where it's been before and take FULL advantage of the true power of your body's own natural processes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is truly one of the most effective training programs you can do if you're looking to burn lots of fat while keeping and even building muscle mass.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's where you can learn how to use the "Metabolic Surge" programto rapidly burn fat and build muscle at the very same time:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;l=400"&gt;http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;amp;l=400&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take it from me...the worst thing that can happen to you in your training is absolutely nothing. Why not take a plan that is guaranteed to work and make the next 36 days the most productive of your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;30 days from now, you're either going to be 30 days older, or on your way to having the body you've always wanted. Why not get started today.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;l=400"&gt;http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;amp;l=400&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;p.s. As a valued customer/subscriber, due to my special relationship with the author of this program, I've arranged for you to get a substantial discount on the program as well! Your trust is important to me and I want to be sure that trust is rewarded.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10094424-112567377705059769?l=www.bodybuildersecrets.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/feeds/112567377705059769/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10094424&amp;postID=112567377705059769' title='19 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/112567377705059769'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10094424/posts/default/112567377705059769'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.bodybuildersecrets.com/2005/09/10-ways-to-lose-fat-without-trying.html' title='10 Ways To Lose Fat Without Trying'/><author><name>LeBrunFitness</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05926923788396929694</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/shawnlebrun.jpg'/></author><thr:total>19</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10094424.post-112567365496416585</id><published>2005-09-02T08:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2005-09-02T08:07:34.973-07:00</updated><title type='text'>7 Lies About Fat Loss You Need To Know</title><content type='html'>There are certain things about fat loss that people have been taught to believe as fact which are, in reality, dead wrong. Even myself, until very recently, believed many of these to be facts that were set in stone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not anymore.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a word of caution, some of these 7 things that I'm going to tell you about may go against everything you've been taught to believe about fat loss. However, sometimes going against convention is exactly what you need to do to get spectacular results!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let's begin...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #1: Successfully losing fat always means losing some muscle mass as well.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: It is possible to actually GAIN muscle while losing fat, not just inbeginners but even in advanced trainers. All it takes is the right program of training and nutrition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #2: Gaining muscle requires additional calories from food, therefore it's impossible to gain muscle under reduced-calorie conditions.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: Under the right dietary and training conditions, your body can actually use your own bodyfat to provide energy for building muscle, practically doubling the speed of fat loss.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #3: You must choose a consistently-strict diet of either low-carb or low-fat foods to lose fat rapidly.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: Low-carb diets work. Low-fat diets work. But neither works forever. You can take the best features of both and combine them to actually FEED off each other with NO plateaus EVER.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #4: To lose fat with weight training, you must use high-reps with light weights.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: Training with high reps and isolation exercises for fat loss is a waste of time and energy. It will practically guarantee that you lose muscle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #5: You need to take fat-burning pills or supplements to maximize fat loss.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: Your own natural metabolism is FAR more powerful for burning fat than any fat-loss pills or potions you could ever take IF you know how to stimulate it properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #6: Gradually reducing your caloric intake over time is the best way to ensure steady fat loss.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: Consistently reducing your caloric intake is a great way to lose muscle mass. However, precise manipulation of the nutrients in your diet (protein, fat and carbs) can have extraordinary anabolic (muscle-building) and lipolytic (fat-burning) hormonal effects on your body. It's all a matter of what you eat and when you eat it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;MYTH #7: When you come off a fat-loss diet, there will always be some rebound weight gain.&lt;br /&gt;FACT: When the metabolism is properly stimulated and the right combination of nutrients is eaten, rebound weight gain can not only be eliminated, it can be reversed. With the proper training and nutrition plan, you can actually CONTINUE to lose fat even when you go back to normal training and eating.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article was taken from a new program called "Metabolic Surge - Rapid Fat Loss."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;l=400"&gt;http://hop.clickbank.net/?lebrunfit/betteru&amp;amp;l=400&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's named for its ability to push your metabolism far beyond where it's been before and take FULL advantage of the true power of your body's own natural processes.&lt;br /&gt;Read more about this groundbreaking program from the words of the author of the program, Nick Nilsson:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-----&lt;br /&gt;"For the last several years, I've experimented with various training andnutritional theories, techniques and practices all with one very desirable goal in mind: burning maximum fat 
