DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, is something that all bodybuilders are familiar with. It’s that recognizable feeling of stiffness that you wake up with after a tough workout the day before. You’re glad you have it – it shows your workout was successful and you were able to stimulate muscle fibers intro growth. But at the same time, you realize that for the next 2 to 3 days, you are going to be hurting in everything you do. Let’s learn more about how one can reduce the effects of DOMS. Experience DOMS symptoms occur less and less as one becomes more and more advanced of a bodybuilder, but it never quite goes away. Anytime muscle fibers are stimulated en masse, there is going to be some fiber tearing, which will lead to new growth. However, the ...

The supplement industry is a very fickle one. If you come up with the right idea, you can become a millionaire overnight, as men like Bill Philips managed to do. The market was ripe for a product like creatine. It was marketed very shrewdly and sold as a high-end product. As a result, millions of people chose to use it. At the same time, there were other supplement ideas which had equal or greater scientific potential, but they fell to the wayside for a variety of reasons. In the early days of supplements, it was truly the Wild West. There were many supplements which were being created by internet gurus with kitchen laboratories. They were supplements, steroids, or maybe something in between. But many of them were highly effective. ...

Most bodybuilders are aware of the fact that the key to helping muscles grow and recover following a tough workout is to flood the trained muscle group with nutrients – particularly amino acids. These amino acids come from protein we consume, which places protein consumption at the top of the priority list for bodybuilders. Here are a few tricks, which can assist you in making sure you get enough protein every day. Buy big Buy your protein in bulk, on one huge weekly or biweekly shopping trip. Not only will this result in you getting the best prices, but it will also mean you will have plenty of food on hand all week. Additionally, the time saved from avoiding 3 or 4 trips to the store each week can be spent training, cooking, or just plain resting! Prepackaging works! Pick ...

Many bodybuilders (typically novices) will try any new supplement that comes out each month. They’ll take it for a few weeks, then put it on the shelf and then try something else the next month. They’ll all bluff about some result they saw, but they’ll never commit to a set regimen and they’ll never really learn what works and what doesn’t work. More advanced bodybuilders possess the wisdom to know that wandering through the supplement maze blindly is a good way to waste money as well as squander your body’s valuable resources. As with all things related to bodybuilding, the consumption of supplements should take place according to a well-structured plan, taking into account your personal bodybuilding goals, and health and financial realities. First off, take a break. Give your body 1 to 3 weeks without any supplements ...

Many people who enter the world of bodybuilding choose this field because it is practically designed for introverts. You come to the gym alone. You put in your time alone. You cook your meals alone. Much of what you do in bodybuilding is an individual effort. In other sports, you have the camaraderie that comes with practicing together every day. In bodybuilding, aside from a training partner or the people you see every day, you’re on your own. For this reason, many people with social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsion disorder, or just plain shyness, are drawn to the field of bodybuilding. As we age, we often find the world or medicine is able to help our bodies adjust to the stressors of age and society. One commonly prescribed medication to deal with the ...

Bodybuilders train most of the year to build muscle. But for some reason, when they begin dieting for a show, some forget that they are bodybuilders. They stop training to build muscle. Their sole focus is losing body fat, at all costs, which often leads to excessive lost muscle. Muscle is not an entity that one can “pause” – your muscles are always in a state of hypertrophy (growth) or atrophy (shrinking). When bodybuilders neglect additional needs the body faces during a calories deficit time period (like a pre-contest diet), the end result is often unnecessary muscle loss. Manipulation of supplements, fats, and carbohydrates can assist in countering the muscle loss, which often accompanies a pre-contest diet. Supplements Creatine should be taken for the entire duration of the pre-contest routine, and removed in the last week ...

Whole foods and whey/casein supplements aren’t the only games in town Most bodybuilders meet their daily protein requirements using two to three fundamental sources. First is whole food. Most bodybuilders enjoy chicken, eggs, beef, and other whole food protein sources on a daily basis. Next is whey protein – a very popular, easily digestible powder that can be mixed with water and consumed for fast delivery of protein to the bloodstream. Finally, some bodybuilders employ casein, a milk-based protein that takes longer to digest. Casein is popular before bed for athletes trying to grow, who desire a steady release of nutrients throughout the night. Here are three other protein sources, which you might not be familiar with, but which might find a home in your nutritional regimen. If you feel like you need a change, give ...

Steroids, like any other drug may turn addictive that the user may find it hard to leave it even if he had the desire to do so. Some fear the effects of leaving the drug. It is in that effect that I write this article to help you leave using the drug in a safe and real way. It is important that the body builder predetermines the time when he will stop the intake so that he can sufficiently prepare himself. He should be able to develop the right mental attitude towards what he is just about to do. Sometimes it may be so haunting if the body builder stops using the drug abruptly in that he may continue asking himself whether his step was the right one or not. The necessary supportive preparations should also include what he is expecting ...

This important amino acid is manufactured in the body and is therefore not a mandatory requirement in the diet. Though there are lots of foods that supply the body with glutamine, the body still requires manufacturing lots of this amino acid because of the sheer magnitude of demand. The body’s main site of glutamine manufacture is in the muscle cells. Glutamine is made through the chemical reaction that involves the combination of ammonia and glutamate (an amino acid). The manufacture of glutamine takes place on a very large scale such that this substance occupies more than sixty percent of the storage space set aside for free amino-acids in the muscle cells. It is these large reserves that supply glutamine to the blood plasma and to the other tissue sites that require the same. In previous times it was thought that glutamine ...

There are quite a number of non-governmental organisations which have used the theme of adverse effects of steroids in an effort to dissuade girls who are at puberty against resorting to them in a bid to appear ‘cute’ enough in the eyes of their colleagues. Diet pills are more common among girls of this age bracket than ordinary steroid. The difference here is on the terminology. Whether you call them diet pills or anabolic steroids or supplements the underlying determinant is what they add to your body and by extension, how they change that body. Most of the participants in these programs more often than not know that their behaviours are facing resentment and as such they brace themselves for bashing upon bashing and lengthy criticism of their behaviour. They know that such forums end up being one-sided affairs. No ...

Every bodybuilder knows the importance of macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fat. They understand the importance of supplements like glutamine, Mesobolin, and creatine. But many overlook the importance of simple micronutrients in the training, recovery, and growing processes. Here are three commonly ignored aids for bodybuilding growth: Potassium Potassium has three key functions, which help bodybuilders. First, taking potassium (or a supplement including potassium) after training will cause water retention, which helps volumize the muscle group that has just been trained. Next, potassium assists in cleaner and more efficient muscle contraction. Potassium also reduces cramps. Finally, potassium contributes to muscle glycogen collection, a must for bodybuilding recovery and growth. Vitamin C 1000 mg of Vitamin C directly after training will lower cortisol levels, which will contribute directly to growth. C is also a free radical, meaning it ...

Q: A buddy of mine said he’s taking a Xyience product??? I’ve never heard of it, but he swears the 25 pounds he just put this past month are due to that. In fact, I gotta say, he’s blown up! He said it’s the next ‘thing’. Is it a type of supplement, a company or what? A: It’s a company, and they did a play on XY and Science and came up with xyience. Xtest or Xmgf are their products that your friend likely took, since the others are fat burners. They also cost as much as a real cycle, so why take ‘em? They are “giving 3 bottles away” for the cost of shipping and handling. So it may be worth a try. But, they are not steroids in a bottle, and are asking for “affiliates” – meaning ...

The time has come in your life where you’re ready to start your first cycle of anabolic steroids. You’re nervous, you’re excited, and you probably have a million questions. The web is filled with great websites offering a wealth of information on various beginner stacks, purchasing options, etc. But most websites don’t take you through the standard medical, legal, and other questions that you should consider before making that first order or plunging that first needle. Here are a few questions to get your mind churning. Do you have any existing medical conditions? Look at the list of side effects for the steroids you are about to take. If you’re already suffering from certain maladies, steroids will make those issues much worse, very quickly. Do any genetic deficiencies run in your family? First-time users rarely consider this question. ...

Q: What would you say the top 8-10 supplements are to have in your cupboard? A: Protein would have to be number one. Whether whey alone or MRPs – personally, I think both are good to have. Second, glutamine because of recuperation. It’s a wonder supplement in my opinion. Third, creatine for size and regular gains. Fourth, a good multi-vitamin, plus extra C, E, B and A vitamins. Fifth, ZMA in the p.m. Sixth, probably a good joint supplement. Seventh, I recommend a good liver cleanser formula, including milk thistle and maybe some goldenseal. Eighth, I’d say some kind of flax or fish oil is crucial and keeps you in better condition, if you eat relatively well year ‘round. And ninth, I’d say a fat burner like a multi-formula for fat burning that includes products like ...

In bodybuilding circles, the debate over just how much protein athletes need each day has raged since people first picked up weights. We know protein is essential for building new muscle, and that there is an absolute baseline for athletes. Most people put it at .75 to 1.0 grams per pound of bodyweight. That would mean a 200 pound person would need 150 to 200 grams of protein per day. Most strength coaches, bodybuilders, and personal trainers would vehemently dispute this number. Most competitive bodybuilders (high intermediate to advanced) consume at least 1.5 to 2.0 grams of protein daily per pound of bodyweight. This would put the daily requirement for a 200 pound bodybuilder at 300 to 400 grams per day. This is the most common number for strength athletes. It should be noted that these numbers ...

Q: I’ve heard recently, that caffeine and creatine don’t mix and that taking caffeine defeats the purpose of taking creatine. Dude, I can’t go without my coffee! What’s the scoop on this? A: It is inadvisable, but it isn’t lethal or damaging in ways that one might associate with a “warning”. It’s not like mixing speed and beta-blockers and isn’t going to cause you to drop to the ground gripping your chest in excruciating pain. However, it isn’t going to serve you well if the reason you’re taking creatine is for intra-cellular volume and muscle growth. Caffeine, as everyone knows, is dehydrating and draws water out from the body. It’s a natural diuretic and can cause a lot of imbalance within the body in terms of mineral and electrolyte retention. The other issue is that when you dose creatine, you’re ...

Q: Are D-bol and headaches synonymous with one another? I get vicious headaches and don’t know if it’s worth taking D-bol any longer. Any thoughts about it, or am I the only one who has problems with it? A: You’re not the only one, certainly. Many get headaches with D-bol, but it’s usually because the dose is too high. Blood pressure changes are really common with D-bol, and it’s one of the reasons you need to really monitor yourself with this drug. It’s a great drug, but strokes, heart attacks and other problems can result. And I’d bet that you get them about an hour after taking the gear, too. Try taking aspirin in small doses whenever you take your D-bol dose to thin the blood and keep the D-bol from causing blood vessels to constrict and cause surging pain.

It’s long been used as a deterrent for potential steroid users. But is it true? Yes and No. Steroids can stunt growth, and steroids can create new growth. Let’s delve into each argument. Steroids can stunt growth. In the mid- to late- teen years, the epiphyseal growth plates at the ends of bones stop growing. It is at that age that most people stop growing. If a teenager is taking certain steroids, he does risk causing receptor damage in these areas. However, due to the already elevated levels of testosterone in the body until age 20 or 22, no healthy male or female should be using steroids until after these ...

Professional bodybuilders - NOT like you and me! That's an understatement. But an even bigger understatement is that we clearly don't take the same AS as pros; and certainly not in the same galvanic portions! Everything changes when a pro card passes from the IFBB to a national champion's back pocket. The game is raised, and the expectations along with it, as well as how things work. That is to say, all of a sudden, your IFBB pro card fits in the magic card key slot, and the golden door of opportunity just opens up and welcomes you inside. "Inside", being the inner sanctum of drug use that includes everything from price to availability to the means to acquire steroids and other useful substances. After all, AS cycles are the lifeblood of a pro's career. Anyone who tells ...

Oral steroids are probably the first type of steroid that an amateur bodybuilder will take. Why? Because orals are on par with the kind of 'half-commitment' that most newbies can stomach. Don't get us wrong, it isn't as though the oral steroids we've seen in this life aren't effective - they are! But the deal is, pills seem easier to start with because they aren't messy and aren't as difficult to justify as an injection. After all, previous to steroid use, unless you're a diabetic, most people have only received injections at a doctor's office - let alone given themselves one! It's a process, the induction of a natural bodybuilder into the world of steroids. That's why many begin with orals like Dianabol, Winstrol tabs or Anavar. Some are even more gun-shy and prefer the paper steroids to pills. That ...